National Small Business Regulatory Assistance Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-205
Sponsor: Rep. Sweeney, John E. [R-NY-20]
Introduced: 2003-01-07 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Associations, institutions, etc.
Business education
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Counseling
Data banks
Economics and Public Finance
Electronic government information
Government Operations and Politics
Government and business
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Government regulation
Grants-in-aid
Law
Regulatory impact statements
Right of privacy
Science, Technology, Communications
Small Business Administration
Small business
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2003-01-07
text: National Small Business Regulatory Assistance Act of 2003 - Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), acting through the Associate Administrator for Small Business Development Centers, to establish a program to provide regulatory compliance assistance to small businesses through participating Small Business Development Centers (Centers), the Association for Small Business Development Centers (Association), and Federal compliance partnership programs. Requires the Administrator to enter into arrangements with participating Centers to provide: (1) access to regulatory information and resources; (2) training and education activities; (3) confidential counseling to owners and operators of small businesses regarding compliance with Federal and State regulations; and (4) technical assistance.
Directs the Administrator to contract with the Association to act as the repository of and clearinghouse for data and information submitted by Centers.
Requires the Administrator, giving substantial weight to the Association's recommendations, to select the Centers programs of two States from each of ten groups of States for participation in the program. Authorizes the Administrator to make additional selections after three years, with a preference for programs that have a plan for consulting with Federal and State agencies to ensure that assistance provided under this Act is not duplicated by any other Federal or State program. Sets forth the formula for determining program grant amounts.
Provides privacy requirements applicable to such Centers.
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced in the House on January 7, 2003. However, because action occurred on the measure, the summary has been expanded.)

National Small Business Regulatory Assistance Act of 2003 - Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), acting through the Associate Administrator for Small Business Development Centers, to establish a program to provide regulatory compliance assistance to small businesses through participating Small Business Development Centers (Centers), the Association for Small Business Development Centers (Association), and Federal compliance partnership programs. Requires the Administrator to enter into arrangements with participating Centers to provide: (1) access to regulatory information and resources; (2) training and education activities; (3) confidential counseling to owners and operators of small businesses regarding compliance with Federal and State regulations; (4) technical assistance; and (5) referrals to experts and other providers of compliance assistance. Requires quarterly reports to the SBA from participating Centers.
Directs the Administrator to act as the repository of and clearinghouse for data and information submitted by Centers and to transmit annual program reports to the President and the congressional small business committees.
Requires the Administrator, giving substantial weight to the Association's recommendations, to select the Centers programs of two States from each of ten groups of States for participation in the program. Authorizes the Administrator to make additional selections after three years. Directs the Administrator to give selection preference to programs that have a plan for consulting with Federal and State agencies to ensure that assistance provided under this Act is not duplicated by any other Federal or State program. Sets forth the formula for determining program grant amounts.
Requires the Comptroller General to evaluate the program and transmit evaluation results to the Administrator and the small business committees.
Authorizes appropriations.
Provides privacy requirements applicable to such Centers.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-09
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 417 - 4 (Roll no. 116). (text:  CR H2879-2880)
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 417 - 4 (Roll no. 116).(text:  CR H2879-2880)
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration:  CR H2909-2910)
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 205.
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration:  CR H2879-2883)
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: Mr. Manzullo moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2003-01-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
action_date: 2003-01-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-01-07
text: Introduced in House