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HB0203 • 2021

Small business relief.

AN ACT relating to the emergency expenses of government; authorizing an emergency governmental program related to economic development and business relief as specified; providing an appropriation; providing a sunset date for the created emergency program; providing rulemaking authority; and providing for an effective date.

Budget Labor Small Business
Inactive

Wyoming marks this bill as inactive, which usually means it is no longer moving in the current session.

Sponsor
Representative Sherwood
Last action
2021-04-07
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2021

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide information on the exact number of businesses that might apply or receive funds, making it uncertain to include such a claim.

Small Business Relief Act

This act creates an emergency program called the Wyoming business interruption stipend program to provide financial assistance to eligible small businesses in critically impacted industries affected by the pandemic.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates a temporary program called the Wyoming business interruption stipend program.
  • The program provides funds to eligible small businesses that have been financially hurt due to the pandemic.
  • Businesses must apply and prove they meet certain requirements to receive money from the program.
  • Limits how much money each business can receive, with a maximum of $50,000 per business.
  • Sets up rules for managing the program and conducting audits to ensure funds are used correctly.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Small businesses in Wyoming that meet specific criteria related to size and location.
  • The Wyoming Business Council will manage the program and distribute funds.

Terms To Know

Eligible business
A small, independently owned company based or operating mainly in Wyoming with up to 50 full-time employees as of March 1, 2020.
Critically impacted industry
Industries such as tourism, leisure, hospitality, retail, and restaurants that have been heavily affected by the pandemic.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The program will end on December 31, 2021.
  • Funds for the program come from a specific reserve account and cannot be used for other purposes.

Bill History

  1. 2021-04-07 House

    H:Died in Committee Returned Bill Pursuant to HR 5-4

  2. 2021-03-22 House

    H No report prior to CoW Cutoff

  3. 2021-03-05 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H02 - Appropriations

  4. 2021-03-04 House

    H Received for Introduction

  5. 2021-03-02 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
21LSO-0459
2021
STATE OF WYOMING
21LSO-0459
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0203

Small business relief.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Sherwood, Banks and Duncan and Senator(s) Cooper, Furphy, Rothfuss and Wasserburger

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to the emergency expenses of government; authorizing an emergency governmental program related to economic development and business relief as specified; providing an appropriation; providing a sunset date for the created emergency program; providing rulemaking authority; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

(a)

As used in this section:

(i)

"Council" means the Wyoming business council;

(ii)

"Critically impacted industry" means the tourism, leisure, hospitality, retail or restaurant trades, as further specified by rule of the council;

(iii)

"Eligible business" means a business that:

(A)

Is independently owned and operated;

(B)

Is headquartered in Wyoming or has its principal operations located in Wyoming; and

(C)

On March 1, 2020, had employed fifty (50) full-time employees or less.

(iv)

"Principal operations located in Wyoming" means:

(A)

More than fifty percent (50%) of a business's primary work is located in Wyoming and not less
than sixty percent (60%) of the business's employees are employed in Wyoming; or

(B)

Not less than sixty percent (60%) of the business's payroll is paid to individuals residing in Wyoming.

(b)

The Wyoming business interruption stipend program is hereby created. The Wyoming business council shall administer this temporary program to provide eligible businesses in critically impacted industries with funds to alleviate the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stipends awarded under this section shall:

(i)

Not be awarded until an eligible business submits, and the council approves, an application. The application shall be developed by the council and shall require each applicant to certify that the business is an eligible business as defined by this section and that knowingly making a false statement to the council on the application is prohibited and may result in the applicant
being required to repay all funds awarded under this section;

(ii)

Be conditioned upon the eligible business certifying to the council that the eligible business has incurred financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic;

(iii)

In no event exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00);

(iv)

Be made only with funds appropriated from the legislative stabilization reserve account by this act. No other funds of any kind and from any source shall be expended on the payment of stipends awarded under this section.

(c)

The council shall promulgate any emergency and regular rules necessary to administer the program authorized by this section.

(d)

The attorney general shall review in writing the legality of the program and any rules established for the program authorized by this section.

(e)

No expenditure of funds shall be made under this section except in accordance with state and federal laws, regulations and orders.

(f)

The council may conduct and contract for random audits of eligible businesses receiving stipends under this section to ensure awarded funds are expended in compliance with state and federal law.

(g)

There is appropriated to the Wyoming business council one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000.00) from the legislative stabilization reserve account for purposes of administering the Wyoming business interruption stipend program.

This appropriation shall be for the period beginning with the effective date of this act and ending June 30, 2022.

This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended,
unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as provided by law on June 30, 2022.

(h)

The program created by this section shall terminate on December 31, 2021.

Section 2
.

This act is effective
immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

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HB0203