Posted on: Saturday, February 5, 2005

Entrepreneurs soon may get 'bill of rights'

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawai'i's small businesses are a step closer to having a recognized bill of rights following the approval of a key legislative committee.

House Bill 601, which brings together a host of initiatives already on the books, was approved Thursday by the Economic Development and Business Concerns Committee.

Among the 16 rights included in the bill are those that guarantee a one-stop permitting process, timely notice of a state agency's rule-making proceedings when requested, and a timely hearing in the event that a state regulatory agency takes an adverse action against a business.

At least three other states — Texas, Maine and Arizona — provide a list of rights for small businesses, according to the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism.

"It's just common sense," said Rep. Glenn Wakai, D-31st (Salt Lake, Tripler), who serves as vice chairman of the committee. "It doesn't cost us any money and it's just good for the business environment."

Nearly 97 percent of businesses in Hawai'i are considered small — meaning, they have fewer than 500 employees — according to the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy.

Supporters of the bill say that having the rights listed in one document makes it easier for small-business owners to learn about and exercise their rights.

"It's very difficult for people in business to actually know which rights they have," said David K. Zinn, president of Copy Shop Inc. in Hawai'i Kai and vice chairman of the state's Small Business Regulatory Review Board. "To try and find out what our rights are you have to read through shelves and shelves of material. But by bringing these rights under one bill, the Small Business Regulatory Review Board will be able to publish this as a bill, as rights, which people can then be able to refer to."

In addition, small-business advocates say passage of this bill will signify a more business-friendly atmosphere in Hawai'i.

"From my perspective a lot of business people don't know these rights even exist, so I wonder how much of the anti-business sentiment is attributed to that fact," Zinn said. "I think this bill will go a long way to changing the anti-business sentiment the state is perceived as having."

Reach Catherine E. Toth at 535-8103 or ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.