Terms Used In Florida Statutes 288.71025

  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Department: means the Department of Economic Opportunity. See Florida Statutes 288.005
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Loan program: means a program established in this chapter to provide appropriated funds to an eligible entity to further a specific state purpose for a limited period of time and with a requirement that such appropriated funds be repaid to the state. See Florida Statutes 288.005
  • person: includes individuals, children, firms, associations, joint adventures, partnerships, estates, trusts, business trusts, syndicates, fiduciaries, corporations, and all other groups or combinations. See Florida Statutes 1.01
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.

(1) It is unlawful for any person to hold itself out as a black business investment corporation without being certified as eligible to participate in the Florida Black Business Loan Program.
(2) In addition to any other penalties or remedies provided under law, the department may bring a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction against any person for a knowing or willful violation of this section. Upon an adverse adjudication, the court may impose a civil penalty of up to $500 and payment of court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees incurred by the plaintiff.