US Congress Senate Bill 474 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 13-0)
Status: Introduced on March 3 2011 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2011-03-03 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1225-1228)
Pending: Senate Homeland Security And Governmental Affairs Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act of 2011 - Amends the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) to revise the regulatory process (rulemaking) with respect to small entities (i.e., small businesses, small organizations, and small governmental jurisdictions). Defines "economic impact" with respect to a proposed or final rule to mean: (1) any direct economic effect of a rule on small entities, and (2) any indirect economic effect on such entities, including potential job creation or job loss. Expands judicial review of agency rulemaking to permit small entities to seek judicial review of initial regulatory flexibility analyses and to obtain an injunction of a proposed rule that is noncompliant with RFA requirements. Requires each agency to establish a plan for the periodic review (every eight years) of: (1) its rules that have a significant adverse economic impact on small entities, and (2) any small entity compliance guide required to be published by an agency. Sets forth criteria for review of a rule, including the continued need for the rule, the complexity of the rule, and the impact of the rule on small entities. Terminates any rule if the issuing agency has failed to complete a required periodic review. Expands to all agencies the procedures for gathering comments on rules that will have a significant economic impact on small entities. Extends RFA requirements to informal agency guidance documents. Amends the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 to require each agency to review on a periodic basis its policies or programs for imposing regulatory penalties on small entities. Imposes certain additional requirements on agencies prior to the issuance of a final rule, including requirements for: (1) publication of an initial regulatory flexibility analysis, (2) a determination of the average cost of a rule for affected small entities and the number of small entities affected or reasonably presumed to be affected, and (3) consultation with the Chief Counsel for Advocacy for the Small Business Administration (SBA). Requires the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the SBA to be an attorney with business experience and expertise in or knowledge of the regulatory process.

Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act of 2011

Sen. Olympia Snowe [R-ME]	Sen. Kelly Ayotte [R-NH]	Sen. John Barrasso [R-WY]	Sen. Scott Brown [R-MA]
Sen. Tom Coburn [R-OK]	Sen. Michael Enzi [R-WY]	Sen. Kay Hutchison [R-TX]	Sen. Johnny Isakson [R-GA]
Sen. Mark Kirk [R-IL]	Sen. Jerry Moran [R-KS]	Sen. Pat Roberts [R-KS]	Sen. Marco Rubio [R-FL]
Sen. John Thune [R-SD]

Date	Chamber	Action
2011-03-03	Senate	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1225-1228)
2011-03-03	Senate	Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1224-1225)

SB1030 (Related) 2011-07-20 - Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-220.
SB1720 (Related) 2011-10-18 - Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 203.
HB3400 (Related) 2011-11-29 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
SB2199 (Related) 2012-03-15 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
SB3572 (Related) 2012-09-19 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/474/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s474/BILLS-112s474is.pdf