An Act To Reduce Regulatory Costs for Maine Businesses
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0347
Committee Amendment CA_A_S269 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 111, L.D. 347, Bill, "An Act To 
Reduce Regulatory Costs for Maine Businesses" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
'Sec. 1.·5 MRS A §3304-A is enacted to read: 
§3304-A. Small Business Regulatory Advocate 
1. 
Small Business Regulatory Advocate. 
The Small Business Regulatory 
Advocate, referred to in this section as "the advocate," is established in the office. The 
advocate must be qualified by education, training and experience in advocacy, policies 
and assistance for small businesses. The advocate must be an individual who provides 
technical suppOli to the Maine Regulatory· Fairness Board pursuant to section 57, 
subsection 6. 
2. Powers and duties. The advocate shall: 
A. Assist small businesses in resolving problems with state agencies and business 
owners that face hardship as a result of actions taken by a regulatory agency; 
B. 
Identity areas in which small businesses have problems in dealings with state 
agencies; 
C. Propose changes in the administrative practices of state agencies to mitigate those 
problems identified pursuant to paragraph B; 
D. 
Identity potential legislative chailges that may be appropriate to mitigate 
problems identified pursuant to paragraph B; and 
E. 
RepOli annually to the Governor and to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over business, research and economic development 
matters detailing the regulatory assistance provided to small businesses. The advocate 
may submit recommendations for legislative action the advocate determines 
necessary to further the purposes of this section. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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·9 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. Ill, L.D. 347 
Departments, agencies, authorities, boards, commissions, other instrumentalities of the 
State and other governmental units shall assist the advocate in the gathering of 
information, reports and data that relate to small business assistance. 
Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. 
The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT 
Planning Office 0082 
Initiative: Provides funding for one Small Business Regulatory Advocate position at the 
State Planning Office. 
GENERAL FUND 
POSITIONS - FTE COUNT 
Personal Services 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
SUMMARY 
2009-10 
2010-11 
1.000 
1.000 
$61,090 
$61,090 
$39,777 
$39,777 
$100,867 
$100,867 
This amendment is the minority report of the committee and replaces the bill. It 
establishes the Small Business Regulatory Advocate in order to assist small businesses in 
resolving problems with state agencies and business owners that face hardship as a result 
of actions taken by a regulatory agency. It also requires that the advocate must be an 
individual from the Executive Department, State Planning Office who provides technical 
assistance to the Maine Regulatory Fairness Board. It further requires the advocate to 
identify areas in which small businesses have problems in dealings with state agencies, 
propose changes in the administrative practices of state agencies to mitigate those 
identified problems and identify potential legislative changes that may be appropriate to 
mitigate such problems. The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations 
section. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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Approved: 05/15/09 
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Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
LD347 
LR 734(02) 
An Act To Reduce Regulatory Costs for Maine Businesses 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "4,, 
Committee: Business, Research and Economic Development' 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
2009-10 
$100,867 
2010-11 
$100,867 
Projections 
2011-12 
$104,488 
( 
Appropriations/Allocations 
General Fund 
$100,867 
$100,867 
$104,488 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Projections 
2012-13 
$104,488 
$104,488 
The bill provides an appropriation of $1 00,867 in each year of the 201 0-20 11 biennium for one new position in the 
Executive Department, State Planning Office. The newly created position of Small Business Regulatory Advocate 
will assist small businesses in resolving problems with state agencies and will serve to support the Maine Regulatory 
Fairness Board. 
The additional costs for all other agencies/departments, authorities, boards, commissions or other instrumentalities of 
the state or other governmental units associated with gathering information, repOJis and data which may relate to small 
business assistance can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR0734(02) Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1