Florida Senate - 2022                                     SB 202
       
       
        
       By Senator Farmer
       
       
       
       
       
       34-00139-22                                            2022202__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the Small Business Website
    3         Development Grant Program; creating s. 288.126, F.S.;
    4         creating the Small Business Website Development Grant
    5         Program within the Department of Economic Opportunity;
    6         providing the purpose of the program; defining the
    7         term “small business”; requiring the department to
    8         provide grants subject to legislative appropriation;
    9         authorizing certain small businesses to apply for a
   10         grant in a specified amount; requiring that grant
   11         funds be used for the development of a website;
   12         requiring the department to adopt rules; providing an
   13         effective date.
   14          
   15  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   16  
   17         Section 1. Section 288.126, Florida Statutes, is created to
   18  read:
   19         288.126 Small Business Website Development Grant Program.—
   20         (1) The Small Business Website Development Grant Program is
   21  created within the department. The purpose of the program is to
   22  support this state’s economy and stimulate economic growth by
   23  assisting small businesses that do not have a website in the
   24  development of a website.
   25         (2) As used in this section, the term “small business”
   26  means a business with 25 or fewer full-time equivalent
   27  employees.
   28         (3) Subject to legislative appropriation, the department
   29  shall provide grants to small businesses in this state that do
   30  not have a website for the purpose of website development.
   31         (4) A small business in this state that does not have a
   32  website may apply to the department for a one-time grant in an
   33  amount of $2,500 or less. Such grant funds must be used for the
   34  development of a website, which may include the costs associated
   35  with website development, website maintenance fees, website
   36  development education, and other related costs.
   37         (5) The department shall adopt rules necessary to
   38  administer this section.
   39         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.