Bill
H 3111
Establishes a non-lapsing Micro Business Fund in Massachusetts to provide ongoing financial and development support for micro-businesses, funded by multiple small revenue sources.
Note on source material: The materials provided for H 3111 include two different measures in one file. The primary Massachusetts text titled “An Act establishing the micro business fund” (House No. 3111, sponsor Rep. Carlos González) is the clearest legislative text associated with H 3111. A second, separate South Carolina draft bill (adding a foster-care data collection requirement) also appears in the document. Below are objective, separate summaries of both measures and a brief note on procedural entries provided.
Purpose
- Create a dedicated, non‑reverting fund to support the growth and development of micro‑businesses in Massachusetts.
Key provisions
- Establishes the Micro Business Fund (new Section 70 in Chapter 23A), administered and expended by the Micro Business Development Center within the Massachusetts Office of Business Development.
- Sources of revenue credited to the Fund:
- Appropriations and other General Court‑designated money;
- Gifts, grants, and donations (public and private);
- Interest earned on Fund balances;
- 0.5% of taxes collected under section 39 of chapter 63;
- 1% of funds spent by each financial institution in the Commonwealth pursuant to the federal Community Reinvestment Act (CRA);
- 5% of initial and annual LLC filing fees collected by the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
- Money credited to the Fund “shall not be subject to further appropriation” and shall not revert to the General Fund at the end of a fiscal year (i.e., non‑lapsing).
- Permitted uses: financial support to grow micro‑businesses including professional development, technology development, workforce development, business plan development, procurement/contracting assistance, and market research.
- Reporting requirement: the Center must report annually (no later than December 31) to the Office of Economic Development, the House and Senate committees on Ways and Means, and legislative clerks. The report must state amounts credited to the Fund, number of micro‑businesses receiving funding and amounts granted, and the selection process used.
Who is affected
- Micro‑businesses in Massachusetts (primary beneficiaries).
- Micro Business Development Center and Office of Business Development (administration and oversight).
- Financial institutions and LLC filers (contribute small percentage amounts as specified).
- State budget/administration (creation of a new dedicated, non‑reverting fund).
Potential impact
- Provides a sustained revenue stream (from multiple small sources) to support micro‑business capacity building.
- By making the Fund non‑lapsing and directly credited, it aims to ensure continuity of support and reduce annual appropriation uncertainty.
- The reporting requirement creates transparency about fund flows and beneficiary selection.
Purpose
- Require the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) to collect outcome information for youth who have aged out of foster care and report findings annually to the General Assembly.
Key provisions
- Adds Section 63‑7‑2410 to Title 63, Chapter 7, Article 5.
- DSS must collect outcome data for youth who have aged out of foster care and provide an annual report to the General Assembly that sets forth outcomes and analyzes the data.
- If DSS already collects/submits similar data to the federal Children’s Bureau or another federal agency, it may provide that federal submission to the General Assembly to satisfy the requirement.
- Effective on approval by the Governor.
Who is affected
- South Carolina Department of Social Services (data collection and reporting duty).
- Youth who have aged out of foster care (subjects of the data).
- General Assembly (receives the annual report).
Potential impact
- Establishes a regular information flow to lawmakers to inform policy and oversight related to post‑foster care outcomes (education, employment, housing, etc., though specific data elements are not enumerated in the text).
- May streamline state reporting by allowing reuse of federally required data.
If you want, I can:
- Pull the exact statutory texts referenced (chapter/section) to clarify the tax/fee sources;
- Draft a plain‑language explainer for how small businesses could apply for or receive assistance from the Micro Business Fund; or
- Check and reconcile official legislative status records for H 3111 in Massachusetts and the South Carolina draft.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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