CHAPTER 588dd
OFFICE OF THE BUSINESS ADVOCATE

      Sec. 32-725. Office of the Business Advocate. (a) There is established an Office of the Business Advocate. The Governor, with the approval of the General Assembly, shall appoint a person with knowledge of the characteristics and needs of businesses and the resources provided by state, federal, quasi-governmental and other organizations that are available to businesses. Such person shall be qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the office as set forth in this section. The person appointed the Business Advocate shall serve for a term of four years and may be reappointed or shall continue to hold office until such person's successor is appointed and qualified, or until removed as provided in section 16-5.

      (b) The Office of the Business Advocate shall be in the Office of Policy and Management for administrative purposes only.

      (c) The Business Advocate may, within available funds, appoint such staff as may be deemed necessary. The duties of the staff may include the duties and powers of the Business Advocate if performed under the direction of the Business Advocate.

      (d) The General Assembly may annually appropriate such sums as necessary for the payment of the salaries of the staff and for the payment of office expenses and other actual expenses incurred by the Business Advocate in the performance of such advocate's duties.

      (e) The Business Advocate shall annually submit to the Governor and the chairpersons of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to commerce and finance, revenue and bonding, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, a detailed report analyzing the work of the Office of the Business Advocate, including a list of businesses and the services provided to them by such office.

      (f) The Business Advocate shall (1) serve as an information clearinghouse for various public and private programs available to assist businesses, and (2) identify specific micro businesses, as defined in section 32-344, whose growth and success could benefit from state or private assistance and contact such small businesses in order to (A) identify their needs, (B) provide information about public and private programs for meeting such needs, including, but not limited to, technical assistance, job training and financial assistance, and (C) arrange for the provision of such assistance to such businesses.

      (P.A. 06-83, S. 8.)

      History: P.A. 06-83 effective July 1, 2006.

      See Sec. 4-38f for definition of "administrative purposes only".