PA 17-158—sHB 5584

Commerce Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING THE CREATION OF A SMALL BUSINESS HOTLINE

SUMMARY: This act requires the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) commissioner to establish and operate a hotline that provides individualized information and guidance to entrepreneurs and small business owners on how to start and develop a business, identify networking resources, and access technical and financial assistance from the state and quasi-public agencies. The act requires the commissioner to establish the hotline by October 1, 2017, and operate and staff it, within available appropriations, during normal business hours. It allows her to do these things in collaboration with a nonprofit organization.

The act also requires the commissioner to submit a report on the hotline to the Commerce Committee by January 1, 2019. The report must describe (1) the hotline's services, (2) how DECD advertises the hotline to businesses, and (3) the most common types of assistance requested through the hotline. It must also provide statistics on the hotline's call volume.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2017