12098.8.
(a) As used in this section:(1) “Small business” means a business that meets both of the following criteria:
(A) The business is independently owned and operated.
(B) The business has fewer than 100 employees.
(2) “Program” means the Keep California Working Grant Program.
(b) The Keep California Working Grant Program is hereby established under the administration of the advocate for the purpose of helping small businesses and nonprofit organizations continue to operate during the COVID-19
pandemic.
(c) (1) The advocate shall award a grant, in an amount not exceeding ____ dollars ($____), to an applicant who meets both of the following criteria:
(A) The applicant is a small business or nonprofit organization.
(B) The applicant has experienced economic hardship resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
(2) The advocate shall award grants on a first-come-first-served basis to applicants who meet the criteria described in paragraph (1).
(d) The advocate shall adopt, as necessary, application procedures, forms, administrative guidelines, and other requirements for purposes of implementing and administering the program. All application procedures, forms,
administrative guidelines, and other requirements developed by the advocate pursuant to this subdivision shall be exempt from the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).
(e) The sum of two billion six hundred million dollars ($2,600,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the Office of Small Business Advocate for the purpose of administering the program.