SB2226

Report Title:

Small Business; Regulatory Flexibility; Small Business Defender

Description:

Makes the Hawaii Small Regulatory Flexibility Act permanent. Appropriates funds for the office of small business defender.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2226
TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO SMALL BUSINESS.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature supports small businesses and recognizes their contributions to the State's economy. Small businesses are essential in building a strong, viable economy, and must be supported and assisted in their endeavors. Act 168, Session Laws of Hawaii 1998, the Hawaii Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Act, has been successful in promoting the growth and vitality of small businesses by streamlining administrative rules affecting them. The Act also assists small businesses by providing regulatory reviews to facilitate rule changes or new legislation. The legislature further supports funding the position of small business defender to assist small businesses in resolving disputes with state agencies involving fines under $25,000. The purpose of this Act is to repeal the sunset provision in Act 168, Session Laws of Hawaii 1998, and to provide necessary funds for the operation of the small business defender.

SECTION 2. Act 168, Session Laws of Hawaii 1998, is amended by amending section 5 to read as follows:

"SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 1998[, and shall be repealed as of June 30, 2002]."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2002-2003, to establish the office of the small business defender within the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purpose of representing, defending, and providing legal representation to any small business involving civil citations issued by a state or county agency, as provided in section 3 of Act 168, Session Laws of Hawaii 1998.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on June 29, 2002; provided that section 3 shall take effect on July 1, 2002.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________