<enum>I</enum><header>Planning</header> <section commented="no" id="H2C72790C197A4589BC9EA5CB738D15F8"><enum>101.</enum><header>Comprehensive disaster response plan</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Small Business Act is amended by redesignating section 37 as section 99 and by inserting after section 36 the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7C62F58483F2402B8989FED8919166F1" style="OLC"> <section id="H86E80D5F63F14B02B29B519DE8F32510"><enum>37.</enum><header>Comprehensive disaster response plan</header> <subsection commented="no" id="H36B264814179417485C1170023C99FE9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Plan required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive written disaster response plan. The plan shall include the following:</text> <paragraph commented="no" id="H361A02ECF83C4F8700B4112DF6D3B7A3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>For each region of the Administration, a description of the disasters most likely to occur in that region.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HA94F18B01D354DA1B491662EA7897987"><enum>(2)</enum><text>For each disaster described under paragraph (1)—</text> <subparagraph commented="no" id="H1A5A283457A943A18D55915DE79DE1C1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an assessment of the disaster;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HD796BAFFEE554F28AD4BBBB1B1B5338F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an assessment of the demand for Administration assistance most likely to occur in response to the disaster;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H03E3F26708B8408EB34B7D971DDCBCE2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>an assessment of the needs of the Administration, with respect to such resources as information technology, telecommunications, human resources, and office space, to meet the demand referred to in subparagraph (B); and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HE2E5578B922B45D8894527292F83FF9F"><enum>(D)</enum><text>guidelines pursuant to which the Administration will coordinate with other Federal agencies and with State and local authorities to best respond to the demand referred to in subparagraph (B) and to best use the resources referred to in that subparagraph.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HA04E9CFB146B4AAB00AE8ED7C394771E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Completion; revision</header><text>The first plan required by subsection (a) shall be completed not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section. Thereafter, the Administrator shall update the plan on an annual basis and following any incident of national significance (as declared by the President or his designee).</text> </subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7E1ACA101DB94276B135F4B4179DEA7E"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Knowledge required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall carry out subsections (a) and (b) through an individual with substantial knowledge in the field of disaster readiness and emergency response.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H0843461073D04205BD83152CE3B8BDE4"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The Administrator shall include a report on the plan whenever the Administrator submits the report required by section 47(a).</text> </subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><section commented="no" id="H5150E207D3D244ED9C186D51181FD136"><enum>102.</enum><header>Annual disaster simulation exercise</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Small Business Act is amended by inserting after section 37 (as added by section 101) the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC089A78468704E0BB7C648A959904700" style="OLC"> <section id="HCEE93EB3CEC8434ABABB4197101330EC"><enum>38.</enum><header>Annual disaster simulation exercise</header> <subsection id="H99474C1B84354DA0A2B57D201463A5E9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Exercise required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall conduct a disaster simulation exercise at least once each fiscal year. The exercise shall include the participation of, at a minimum, not less than half of the individuals in the disaster reserve corps and shall test, at maximum capacity, all of the information technology and telecommunications systems of the Administration that are vital to the activities of the Administration during such a disaster.</text> </subsection><subsection id="HD9D5284B49CC4DD19FDD7182FEE800A3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The Administrator shall include a report on the disaster simulation exercise whenever the Administration submits the report required by section 47(a).</text> </subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><section commented="no" id="H0AC3B14FDEAD4841AAC350BB2AAD8E2"><enum>103.</enum><header>Disaster reserve corps</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Small Business Act is amended by inserting after section 38 (as added by section 102) the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0218A4C87C52409B9DCD24007600AD3D" style="OLC"> <section id="H2AA50615049647C29356BA8EF866BBD2"><enum>39.</enum><header>Disaster reserve corps</header> <subsection commented="no" id="H409F3C62B2D84096A6AC00B8AB2D4D80"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Corps required</header><text>The Administrator shall maintain within the Administration a disaster reserve corps, the purpose of which is to perform the functions of the Administration related to disaster response. The corps shall consist of at least 1,000 individuals, each of whom—</text> <paragraph commented="no" id="H5EB1271BE8F1487EA04C007C007B98EC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>does not ordinarily have the duties of a full-time officer or employee of the Administration; but</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HAB31F0FA98C543AEB2D6DDBBC0338783"><enum>(2)</enum><text>is able to assume duties related to disaster response when the Administrator so requires.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HB762BF2B96684E83976FAA2514B6A300"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Training</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall ensure that each individual in the corps receives training each year in one or more functions relating to disaster response. To the maximum extent practicable, the function in which an individual is trained in one year shall be different from the function in which the individual was trained in prior years.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H9061386368D74B7FAC92E68DFD3C2051"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Geographic distribution</header><text>The Administrator shall ensure that not more than 30 percent of the individuals in the corps reside in any one region of the Administration.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H56D06B65144C446DA53958DBABA39E8D"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The Administrator shall include a report on the corps whenever the Administration submits the report required by section 47(a).