S.B. 244

1

BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTERS
2 2006 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Peter C. Knudson
5 House Sponsor: Fred R. Hunsaker
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill provides for the establishment of business resource centers by the Governor's
10 Office of Economic Development.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . enacts the Business Resource Centers Act;
14 . provides that the Governor's Office of Economic Development may establish
15 business resource centers in strategic geographical locations throughout the state as
16 one-stop guidance centers to provide business support, education, sources of
17 funding, training, and networking to Utah businesses;
18 . provides for the composition and administration of the business resource centers,
19 including a virtual business resource center as a web-based resource; and
20 . provides duties and responsibilities for the centers.
21 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
22 This bill appropriates:
23 . as an ongoing appropriation subject to future budget constraints, $875,000 from the
24 General Fund for fiscal year 2006-07 to the Governor's Office of Economic
25 Development.
26 Other Special Clauses:
27 This act takes effect July 1, 2006.

28 Utah Code Sections Affected:
29 ENACTS:
30 63-38f-2101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
31 63-38f-2102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
32 63-38f-2103, Utah Code Annotated 1953
33 63-38f-2104, Utah Code Annotated 1953
34 63-38f-2105, Utah Code Annotated 1953
35
36 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
37 Section 1. Section 63-38f-2101 is enacted to read:
38 Part 21. Business Resource Centers Act
39 63-38f-2101. Purpose.
40 The Legislature recognizes that:
41 (1) the development of and assistance to business in Utah is a state public purpose
42 necessary to assure the growth of the state's economy and provide adequate employment
43 opportunities for its citizens;
44 (2) many start-up businesses in the state fail for lack of support and from not knowing
45 where to go for support services that are available to help them succeed; and
46 (3) the state's economy will be improved if these start-up businesses receive assistance
47 and support and grow into healthy tax paying entities.
48 Section 2. Section 63-38f-2102 is enacted to read:
49 63-38f-2102. Title.
50 This part is known as the "Business Resource Centers Act."
51 Section 3. Section 63-38f-2103 is enacted to read:
52 63-38f-2103. Definitions.
53 As used in this part, "business resource center" means an entity established by the
54 Governor's Office of Economic Development in a strategic geographical area as a one-stop
55 guidance center to provide support, education, sources of funding, training, technical and talent
56 access, and networking for Utah businesses.
57 Section 4. Section 63-38f-2104 is enacted to read:
58 63-38f-2104. Establishment and administration of business resource centers --

59 Components.
60 (1) The Governor's Office of Economic Development may establish business resource
61 centers in strategic geographical locations throughout the state.
62 (2) The office shall provide administration, methodology and oversight, and set
63 qualification standards for the centers.
64 (3) The managing director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development shall
65 select:
66 (a) a state business resource director; and
67 (b) one director for each separate business resource center location.
68 (4) (a) Each business resource center may be composed of state, local, and federal
69 agencies and institutions, as well as private entities:
70 (i) solicited by the office to participate in the activities of the center on a voluntary or
71 paid basis; and
72 (ii) encouraged by the office to provide personnel or other appropriate links to the
73 center.
74 (b) Other entities capable of providing supportive services to Utah businesses that are
75 not directly solicited to participate under Subsection (4)(a)(i) may apply to the office to become
76 a provider of services at one or more business resource centers.
77 (5) (a) Entities identified in Subsection (4) shall provide the office with a service plan
78 to include:
79 (i) funding which will be made available or supplied to cover the expenses of their
80 services offered at a business resource center;
81 (ii) quantifiable performance measures and goals related to the proposed efforts and
82 results in providing their services through the center; and
83 (iii) a pro rata share of overhead and administrative costs for each participant within
84 the business resource center.
85 (b) The office shall review each plan for approval as a precondition for providing the
86 service being offered.
87 (6) As a component of the business resource centers program, the Governor's Office of
88 Economic Development may develop and establish a virtual business resource center as a
89 web-based resource to supply supportive services over the Internet to assist in establishing and

90 growing businesses in the state, particularly in those situations where traveling to a business
91 resource center site is not possible or practical.
92 Section 5. Section 63-38f-2105 is enacted to read:
93 63-38f-2105. Duties and responsibilities.
94 (1) Business resource centers shall:
95 (a) be a focal point to provide businesses assistance in partnering with governmental
96 entities and other business resources;
97 (b) initiate and encourage business education programs, including programs in
98 coordination and collaboration with public, private, and governmental institutions;
99 (c) work with local business leaders and government officials to help them formulate
100 and implement sound economic development decisions for their communities; and
101 (d) use existing physical facilities, in conjunction with local, state, or federal agencies,
102 if appropriate, secured through leases, rentals, donations, shared facilities, or other
103 arrangements, through which they shall provide the services described in this part.
104 (2) The centers may:
105 (a) provide research, development, or training programs for new or alternative
106 businesses, industries, or high technology business located within the state; and
107 (b) provide needs assessment relating to new or alternative businesses, industries, or
108 high technology business in conjunction with other public or private economic development
109 programs or initiatives.
110 Section 6. Appropriation.
111 As on ongoing appropriation subject to future budget constraints, there is appropriated
112 from the General Fund for fiscal year 2006-07, $875,000 to the Governor's Office of Economic
113 Development to fund the business resource centers authorized in Section 63-38f-2104 .
114 Section 7. Effective date.
115 This act takes effect July 1, 2006.

Legislative Review Note
as of 2-7-06 2:11 PM

Based on a limited legal review, this legislation has not been determined to have a high
probability of being held unconstitutional.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel