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S.B. 176
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8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill provides for the establishment and administration of a pilot business resource
11 center by the Governor's Office of Economic Development and the Southern Utah
12 Business Resource Center Board.
13 Highlighted Provisions:
14 This bill:
15 . enacts the Business Resource Center Pilot Act;
16 . provides that the Governor's Office of Economic Development may establish a pilot
17 business resource center as a one-stop guidance center to provide business support,
18 education, sources of funding, training, and networking to Utah businesses;
19 . provides for the composition and administration of the business resource center;
20 . provides duties and responsibilities for the centers; and
21 . creates the Southern Utah Business Resource Center Board.
22 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
23 This bill appropriates:
24 . as an ongoing appropriation subject to future budget constraints, $200,000 from the
25 General Fund for fiscal year 2007-08 to the Governor's Office of Economic
26 Development.
27 Other Special Clauses:
28 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2007.
29 Utah Code Sections Affected:
30 ENACTS:
31 63-38f-2201, Utah Code Annotated 1953
32 63-38f-2202, Utah Code Annotated 1953
33 63-38f-2203, Utah Code Annotated 1953
34 63-38f-2204, Utah Code Annotated 1953
35 63-38f-2205, Utah Code Annotated 1953
36 63C-10-301, Utah Code Annotated 1953
37 63C-10-302, Utah Code Annotated 1953
38 63C-10-303, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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40 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
41 Section 1. Section 63-38f-2201 is enacted to read:
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43 63-38f-2201. Title.
44 This part is known as the "Business Resource Center Pilot Act."
45 Section 2. Section 63-38f-2202 is enacted to read:
46 63-38f-2202. Purpose.
47 The Legislature recognizes that:
48 (1) the development of and assistance to business in Utah is a state public purpose
49 necessary to assure the growth of the state's economy and provide adequate employment
50 opportunities for its citizens;
51 (2) many start-up businesses in the state fail for lack of support and from not knowing
52 where to go for support services that are available to help them succeed;
53 (3) the state's economy will be improved if these start-up businesses receive assistance
54 and support and grow into healthy tax paying entities;
55 (4) businesses can receive needed assistance and support through the creation of
56 business resource centers; and
57 (5) Utah businesses in southern Utah can receive needed assistance and support
58 through the creation of the Southern Utah Business Resource Center Board.
59 Section 3. Section 63-38f-2203 is enacted to read:
60 63-38f-2203. Definitions.
61 As used in this part, "pilot business resource center" means an entity established by the
62 Governor's Office of Economic Development as a one-stop guidance center to provide support,
63 education, sources of funding, training, technical and talent access, and networking for rural
64 and southern Utah businesses.
65 Section 4. Section 63-38f-2204 is enacted to read:
66 63-38f-2204. Establishment and administration of pilot business resource center --
67 Components.
68 (1) The Governor's Office of Economic Development shall establish a pilot business
69 resource center in southern Utah.
70 (2) The office shall provide methodology and oversight for the center.
71 (3) The Governor's Office of Economic Development shall work with the Southern
72 Utah Business Resource Center Board, established under Section 63C-10-302 and hereafter
73 referred to in this part as "the board," to select a business resource center director.
74 (4) (a) The business resource center may be composed of state, local, and federal
75 agencies and institutions, as well as private entities:
76 (i) solicited by the board to participate in the activities of the center on a voluntary or
77 aid basis; and
78 (ii) encouraged by the board to provide personnel or other appropriate links to the
79 center.
80 (b) Other entities capable of providing supportive services to Utah businesses that are
81 not directly solicited to participate under Subsection (4)(a)(i) may apply to the board to become
82 a provider of services at the business resource center.
83 (c) Entities identified in Subsection (4)(b) shall provide the board with a service plan to
84 include funding which will be made available or supplied to cover the expenses of their
85 services offered at a business resource center.
86 (d) The board shall review each plan for approval as a precondition for providing the
87 service being offered.
88 (5) As components of the pilot business resource center program, the center may:
89 (a) partner with the Governor's Office of Economic Development and other entities to
90 develop and establish web-based access to virtual pilot business resource center services over
91 the Internet to assist in establishing and growing businesses in the state, and particularly in
92 rural areas of the state, in those situations where traveling to the pilot business resource center
93 site is not possible or practical; and
94 (b) develop programs for outreach to entrepreneurs in rural areas of the region and
95 state.