</text> </subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><section commented="no" id="H135E3800E4434D6387D7C5F860316605"><enum>104.</enum><header>Plans to secure additional office space</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Small Business Act is amended by inserting after section 39 (as added by section 103) the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1827541B77024FBBBAF828E964F25826" style="OLC"> <section id="HDB314B1446EF4A11BEAF20A7058B4789"><enum>40.</enum><header>Plans to secure additional office space</header> <subsection id="H3C0C216BD67A4757A1E5546638F0036"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Plans required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall develop long-term plans to secure additional office space to accommodate an expanded workforce in times of disaster.</text> </subsection><subsection id="HC6D214CAF53144D0917C19BC569B94D1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The Administrator shall include a report on the plans whenever the Administration submits the report required by section 47(a).</text> </subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><section commented="no" id="H0FC72E22956145E0A93E09331D0284BC"><enum>105.</enum><header>Coordination of disaster assistance programs with FEMA</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Small Business Act is amended by inserting after section 40 (as added by section 104) the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H656F43193361451985DB97DE085D5E23" style="OLC"> <section id="HC33CD660A07344C8BF3C6B03DFBC019C"><enum>41.</enum><header>Coordination of disaster assistance programs with FEMA</header> <subsection id="HD7259FE96EBF4197BCAF602E7C78623D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Coordination required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall ensure that the disaster assistance programs of the Administration are coordinated, to the maximum extent practicable, with the disaster assistance programs of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H304700A7A7A245F4AF7D009380ED239D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Regulations required</header><text>The Administrator, in consultation with the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall establish regulations to ensure that each application for disaster assistance is submitted as quickly as practicable to the Administration or directed to the appropriate agency under the circumstances.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H647C1C1860884679A55488F67D55635E"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Completion; revision</header><text>The initial regulations shall be completed not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this section. Thereafter, the regulations shall be revised on an annual basis.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H8B1BA3C44CA14B5C92E3168BF1E655AD"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The Administrator shall include a report on the regulations whenever the Administration submits the report required by section 47(a).</text> </subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><section id="HAF7673051AD74988BCEA009DF15829DF"><enum>106.</enum><header>Associate Administrator for Disaster Assistance</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Small Business Act is amended by inserting after section 41 (as added by section 105) the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF9905FC2B1864A0A9E7189DF2F00434" style="OLC"> <section id="HCDA48DC233BE4AFDB675FA9F63989FC5"><enum>42.</enum><header>Associate Administrator for Disaster Assistance</header> <subsection id="HF1694EF68E75416FADD050AF8DAB57"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>There is established in the Administration an Associate Administrator for Disaster Assistance, appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, from among individuals who have—</text> <paragraph id="H93FA8915F9C941FFB1D659A95F9FF990"><enum>(1)</enum><text>proven management ability; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HEF8605A9C0C640458CD6F1B1676CCFE0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>substantial knowledge in the field of disaster readiness and emergency response.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H272F54FFCE124DF200A0C62D4733DEE7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Director of Disaster Planning</header> <paragraph id="H1709B4F72830433992569B256EA654F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Appointment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is established in the Administration a Director for Disaster Planning, appointed by the Administrator from among the personnel of the Administration.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HF4F2A75C68744661AE848CE588F6653C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Associate Administrator for Disaster Assistance, the Director shall—</text> <subparagraph id="HB03C43095BF34B0CAB006D83DBDFFE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>develop and implement the Administration’s plans for responding to disasters; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB573438462E24856834E52AFD5A67FF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>direct the Administration’s training exercises with respect to disasters.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1D986EADDA3F426000DAD5CA34B659C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Coordination</header><text>In carrying out the duties under paragraph (2), the Director shall coordinate with—</text> <subparagraph id="H6146C90E1C724EC18CFFCEE7589B157F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Associate Administrator for the Office of Disaster Assistance of the Administration;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF9B9CBB0D78A44ECBDBB7C9772E0F13E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDD91E27E4101415588F9E8606280B200"><enum>(C)</enum><text>other Federal, State, and local disaster planning offices, as necessary.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HF77DEC572BDA4B089BC72797CA5D8252"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Director of Disaster Lending</header> <paragraph id="HB7A4B91E19C1440E90C044EC515BD1B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Appointment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is established in the Administration a Director for Disaster Lending, appointed by the Administrator from among the personnel of the Administration.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HE3D484AF877E4C5000966794B0A4809B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Duties</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Associate Administrator for Disaster Assistance, the Director shall direct all aspects of the disaster lending program under section 7(b).</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H8DBED13A7762491F81CF2482903E1BD3"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Resources</header><text>The Administrator shall ensure that the Associate Administrator for Disaster Assistance, the Director of Disaster Planning, and the Director of Disaster Lending have adequate resources to carry out the duties under this section.</text> </subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section>

