1. (a) Subject to the availability of funds, the Department, in consultation with the Department of Veterans and Military Families, shall establish a program to provide no-interest loans under this subtitle to:

   1. (1) small business employers of reserve component members who are called to active duty;
   2. (2) businesses owned by reserve component members who are called to active duty;
2. (b) If the availability of funds is limited, in making loans under this subtitle, the Department, in consultation with the Department of Veterans and Military Families, shall give priority to the businesses described in subsection (a)(2) and (3) of this section.
3. (c) In making loans under this subtitle, the Department, in consultation with the Department of Veterans and Military Families, shall take into consideration how to maximize the number of veterans and reserve component members who would benefit from loans made under this subtitle.

Added by Acts 2008, c. 306, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2008. Amended by Acts 2009, c. 730, § 1, eff. July 1, 2009; Acts 2013, c. 105, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2013; Acts 2015, c. 390, § 1, eff. July 1, 2015; Acts 2024, c. 382, § 5; Acts 2025, c. 5, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2025; Acts 2025, c. 6, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2025.