Bill > S2960

Introduced Session

This bill would suspend the assessment of fines against small businesses for certain minor first-time paperwork violations. Under the bill, a small business means a business entity that employs 50 full-time employees or fewer and qualifies as a small business concern as defined in the federal "Small Business Act." Under the bill, a fine would not be suspended if: · the violation has the potential to cause serious harm to the public interest; · failure to impose a fine or penalty would impede or interfere with the detection of criminal activity; · the violation concerns the assessment or collection of any tax, debt, revenue, or receipt; · the violation was not corrected within six months of the date the small business received notification of the violation; or · except as provided below, the violation presents a danger to public safety. If a State agency or regulatory authority determines that the violation presents a danger to the public safety, the agency or regulatory authority may nevertheless suspend the assessment of a fine under certain circumstances if the violation is corrected within 24 hours after notification to the business of the violation. This bill is based upon a federal bill that was sponsored in the 114th United States Congress, introduced on January 7, 2015. The federal bill provided for the suspension of fines under certain circumstances for first-time paperwork violations by small businesses.

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Committee Categories

Tony Bucco (R)*,  Nellie Pou (D)*,  Patrick Diegnan (D), 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee (on 08/08/2022)

Official Document