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United States · Bill · S

S. 942 (104th)

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

16 June 1995

Last action

28 March 1996 · Committee

Status

For Further Action See H.R.3136.

Sponsors

Sen. Bond, Christopher S. [R-MO], Sen. Domenici, Pete V. [R-NM], Sen. Warner, John [R-VA], Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX], Sen. Burns, Conrad R. [R-MT], Sen. Frist, William H. [R-TN], Sen. Coverdell, Paul [R-GA], Sen. Dole, Robert J. [R-KS], Sen. Lugar, Richard G. [R-IN], Sen. Grams, Rod [R-MN], Sen. Lott, Trent [R-MS], Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA], Sen. Robb, Charles S. [D-VA], Sen. Pressler, Larry [R-SD], Sen. Kempthorne, Dirk [R-ID], Sen. DeWine, Mike [R-OH], Sen. Stevens, Ted [R-AK], Sen. Faircloth, Lauch [R-NC], Sen. Coats, Daniel [R-IN], Sen. Bumpers, Dale [D-AR], Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA], Sen. Moseley-Braun, Carol [D-IL], Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT], Sen. Thompson, Fred [R-TN], Sen. Murkowski, Frank H. [R-AK], Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA], Sen. Bennett, Robert F. [R-UT], Sen. Gorton, Slade [R-WA]

Subjects

Defence, Agriculture

Source updated

7 April 2025

Defence · Agriculture

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Regulatory Simplification and Voluntary Compliance Title II: Small Business Responsiveness of Covered Agencies Title III: Financial Accountability of Covered Agencies Relating to Fees and Expenses Small Business Regulatory Fairness Act of 1995 - Title I: Regulatory Simplification and Voluntary Compliance - Directs a Federal regulatory agency that is required to prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis for a rule or group of related rules to publish a compliance guide which: (1) contains a summary of the rules and a citation as to their location; (2) provides a notice to small businesses (small entities) of such rules as well as an understandable explanation of actions necessary for compliance; and (3) is updated as required to reflect rule changes. Requires such guides to be disseminated to small entities, as well as to small business development centers. Prohibits any covered agency from bringing an action against a small entity to enforce a rule for which such a guide has not been published and disseminated. (Sec. 103) Requires covered agencies other than the Federal Trade Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission to determine within 90 days whether to grant or deny a request by a small entity that no action be taken against such entity with respect to the enforcement of a rule (no action request). Allows a small entity to rely on a no action response from a covered agency in any subsequent action brought against the small entity for a rule's enforcement. (Sec. 104) Makes inadmissible as evidence in an action, as well as outside of the bounds of discovery, any information compiled by a small entity in a voluntary self-audit. Provides exceptions. (Sec. 105) Prohibits the imposition of a fine or penalty against a small entity if the entity proves that: (1) a covered agency rule is vague or ambiguous; and (2) the interpretation of the rule by the small entity is reasonable considering such rule and any applicable compliance guide. Title II: Small Business Responsiveness of Covered Agencies - Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to designate in each SBA region a senior SBA employee to serve as the Regional Small Business and Agriculture Ombudsman for such area. Requires the Ombudsman: (1) to solicit and receive comments from small businesses regarding regulatory enforcement activities of covered agencies; (2) based on such comments, to annually publish a small business responsiveness rating to each covered agency; (3) to publish periodic reports compiling the comments received; (4) to coordinate the activities of the Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board established under this title; and (5) to establish a toll-free telephone number to receive comments from small businesses. (Sec. 202) Directs the SBA Administrator to establish in each region a Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board to: (1) advise the Ombudsman on matters of concern to small businesses with respect to the regulatory enforcement activities of covered agencies; (2) conduct investigations of, and issue advisory findings and recommendations concerning, such enforcement activities; (3) review and approve the responsiveness ratings promulgated by the Ombudsman; and (4) prepare written opinions regarding the reasonableness and understanding of rules issued by covered agencies. (Sec. 203) Amends the Act to direct small business development centers to provide specified assistance to, and develop publications and programs for, small businesses with respect to regulatory requirements of covered agencies and compliance guides. Title III: Financial Accountability of Covered Agencies Relating to Fees and Expenses - Directs a covered agency to award fees, costs, and other expenses to a prevailing small entity in an adversary proceeding that raises a successful defense to a regulatory enforcement action or that receives a corrective action or penalty which is less burdensome than that sought or demanded by the covered agency. Limits the rate of payment of attorney's fees to no more than $150 per hour. Waives the payment of such fees, costs, and expenses only in limited special circumstances. Prohibits covered agencies from increasing fees regularly charged for services in order to cover fees, costs, and other expenses required to be paid to a prevailing small entity.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 16 June 1995

    Introduced

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 16 June 1995

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8560-8561)

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 16 June 1995

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 28 February 1996

    Committee

    Committee on Small Business. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 104-443.

    Source: Committee

  5. 6 March 1996

    Reported

    Committee on Small Business. Reported to Senate by Senator Bond with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

    Source: Committee

  6. 6 March 1996

    Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 342.

    Source: Calendars

  7. 6 March 1996

    Reported

    Committee on Small Business. Reported to Senate by Senator Bond with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

    Source: Committee

  8. 7 March 1996

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1632-1633, S1641-1642)

    Source: IntroReferral

  9. 15 March 1996

    Floor

    Measure laid before Senate. (consideration: CR S2148-2168)

    Source: Floor

  10. 19 March 1996

    Vote

    Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 100-0. Record Vote No: 43. (consideration: CR S2309-2321)

    Source: Floor

  11. 19 March 1996

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 100-0. Record Vote No: 43.(consideration: CR S2309-2321)

    Source: Floor

  12. 21 March 1996

    Floor

    Held at the desk.

    Source: Floor

  13. 21 March 1996

    Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

    Source: Floor

  14. 21 March 1996

    Floor

    Received in the House.

    Source: Floor

  15. 22 March 1996

    Introduced

    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Small Business, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Source: IntroReferral

  16. 22 March 1996

    Introduced

    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Small Business, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Source: IntroReferral

  17. 28 March 1996

    Committee

    For Further Action See H.R.3136.

    Source: Committee

Votes

19 March 1996 · Bill Passed · On Passage of the Bill S. 942 · Bill Passed · Official source

Yes 100 · No 0 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 0

Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.

Versions

Documents

11 official files

Referred in House (text)

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  • Referred in House (text)

    Referred in House · EN · 22 March 1996

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  • Referred in House (PDF)

    Referred in House · EN · 22 March 1996

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  • Engrossed in Senate (text)

    Engrossed in Senate · EN · 19 March 1996

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  • Engrossed in Senate (PDF)

    Engrossed in Senate · EN · 19 March 1996

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  • Passed Senate amended

    summary · EN · 19 March 1996

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  • Reported to Senate (text)

    Reported to Senate · EN · 6 March 1996

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  • Reported to Senate (PDF)

    Reported to Senate · EN · 6 March 1996

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  • Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

    summary · EN · 6 March 1996

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  • Introduced in Senate (text)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 16 June 1995

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  • Introduced in Senate (PDF)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 16 June 1995

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  • Introduced in Senate

    summary · EN · 16 June 1995

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Sources

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