CORRECTED   Feb 09 2021

REFERENCE TITLE: youth entrepreneurship; pilot program; appropriation

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

2021

HB 2500

Introduced by

Representatives Lieberman: Butler, Chávez, Jermaine, Rodriguez, Terán, Senator Marsh

AN ACT

Establishing the youth entrepreneurship pilot program; Appropriating monies.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Arizona commerce authority; youth entrepreneurship pilot program; annual report; delayed repeal; definitions

A. The Arizona commerce authority shall establish the youth entrepreneurship pilot program to provide persons who are at least sixteen but under twenty-four years of age with the following:

1. A community-based entrepreneurial education.

2. Increased economic knowledge and entrepreneurial skills.

3. Mentoring from local small business owners and professionals.

4. Increased opportunities for disconnected youths to meaningfully participate in community economic activities.

5. Opportunities for collaboration and innovation.

6. An appreciation for the benefits and challenges of owning a successful business enterprise, including a successful microenterprise.

B. The Arizona commerce authority:

1. Shall award grants pursuant to title 41, chapter 24, Arizona Revised Statutes, to chambers of commerce to conduct the pilot program.

2. Shall include in the pilot program a component to serve youths in counties with a population of less than seven hundred fifty thousand persons.

3. May coordinate with local small business leaders to organize and conduct educational workshops, seminars and discussions on alternative career pathways for youths.

C. On or before October 1 of each year, the Arizona commerce authority shall submit to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives a report containing a detailed description of the number and types of activities held, the number of youths served and the outcomes achieved by the pilot program and shall provide a copy of the report to the secretary of state.

D. The Arizona commerce authority may use federal monies, legislative appropriations, public and private grants and private donations to operate the pilot program.

E. This section is repealed from and after June 30, 2026.

F. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Disconnected youths" means persons who:

(a) Are at least sixteen but under twenty-four years of age.

(b) Became unemployed as a result of coronavirus disease 2019.

(c) Are not employed or enrolled in school.

2. "Microenterprise":

(a) Means any business that is located or principally based in this state and that employs ten or fewer employees.

(b) Includes a start-up business, a home-based business and a self-employed business.

Sec. 2. Appropriation; Arizona commerce authority; youth entrepreneurship pilot program; exemption

A. The sum of $5,000,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2021-2022 to the Arizona commerce authority to operate the youth entrepreneurship pilot program established pursuant to this act.  Of the amount appropriated in this subsection, the Arizona commerce authority shall allocate:

1. $50,000 to award seed capital on a competitive basis to youths who are residents of counties with a population of less than seven hundred fifty thousand persons, who have successfully completed one year in the pilot program and who present a meritorious new business enterprise proposal to the authority. Seed capital awarded pursuant to this paragraph shall be used by the recipients for start-up costs for the new business enterprise.

2. $50,000 to award seed capital on a competitive basis to youths who are residents of counties with a population of seven hundred fifty thousand persons or more, who have successfully completed one year in the pilot program and who present a meritorious new business enterprise proposal to the authority. Seed capital awarded pursuant to this paragraph shall be used by the recipients for start-up costs for the new business enterprise.

B. The appropriation made in subsection A of this section is exempt from the provisions of section 35-190, Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to lapsing of appropriations.