Bill Text: MS SB2452 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Entrepreneur in Residence Pilot Program; establish under authority of the Small Business Regulatory Review Committee.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2014-02-04 - Died In Committee [SB2452 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2014-SB2452-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Finance
By: Senator(s) Tollison
Senate Bill 2452
AN ACT TO CREATE THE ENTREPRENEUR IN RESIDENCE PILOT PROGRAM COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE FOR BETTER OUTREACH BY STATE GOVERNMENT TO SMALL BUSINESSES; TO PROVIDE THAT THE SMALL BUSINESS REGULATORY REVIEW COMMITTEE SHALL SELECT STATE AGENCIES THAT HAVE FUNCTIONS AFFECTING SMALL BUSINESSES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PILOT PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE THAT THE SMALL BUSINESS REGULATORY REVIEW COMMITTEE SHALL ASSIGN ENTREPRENEURS IN RESIDENCE FROM AMONG INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF SMALL BUSINESSES AND WHO ARE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR FIELDS; TO PROVIDE THAT UPON CONCLUSION OF THE PILOT PROGRAM, THE SMALL BUSINESS REGULATORY REVIEW COMMITTEE SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY WITH ITS RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) The Small Business Regulatory Review Committee, created in Section 25-43-4.103, shall establish and operate an Entrepreneur in Residence Pilot Program. The mission of the Entrepreneur in Residence Pilot Program is to provide for better outreach by state government to small businesses, to strengthen coordination and interaction between state government and small businesses, and to make state government programs and functions simpler, easier to access, more efficient, and more responsive to the needs of small businesses.
(2) Not later than one hundred eighty (180) days after the effective date of this section, the committee shall do both of the following:
(a) Select not fewer than three (3) nor more than five (5) state agencies that have programs or perform functions affecting small businesses to participate in the Entrepreneur in Residence Pilot Program; and
(b) Assign only one (1) entrepreneur in residence to each state agency that is participating in the Entrepreneur in Residence Pilot Program.
(3) The Offices of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Auditor, Treasurer and Attorney General shall not be state agencies for purposes of participation in the Entrepreneur in Residence Pilot Program.
(4) The committee shall assign entrepreneurs in residence from among individuals who are representative of small businesses and who are successful in their fields.
(5) The assignment of an entrepreneur in residence is for one (1) year after the date on which the entrepreneur in residence is assigned to a state agency.
(6) The committee shall monitor the work of entrepreneurs in residence during the pilot program. A state agency shall cooperate with the council to facilitate this monitoring.
(7) An entrepreneur in residence shall do all of the following:
(a) Facilitate meetings or forums to educate small business owners and operators about the programs or functions of the state agency that affect small businesses;
(b) Facilitate in-service sessions with employees of the state agency on issues of concern to small business owners and operators;
(c) Advise the state agency on how its programs and functions that affect small businesses may be improved to further the mission of the entrepreneur in residence pilot program;
(d) Provide technical assistance or mentorships to small businesses in accessing the programs or functions of the state agency that affect small businesses; and
(e) Perform any other activity that furthers the mission of the Entrepreneur in Residence Pilot Program.
(8) An entrepreneur in residence shall report directly to the executive director or other head of the state agency. An entrepreneur in residence shall not be entitled to compensation, but is entitled to reimbursement from the state agency of the actual and necessary expenses the entrepreneur in residence incurs in discharge of the entrepreneur in residence's duties.
(9) Not later than one (1) year from the date an entrepreneur in residence is assigned to a state agency, the entrepreneur in residence shall prepare a report on the state agency. In the report, the entrepreneur in residence shall make recommendations to the state agency that furthers the mission of the Entrepreneur in Residence Pilot Program. In particular, the entrepreneur in residence shall make recommendations to the state agency regarding all of the following:
(a) Elimination of inefficient or duplicative programs or functions of the state agency that affect small businesses;
(b) Methods of improving the efficiency of the programs or functions of the state agency that affect small businesses;
(c) Any new program or function affecting small businesses that should be established and implemented by the state agency; and
(d) Any other matter that will further the mission of the Entrepreneur in Residence Pilot Program.
The entrepreneur in residence shall provide a copy of the report to the committee and to the state agency.
(10) During or upon conclusion of the Entrepreneur in Residence Pilot Program, the committee shall convene an informal working group of entrepreneurs in residence to discuss best practices, experiences and opportunities for, and obstacles to, operating small businesses as well as the recommendations in the reports prepared by the entrepreneurs in residence.
(11) Upon conclusion of the Entrepreneur in Residence Pilot Program, and after considering the reports of the entrepreneurs in residence and information learned from any informal working group, the committee shall prepare a report on the Entrepreneur in Residence Pilot Program. In the report, the committee shall recommend whether the Entrepreneur in Residence Pilot Program should be repeated with or without modifications, made permanent with or without modifications, or abandoned. The committee shall append the reports of the entrepreneurs in residence to its report. If the pilot program is repeated or made permanent, an individual who previously was assigned as an entrepreneur in residence shall not be reassigned as an entrepreneur in residence.
The committee shall provide a copy of its report to the Mississippi Development Authority.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2014.
