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National Ombudsman
Issues Model for State and Local
Governments to Enhance Transparency and
Preserve Regulatory Fairness
Source:
U.S.
SBA Release d. Tuesday, May 6, 2008
The
U.S. Small Business Administration
is offering state and local governments
a template that can be used to resolve
regulatory enforcement issues involving
small businesses. The availability
of the Small Business Ombudsman Model
for State and Local Governments was
announced May 8, 2008 by Nicholas N.
Owens, SBA’s National Ombudsman
and Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness.
The
National Ombudsman’s primary mission is
to help small businesses when they
experience excessive or unfair federal
regulatory enforcement actions, such as
repetitive audits or investigations,
excessive fines, penalties, threats,
retaliation or other unfair enforcement
action by a federal agency.
The model,
which is customizable, will help state
and local governments and other entities
create their own ombudsman process to
serve the interests of small businesses,
small government entities, and
non-profit organizations in their
communities.
“This
model can improve transparency in state
and local governments for small
businesses and the entities that
regulate them,” Owens said. “Fostering
a small business-friendly regulatory
environment across all levels of
government will make it easier for small
businesses to grow and succeed.”
The model
also will provide an overview on how the
SBA’s Office of the National Ombudsman
serves as troubleshooter for the
nation’s small businesses. “We are
sharing the successful tools of the
National Ombudsman’s office, so other
governing entities can come away with a
better understanding of how the office
is a vital small business resource,”
Owens said. “This product walks the
reader through the organization and
processes of the Office of the National
Ombudsman, and provides legislative
models state and local governments can
use to create their own small business
ombudsman service.”
The
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act of 1996 created the
Office of the National Ombudsman within
the SBA and established 10 regional
regulatory fairness boards nationwide.
The Small
Business Ombudsman Model for state and
local governments may be accessed at
www.sba.gov/ombudsman.
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