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DEQ-backed bill would repeal Small Business Compliance Assistance Advisory Council
Summary
House Bill 64 would repeal the statutory Small Business Compliance Assistance Advisory Council; DEQ witnesses said the agency now does proactive outreach and has struggled to maintain a full council.
House Bill 64 would repeal the Small Business Compliance Assistance Advisory Council, a statutorily required body created in 1993 to advise the Department of Environmental Quality's small-business stationary-source technical compliance program, Representative Julie Darling told the committee.
Dan Walsh, administrator for the Air, Energy and Mining Division at DEQ, testified in support and described the agency's experience: DEQ continues to operate a small-business ombudsman and provides proactive compliance assistance, but the council requirement has become "an unnecessary formality" because the agency has struggled to keep it fully appointed. DEQ told the committee it will continue outreach to small businesses through chambers, trade associations and targeted communications and that the agency will continue to report to the Environmental Quality Council as needed.
Walsh said DEQ will not add staff if the council is repealed and that the small-business ombudsman model will continue to provide technical assistance. Committee members expressed general support and one member called the measure consistent with red-tape reduction efforts. Representative Darling asked for a "do pass." No opponents or informational witnesses appeared in the transcript excerpt and there is no record of a committee vote in the provided text.
The bill would remove the statutory council; DEQ said it will retain outreach and reporting practices and maintain the small-business ombudsman role.
