File #: Int 1082-2024    Version: * Name: Study and report on fees and costs required to start and maintain a small business.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Small Business
On agenda: 10/10/2024
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law in relation to a study and report on fees and costs required to start and maintain a small business
Sponsors: Mercedes Narcisse, Justin L. Brannan
Council Member Sponsors: 2
Summary: This bill would require the Department of Small Business Services (SBS) to conduct a study of fees and costs required to start and maintain a small business, and to post online and issue to the Mayor and Speaker of the Council a report that includes recommendations to reduce or offset such fees and costs. The study and report would have a distinct focus on regulatory compliance fees and costs, and on fees and costs unique to small businesses that are minority or women-owned business enterprises (M/WBEs) and to small businesses located in neighborhoods underserved by public transportation.
Indexes: Report Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 1082, 2. Int. No. 1082, 3. October 10, 2024 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 4. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 10-10-24

Int. No. 1082

 

By Council Members Narcisse and Brannan

 

A Local Law in relation to a study and report on fees and costs required to start and maintain a small business

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

City. The term “city” means the city of New York.

Commissioner. The term “commissioner” means the commissioner of small business services.

Department. The term “department” means the department of small business services.

M/WBE. The term “M/WBE” means a minority- or women-owned business enterprise certified in accordance with section 1304 of the charter.

Small business. The term “small business” means a business that (i) is small, in accordance with the size standards set forth in section 121.201 of title 13 of the code of federal regulations, (ii) is not a franchise owned by a franchisee, as such terms are defined in section 681 of the general business law, and (iii) occupies commercial premises in the city.

b. Study. The commissioner shall conduct a study of fees and costs required to start and maintain a small business. Through such study, the commissioner shall:

1. Identify and analyze regulatory compliance fees and costs, including at a minimum:

(a) Certification, permitting, and licensing fees;

(b) Entity formation fees;

(c) Relevant taxes;

(d) Costs of providing insurance benefits to employees, including but not limited to health and disability insurance; and

(e) Waste removal costs;

2. Identify and analyze attorney fees;

3. Separately identify and analyze any fees and costs that are unique to small businesses that are M/WBEs; and

4. In coordination with the commissioner of transportation, separately identify and analyze any fees and costs that are unique to small businesses located in neighborhoods that are underserved by public transportation.

c. Report. No later than 180 days after the effective date of this local law, the commissioner shall submit to the mayor and the speaker of the council and post on the department’s website a report on the findings of the study conducted pursuant to subdivision b of this section. Such report shall include recommendations for legislation or regulatory actions that would achieve the objective of lowering or offsetting the fees and costs identified in such study, including distinct recommendations for lowering or offsetting fees and costs identified in such study that are unique to small businesses that are M/WBEs and small businesses located in neighborhoods that are underserved by public transportation.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.REC

LS #15747

10/4/2024 11:29 AM