110 HR 1361 PCS: RECOVER Act U.S. House of Representatives 0 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

Short title; table of contents

(a)

Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Relief for Entrepreneurs: Coordination of Objectives and Values for Effective Recovery Act of 2007

or the

RECOVER Act

. (b)

Table of contents

The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

Title I—Planning

Sec. 101. Comprehensive disaster response plan.

Sec. 102. Annual disaster simulation exercise.

Sec. 103. Disaster reserve corps.

Sec. 104. Plans to secure additional office space.

Sec. 105. Coordination of disaster assistance programs with FEMA.

Sec. 106. Associate Administrator for Disaster Assistance.

Title II—Lending

Sec. 201. Incidents of National Significance.

Sec. 202. Information tracking and follow-up system.

Sec. 203. Immediate Disaster Assistance program.

Sec. 204. Increased deferment period.

Sec. 205. Revised repayment terms.

Sec. 206. Revised disbursement process.

Sec. 207. Revised collateral requirements.

Sec. 208. Enhanced lending authority for private lenders.

Sec. 209. Disaster processing redundancy.

Sec. 210. Grant program.

Sec. 211. Hurricane Assistance Replacement Grant program.

Sec. 212. Increase legislative limit.

Sec. 213. Net earnings clauses prohibited.

Sec. 214. Economic injury disaster loans to nonprofits.

Sec. 215. Applicants that will constitute a major source of employment due to changed economic circumstances.

Sec. 216. Preliminary application process for assistance for small business concerns with essential employees ordered to serve on active duty in the Armed Forces.

Sec. 217. Economic injury disaster loans in cases of ice storms and blizzards.

Sec. 218. Report regarding lack of snow fall.

Sec. 219. Gulf Coast Disaster Loan Refinancing program.

Title III—Oversight

Sec. 301. Reports on disaster assistance.