96 Section 5. Section 63-38f-2205 is enacted to read:
97 63-38f-2205. Duties and responsibilities.
98 (1) The pilot business resource center shall:
99 (a) be a focal point to provide businesses assistance in partnering with governmental
100 entities and other business resources;
101 (b) initiate and encourage business education programs, including programs in
102 coordination and collaboration with public, private, and governmental institutions;
103 (c) work with local business leaders and government officials to help them formulate
104 and implement sound economic development decisions for their communities; and
105 (d) use existing physical facilities, in conjunction with local, state, or federal agencies,
106 if appropriate, secured through leases, rentals, donations, shared facilities, or other
107 arrangements through which they shall provide the services described in this part.
108 (2) The center may provide:
109 (a) research, development, or training programs for new or alternative businesses,
110 industries, or high technology business located within the state;
111 (b) needs assessment relating to new or alternative businesses, industries, or high
112 technology business in conjunction with other public or private economic development
113 programs or initiatives; and
114 (c) business incubator space or services, or both, to businesses based on criteria
115 established by the board.
116 Section 6. Section 63C-10-301 is enacted to read:
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118 63C-10-301. Title.
119 This part is known as the "Southern Utah Business Resource Center Board."
120 Section 7. Section 63C-10-302 is enacted to read:
121 63C-10-302. Southern Utah Business Resource Center Board -- Creation --
122 Membership --Vacancies -- Chairs -- Expenses.
123 (1) There is created the Southern Utah Business Resource Center Board, hereafter
124 referred to in this part as "the board," composed of 11 members as follows:
125 (a) the director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development or the director's
126 designee;
127 (b) the president of Southern Utah University or the president's designee;
128 (c) the director of the Utah Center for Rural Life or the director's designee;
129 (d) the director of the Utah Small Business Development Centers or the director's
130 designee;
131 (e) the director of the Utah Science Technology and Research initiative or the director's
132 designee;
133 (f) two representatives of private business selected and appointed by the Utah Center
134 for Rural Life, at least one of which shall be a representative from a rural private business;
135 (g) the director of the Southwest Applied Technology College or the director's
136 designee;
137 (h) the mayor of Cedar City or the mayor's designee;
138 (i) the president of the Cedar City Chamber of Commerce or the president's designee;
139 and
140 (j) one member of the Governor's Rural Partnership Board appointed by the Governor's
141 Rural Partnership Board.
142 (2) (a) Except as required by Subsection (2)(b), board members identified in
143 Subsection (1) shall be appointed for four-year terms.
144 (b) Notwithstanding the requirements of Subsection (2)(a), the board shall, at the time
145 of appointment or reappointment, adjust the length of terms to ensure that the terms of these
146 members are staggered so that approximately half of the nine members are appointed every two
147 years.
148 (c) When a vacancy occurs in the membership for any reason, the replacement shall be
149 appointed for the unexpired term in the same manner as the vacated member was chosen.
150 (3) The board shall elect one of its members as a chair of the board for a two-year term.
151 (4) The board shall meet at the call of the chair, but at least semiannually.
152 (5) (a) A majority of the members of the board constitute a quorum.
153 (b) The action of a majority of a quorum constitutes the action of the board.
154 Section 8. Section 63C-10-303 is enacted to read:
155 63C-10-303. Duties.
156 The board shall:
157 (1) have the authority to hire and fire the director;
158 (2) oversee the operations and activities of the pilot business resource center
159 established under Section 63-38f-2204 ;
160 (3) approve budgets and expenditures of the business resource center;
161 (4) solicit state, local, and federal agencies and institutions, as well as private entities:
162 (a) to participate in the activities of the business resource center on a voluntary or paid
163 basis; and
164 (b) to provide personnel or other appropriate links to the business resource center;
165 (5) receive and approve applications from other entities capable of providing
166 supportive services to Utah businesses that are not directly solicited to participate under
167 Subsection (4) to become a provider of services at the business resource center; and
168 (6) establish criteria for business participation in business incubator space or services,
169 or both, provided by the business resource center.
170 Section 9. Appropriation.
171 As an ongoing appropriation subject to future budget constraints, there is appropriated
172 from the General Fund for fiscal year 2007-08, $200,000 to the Governor's Office of Economic
173 Development to fund the Business Resource Center Pilot Act.
174 Section 10. Effective date.
175 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2007.
Legislative Review Note
as of 1-30-07 10:56 AM