Revision: March 24, 2021, 4:16 p.m.
Senate Finance
March 24, 2021
2021-1009s
08/11
Amendment to SB 132-FN
Amend RSA 12-O:53 as inserted by section 2 of Part I of the bill by replacing it with the following:
12-O:53 COVID-19 Micro Enterprise Relief Fund.
I. There is established in the office of the state treasurer a fund to be known as the COVID- 19 micro enterprise relief fund. Notwithstanding RSA 4:45, RSA 4:47, RSA 21-P:43, or any other law to the contrary, to the extent permissible under federal law $1 of any federal funds received by the state in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency shall be deposited into the fund, provided that at no time shall the balance of the fund exceed $1 in any fiscal year.
II. Funds shall be disbursed at the discretion of the commissioner to the 10 New Hampshire regional economic development corporations to be awarded to local or regional micro enterprises. Each regional development corporation shall receive up to $1. Each regional development economic council shall be authorized to assess an administrative fee up to 10 percent of the funds received through the state to manage this grant program. Any regional economic development corporation that does not award all of the funds received in grants to local micro enterprises shall return the funds to micro enterprise relief fund at the department of business and economic affairs for redistribution at the discretion of the commissioner.
III. With each award, an agreement for technical assistance shall be put in place between the regional development corporation, the New Hampshire small business development center, and the micro enterprise to support the implementation of the funds. 18 months after the implementation of the program, the regional economic development councils will prepare and submit reports to the commissioner, that include the number of grants and the amounts, and the use of each grant by the recipient. The commissioner shall compile these reports and submit a compiled report to the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate president, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the state library, and the governor.
IV. Regional economic development corporations shall award one-time grants of up to $1 to support one or more areas of need, including development of e-commerce capabilities, upgrading business practices, or maintaining storefront presence. The regional economic development corporations shall ensure micro enterprises awarded grants pursuant to this subdivision are provided such assistance as may be necessary to support implementation of any grants awarded.
V. For purposes of this subdivision, "micro enterprise" shall mean an entity with 10 or fewer employees, including any proprietor, that has been in business prior to March 13, 2020, when the governor signed the first declaration of a state of emergency due to COVID-19 and that has demonstrated a financial impact during the COVID-19 public health emergency, such as temporary closure, reduction in workforce, or loss of revenue of 50 percent or greater when compared to the same time period during the previous year. Financial statements demonstrating losses, closures, or reduction in workforce shall be supplied as part of the application process.
Amend RSA 19-A:15 as inserted by section 5 of Part III of the bill by replacing it with the following:
19-A:15 Save Our Granite Stages Fund. There is hereby established the save our granite stages fund, which shall be appropriated for fiscal year 2022 to the New Hampshire state council on the arts for the purpose of providing grants to both non-profit and for-profit live venues that did not receive a grant from the federal Shuttered Venue Operators (SVO) program, which was established by Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits and Venues Act (P.L. 116-260). The fund shall be nonlapsing and kept separate and distinct from all other funds. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, $1 of any discretionary federal funds received by the state in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency shall be deposited into the fund. In addition to state appropriations, the council may accept grants, gifts, and donations for deposit in the fund.