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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

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Status

For Further Action See H.R.3136.

Sponsors

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Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

7 April 2025

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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.

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