H.B. 359

1

BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTER ADVISORY BOARD
2 MODIFICATION
3 2011 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Val L. Peterson
6 Senate Sponsor: Jerry W. Stevenson
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill modifies provisions of the Utah Business Resource Centers Act related to the
11 Utah Business Assistance Advisory Board.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This bill:
14 . changes the name of the advisory board from the Utah Business Resource Centers
15 Advisory Board to the Utah Business Assistance Advisory Board;
16 . modifies the composition of the advisory board; and
17 . expands the duties of the advisory board.
18 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
19 None
20 Other Special Clauses:
21 None
22 Utah Code Sections Affected:
23 AMENDS:
24 63M-1-2704, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 50
25 63M-1-2706, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 286
26 63M-1-2707, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 50
27

28 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
29 Section 1. Section 63M-1-2704 is amended to read:
30 63M-1-2704. Establishment and administration of business resource centers --
31 Components.
32 (1) The Governor's Office of Economic Development, hereafter referred to in this part
33 as "the office," shall establish business resource centers in at least four different geographical
34 regions of the state where host institutions are located and the host institutions agree to enter
35 into a business resource center partnership with the office.
36 (2) The office, in partnership with a host institution, shall provide methodology and
37 oversight for a business resource center.
38 (3) A host institution shall contribute 50% of a business resource center's operating
39 costs through cash or in-kind contributions, unless otherwise provided under Subsection
40 63M-1-2707 [(6)](7).
41 (4) The office shall work with the Utah Business [Resource Centers] Assistance
42 Advisory Board established under Section 63M-1-2706 , hereafter referred to in this part as "the
43 board," to provide operational oversight and coordination of the business resource centers
44 established under this part.
45 (5) (a) A business resource center shall work with state agencies in creating methods to
46 coordinate functions and measure the impact of the efforts provided by the state agencies and
47 the center.
48 (b) The host institution, state, local and federal governmental entities,
49 quasi-governmental entities, and private entities may:
50 (i) participate in the activities offered by or through a business resource center; and
51 (ii) provide personnel or other appropriate links to the center.
52 (c) (i) Other entities that are not initially involved in the establishment of a business
53 resource center and that are capable of providing supportive services to Utah businesses may
54 apply to the center to become a provider of services at the center.
55 (ii) Entities identified in Subsections (5)(a) and (b) shall provide the board with a
56 service plan, to include funding, which would be made available or supplied to cover the
57 expenses of their services offered at a business resource center.
58 (iii) The board shall review each application made under Subsection (5)(c)(i) and make

59 a recommendation for approval by the office as a precondition for providing the service being
60 offered.
61 (6) A business resource center may:
62 (a) partner with the Governor's Office of Economic Development, other host
63 institutions, and other entities to develop and establish web-based access to virtual business
64 resource center services over the Internet to assist in establishing and growing businesses in the
65 state, particularly in those situations where traveling to a business resource center site is not
66 practical;
67 (b) develop a data base and software for:
68 (i) tracking clients and their progress; and
69 (ii) tracking responses and services provided by state agencies and evaluating their
70 effectiveness; and
71 (c) develop outreach programs and services targeted to business clients in rural areas of
72 the state.
73 (7) The Governor's Office of Economic Development shall make a report by November
74 1 of each year to the Workforce Services and Community and Economic Development and
75 Business and Labor Interim Committees [and the state board of regents] on measured
76 performance of economic development programs offered by or through established business
77 resource centers.
78 Section 2. Section 63M-1-2706 is amended to read:
79 63M-1-2706. Utah Business Assistance Advisory Board -- Creation --
80 Membership -- Vacancies -- Chairs.
81 (1) There is created the Utah Business [Resource Centers] Assistance Advisory Board,
82 composed of at least [nine] 13 members appointed by the executive director of the Governor's
83 Office of Economic Development.
84 (2) (a) The executive director shall appoint:
85 [(a)] (i) one member from [each] three host [institution] institutions of business
86 resource centers on a rotating basis;
87 [(b)] (ii) three members from urban areas in the state; [and]
88 [(c)] (iii) two members from rural areas in the state[.]; and
89 (iv) one member from each host institution of a statewide business service provider.

90 (b) The executive director may appoint ex officio board members who are sponsors of
91 or partners with statewide business server providers.
92 (3) Each board member shall have a background or expertise in any one or all of the
93 following:
94 (a) state or local economic development;
95 (b) business networking, growth, or development;
96 (c) entrepreneurship;
97 (d) business management or administration; or
98 (e) the establishment of partnerships or collaborative efforts with state, local, and
99 federal agencies and institutions, as well as private entities.
100 (4) (a) The executive director shall appoint board members for four-year terms.
101 (b) The board shall, at the time of appointment or reappointment, adjust the length of
102 terms to ensure that the terms of these members are staggered so that approximately half of the
103 members are appointed every two years.
104 (c) When a vacancy occurs in the membership for any reason, the replacement shall be
105 appointed by the executive director for the unexpired term in the same manner as the vacated
106 member was chosen.
107 (5) The board shall elect one of its members as a chair of the board for a two-year term.
108 (6) The board shall meet at the call of the chair, but at least quarterly.
109 (7) (a) A majority of the members of the board constitute a quorum.
110 (b) The action of a majority of a quorum constitutes the action of the board.
111 (8) A member may not receive compensation or benefits for the member's service, but
112 may receive per diem and travel expenses in accordance with:
113 (a) Section 63A-3-106 ;
114 (b) Section 63A-3-107 ; and
115 (c) rules made by the Division of Finance pursuant to Sections 63A-3-106 and
116 63A-3-107 .
117 Section 3. Section 63M-1-2707 is amended to read:
118 63M-1-2707. Duties.
119 The board shall:
120 (1) assist the office in providing operational oversight, coordination, and performance

121 review and provide advice and improve the effectiveness of state-funded business assistance
122 programs throughout the state as designated by the executive director;
123 [(1)] (2) make recommendations to the office on requirements for the requisite
124 certification of each business resource center and staff at each center by the executive director;
125 [(2)] (3) make recommendations to the office for certification of the business plans the
126 board is required to review under Subsection 63M-1-2704 (5)(c)(iii);
127 [(3)] (4) [if requested by] at the direction of the executive director[,]:
128 (a) assist the office in providing operational oversight to and coordination of the
129 business resource centers established under this part; and
130 (b) work closely with the Governor's Office of Economic Development's Board of
131 Business and Economic Development;
132 [(4)] (5) identify issues and make recommendations to the office regarding programs,
133 policies, and procedures that could be implemented by:
134 (a) business resource centers in fulfilling their duties and responsibilities under Section
135 63M-1-2705 ; and
136 (b) state-funded business service providers;
137 [(5)] (6) make budget recommendations to the office regarding the operation and
138 staffing of business resource centers established under this part;
139 [(6)] (7) recommend matching fund exceptions under Subsection 63M-1-2704 (3);
140 [(7)] (8) recommend certification of all non-state funded satellite business resource
141 centers; and
142 [(8)] (9) establish metrics to report the performance of economic development output
143 in each region serviced by a business resource center.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-17-11 1:27 PM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel