NEWSRELEASE
For Release: June 30, 2004
Contact: John McDowell, (202) 205-6941
john.mcdowell@sba.gov
SBA Number: 04-23 ADVO
Small Businesses
Gain Foothold In Missouris
Regulatory Process
WASHINGTON, D.C. Missouris more than 130,000 small businesses can see improvement in the regulatory environment, due to legislation signed into law by Governor Bob Holden. The bill (HB 978) gives Missouris small businesses a foothold in the states regulatory process.
"Missouris small business owners are likely to see changes in Missouris regulatory system," Chief Counsel for Advocacy Thomas M. Sullivan said. "This bill brings Missouris small businesses a step closer to having their voice heard in the regulatory process," he said.
The new law creates the Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board which will serve as a liaison between agencies and small businesses. The law implements some elements of small business friendly regulatory legislation put forward as a model by the Office of Advocacy of the SBA. Similar to the federal Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), the model encourages entrepreneurial success by requiring state agencies to consider their impact on small business before they issue final regulations.
"Small business is big business in Missouri," said Senator Anita Yeckel the bills Senate sponsor. As a state government, we need to foster growth of these businesses instead of making it more difficult for them. The Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board will make doing business easier for small business."
Passage and signing of the "Small Business Regulatory Fairness Initiative" is a result of Missouri small business stakeholders working together to promote small business. The bill was introduced by Representative Brian Baker in the General Assembly and by Senator Yeckel in the Senate.
The model legislation, endorsed by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), has been introduced in 17 states. In the past year, small business regulatory flexibility has been implemented in six states, most recently in Connecticut, South Carolina, and Kentucky.
The Office of Advocacy, the "small business watchdog" of the government, examines the role and status of small business in the economy and independently represents the views of small business to federal agencies, Congress, and the President. It is the source for small business statistics presented in user-friendly formats and it funds research into small business issues.
For more information, visit the Office of Advocacy website at www.sba.gov/advo.
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Created by Congress in 1976, the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is an independent voice for small business within the federal government. Appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, the Chief Counsel for Advocacy directs the office. The Chief Counsel advances the views, concerns, and interests of small business before Congress, the White House, federal agencies, federal courts, and state policy makers. Economic research, policy analyses, and small business outreach help identify issues of concern. Regional Advocates and an office in Washington, DC, support the Chief Counsels efforts. For more information on the Office of Advocacy, visit www.sba.gov/advo, or call (202) 205-6533.