Bill No.                5-12                          

Concerning: Administration – Small Business Navigator – Established                  

Revised:  April 27, 2012 Draft No. 6  

Introduced:      February 7, 2012            

Enacted:         May 15, 2012                 

Executive:       May 23, 2012                 

Effective:        August 22, 2012             

Sunset Date:  None                             

Ch.   13    , Laws of Mont. Co.    2012    

County Council

For Montgomery County, Maryland

By: Council President Berliner

AN ACT to:

(1)        establish a program to assist certain small businesses located in the County;

(2)        require the appointment of a dedicated staff member to assist small businesses to comply with County requirements and regulations; and

(3)        generally amend the law concerning small businesses.

By adding

            Montgomery County Code

            Chapter 2.  Administration.

            Section 2-25B

Boldface Heading or defined term.

Underlining Added to existing law by original bill.

[Single boldface brackets] Deleted from existing law by original bill.

Double underlining Added by amendment.

[[Double boldface brackets]] Deleted from existing law or the bill by amendment.

*   *   *                                                  Existing law unaffected by bill.

The County Council for Montgomery County, Maryland approves the following Act:

Sec. 1.  Section 2-25B is added as follows:

2-25B.        Small Business Navigator.

(a)     Definitions.  As used in this Section:

Navigator means the Small Business Navigator.

Small business means a privately owned business that meets the requirements of Section 11B-65(a).

(b)     Establishment of Program.  The Executive must create and administer a Small Business Assistance Program with a Small Business Navigator to help small businesses comply with County policies and regulations.

(c)      Small Business Navigator.  The Executive must designate an employee [[in the Office of the Executive or the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer]] as the Small Business Navigator.  Among other duties, the Navigator must:

(1)     advise the Executive, the Council, the Chief Administrative Officer, County Department heads, the Planning Board, and any other appropriate government agency, of any action needed to assist small businesses to comply with County requirements and regulations;

(2)     [[serve as primary point of contact]] promote communications between a small business and each County department or agency that the small business must interact with;

(3)     develop and maintain a database of information necessary for a small business to comply with County requirements and regulations; [[and]]

(4)     advise small businesses on how to comply with County requirements and regulations; and

(5) identify changes to regulations and requirements that would improve turnaround, eliminate duplication, resolve conflicts in authority, and eliminate unnecessary regulations and requirements.

(d)     Reports.  On or before September 15 of each year, the Executive must report to the Council on the activities and recommendations of the Navigator. 

Approved: