Substitute House Bill No. 5467 establishes an Office of Small Business Affairs within the Department of Economic and Community Development, aimed at supporting small business enterprises, particularly those owned by minorities and socially or economically disadvantaged individuals. The bill repeals the existing Section 32-9n and replaces it with new provisions that outline the office's responsibilities, which include administering regional small business development centers, coordinating information flow within technical assistance programs, encouraging loans from Connecticut Innovations, and serving as a liaison among various agencies affecting small business affairs. Additionally, the office is tasked with providing a single point of contact for small businesses seeking assistance and maintaining an updated informational web page on available resources.

The bill also introduces a new requirement for the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to designate an existing employee to provide "concierge services" to small businesses, which encompasses offering information and assistance related to economic or community development projects or programs. This new provision is marked by the insertion of legal language that defines the role and responsibilities of the designated employee, while deleting the previous subsection (c) to accommodate this change. The Office of Small Business Affairs is also mandated to compile a summary of small business activities and programs for reporting purposes, effective from February 1, 2011.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 32-9n
CE Joint Favorable Substitute: 32-9n
File No. 332: 32-9n
File No. 723: 32-9n
Public Act No. 26-135: 32-9n