Bill > A1704

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." However, the first-time suspension of fines would not apply if: (1) the violation has the potential to cause serious harm to the public interest; (2) failure to impose a fine or penalty would impede or interfere with the detection of criminal activity; (3) the violation is a violation of an internal revenue law or a law concerning the assessment or collection of any tax, debt, revenue, or receipt; or (4) the violation was not corrected on or before the date that is six months after the date on which the small business receives notification of the violation in writing from the agency or authority. 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 bill pending in Congress (S.86 of 2015-2016) providing 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)*,  Ronald Dancer (R)*,  JoAnn Downey (D)*,  Eric Houghtaling (D)*,  Craig Coughlin (D),  Declan O'Scanlon (R),  Kevin Rooney (R), 

Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee (on 12/14/2017)