HB1451: HB1451 Community Affairs, Department of; local governments and nonprofit organizations to incentivize households to relocate from outside this state to local governments in this state; provide

26 LC 59 9003 House Bill 1451 By: Representatives Dempsey of the 13th, Hagan of the 156th, Rice of the 139th, Greene of the 154th, and Campbell of the 171st A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Chapter 8 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the1 Department of Community Affairs, so as to provide for local gov ernments and nonprofit2 organizations to incentivize households to relocate from outsid e this state to local3 governments in this state; to provide for a grant program administered by the Department of4 Community Affairs; to provide for eligibility criteria; to provide for rules and regulations;5 to provide definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other6 purposes.7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8 SECTION 1.9 Chapter 8 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department10 of Community Affairs, is amended by adding a new article to read as follows:11 "ARTICLE 1412 50-8-320.13 As used in this article, the term:14 H. B. 1451 - 1 - 26 LC 59 9003 (1) 'Department' means the Department of Community Affairs.15 (2) 'Household' means one or more individuals who live togethe r within the same16 dwelling.17 (3) 'Household goal' means the total number of households that a local government or18 nonprofit organization seeks to relocate from outside this state to a local government in19 this state.20 (4) 'Local government' means a county, city, or consolidated g overnment in this state. 21 (5) 'Nonprofit organization' shall have the same meaning as se t forth in Code Section22 50-18-160.23 50-8-321.24 (a) Subject to appropriations, the department shall create and administer a talent25 recruitment program for the purpose of awarding grants to incen tivize households to26 relocate from outside this state to a local government in this state. Such grants shall be27 awarded to local governments and nonprofit organizations with a stated mission that28 includes economic development, workforce and talent development , or community29 development.30 (b) Local governments and nonprofit organizations applying for such grants shall submit31 a talent recruitment plan that includes the following:32 (1) The total estimated cost of the talent recruitment program and the individual33 estimated costs associated with such program's design, administ ration, marketing, and34 relocation incentive initiatives;35 (2) Such program's household goal and the estimated total grant amount per household;36 (3) Such program's estimated state and local tax impact; and37 (4) Such program's estimated total economic impact.38 (c) Local governments and nonprofit organizations applying for such grants shall be39 required to demonstrate the ability to contribute at least 20 p ercent of the total talent40 H. B. 1451 - 2 - 26 LC 59 9003 recruitment program cost. Such contribution may include local investments and in-kind41 donations.42 (d) Each local government and nonprofit organization receiving a grant shall provide43 semiannual reports to the department containing the following information:44 (1) The total number of household applications;45 (2) The total number of approved households;46 (3) The costs per approved household;47 (4) The annual incomes and occupations of approved households;48 (5) The economic impact of the talent recruitment program, including state and local tax49 revenue and new consumer spending; and50 (6) Verification of eligibility for moved and committed to move households.51 (e) A household shall be eligible for talent recruitment progr am incentives if such52 household:53 (1) Resides outside of this state at the time the household applies for talent recruitment54 program incentives;55 (2) Has a household income of at least $55,000.00; and56 (3) Submits an application to the local government or nonprofi t organization grant57 recipient to receive talent recruitment program incentives.58 (f) The department shall disburse 50 percent of the total grant award upon entering into a59 grant contract and 50 percent of the total grant award upon the local government or60 nonprofit organization reporting to the department that it has successfully met half of the61 household goal stated in the talent recruitment plan. If the local government or nonprofit62 organization fails to meet half of its stated household goal, t he department shall not63 disburse the remainder of the grant award. In order for a prev ious local government or64 nonprofit organization grant recipient to be eligible for any subsequent grants, such local65 government or nonprofit organization shall have met the household goal stated in its prior66 grant application.67 H. B. 1451 - 3 - 26 LC 59 9003 (g) The department shall promulgate such rules and regulations as may be reasonable and68 necessary for the administration of this article."69 SECTION 2.70 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.71 H. B. 1451 - 4 -