Office of Advocacy
    U.S. Small Business Administration

    NEWSRELEASE

    For Release: February 23, 2006
    Contact:     John McDowell, (202) 205-6941
     john.mcdowell@sba.gov
    SBA Number:     06-05 ADVO
    Press Kit

    South Dakota Takes Action For Small Business

    Regulatory Flexibility Extended To Department Of Game, Fish and Parks

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – South Dakota’s small businesses will experience a friendlier regulatory environment thanks to a pair of new laws that extend regulatory flexibility requirements to the Department of Game, Fish and Parks. The new laws also eliminate a sunset clause, which was contained in the existing law that requires state agencies to prepare a small business impact statement when proposing new rules or changes to existing regulations.

    Passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Mike Rounds, Senate Bills 74 and 75 increase protections for South Dakota’s small businesses. Extending regulatory flexibility requirements to the Department of Game, Fish and Parks means that it now must consider its impact on small business before issuing final regulations. The Department of Game, Fish and Parks supported passage of this year's law.

    “We are pleased that during this session the South Dakota legislature completed its work on small business impact statements,” said Jerry Wheeler, Executive Director of the South Dakota Retailers Association. “The initial regulatory flexibility bill exempted the Department of Game, Fish and Parks, which is one the most prolific rule writers in South Dakota. This year with the passage of SB 74 that exemption was removed.”

    He added, “When the legislature initially enacted the requirement for agencies to provide small business impact statements it also added a three-year sunset provision. After more than two years of experience, two things are clear. First, small business impact provisions are not too onerous for state agencies and second, these provisions have been a great tool for small businesses.”

    Senator Eric Bogue (R-Faith) sponsored the bills in the Senate; in the House, Representative Larry Rhoden (R- Union Center) sponsored SB 74 while Representative Matthew Michels (R- Yankton) sponsored SB 75. A coalition of South Dakota small business supporters that included the South Dakota Retailers Association and the National Federation of Independent Business/South Dakota supported the two bills.

    For more information, visit the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Model Legislation Initiative section of the Office of Advocacy website at www.sba.gov/advo/laws/law_modeleg.html .

    For more information, visit the Office of Advocacy website at www.sba.gov/advo/.

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    The Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is an independent voice for small business within the federal government. The presidentially appointed Chief Counsel for Advocacy advances the views, concerns, and interests of small business before Congress, the White House, federal agencies, federal courts, and state policy makers. For more information, visit www.sba.gov/advo, or call (202) 205-6533.