National Small Business Regulatory Assistance Act of 2005

Bill: 109-hr-230
Sponsor: Rep. Sweeney, John E. [R-NY-20]
Introduced: 2005-01-04 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Administrative remedies
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
Internet
Law
Regulatory impact statements
Right of privacy
Science, Technology, Communications
Small Business Administration
Small business
Social Welfare
Web sites

Summary:
action_date: 2005-01-04
text: National Small Business Regulatory Assistance Act of 2005 - 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.
action_date: 2005-07-28
text: National Small Business Regulatory Assistance Act of 2005 - Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish a program to provide regulatory compliance assistance to small businesses through selected 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 selected 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; (5) referrals to providers of compliance assistance; and (6) access to the Internet and training on Internet use. Requires quarterly reports from each selected Center to the Administrator on assistance provided. 
Directs the Administrator to: (1) act as the repository of and clearinghouse for data and information submitted by Centers; (2) report annually to the President and the congressional small business committees on assistance provided; and (3) establish an Internet website that provides access to websites containing industry-specific regulatory compliance information. Directs the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the SBA to: (1) review the Administrator's list of small business regulations; (2) identify those regulations having a significant impact on small businesses; (3) request the federal review of any such regulations; and (4) publish an annual report of such regulations and their disposition. 
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 a minimum grant amount of $200,000. Directs the Comptroller General to evaluate the grant program and report evaluation results to the Administrator and the small business committees. Authorizes appropriations. 
Requires the Administrator to promulgate final regulations to carry out this Act, after providing notice and an opportunity for comment and after consulting with the Association.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-07-28
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 121.
action_date: 2005-07-28
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Small Business. H. Rept. 109-208.
action_date: 2005-07-28
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Small Business. H. Rept. 109-208.
action_date: 2005-07-14
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2005-07-14
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2005-07-13
text: Committee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2005-01-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
action_date: 2005-01-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2005-01-04
text: Introduced in House