Regulatory Reforms to Help Businesses

The Commerce Committee is considering two measures designed to help Connecticut businesses understand and comply with state regulations without fearing punitive fines if they make a first-time mistake and then fix the issue promptly.

SB 759 calls on the departments of Economic and Community Development, Energy and Environmental Protection, and Public Health, to develop procedures that waive fines and penalties for “a first time violation of a noncriminal regulation when such business takes full remedial measures” within 30 days.

Businesses, especially small businesses, which are subject to comprehensive enforcement inspections can easily be tripped up by a small detail contained within reams of regulatory requirements. 

This proposal creates objective standards by which the agencies may allow a commonsense waiver of any penalty for first-time minor violations.

HB 1006 ensures that both the regulatory agencies and those they regulate will have a clear understanding of what authority is being applied when an agency takes an action to restrict business activity, or brings an enforcement against a business.

In addition to helping businesses better understand the laws and regulations to which they are subject, this proposal would send a strong and much needed message to the private sector and the nation that Connecticut is serious about changing its reputation as a challenging place to do business with a difficult regulatory climate.

CBIA is supporting these bills and urging legislators to approve them.

For more information, contact CBIA’s Eric Gjede at 860.244.1931 or eric.gjede@cbia.com.