NEWSRELEASE
For Release: August 10, 2005
Contact: John McDowell, (202) 205-6941
john.mcdowell@sba.gov
BA Number: 05-39 ADVO
Press Kit
Alaska Acts To Support Small Business
Gives Small Business A Voice In The State Regulatory Process
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Alaskas small businesses will face a friendlier regulatory environment, thanks to a new law that gives Alaskan small businesses a voice in the states regulatory process.
Upon signing the regulatory flexibility bill Governor Frank Murkowski said, HB 33 is a step in the right direction to ensure the small business community in Alaska has a voice in crafting the regulations that affect their ability to make a living. This in turn will mean that agencies specified in the bill will have to consider the adverse impacts to small business before promulgating regulations. I am encouraged by this move to help return common sense to the regulatory process affecting a very important sector of our economy.
House Bill 33 implements key elements of regulatory flexibility model legislation drafted by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Similar to the federal Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), the model legislation encourages entrepreneurial success by requiring state agencies to consider the impact of their policies on small business before they issue final regulations.
The bills primary sponsor was Representative Kevin Meyer and co-sponsors included Representatives Tom Anderson, Sharon Cissna, Richard Foster, Mike Kelly, Vic Kohring, Lesil McGuire, Mark Neuman, Norman Rokeberg, and Peggy Wils.
Representative Meyer noted that, Small business is the dynamo that powers our economy and every dollar a small business puts towards complying with cumbersome government regulations is a dollar that cannot be spent expanding the business, providing benefits or hiring new employees. I sponsored HB 33 because I see smarter regulations as an economic development tool and strongly feel that we can add an awareness of the needs of small businesses to the regulatory process without compromising the health, safety or welfare of the public.
The bill also received support from Wayne Stevens, President of the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce who said, Creating business awareness during the regulatory process will ultimately create better regulations allowing for a better business climate. We look forward to the new regulatory process.
For more information, visit the Small Business Friendly Regulation, Model Legislation for States section of the Office of Advocacy website at www.sba.gov/advo/laws/law_modeleg.html.
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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, 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.