§ 42-132-3 - Organization and responsibilities.
SECTION 42-132-3
§ 42-132-3 Organization andresponsibilities. – (a) There is hereby established, within the secretary of state's first stopbusiness information center, a business fast-start office ("Fast-Start Office")which shall be under the direction of the director or other full-time stateemployee as appointed by the secretary of state. Additional staff sufficient toperform the duties of the fast-start office shall be provided under thedirection of the secretary of state from the personnel currently assigned tothe office of the secretary of state. Nothing in this section shall beconstrued to explicitly or implicitly permit the hiring of any additionalpersonnel to perform the duties and responsibilities designated in thissection. As a clearing house for state business licensing, the fast-startoffice will:
(1) Work in conjunction with the office to establish alicense information service detailing requirements for establishing andengaging in business in this state, including state licensing and regulatoryrequirements. The fast-start office in later phases of its program will, to theextent feasible, extend its service to include local and federal requirements.
(2) Develop recommendations for the elimination,consolidation, simplification and/or expediting of business licenses, orotherwise improving licensing procedures affecting business undertakings. Theserecommendations, with the approval of the secretary of state, will be submittedto the general assembly for approval;
(3) Promulgate and adopt rules and regulations necessary tocarry out the purposes of this chapter;
(4) Develop an operating plan for an automated masterapplication system;
(5) Determine the software and hardware needs of the system;
(6) Determine staffing levels and space required for thesystem.
(b) State agencies that issue business licenses shall assistand cooperate in the development and implementation of the plan as required bythe fast-start office. In making the determination and developing an operatingplan for an automated master application system, the fast-start office shallidentify the business licenses appropriate for inclusion in a masterapplication system and shall develop a master application form thatconsolidates the information needed for the various state agencies to issue thelicenses.
(c) Each state agency that issues licenses shall cooperatefully with the fast-start office in providing information on the licenses andregulatory requirements of the agency and in developing a plan for an automatedmaster application system.
(d) Each state agency shall designate a business licensecoordinator. The coordinator shall have the following responsibilities:
(1) Provide to the fast-start office the most recentapplication and supplemental forms required for each license issued by theagency, the most recent information available on existing and proposed changesin license requirements or agency rules and how those changes will affect thebusiness community, and agency publications that would be of aid or interest tothe business community;
(2) Receive and respond to communications from the fast-startoffice; and
(3) Review state agency regulatory and license requirementsand provide a written report to the fast-start office no later than January 1,2002, and every two (2) years thereafter that:
(i) Identifies the regulatory and licensing requirements thataffect the business community;
(ii) Indicates which, if any, requirements should beeliminated, modified, or consolidated with other requirements; and
(iii) Explains the need for continuing those requirements notrecommended for elimination.