1. (a) A person is a qualified business if the bank, for the purpose of state benefits under this chapter, or the nominating body of a project or activity of the person under this chapter, for the purpose of local incentives, certifies that:

   1. (1) the person is engaged in or has provided substantial commitment to initiate the active conduct of a trade or business in an enterprise zone, and at least 25 percent of the person's new permanent jobs in the enterprise zone are held by:

      1. (A) residents of any enterprise zone in this state;
      2. (B) economically disadvantaged individuals; or
      3. (C) veterans; or

   2. (2) the person is engaged in or has provided substantial commitment to initiate the active conduct of a trade or business in an area of this state that does not qualify as an enterprise zone, and at least 35 percent of the person's new permanent jobs at the qualified business site are held by:

      1. (A) residents of any enterprise zone in this state;
      2. (B) individuals who are economically disadvantaged; or
      3. (C) veterans.
2. (b) Repealed by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 814, Sec. 6.01(6).

3. (c) For the purposes of this section, an economically disadvantaged individual is an individual who:

   1. (1) was unemployed for at least three months before obtaining employment with the qualified business;
   2. (2) receives public assistance benefits, including welfare payments or food stamps, based on need and intended to alleviate poverty;
   3. (3) is a low-income individual, as defined by Section 101, Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. Section 2801(25));
   4. (4) is an individual with a disability, as defined by 29 U.S.C. Section 705(20)(A);
   5. (5) is an inmate, as defined by Section 498.001;
   6. (6) is entering the workplace after being confined in a facility operated by or under contract with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for the imprisonment of individuals convicted of felonies other than state jail felonies;
   7. (7) has been released by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department and is on parole, if state law provides for such a person to be on parole;
   8. (8) meets the current low income or moderate income limits developed under Section 8, United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. Section 1437f et seq.); or
   9. (9) was under the permanent managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services on the day preceding the individual's 18th birthday.

Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993. Renumbered from Government Code Sec. 2303.401 and amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 5.52(a) and

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 985, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1, 1995;

Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 814, Sec. 3.10, 6.01(6), eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1114 (H.B. 3694), Sec. 5, eff. June 15, 2007.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 87 (S.B. 1969), Sec. 25.089, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1116 (H.B. 1043), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 591 (S.B. 100), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2015.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 734 (H.B. 1549), Sec. 116, eff. September 1, 2015.