BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 866
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Date of Hearing: May 6, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
866 (Eduardo Garcia) - As Amended April 13, 2015
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|Committee: |and the Economy | | |
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY: This bill expands the duties of the Office of the Small
Business Advocate (OSBA), in the Governor's Office of Business
and Economic Development (GO-Biz), to include assisting state
rulemaking agencies in identifying the aggregate number and size
of businesses which may be affected by a new or amended
regulation. Further, this bill requires a state agency that
develops a small business compliance guide under the federal
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Small Business Regulatory Fairness Act, to notify the OSBA
within 45 days after the guide becomes available to the public.
The notice is also required to include information on how a
small business or nonprofit organization can obtain a copy of
the guide.
FISCAL EFFECT:
Ongoing General Fund costs to GO-Biz of approximately $260,000
to fund three positions for workload related to the expanded
duties of the OSBA.
The OSBA does not currently have the staff to formally comment
on pending state regulations. On a case-by-case basis, GO-Biz
has engaged on current and proposed regulatory proposals through
its Office of Permit Assistance but state statutory direction is
currently permissive.
COMMENTS:
1)Background. The Office of Small Business Advocate (OSBA)
serves as the primary advocate for California's small business
community. The OSBA engages in outreach with small businesses
through a variety of methods, including workshops and
individual assistance to small business owners. OSBA also
manages programs to assist small businesses with capital
access and marketing. Additionally, OSBA collaborates with
GO-Biz's Permit Assistance Unit to convene an Interagency
Working Group that focuses on regulatory updates and small
business outreach.
2)Purpose. This bill seeks to make the regulatory process more
accessible to small businesses and requires OSBA to assist
state agencies in their rule making process by providing
information on the number and size of businesses within the
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industry sector that could be impacted by the regulation.
Further, OSBA would assist the rulemaking agency in
identifying key small business stakeholder groups, which
should be included in the public dissemination of information.
Analysis Prepared by:Misty Feusahrens / APPR. / (916)
319-2081