Sec. 481.0067.  SMALL BUSINESS ADVOCATE.  (a)  The executive director shall designate an individual as the small business advocate.
(b)  To be eligible to serve as the small business advocate, a person must have demonstrated a strong commitment to and involvement in small business efforts.
(c)  The small business advocate shall:
(1)  serve as the principal focal point in this state for assisting small and historically underutilized businesses;
(2)  assist small and historically underutilized businesses by identifying:
(A)  conflicting state policy goals and state agency rules that may inhibit small and historically underutilized business development;
(B)  financial barriers for those businesses;  and
(C)  sources of financial assistance for those businesses;
(3)  provide assistance to small and historically underutilized businesses in complying with federal, state, and local laws;  and
(4)  perform research, studies, and analyses of matters affecting the interests of small and historically underutilized businesses.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 814, Sec. 1.10, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.