This legislation would provide property tax exemptions, occupation tax exemption, regulatory fee exemption and business inspection fee abatement or reduction to businesses with 20 full time employees and a retail inventory of $1 million that locate in an enterprise zone.  Under current law, these exemptions are only provided to businesses with 5,000 employees that create at least 10 new full time jobs. 

This legislation removes the requirement that the board of commissioners be notified by the State Construction Industry Licensing Board of the provisions of the law relating to licenses required for electrical, plumbing and conditioned air. It allows those with a universal Electrical Contractor license to peform low-voltage electric work without having to obtain a low-voltage contractor license.

 This legislation creates the Senate Entrepreneur in Residence Study Committee to examine impediments to entrepreneurs. The program would have two objectives:  (1) to identify within government inefficient and overlapping programs that negatively impact entrepreneurs trying to start or expand a business, and to recommend solutions; and, (2) to serve as a visible advocate and mentor for entrepreneurs within the government, a point of contact who knows and understands their needs, concerns, and frustrations with regard to dealing with government.

The entrepreneur in residence would:

1. Assist in providing outreach to entrepreneurs and small businesses;

2. Provide recommendations on ways to streamline and improve government procedures impacting entrepreneurs;

3. Recommend ways to improve programs available to entrepreneurs;

4. Facilitate meetings and forums to educate entrepreneurs on programs and requirements;

5. Provide technical assistance or guidance to entreprenuers in navigating government programs and requirements;

6. Participate in informal working groups of entrepreneurs in residence from various agencies established to discuss best practices, experiences, obstacles, opportunities, and recommendations.