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 Senate
     Mar 3-to Licensing and Occupations (S)