<enum>I</enum><header>Planning</header> <section commented="no" id="H2C72790C197A4589BC9EA5CB738D15F8"><enum>101.</enum><header>Comprehensive disaster response plan</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Small Business Act is amended by redesignating section 37 as section 99 and by inserting after section 36 the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7C62F58483F2402B8989FED8919166F1" style="OLC"> <section id="H86E80D5F63F14B02B29B519DE8F32510"><enum>37.</enum><header>Comprehensive disaster response plan</header> <subsection commented="no" id="H36B264814179417485C1170023C99FE9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Plan required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive written disaster response plan. The plan shall include the following:</text> <paragraph commented="no" id="H361A02ECF83C4F8700B4112DF6D3B7A3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>For each region of the Administration, a description of the disasters most likely to occur in that region.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HA94F18B01D354DA1B491662EA7897987"><enum>(2)</enum><text>For each disaster described under paragraph (1)—</text> <subparagraph commented="no" id="H1A5A283457A943A18D55915DE79DE1C1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an assessment of the disaster;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HD796BAFFEE554F28AD4BBBB1B1B5338F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an assessment of the demand for Administration assistance most likely to occur in response to the disaster;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H03E3F26708B8408EB34B7D971DDCBCE2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>an assessment of the needs of the Administration, with respect to such resources as information technology, telecommunications, human resources, and office space, to meet the demand referred to in subparagraph (B); and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HE2E5578B922B45D8894527292F83FF9F"><enum>(D)</enum><text>guidelines pursuant to which the Administration will coordinate with other Federal agencies and with State and local authorities to best respond to the demand referred to in subparagraph (B) and to best use the resources referred to in that subparagraph.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HA04E9CFB146B4AAB00AE8ED7C394771E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Completion; revision</header><text>The first plan required by subsection (a) shall be completed not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section. Thereafter, the Administrator shall update the plan on an annual basis and following any incident of national significance (as declared by the President or his designee).</text> </subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7E1ACA101DB94276B135F4B4179DEA7E"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Knowledge required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall carry out subsections (a) and (b) through an individual with substantial knowledge in the field of disaster readiness and emergency response.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H0843461073D04205BD83152CE3B8BDE4"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The Administrator shall include a report on the plan whenever the Administrator submits the report required by section 47(a).</text> </subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><section commented="no" id="H5150E207D3D244ED9C186D51181FD136"><enum>102.</enum><header>Annual disaster simulation exercise</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Small Business Act is amended by inserting after section 37 (as added by section 101) the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC089A78468704E0BB7C648A959904700" style="OLC"> <section id="HCEE93EB3CEC8434ABABB4197101330EC"><enum>38.</enum><header>Annual disaster simulation exercise</header> <subsection id="H99474C1B84354DA0A2B57D201463A5E9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Exercise required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall conduct a disaster simulation exercise at least once each fiscal year. The exercise shall include the participation of, at a minimum, not less than half of the individuals in the disaster reserve corps and shall test, at maximum capacity, all of the information technology and telecommunications systems of the Administration that are vital to the activities of the Administration during such a disaster.</text> </subsection><subsection id="HD9D5284B49CC4DD19FDD7182FEE800A3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The Administrator shall include a report on the disaster simulation exercise whenever the Administration submits the report required by section 47(a).</text> </subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><section commented="no" id="H0AC3B14FDEAD4841AAC350BB2AAD8E2"><enum>103.</enum><header>Disaster reserve corps</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Small Business Act is amended by inserting after section 38 (as added by section 102) the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0218A4C87C52409B9DCD24007600AD3D" style="OLC"> <section id="H2AA50615049647C29356BA8EF866BBD2"><enum>39.</enum><header>Disaster reserve corps</header> <subsection commented="no" id="H409F3C62B2D84096A6AC00B8AB2D4D80"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Corps required</header><text>The Administrator shall maintain within the Administration a disaster reserve corps, the purpose of which is to perform the functions of the Administration related to disaster response. The corps shall consist of at least 1,000 individuals, each of whom—</text> <paragraph commented="no" id="H5EB1271BE8F1487EA04C007C007B98EC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>does not ordinarily have the duties of a full-time officer or employee of the Administration; but</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HAB31F0FA98C543AEB2D6DDBBC0338783"><enum>(2)</enum><text>is able to assume duties related to disaster response when the Administrator so requires.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HB762BF2B96684E83976FAA2514B6A300"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Training</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall ensure that each individual in the corps receives training each year in one or more functions relating to disaster response. To the maximum extent practicable, the function in which an individual is trained in one year shall be different from the function in which the individual was trained in prior years.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H9061386368D74B7FAC92E68DFD3C2051"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Geographic distribution</header><text>The Administrator shall ensure that not more than 30 percent of the individuals in the corps reside in any one region of the Administration.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H56D06B65144C446DA53958DBABA39E8D"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The Administrator shall include a report on the corps whenever the Administration submits the report required by section 47(a).</text> </subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><section commented="no" id="H135E3800E4434D6387D7C5F860316605"><enum>104.</enum><header>Plans to secure additional office space</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Small Business Act is amended by inserting after section 39 (as added by section 103) the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1827541B77024FBBBAF828E964F25826" style="OLC"> <section id="HDB314B1446EF4A11BEAF20A7058B4789"><enum>40.</enum><header>Plans to secure additional office space</header> <subsection id="H3C0C216BD67A4757A1E5546638F0036"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Plans required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall develop long-term plans to secure additional office space to accommodate an expanded workforce in times of disaster.</text> </subsection><subsection id="HC6D214CAF53144D0917C19BC569B94D1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The Administrator shall include a report on the plans whenever the Administration submits the report required by section 47(a).</text> </subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><section commented="no" id="H0FC72E22956145E0A93E09331D0284BC"><enum>105.