Bill > S2347

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 concerns the assessment or collection of any tax, debt, revenue, or receipt; (4) the violation was not corrected within six months of the date on which the small business received notification of the violation in writing from the agency or authority; or (5) 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 similar to certain provisions of a bill pending in the 115th Congress, S584, the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act, providing for the suspension of fines under certain circumstances for first-time paperwork violations by small businesses.

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Anthony Bucco (R)*,  Tony Bucco (R)*,  Troy Singleton (D), 

Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee (on 11/14/2019)