Small-business owners can express their views on the regulatory practices of the federal government when the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Board holds a public hearing at the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce offices March 12.

Small-business owners from Nevada, California, Arizona, and Hawaii are invited to speak, but they must schedule time slots with the Small Business Administration's Nevada office by calling Donna Hopkins at (702) 388-6684 by March 8.

The federal government passed the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA) in an effort to provide small-business owners with the means to participate in the regulatory process, according to Tom Gutherie, a Regulatory Fairness Board volunteer who will help lead the upcoming hearing.

"Small-business owners can feel overwhelmed by the impact of federal regulations on their business operations," Gutherie said. "The SBREFA has tipped the scales in favor of small businesses by giving them an opportunity to comment on their experiences with federal regulatory enforcement agencies. Small businesses can now seize this opportunity to help change what some consider a burdensome system."

The hearing will provide small-business owners with a forum to express disagreement with fines or citations, as well as to cite positive experiences they've had with agencies that have helped them comply with regulations. All comments will be summarized and included in an annual report to Congress.

Regulatory Fairness Board members are small-business owners who are volunteering their time to this project.

For more information, call the Nevada Small Business Administration office at 388-6684.