II 112th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3200 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 17, 2012 Ms. Landrieu introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship A BILL To require the Small Business Administration to submit a regular National Small Business Climate Index to Congress to assess how policies provide incentives or impediments to small business development.

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National Small Business Climate Index

Title II of Public Law 94–305 (15 U.S.C. 634a et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

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National Small Business Climate Index

(a)

Periodic reports

Subject to the availability of appropriations, not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this section and not less frequently than once every 735 days thereafter, the Chief Counsel for Advocacy, in coordination with the regional advocates of the Small Business Administration, shall submit to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives a report that— (1)ranks each of the States of the United States, the District of Columbia, and each of the territories of the United States according to how well the regulations and policies of the States, the District, and the territories create optimal environments for the creation and development of small business concerns; and (2)ranks each of the 50 largest metropolitan statistical areas of the United States (as defined by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget) according to how well the regulations and policies of such areas create optimal environments for the creation and development of small business concerns. (b)

Designation

Each report required by subsection (a) shall be known as the National Small Business Climate Index for the period covered by the report. (c)

Factors

Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall, for each applicable State, territory, and metropolitan statistical area and the District of Columbia, assess how policies provide incentives or impediments to small business development by considering the following: (1)The conduciveness of State and local regulations and policies to small business formation and small business growth. (2)The accessibility and availability of credit and other forms of financing. (3)The availability of Federal, State, and local contracting opportunities for small business concerns. (4)Whether entrepreneurs are able to start small business concerns in a timely manner. (5)The difficulty of obtaining permits necessary to establish or expand small business concerns. (6)The accessibility and price of utilities. (7)The availability and price of real estate. (8)The rates and structure of taxes and fees. (9)Such other factors as the Chief Counsel for Advocacy considers appropriate. (d)

Progress report

(1)

In general

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Chief Counsel for Advocacy shall submit to the committees described in subsection (a) a report on the progress of the Chief Counsel for Advocacy in preparing the first report required by such subsection. (2)

Contents

The report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A)A description of the progress the Chief Counsel for Advocacy has made in preparing the first report required by subsection (a). (B)A description of the best practices, models, or other reports the Chief Counsel for Advocacy is using, if any, to prepare the first report required by subsection (a).

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