AN ACT relating to small business.
     Create new section of KRS 154.12 to create an advisory committee on small business within each cabinet or agency; require administrative bodies to consult with departmental advisory committees when promulgating administrative regulations affecting small business; amend KRS 154.12-218 to require Small Business Advisory Council to review administrative regulations of concern to small business owners and to make recommendations regarding changes needed in regulations or legislation; change composition of council to eleven members; require council to receive and review petitions submitted by small businesses and to review decisions made by administrative bodies regarding administrative regulations; create new section of KRS 154.12 to allow small business to file written petitions with the Small Business Advisory Council objecting to administrative regulations affecting small business; provide grounds for small business to make petition against administrative regulations filed both prior to and after the effective date of this Act; require administrative body to submit a written response to a petition by a small business; allow small businesses to seek a review of agency decisions by the Small Business Advisory Council; allow council to make recommendations to legislature regarding administrative regulations; create new section of KRS 154.12 to require administrative bodies to provide a list of administrative regulations affecting small business to the Small Business Advisory Council; require council to routinely report to administrative bodies those administrative regulations that have generated complaints or concerns by small businesses; require administrative bodies to respond to small business complaints and concerns; allow council to solicit testimony from the public regarding reports submitted by administrative bodies; create new section of KRS 154.12 to require administrative bodies to waive or reduce penalties or fines assessed upon small businesses under certain conditions; require the Department for Community Development to appoint a small business defender to represent small business in proceedings regarding administrative regulations; amend KRS 13A.240 to require administrative bodies to include a small business impact statement in its regulatory impact analysis; allow review by departmental advisory committees on small business and the Small Business Advisory Council; amend KRS 13A.017 to require administrative bodies to file a small business statement to the departmental advisory committees on small business and the Small Business Advisory Council following public hearing on administrative regulations.

     Mar 2-introduced in House
     Mar 3-to State Government (H)
     Mar 10-reassigned to Economic Development (H); posting waived
     Mar 11-reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute
     Mar 12-2nd reading, to Rules; posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for March 13, 1998
     Mar 16-3rd reading, passed 55-25 with Committee Substitute
     Mar 17-received in Senate
     Mar 18-to Economic Development and Labor (S)
     Mar 20-reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar
     Mar 23-2nd reading, to Rules
     Mar 24-posted for passage in the Consent Orders of the Day for March 25, 1998
     Mar 25-3rd reading, passed 37-0
     Mar 26-received in House; enrolled, signed by each presiding officer
     Mar 27-delivered to Governor
     Apr 7-signed by Governor