§ 22-7.6-1 - Declaration of purpose – "Small business" defined.
SECTION 22-7.6-1
§ 22-7.6-1 Declaration of purpose –"Small business" defined. – The legislature finds and declares:
(1) That the essence of the American economic system is freecompetition; and
(2) That only through full and free competition can freemarkets, free entry into business, and opportunities for the expression andgrowth of personal initiative and individual judgment be assured; and
(3) That small business stands as a symbol of Americancharacter and spirit which includes the traits of individual initiative,self-reliance, and creativity; and
(4) That small business has been a major positive factor inthe political, economic, and social development of the state; and
(5) That the future welfare of the state depends on thecontinued development of small business; and
(6) That the opportunity for all people to participate in amanner and method of their own choosing has been a hallmark of our freeenterprise system; and
(7) That the people of the state of Rhode Island must beassured of the opportunity and right to participate in our system of freeenterprise; and
(8) That it is the sense of the people of the state of RhodeIsland that private enterprise and small business entrepreneurship areessential to the preservation of individual liberty and freedom for all ourcitizens; and
(9) That all citizens of the state of Rhode Island have theright to live in an economically diverse society; and
(10) That all citizens of the state of Rhode Island have theright to own and manage their own business; and
(11) That all citizens of the state of Rhode Island have anequal entrepreneurial opportunity to participate in our free enterprise systemregardless of race, creed, and sex; and
(12) That it shall be the declared policy of the people andthe legislature of the state of Rhode Island to preserve, protect, and fosterthe creation, development, and growth of small business in the state; and
(13) That it shall be the policy of the legislature that allagencies, departments, bureaus and instrumentalities of the state governmentshall take all possible measures to preserve these rights and aggressivelyfoster small business opportunity; and
(14) That the best method of furthering these legislativepolicies is through the establishment of a permanent state commission for smallbusiness development; and
(15) That small business shall be defined as a person,partnership, corporation, or other form of business entity independently ownedand operated, not dominant in its field and which business employs five hundred(500) or fewer employees and has its principal place of business located in thestate of Rhode Island. This definition shall apply in the interpretation of anystatute, regulation, or executive order.