HB 311 Summary

• Creates the Ohio Small Business Ombudsperson position within the Office of Small Business to receive and review rules that may adversely impact small businesses (defined as independently owned businesses with fewer than 500 employees).

• Requires rule-making agencies to prepare cost-benefit analyses and regulatory flexibility analyses for rules that may adversely impact small businesses and submit them to the ombudsperson before filing with the Joint Committee on Agency Review.

• Establishes the Small Business Regulatory Review Board (nine members appointed by governor and legislature) to review ombudsperson reports on rules and make compliance determinations that can be presented to the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review.

• Implements a 30-day public comment period for small businesses to submit objections to proposed rules through electronic or telephone means, with the ombudsperson compiling comments into a report.

• Requires the ombudsperson to submit an annual rule impact report to the Governor and General Assembly identifying which rules have adverse impacts on small businesses and making recommendations to minimize those impacts.