NEWSRELEASE
For Release: September 13, 2004
Contact: John McDowell, (202) 205-6941
john.mcdowell@sba.gov
SBA Number: 04-31 ADVO
Press Kit
Rhode Island Acts To Support Small Business
Gives Small Business A Voice In The State Regulatory Process
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rhode Island small businesses will face a friendlier regulatory environment, thanks to new legislation signed into law by Governor Donald Carcieri. The new law gives Rhode Island’s small businesses a voice in the state’s regulatory process.
“Rhode Island’s small business owners now have a seat at the table when regulatory decisions are made,” said Thomas M. Sullivan, Chief Counsel for Advocacy. “When their voice is heard, better decisions are made, and that means more jobs and growth for Rhode Island. Small business owners are lucky that they have friends like Governor Donald Carcieri and the bill’s sponsor,
Senator Leo Blais,” he said.The Rhode Island Regulatory Flexibility Act (S 3233) implements elements of small business friendly regulatory legislation put forward as a model by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Similar to the federal Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), it encourages entrepreneurial success by requiring state agencies to consider the impact of their policies on small business before they issue final regulations.
The model legislation, endorsed by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), is pending in 11 states. In the past year, small business regulatory flexibility has been implemented in six other states, most recently in Missouri and Kentucky.
“The signing of this bill is the first step towards guaranteeing the viability of Rhode Island’s small businesses,” said Senator Blais. “It reinforces our state’s commitment to small business, and it provides them with a process to ensure that they are not deterred by undue regulations.”
Passage and signing of the “Rhode Island Regulatory Flexibility Act” resulted from Rhode Island small business stakeholders working to promote small business. This coalition included the Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce and the Smaller Business Association of New England (SBANE).
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.###
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 Counsel’s efforts. For more information on the Office of Advocacy, visit
www.sba.gov/advo, or call (202) 205-6533.