Section 12100.81 - [Effective until 6/30/2024] Disproportionate impact of COVID-19 pandemic on small businessesThe Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) Small businesses form the core of the California economy. It is in the interest of the state, to the extent permissible under state and federal equal protection laws, to increase opportunities and improve access to business and technical resources for entrepreneurs, the self-employed, and microbusiness and small business owners, particularly underserved business groups, including women, minority, and veteran-owned businesses, undocumented persons, or persons who are limited English proficient, and businesses in low-wealth, rural, and disaster-impacted communities.(b) The current COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately harmed small businesses, particularly ones owned by underserved groups. Despite federal stimulus and small business efforts to pivot, adapt to new health and safety guidance, and shift to online sales where feasible, many small businesses continue to face enormous risks to their survival. Added by Stats 2021 ch 7 (SB 87),s 1, eff. 2/23/2021.