FL H0797

Creates the Veterans Employment Small Business Grant Program within the Department of Economic Opportunity to provide grants to small businesses that hire honorably discharged veterans or disabled veterans.

Defines "small business" as independently owned, for-profit, privately held businesses with 200 or fewer employees, $2 million or less in annual revenue, and a principal place of business in Florida for at least 4 calendar years.

Provides one-time grants of $3,000 per veteran, $5,000 per disabled veteran, and $1,000 additional for veterans employed beyond 12 months, with a $25,000 annual cap per small business.

Requires participating small businesses to pay veterans at least 80 percent of the state's annual median veteran income, reinvest grant funds in the business, and reimburse grants if veterans leave within 1 year.

Appropriates $10 million in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund for fiscal year 2015-2016, with a maximum of $800,000 in grants awardable per fiscal year, effective July 1, 2015.