STATEHOUSE (March 3, 2017) – Hoosier small businesses would see regulatory relief under a bill authored by State Sen. Eric Koch (R-Bedford) that passed the Indiana Senate recently by a 46 to 3 vote.
Senate Bill 413 would require state agencies to provide, with certain exceptions, an opportunity to correct minor regulatory violations identified during an inspection before a fine is levied or an enforcement action is commenced. Exceptions include immediate threats to health, safety, or the environment; criminal conduct; intentional fraud or misconduct; or repeated violations.
The bill provides a process for resolution of the alleged violation through an informal corrective plan, rather than a time-consuming and expensive enforcement action concerning a minor violation or misunderstanding of the law.
“My hope is to foster a more collaborative regulatory environment for first-time, minor violations and focus our enforcement resources on the bad actors,” said Koch. “Excessive regulation is especially burdensome for our state’s small business.”
“Our small businesses are overwhelmed by a regulatory environment at both the state and federal levels and if signed into law, this legislation will provide much-needed relief,” said Barbara Quandt Underwood, Indiana State Director of National Federal of Independent Business. “Thanks to Sen. Koch for being a tireless advocate for Indiana’s small business community.”
SB 413 will now be considered by the House of Representatives, where it will be sponsored by House Majority Leader Matt Lehman (R-Berne).
More information on this bill can be found here.
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Click here for a high-resolution picture of Koch.
