Bill Text: IN SB0166 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Small business assistance team.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-01-04 - First reading: referred to Committee on Commerce & Economic Development [SB0166 Detail]
Download: Indiana-2012-SB0166-Introduced.html
Introduced Version
SENATE BILL No. 166
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DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 5-32.
Synopsis: Small business assistance team. Establishes the small
business assistance team and designates the membership of the team.
Specifies the duties that the small business assistance team shall carry
out to assist small businesses in Indiana. Provides that, upon request by
the small business assistance team, state agencies and other state
entities shall designate an employee to: (1) assist the small business
assistance team in carrying out the team's duties; and (2) act as a liaison
between the team and the agency or entity. Specifies that the small
business assistance team may not refuse to provide assistance or
information to an individual or entity because of an individual's income
or other compensation, credit history, credit score, employment history,
or criminal history. Requires the small business assistance team to
submit an annual report to the legislative council.
Effective: Upon passage.
Randolph
January 4, 2012, read first time and referred to Committee on Commerce & Economic
Development.
Introduced
Second Regular Session 117th General Assembly (2012)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or
SENATE BILL No. 166
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
economic development.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
SOURCE: IC 5-32; (12)IN0166.1.1. -->
SECTION 1. IC 5-32 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A
NEW ARTICLE TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE UPON
PASSAGE]:
ARTICLE 32. SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE AND COORDINATION
Chapter 1. Small Business Assistance Team
Sec. 1. The small business assistance team is established to encourage the establishment and growth of small businesses in Indiana as provided in this article.
Sec. 2. The small business assistance team consists of the following members:
(1) One (1) member designated by each of the following:
(A) The lieutenant governor.
(B) The secretary of state.
(C) The commissioner of the department of workforce development.
(D) The commissioner of the department of labor.
(E) The commissioner of the department of state revenue.
(F) The commissioner of the department of local government finance.
(G) The commissioner of the department of environmental management.
(H) The commissioner of the Indiana department of transportation.
(2) The small business ombudsman.
(3) A member designated by the Purdue University technology assistance program that provides university based business assistance.
Sec. 3. A member of the small business assistance team is not entitled to any per diem for carrying out the duties of the team. However, a member of the small business assistance team is entitled to reimbursement for any traveling expenses as provided under IC 4-13-1-4 and other expenses actually incurred in connection with the member's duties as provided in the state policies and procedures established by the Indiana department of administration and approved by the budget agency.
Sec. 4. The small business assistance team must meet at least two (2) times each year.
Chapter 2. Duties of the Small Business Assistance Team
Sec. 1. The small business assistance team shall do the following:
(1) Coordinate and streamline the efforts undertaken by the state to encourage the establishment and growth of small businesses.
(2) Act as the one-stop point of contact for small businesses' interactions with the state.
(3) Assist small businesses to access capital and other private and public resources available for financing expansion, job creation, and job retention.
(4) Identify and publicize tax incentives, grants, loans, and loan guarantees designed to:
(A) encourage the establishment of small businesses; or
(B) assist small businesses that are expanding operations, relocating operations to Indiana, or hiring or training new employees.
(5) Work with state agencies, departments, authorities, or other instrumentalities of state government to streamline permitting processes.
(6) Assist small businesses in completing applications for state permits, licenses, and other regulatory approvals.
(7) Provide direct assistance to small businesses with respect to state and local permitting, licensing, and regulatory matters.
(8) Assist in identifying applicable rules, regulations, and permit requirements that may apply to a small business.
(9) Establish an Internet web site that will provide one-stop access to state level information and resources for small businesses.
(10) Respond appropriately and promptly to all requests for information from small businesses that need help in their interactions with the state.
(11) Encourage collaboration among institutions of higher education, research institutions, certified technology parks, small business incubators, units of local government, venture capitalists, and economic development professionals and organizations to promote the growth of small businesses in Indiana.
(12) Assist small businesses in determining work site, workforce training, and infrastructure availability and cost information.
(13) Assist small businesses in identifying state procurement opportunities and other state initiatives that support small businesses.
(14) Act as a liaison between and foster cooperation between small businesses and state, regional, and local economic development officials.
(15) Facilitate simplified and timely access by small businesses to governmental and nongovernmental resources and incentive programs.
Sec. 2. Upon request by the small business assistance team, an agency, department, authority, or instrumentality of state government shall designate an employee to:
(1) assist the small business assistance team in carrying out this chapter; and
(2) act as a liaison between the small business assistance team and the agency, department, authority, or instrumentality.
