Bill Text: OR HB3512 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Relating to technical assistance provided to emerging growth businesses; declaring an emergency.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4)

Status: (Failed) 2013-07-08 - In committee upon adjournment. [HB3512 Detail]

Download: Oregon-2013-HB3512-Introduced.html

---

     77th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2013 Regular Session

NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .

LC 2468

                         House Bill 3512

Sponsored by Representatives WILLIAMSON, CLEM, Senator EDWARDS

                             SUMMARY

The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.

  Requires Oregon Business Development Department to develop and
implement regional Grow Oregon pilot program to provide marketing
and technical assistance to emerging growth businesses.
Authorizes department to seek funding and to enter into contracts
for provision of services to emerging growth businesses. Requires
department to obtain third-party evaluation of pilot program.
  Sunsets pilot program on June 30, 2015.
  Allocates moneys from Administrative Services Economic
Development Fund to department for development and implementation
of pilot program.
  Declares emergency, effective July 1, 2013.

                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to technical assistance provided to emerging growth
  businesses; and declaring an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1.  { + (1)(a) As used in this section, 'emerging
growth business' means a business with high growth potential
that:
  (A) Has between 5 and 99 employees;
  (B) Has demonstrated growth in gross sales, net profit or net
employment in three of the last five years or, if the business
has been operating for less than five years, has demonstrated
growth in gross sales, net profit or net employment in two of the
last three years; and
  (C) Is in the traded sector, as defined in ORS 285A.010, and is
positioned for growth.
  (b) The Oregon Business Development Department by rule may
modify and add to the list of the characteristics of an emerging
growth business in paragraph (a) of this subsection.
  (2) The department shall, together with the network of small
business development centers established under ORS 285B.165 to
285B.171 and the Oregon University System, enter into contracts
as necessary to develop and implement a regional Grow Oregon
pilot program based on the findings of the Grow Oregon Council
created under section 1, chapter 90, Oregon Laws 2010. The
department shall use a public procurement process, with criteria
and measurable outcomes determined by the department, to select
the region in which the pilot program will be located.

  (3) The pilot program contracted for, developed and implemented
under this section shall deliver and provide one or more of the
following services to eligible applicants:
  (a) Consultation, advice and information about targeted
marketing strategies, research and analysis.
  (b) Marketing recommendations, including information about
geographic information systems interpretation.
  (c) Technical assistance and information about the use and
application of social media and technology.
  (4)(a) An emerging growth business may file with the department
an application to receive one or more of the services described
in subsection (3) of this section. The application must contain
or be accompanied by any required information and fee, and must
be filed in such a manner, as the department may prescribe by
rule.
  (b) The department shall develop by rule criteria, including
criteria for performing a business needs assessment, for the
approval of completed applications filed pursuant to paragraph
(a) of this subsection.
  (5) The department shall provide the services described in
subsection (3) of this section upon determining that:
  (a) Moneys are available to provide the services to the
applicant;
  (b) The applicant has a need for the services;
  (c) The applicant has a reasonable prospect of accessing new
markets, creating jobs and increasing revenues with receipt of
the services; and
  (d) The applicant meets the criteria developed under subsection
(4)(b) of this section and conditions of the business needs
assessment performed by the department under subsection (4)(b) of
this section.
  (6) The department may charge a reasonable fee to an emerging
growth business whose application is approved under subsection
(4) of this section for the provision of services described in
subsection (3) of this section. Fees received under this
subsection may be used by the department for the administration
of the Grow Oregon pilot program and for the direct costs of
approving applications and performing business needs assessments
under subsection (4)(b) of this section.
  (7) The department may, in consultation with the network of
small business development centers established in ORS 285B.165 to
285B.171 and the Oregon University System, seek funding from
federal sources and private sector investments to support the
provision of services to emerging growth businesses under this
section.
  (8) The department may enter into contracts with private,
nonprofit and public business entities for the provision of
services to emerging growth businesses under this section.
  (9) Where possible, the department shall integrate the services
described in subsection (3) of this section with services that
are available in the existing business development infrastructure
when the department provides services to an emerging growth
business under this section.
  (10) The department shall obtain an independent third-party
evaluation of the Grow Oregon pilot program contracted for,
developed and implemented under this section and, following the
completion of the evaluation, shall prepare and submit a report
to the committees of the Legislative Assembly that have authority
over the subject area of business and economic development on the
date of the convening of the 2015 regular session of the
Legislative Assembly as specified in ORS 171.010. + }
  SECTION 2.  { + The Legislative Assembly finds that the
development and implementation of a regional Grow Oregon pilot
program for the provision of services by the Oregon Business
Development Department, as described in section 1 of this 2013
Act, will assist emerging growth businesses in Oregon with their
business and marketing needs so as to enhance the positive growth
of those businesses and the ability of those businesses to hire
new employees. + }
  SECTION 3.  { + There is allocated for the biennium beginning
July 1, 2013, from the Administrative Services Economic
Development Fund, to the Oregon Business Development Department,
the amount of $_______ for the purposes of section 1 of this 2013
Act. + }
  SECTION 4.  { + Sections 1 and 2 of this 2013 Act are repealed
on June 30, 2015. + }
  SECTION 5.  { + This 2013 Act being necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency
is declared to exist, and this 2013 Act takes effect July 1,
2013. + }
                         ----------