PRINTER'S NO. 3812
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2535
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY SHUSTERMAN, MURT, HANBIDGE, GALLOWAY, FREEMAN,
LONGIETTI, KINSEY, HILL-EVANS, ULLMAN, DRISCOLL, KENYATTA,
PASHINSKI, SCHWEYER, DELLOSO, HOWARD, GAINEY, KORTZ, OTTEN,
McCLINTON, READSHAW, SCHLOSSBERG, GREEN, COMITTA, ROZZI,
DEASY AND LEE, MAY 21, 2020
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, MAY 21, 2020
AN ACT
Providing for e-commerce assistance and safety guidelines for
small businesses.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Small
Business E-Commerce Assistance Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Department." The Department of Community and Economic
Development of the Commonwealth.
"E-commerce." Commercial transactions conducted
electronically on the Internet, through a mobile application, by
telephone or other electronic means.
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"Secretary." The Secretary of Community and Economic
Development of the Commonwealth.
"Small business." A person that employs five or fewer
employees.
Section 3. Small business e-commerce assistance.
(a) General rule.--A small business shall be eligible for
technical assistance and support relating to e-commerce from the
department as provided under this section.
(b) Assistance.--The department shall provide technical
assistance and support for e-commerce to small businesses,
including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) The creation, development and expansion of an
Internet website, mobile application, telephone ordering
system or other electronic method to conduct e-commerce.
(2) Guidance on computer and other technological
requirements to conduct e-commerce.
(3) Delivery methods or product pick-up methods that are
safe for customers and employees.
(4) Other services deemed necessary by the department.
(c) Application.--The department shall establish an
application process for small businesses to apply for technical
assistance and support under this section and make the
application available on its publicly accessible Internet
website.
Section 4. Resources for small businesses.
The department shall provide resources for small businesses
on its publicly accessible Internet website on all of the
following:
(1) Best practices for e-commerce.
(2) Secure payment methods.
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(3) Contactless payment methods.
(4) Awareness of fraud, hacking or other criminal
attacks on e-commerce.
(5) Social distancing and safe workplace guidelines
provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Section 5. Safe workplace guidelines.
The department shall provide safe workplace guidelines to
prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other diseases to small
businesses. The guidelines may be adapted from materials
developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and
other Federal or Commonwealth departments and agencies.
Section 6. Expiration.
The provisions of this act shall expire one year after the
termination or expiration of the disaster emergency declared by
the Governor on March 6, 2020, and published at 50 Pa.B. 1644
(March 21, 2020).
Section 7. Effective date.
This act shall take effect immediately.
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