(a) Upon appropriation by the Legislature, GO-Biz shall establish the California Competes Grant Program pursuant to this article. (b) Upon appropriation by the Legislature, GO-Biz is authorized to provide grants pursuant to this article. GO-Biz shall provide grants only to an applicant that meets at least one of the following criteria: (1) The applicant will create at least 500 new, full-time jobs in this state, determined on the basis of an annual full-time equivalent, as defined in Section 8000 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations, as that section read on January 1, 2021. (2) The applicant will make a significant infrastructure investment, defined as a project requiring construction or renovation expenditures of at least ten million dollars ($10,000,000) over no more than five years, in this state. (3) The applicant will create jobs or make the investments in a high-poverty area or high-unemployment area, as those terms are defined in Section 8000 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations, as that section read on January 1, 2021, in this state. (c) The committee shall approve or reject grants pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 18410.2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code. (d) (1) The amount of a grant shall be set forth in a written agreement between GO-Biz and the qualified grantee, and shall be based on the factors as described in subparagraphs (A) to (L), inclusive, of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Sections 17059.2 and 23689 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, and considerations described in paragraph (2). (2) When determining whether to enter into a written agreement with a qualified grantee pursuant to this section, GO-Biz shall consider the extent to which the grant will influence the qualified granteeâs ability, willingness, or both, to create jobs in this state that might not otherwise be created in the state by the qualified grantee or any other California business. GO-Biz may also consider other factors, including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) The financial solvency of the qualified grantee and the qualified granteeâs ability to finance its proposed expansion. (B) The qualified granteeâs current and prior compliance with federal and state laws. (C) Current and prior litigation involving the qualified grantee. (D) The reasonableness of the fee arrangement between the qualified grantee and any third party providing any services related to the grant allowed pursuant to this section. (E) Any other factors GO-Biz deems necessary to ensure that the administration of the California Competes Grant Program allowed pursuant to this article is a model of accountability and transparency and that the effective use of the limited amount of grant funds is maximized. (F) For determinations made under this paragraph during the 2023â24 fiscal year, and each fiscal year thereafter, the granteeâs willingness to relocate jobs into California from a state that has enacted a law that does any of the following: (i) Voids or repeals, or has the effect of voiding or repealing, existing state protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. (ii) Authorizes or requires discrimination against same-sex couples or their families, or discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. (iii) Creates an exemption to antidiscrimination laws in order to permit discrimination against same-sex couples or their families, or permits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. (iv) Denies or interferes with, or has the effect of denying or interfering with, a womanâs right to choose to bear a child or to choose and obtain an abortion, as provided by Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 123460) of Chapter 2 of Part 2 of Division 106 of the Health and Safety Code. (G) For determinations made under this paragraph during the 2023â24 fiscal year, and each fiscal
‹ Prev All California sections Next ›
Lexace provides legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney–client relationship is created. Statute text is provided for general information and may not reflect the most recent amendments; verify against the official state code.