Sec. 3. The small business assistance team may not refuse to provide assistance or information under this chapter to an individual or entity because of the individual's:
(1) income or other compensation;
(2) credit history or credit score;
(3) employment history; or
(4) criminal history.
Sec. 4. (a) The small business assistance team shall before November 1 of each year submit a report to the legislative council:
(1) detailing the team's activities under this article during the preceding state fiscal year; and
(2) recommending any legislation that the team considers useful in coordinating and streamlining the efforts of state government to assist and encourage the growth of small businesses in Indiana.
(b) The annual report submitted under this section must be in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6.
ARTICLE 32. SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE AND COORDINATION
Chapter 1. Small Business Assistance Team
Sec. 1. The small business assistance team is established to encourage the establishment and growth of small businesses in Indiana as provided in this article.
Sec. 2. The small business assistance team consists of the following members:
(1) One (1) member designated by each of the following:
(A) The lieutenant governor.
(B) The secretary of state.
(C) The commissioner of the department of workforce development.
(D) The commissioner of the department of labor.
(E) The commissioner of the department of state revenue.
(F) The commissioner of the department of local government finance.
(G) The commissioner of the department of environmental management.
(H) The commissioner of the Indiana department of transportation.
(2) The small business ombudsman.
(3) A member designated by the Purdue University technology assistance program that provides university based business assistance.
Sec. 3. A member of the small business assistance team is not entitled to any per diem for carrying out the duties of the team. However, a member of the small business assistance team is entitled to reimbursement for any traveling expenses as provided under IC 4-13-1-4 and other expenses actually incurred in connection with the member's duties as provided in the state policies and procedures established by the Indiana department of administration and approved by the budget agency.
Sec. 4. The small business assistance team must meet at least two (2) times each year.
Chapter 2. Duties of the Small Business Assistance Team
Sec. 1. The small business assistance team shall do the following:
(1) Coordinate and streamline the efforts undertaken by the state to encourage the establishment and growth of small businesses.
(2) Act as the one-stop point of contact for small businesses' interactions with the state.
(3) Assist small businesses to access capital and other private and public resources available for financing expansion, job creation, and job retention.
(4) Identify and publicize tax incentives, grants, loans, and loan guarantees designed to:
(A) encourage the establishment of small businesses; or
(B) assist small businesses that are expanding operations, relocating operations to Indiana, or hiring or training new employees.
(5) Work with state agencies, departments, authorities, or other instrumentalities of state government to streamline permitting processes.
(6) Assist small businesses in completing applications for state permits, licenses, and other regulatory approvals.
(7) Provide direct assistance to small businesses with respect to state and local permitting, licensing, and regulatory matters.
(8) Assist in identifying applicable rules, regulations, and permit requirements that may apply to a small business.
(9) Establish an Internet web site that will provide one-stop access to state level information and resources for small businesses.
(10) Respond appropriately and promptly to all requests for information from small businesses that need help in their interactions with the state.
(11) Encourage collaboration among institutions of higher education, research institutions, certified technology parks, small business incubators, units of local government, venture capitalists, and economic development professionals and organizations to promote the growth of small businesses in Indiana.
(12) Assist small businesses in determining work site, workforce training, and infrastructure availability and cost information.
(13) Assist small businesses in identifying state procurement opportunities and other state initiatives that support small businesses.
(14) Act as a liaison between and foster cooperation between small businesses and state, regional, and local economic development officials.
(15) Facilitate simplified and timely access by small businesses to governmental and nongovernmental resources and incentive programs.
Sec. 2. Upon request by the small business assistance team, an agency, department, authority, or instrumentality of state government shall designate an employee to:
(1) assist the small business assistance team in carrying out this chapter; and
(2) act as a liaison between the small business assistance team and the agency, department, authority, or instrumentality.
Sec. 3. The small business assistance team may not refuse to provide assistance or information under this chapter to an individual or entity because of the individual's:
(1) income or other compensation;
(2) credit history or credit score;
(3) employment history; or
(4) criminal history.
Sec. 4. (a) The small business assistance team shall before November 1 of each year submit a report to the legislative council:
(1) detailing the team's activities under this article during the preceding state fiscal year; and
(2) recommending any legislation that the team considers useful in coordinating and streamlining the efforts of state government to assist and encourage the growth of small businesses in Indiana.
(b) The annual report submitted under this section must be in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6.
SOURCE: ; (12)IN0166.1.2. -->
SECTION 2. An emergency is declared for this act.
