• SBA Offers State Compliance Model

• Happy Holidays

SBA Offers State Compliance Model

Thomas M. Sullivan, U.S. Small Business Administration's Chief Counsel for Advocacy, recently unveiled model regulatory compliance legislation for all 50 states. According to the SBA press release, the legislation was introduced at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) States and Nation Policy Summit, and is modeled after the federal Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). That act encourages entrepreneurial success by requiring federal agencies to consider their impact on small business before they issue final regulations.

"The Office of Advocacy saved small business owners over $4 billion in foregone regulatory compliance costs last year alone," Mr. Sullivan said in a statement. "We did that by bringing the voice of small business to federal agencies early in the regulatory process. The same thing can happen in the states if they adopt this model legislation," he said.

Currently states offer a patchwork of laws that protect small business owners and their employees from excessive regulatory mandates. Some states offer protections similar to the RFA and enforcement mechanisms that mirror the role of the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).  Other states offer little or no protection from the one-size-fits-all regulatory mentality. The model legislation, according to the press release, would save states billions in foregone regulatory compliance costs.

For more information, complete text of the model legislation and a report outlining existing state regulatory protection for small business, visit the Office of Advocacy Web site at www.sba.gov/advo.
 

Happy Holidays

In observance of the upcoming holidays, Washington Watch will not publish until January 8. Keep updated with NASE news and legislative advocacy at www.nase.org. The NASE wishes you and yours the best this holiday season.
 

Do any of these issues affect you? Do you want to be proactive in helping the micro-business community? Visit the NASE's Legislative Action Center and “Tell Your Small Business Story.” This will help the NASE understand - on a personal level - how key legislative issues are affecting your business and your bottom line.

For more information about any of the articles in Washington Watch, contact Maureen Petron, NASE public affairs manager, at (202) 466-2100 or mpetron@nase.org.