NEWSRELEASE
For Release: July 18, 2008
Contact:
john.mcdowell@sba.gov
SBA Number: 08-19 ADVO
Press Kit
Louisiana Steps Up Support For Small Business
Small Businesses Will Benefit From New Regulatory Process
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Governor Jindal and the Louisiana state legislature have stepped up support for Louisiana’s 364,900 small businesses with the recent passage and signing of House Bill 368, the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Act. Representative Rickey Nowlin (Natchitoches) was the bill’s primary author.
“Governor Jindal and the Louisiana legislature have taken a positive step toward minimizing the regulatory burden on the state’s small businesses,” said Thomas M. Sullivan, Chief Counsel for Advocacy.
The new law requires state agencies to analyze the economic impact of proposed rules on small business and to consider less burdensome alternatives that still accomplish the regulatory goal. It also requires state agencies to notify small businesses of the costs associated with the proposed new rules.
“Our goal is to have state agencies really consider the impact of regulations on small businesses and to seek alternative ways for small businesses to comply with the regulatory objectives in a cost effective manner,” said Rep. Nowlin.
The passage and signing of H.B. 368 is a result of Representative Nowlin, the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, and small business trade groups working together to find this common sense approach to regulatory reform. Led by the National Federation of Independent Business/Louisiana, the trade groups included the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, Associated Builders and Contractors, and the Baton Rouge Area Chamber.
“Regulatory reform and flexibility was one of our top priorities this legislative session,” said Renee Baker, state director of NFIB/Louisiana. “Our small businesses deserve a chance to respond to proposed new regulations that could cost them money and hurt their ability to grow and create jobs.”
Louisiana’s new law is based on model legislation developed by the SBA Office of Advocacy. Similar to the federal Regulatory Flexibility Act, the model encourages entrepreneurial success by requiring state agencies to consider the impact of their regulations on small business before those regulations become final.
For more information, visit the Office of Advocacy’s Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Model Legislation Initiative webpage at
www.sba.gov/advo/laws/law_modeleg.html.###
The Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is an independent voice for small business within the federal government. The presidentially appointed Chief Counsel for Advocacy advances the views, concerns, and interests of small business before Congress, the White House, federal agencies, federal courts, and state policy makers. For more information, visit
www.sba.gov/advo, or call (202) 205-6533.