What's happening
This bill requires every state agency to designate an employee as a small business liaison to assist and advocate for small businesses.
Why it matters
Makes state agencies more approachable for small businesses. by requiring every agency to have a clearly identified liaison, helping reduce confusion and bureaucratic barriers for business owners seeking assistance or information.
Gives small businesses a direct advocate inside each agency. , ensuring their concerns and needs are heard, reported, and potentially acted upon at higher levels within the agency.
Promotes transparency and accountability. by requiring agencies to track the volume of small business inquiries and consider whether a full-time position is needed, potentially leading to more dedicated resources if demand is high.
Encourages proactive outreach and education. , mandating that liaisons not only respond to questions but also initiate programs and collaborate on regulatory guides, making it easier for small businesses to understand and comply with state regulations.
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Who cares
Small businesses regulated by state agencies
They would gain a designated contact for regulatory questions, help navigating agency staff and an internal advocate for their concerns.
State agencies and agency heads
Each agency would have to designate an existing employee as liaison, post direct contact information online and assess whether inquiry volume warrants a separate full-time position.
Agency employees designated as liaisons
They would handle small business inquiries, recommend solutions, encourage outreach and collaborate on regulatory guides and flexibility analyses.
Department of Economic Development’s division for small business and the Small Business Development Center
Agency liaisons would be required to coordinate their activities with them.
Headline styles
Assign Small Business Liaisons
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to governmental operations
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 63–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.638
- Referred to commerce, economic development and small business
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to governmental operations
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
Show 2 earlier actions
- Ordered to third reading cal.2141
- Referred to rules
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6706
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
June 14, 2017
Introduced by Sen. AKSHAR -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the state administrative procedure act, in relation to each agency designating a small business liaison
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The state administrative procedure act is amended by adding a new section 102-b to read as follows:
§ 102-b. Small business liaison. Each agency shall designate an existing employee to serve as its liaison to small businesses regulated by such agency. The direct contact information of the small business liaison shall be prominently posted and easily accessible on the agency website. The small business liaison shall:
(a) serve as an initial primary contact for small businesses to contact with any inquiries;
(b) be equipped to provide small businesses with basic information on the agency and its regulations;
(c) help small businesses navigate the agency bureaucracy to identify and contact the appropriate staff person within the agency, either at the state or regional level, for more specific information pertaining to the small business;
(d) hear the concerns of small businesses, report those concerns to appropriate agency staff and offer possible solutions to such concerns;
(e) advocate within the agency on behalf of small businesses, and make recommendations to the agency head on matters affecting small businesses;
(f) initiate and encourage small business education and outreach programs on behalf of the agency, as appropriate;
(g) collaborate with the appropriate agency staff on any small business regulation guide pursuant to section one hundred two-a and any
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13186-01-7
S. 6706 2
small business regulatory flexibility analysis pursuant to section two hundred two-b of this chapter; and
(h) coordinate his or her activities with the division for small business within the department of economic development, and the small business development center.
§ 2. On or before January 1, 2018, the small business liaison shall report to the agency head the number of inquiries he or she has received from small businesses in 2017, and the agency head shall determine whether a separate full-time employee will be needed for such position going forward and make any appropriate budget request to the governor and legislature for the ensuing fiscal year.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the state administrative procedure act, in relation to each agency designating a small business liaison
Purpose or general idea of bill
To designate a small business liaison in each agency to act as a resource, advocate, educator, and navigator between small businesses and agency bureaucracy.
Summary of provisions
Section one of this bill amends the state administrative procedure act by adding a new section 102-b that designates an existing employee in each agency to serve as its liaison to small businesses, to be regulated by such agency.
The small business liaison will serve as the primary contact for small businesses to reach out with any inquiries, provides small businesses with basic information and education about agency regulations, helps businesses navigate agency bureaucracy, and acts as an advocate on their behalf.
Section 2 states that on or before January 1, 2018, the small business liaison shall report to the agency head the number of inquiries he or she has received from small businesses in 2017. The Agency head shall determine whether a separate full-time employee shall be needed for such position going forward to make an appropriate budget request to the governor and legislature for the next fiscal year.
Section three of this bill lists the effective date.
Justification
The New York State Workers' Compensation Board successfully implemented an "Advocate for Business" - a liaison between New York State business owners and the complex workers' compensation system. This advocate has provided small businesses assistance with their workers' compensation inquiries as well as help with general questions about agency regulations.
Much like the successful "Advocate for Business", the "Small Business Liaison" will create a liaison in each state agency. The small business liaison will be an existing agency employee and provide businesses with a reliable contact. The liaison will give important regulatory information, hear the businesses concerns and advocate on behalf of the business within the agency.
Small businesses throughout the state of New York have to contend with countless regulations and state agencies. The creation of a small business liaison will open up communication between state agencies and the businesses that contribute to grow our economy and provide New Yorkers with good jobs.
Prior legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.