CHAPTER 588
SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL

      Sec. 32-96. Small Business Advisory Council. Membership. Organization. (a) There is established a Small Business Advisory Council. The council shall be within the Department of Economic and Community Development.

      (b) The Small Business Advisory Council shall consist of eleven persons as follows: (1) The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, or his designee; (2) the chairmen of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to economic development, or their designees; and (3) eight persons appointed from among individuals with knowledge and experience related to small businesses. The Governor shall appoint four such persons and the president pro tempore of the Senate, the minority leader of the Senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives and the minority leader of the House of Representatives each shall appoint one such person. The Governor shall appoint from among the eleven members of the council a chairperson who shall serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the Governor.

      (c) The first appointments shall be made on or before July 1, 1984. The term of each appointed member shall be coterminous with the term of the appointing authority or until a successor is chosen, whichever is later. Vacancies shall be filled by the appointing authority.

      (d) The members of the council shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for any necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

      (e) The council shall organize itself in such manner as it deems desirable and necessary. Four members of the council and the chairperson, or his designee, shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present at a meeting shall be necessary to take any action or adopt any motion or resolution.

      (P.A. 84-400, S. 1, 7; P.A. 88-183, S. 1, 3; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6.)

      History: P.A. 88-183 amended Subsec. (b) to allow a designee of the commissioner of economic development to be a member of the council and revised the quorum requirements in Subsec. (e); P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 replaced Commissioner and Department of Economic Development with Commissioner and Department of Economic and Community Development.

      Sec. 32-97. Annual report. The council shall make a report to the Governor on or before the thirty-first day of January each year. The report shall include a summary of the activities of the council for the preceding year and any recommendations for legislation as may be necessary to promote the purposes of sections 32-96 to 32-100, inclusive.

      (P.A. 84-400, S. 2, 7; P.A. 02-89, S. 72.)

      History: P.A. 02-89 replaced reference to Sec. 32-101 with reference to Sec. 32-100, reflecting repeal of Sec. 32-101 by the same public act.

      Sec. 32-98. Duties. The council shall: (1) Raise issues of concern to the creation and expansion of small business; (2) review appropriate Department of Economic and Community Development programs and offer recommendations for the improvement of services to small businesses; and (3) keep the department abreast of significant issues and trends in small business.

      (P.A. 84-400, S. 3, 7; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6.)

      History: P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 replaced Commissioner and Department of Economic Development with Commissioner and Department of Economic and Community Development.

      Sec. 32-99. Powers. The council shall have the following powers: (1) To request and obtain from any department, board, commission or other agency of the state or of any municipality, authority or other political subdivision within the state such assistance and data as will enable it to carry out the purposes of sections 32-96 to 32-100, inclusive; (2) to accept any federal funds granted for all or any of the purposes of said sections; (3) to accept any gifts, donations, bequests or grants of funds from private and public agencies for all or any of the purposes of said sections; (4) to coordinate the activities of any boards or commissions appointed by any municipality within the state for all or any of the purposes of said sections; and (5) to perform such other acts as may be necessary and appropriate to carry out the objectives and purposes of said sections.

      (P.A. 84-400, S. 4, 7; P.A. 02-89, S. 73.)

      History: P.A. 02-89 replaced reference to Sec. 32-101 with reference to Sec. 32-100, reflecting repeal of Sec. 32-101 by the same public act.

      Sec. 32-100. Assistance from the Department of Economic and Community Development. The Department of Economic and Community Development shall provide the personnel and resources necessary for the council to assist the small business sector of the state and to perform its tasks.

      (P.A. 84-400, S. 5, 7; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6.)

      History: P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 replaced Commissioner and Department of Economic Development with Commissioner and Department of Economic and Community Development.

      Sec. 32-101. Termination of council. Section 32-101 is repealed, effective October 1, 2002.

      (P.A. 84-400, S. 6, 7; P.A. 88-183, S. 2, 3; P.A. 02-89, S. 90.)

      Secs. 32-102 to 32-109. Reserved for future use.