Chapter 198 Oregon Laws 2011

AN ACT

HB 2770

Relating to the Business Ombudsman.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. (1) The Oregon Business Development Department, in consultation with the Governor’s office and other state agencies, shall explore the feasibility of establishing a position of Business Ombudsman within state government.

(2) In considering the duties to be performed and information to be provided by a Business Ombudsman, the department shall explore the feasibility of requiring a Business Ombudsman to provide and maintain on the department’s website, or the website of another state agency, the following information:

(a) The name of, contact information of and description of services provided by each appropriate state agency or technical service provider that provides assistance to new or prospective small businesses;

(b) The name, contact information and description of duties of state agencies that perform regulatory and permitting activities that affect new or prospective small businesses; and

(c) Methods by which new, prospective or established businesses may note questions or complaints that arise in the course of doing business in this state or with public entities in this state.

(3) The department shall report to the Legislative Assembly in the manner provided by ORS 192.245 no later than the date of the convening of the 2013 regular session of the Legislative Assembly as specified in ORS 171.010. The report shall describe the department’s conclusions regarding the feasibility of establishing a position of Business Ombudsman within state government and of requiring a Business Ombudsman to maintain the information described in this section on the website of the department or another state agency.

Approved by the Governor June 1, 2011

Filed in the office of Secretary of State June 2, 2011

Effective date January 1, 2012

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