SB-0732, As Passed Senate, October 10, 2007

SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE BILL NO. 732

     A bill to designate enterprises owned or controlled by

qualified veterans as Michigan patriot businesses; and to provide

for the powers and duties of certain state governmental officers

and entities.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

     Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the

"Michigan patriot business act".

     Sec. 3. As used in this act:

     (a) "Board" means the board of directors of the Michigan

strategic fund created in section 5 of the Michigan strategic fund

act, 1984 PA 270, MCL 125.2005.

     (b) "Qualified business enterprise" means a business

enterprise that is more than 50% owned by 1 or more qualified

veterans.

     (c) "Qualified veteran" means an individual who meets all of

the following:

     (i) His or her legal residence before, during, and after

military service is in this state.

     (ii) He or she served as a member of any branch of the armed

forces of the United States and received an honorable discharge or

a discharge for physical reasons with an honorable record.

     (iii) His or her military service included service in the

Persian Gulf combat zone as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom or in

southern or central Asia as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

     Sec. 5. The board shall:

     (a) Designate qualified business enterprises as Michigan

patriot businesses.

     (b) Maintain a current list of Michigan patriot businesses and

make that list available to the public on the board's internet

website, and available to the department of management and budget

for purposes of section 141(f) of the management and budget act,

1984 PA 431, MCL 18.1141.

     (c) Provide technical, managerial, and counseling services and

assistance to qualified business enterprises.

     (d) With the participation of other state departments and

agencies as appropriate, develop comprehensive plans and specific

program goals for a qualified business enterprise program;

establish regular performance monitoring and reporting systems to

assure that the goals are being achieved; and evaluate the impact

of federal and state support in achieving the objectives

established by the board.

     (e) Implement state policy in support of qualified business

enterprise development and coordinate the plans, programs, and

operations of state government that affect or may contribute to the

establishment, preservation, and strengthening of qualified

business enterprises.

     (f) Coordinate, make application for, and administer federal

funding grants from federal agencies where applicable.

     (g) Promote the mobilization of activities and resources of

state agencies and local governments, business and trade

associations, universities, foundations, professional

organizations, and volunteer and other groups toward the growth of

qualified business enterprises, and facilitate the coordination of

the efforts of these groups with those of other state departments

and agencies.

     (h) Establish a center for the development, collection, and

dissemination of information that will be helpful to persons and

organizations throughout the state in undertaking or promoting the

establishment and successful operation of qualified business

enterprises.

     (i) Assist in experimental and demonstration projects, and

defray all or part of the cost of such projects, designed to

overcome the special problems of qualified business enterprises.

     (j) Conduct coordinated reviews of all proposed state training

and technical assistance activities in direct support of the

qualified business enterprises program to ensure consistency with

program goals and to preclude duplication of effort of other state

agencies with overlapping jurisdictions.

     (k) Recommend appropriate legislative or executive actions to

enhance the opportunities of qualified business enterprises in this

state.

     (l) Assist qualified business enterprises in obtaining

governmental or commercial financing for business expansion,

establishment of new businesses, or industrial development

projects.

     (m) Assist qualified business enterprises in business contract

procurement from governmental and private commercial sources.

     (n) Provide a program effort to ensure participation of

qualified veterans in qualified business enterprise activities.

     Enacting section 1. This act does not take effect unless all

of the following bills of the 94th Legislature are enacted into

law:

     (a) Senate Bill No. 733.

     (b) Senate Bill No. 734.