Governor Perdue Eases Regulatory Burden on Georgia 's Small Businesses

Governor Perdue Eases Regulatory Burden on Georgia 's Small Businesses

Executive Order Announced at State's Annual Entrepreneur Summit

DOUGLAS, Ga. – Governor Sonny Perdue signed an Executive Order today that will ease the ability of Georgia 's small businesses to cut through the often-complex web of state regulations.  The small business regulatory reform will require applicable state agencies to appoint a small business liaison and implement procedures to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its operations with respect to small businesses.

Small business owners will be able to contact each agency's liaison for assistance with questions and problems.  Liaisons will also be a voice for small businesses as agencies review current regulations and consider new ones.  They will make recommendations with the goal of relieving small businesses from the unnecessary burdens sometimes created by confusing or conflicting rules.

 “Small businesses make up 95 percent of all businesses in the state,” said Governor Sonny Perdue.  “By streamlining state government to accommodate their needs and making it easier for them to do business, we will strengthen the small business sector that is so critical to Georgia 's economy.”

The reform measures will be coordinated by the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD).  In addition, the Georgia Technology Authority will develop a Georgia Rules and Regulations Web site on which small business owners will find up-to-date information about all state agency rules and regulations, proposed changes and contact information.  The Web site is scheduled to be fully operational later this spring.

Governor Perdue signed the Executive Order in Douglas , Georgia , where he is hosting the third annual Entrepreneur Summit with the Georgia Entrepreneur & Small Business Coordinating Network (GESBCN).  GESBCN was created by Executive Order in 2003 to support Georgia 's entrepreneurs and small businesses through leadership education, resource awareness and long-term entrepreneur and small business support programs.

The Entrepreneur Summit includes topical discussions about leadership education and best practices, youth entrepreneurship, the Entrepreneur Friendly program and Georgia 's other entrepreneur initiatives.  About 150 participants are attending the conference, including entrepreneurs from around the state, developers, chambers of commerce, downtown leaders, local elected officials and business councils.

Also during the summit, Governor Perdue announced an added benefit for Georgia counties who achieve the Entrepreneur Friendly designation.  To make sure the state's entrepreneurs have the information they need to build their companies and enhance their competitiveness, GDEcD will provide customized market data to entrepreneurs and small business owners in the Entrepreneur Friendly communities.

“We hope that providing this brand new resource will encourage more of Georgia's counties to join the 15 already in the program and 51 others working towards the Entrepreneur Friendly designation,” said Chris Clark, GESBCN chair and deputy commissioner for global commerce at GDEcD.  GDEcD will collaborate with UGA's Small Business Development Center and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government's Georgia2000 online GIS program to deliver the market data.

Entrepreneurs and small business owners will now have access to the type of data used by large corporations to make decisions, but often too expensive for small businesses. Customized, timely reports that include demographic and business information will help give small businesses the competitive edge they often need to enhance their chances for success.

            Text of the Executive Order is provided below:

Executive Order

WHEREAS:     Free enterprise creates economic opportunity for small business owners in Georgia ;

WHEREAS:     Agencies are required to develop rules and regulations to implement State laws that protect the health, safety and welfare of the general public and that demonstrate transparency in administrative procedures internal to the agency;

WHEREAS:     Small business owners may be disproportionately affected by the rules and regulations of State Agencies due to the administrative burden of remaining abreast of regulatory changes and complying with record-keeping requirements, and due to the economic burden of interpreting and applying general legal requirements to specific situations of relevance; and

WHEREAS:     An interagency Small Business Regulatory Working Group, comprised of state agencies and representatives of units of the University System of Georgia, was assembled by the Office of the Governor with assistance from the National Federation of Independent Business to examine the aggregate impact of state regulations on small businesses and to identify new ways for state agencies and departments to reduce the regulatory and paperwork burden on small businesses.

NOW, THEREFORE, BY VIRTUE OF THE POWER VESTED IN ME AS GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA , IT IS HEREBY

ORDERED:     All state agencies shall immediately address the impact of their rules and regulations on small businesses as directed in O.C.G.A. 50-13-4 et seq. to prevent unintended anticompetitive impacts and to ensure that less burdensome alternatives are explored.

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED:     All state agencies, in coordination with the Office of Planning and Budget, by April 30, 2006, shall develop a plan or process to address those proposed and existing rules and regulations that create an undue burden on small businesses and that have an opportunity to be streamlined.

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED:     Each state agency within 30 days shall identify at least one staff person to serve as their Small Business Liaison who shall, in addition to current duties, provide small business owners with assistance in regulatory compliance and complaint resolution, provide information on proposed regulatory changes, consider the interests of small businesses in new rule development, review current rules and regulations for impacts to small businesses and recommend revisions to those deemed to create an unnecessary burden.

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED:     The Georgia Department of Economic Development through the Entrepreneur and Small Business Office shall coordinate the ongoing Small Business Regulatory Reform activities.

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED:     The Georgia Department of Economic Development and the Agency Liaisons shall meet semi-annually, or more often as needed, to monitor regulatory reform activities and to develop an annual progress report on small business regulatory reform for submission to the Governor. 

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED:     The Georgia Technology Authority by Spring 2006, shall develop a Georgia Rules and Regulations website that lists contact information for each State Agency Small Business Liaison; and by June 1, 2006, that lists helpful information and resources for small businesses; indexes all State Agency rules and regulations including proposed regulatory changes and is kept current by the relevant agency.

THIS 6 th DAY OF MARCH, 2006.

(Signed: Sonny Perdue) _______

GOVERNOR

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