Small Businesses Invited to Speak on Economic Impact of Rules at The Small Business Regulatory Review Board Public Hearing

For Immediate Release: December 10, 2007
Contact: Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608/267-9661

MADISON - Small business owners interested in voicing their concerns on state regulations can attend a hearing with the Small Business Regulatory Review Board on January 8, 2007, 1:00 - 4:30 p.m. at the State Capitol, Room 300 SE.

"The Small Business Regulatory Review Board hearing will give small businesses the opportunity to share their concerns about the burden placed on them by administrative rules that may be outdated or overly burdensome. More importantly, the small business community can make constructive suggestions for how to improve current rules," said Commerce Secretary Jack L. Fischer, A.I.A.

The first section of the hearing will focus on Department of Health and Family Services' Chapter HFS-83, a rule amendment relating to the regulation of the living environment of Community-Based Residential Facilities (CBRF's). Persons interested in providing testimony to the Small Business Regulatory Review Board about HFS-83 will find the proposed rule, small business impact analysis and testimony guidelines at http://commerce.wi.gov/BD/BD-SBRRB.html. Persons are encouraged to register to provide testimony by December 27, 2007, by:

• Sending an e-mail request to: COMBDOmbudsman@wisconsin.gov
• Calling the Small Business Ombudsman at 608-267-0297
• By mail at Department of Commerce, Attn: Small Business Ombudsman, PO Box 7970, Madison, WI 53707

The second section of the hearing will focus on economic barriers created by existing state regulations. Small businesses planning to provide oral testimony about a state administrative rule(s) must register no later than January 3, 2008 by any of the following methods:

• Complete an on-line administrative rule complaint form (commerce.wi.gov/BD/BD-SBRRB-complaint.html)
• Sending an e-mail request to: COMBDOmbudsman@wisconsin.gov
• Calling the Small Business Ombudsman at 608-267-0297
• By mail at Department of Commerce, Attn: Small Business Ombudsman, PO Box 7970, Madison, WI 53707

Openings for oral testimony will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Walk-in testimony will be allowed only if time is available. Testimony will be limited to ten minutes.

The Small Business Regulatory Review Board serves to represent the interest of small business in the regulatory review process. For more information, contact the Small Business Ombudsman, Carol Dunn at 608-267-0297.

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