</enum><header>Coordination of disaster assistance programs with FEMA</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Small Business Act is amended by inserting after section 40 (as added by section 104) the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H656F43193361451985DB97DE085D5E23" style="OLC"> <section id="HC33CD660A07344C8BF3C6B03DFBC019C"><enum>41.</enum><header>Coordination of disaster assistance programs with FEMA</header> <subsection id="HD7259FE96EBF4197BCAF602E7C78623D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Coordination required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall ensure that the disaster assistance programs of the Administration are coordinated, to the maximum extent practicable, with the disaster assistance programs of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H304700A7A7A245F4AF7D009380ED239D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Regulations required</header><text>The Administrator, in consultation with the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall establish regulations to ensure that each application for disaster assistance is submitted as quickly as practicable to the Administration or directed to the appropriate agency under the circumstances.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H647C1C1860884679A55488F67D55635E"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Completion; revision</header><text>The initial regulations shall be completed not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this section. Thereafter, the regulations shall be revised on an annual basis.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H8B1BA3C44CA14B5C92E3168BF1E655AD"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The Administrator shall include a report on the regulations whenever the Administration submits the report required by section 47(a).</text> </subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><section id="HAF7673051AD74988BCEA009DF15829DF"><enum>106.</enum><header>Associate Administrator for Disaster Assistance</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Small Business Act is amended by inserting after section 41 (as added by section 105) the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF9905FC2B1864A0A9E7189DF2F00434" style="OLC"> <section id="HCDA48DC233BE4AFDB675FA9F63989FC5"><enum>42.</enum><header>Associate Administrator for Disaster Assistance</header> <subsection id="HF1694EF68E75416FADD050AF8DAB57"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>There is established in the Administration an Associate Administrator for Disaster Assistance, appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, from among individuals who have—</text> <paragraph id="H93FA8915F9C941FFB1D659A95F9FF990"><enum>(1)</enum><text>proven management ability; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HEF8605A9C0C640458CD6F1B1676CCFE0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>substantial knowledge in the field of disaster readiness and emergency response.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H272F54FFCE124DF200A0C62D4733DEE7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Director of Disaster Planning</header> <paragraph id="H1709B4F72830433992569B256EA654F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Appointment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is established in the Administration a Director for Disaster Planning, appointed by the Administrator from among the personnel of the Administration.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HF4F2A75C68744661AE848CE588F6653C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Associate Administrator for Disaster Assistance, the Director shall—</text> <subparagraph id="HB03C43095BF34B0CAB006D83DBDFFE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>develop and implement the Administration’s plans for responding to disasters; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB573438462E24856834E52AFD5A67FF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>direct the Administration’s training exercises with respect to disasters.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1D986EADDA3F426000DAD5CA34B659C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Coordination</header><text>In carrying out the duties under paragraph (2), the Director shall coordinate with—</text> <subparagraph id="H6146C90E1C724EC18CFFCEE7589B157F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Associate Administrator for the Office of Disaster Assistance of the Administration;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF9B9CBB0D78A44ECBDBB7C9772E0F13E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDD91E27E4101415588F9E8606280B200"><enum>(C)</enum><text>other Federal, State, and local disaster planning offices, as necessary.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HF77DEC572BDA4B089BC72797CA5D8252"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Director of Disaster Lending</header> <paragraph id="HB7A4B91E19C1440E90C044EC515BD1B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Appointment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is established in the Administration a Director for Disaster Lending, appointed by the Administrator from among the personnel of the Administration.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HE3D484AF877E4C5000966794B0A4809B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Duties</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Associate Administrator for Disaster Assistance, the Director shall direct all aspects of the disaster lending program under section 7(b).</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H8DBED13A7762491F81CF2482903E1BD3"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Resources</header><text>The Administrator shall ensure that the Associate Administrator for Disaster Assistance, the Director of Disaster Planning, and the Director of Disaster Lending have adequate resources to carry out the duties under this section.</text> </subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><enum>II</enum><header>Lending</header> <section commented="no" id="H28969FD68BE34EC48BB777F7DA17937D"><enum>201.</enum><header>Incidents of National Significance</header> <subsection id="HF4A7DD2F06E9433A006138773D171990"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Disaster loans to private nonprofit organizations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 7(b)(2) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)(2)) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H7FC1735405754C39A40002DAA982ACC3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subparagraph (D) by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; or</quote>; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H070E858DFC8548FF9C83FEAD1BBC43A1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H035496C905B847D3B1E54D352508B5EE" style="OLC"> <subparagraph id="HE335CFF87B0D4DF9A175E0E870257DED"><enum>(E)</enum><text>an incident of national significance, as declared by the President or his designee, in which case assistance under this paragraph may be provided, subject to the other applicable requirements of this paragraph, to a private nonprofit organization (as that term is defined in section 29(a)(2)) that is located in an area affected by the incident of national significance.</text> </subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H6ECCE0D947CF4416A595680037AC048B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Mitigation loans to small business concerns</header><text>Section 7 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636) is amended by inserting after subsection (d) the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEEB4C51C6CAD42A5870379AABEDFA756" style="OLC"> <subsection id="HFE5A97676B224E8B80FCD16B9B30A870"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Disaster mitigation loans</header> <paragraph id="H2EEF5A97ED3141DFAA82603711AF354B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Authority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator may make or guarantee a mitigation loan to a small business concern that receives a loan under section 7(b)(1)(A) for the damage or destruction, by reason of an incident of national significance (as declared by the President or his designee), of property owned by the small business concern.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H399891BB6DF74503BA17C8AC10F3C3B2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Amount of loan</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The amount of a loan under paragraph (1) shall not exceed 20 percent of the total amount of the cost of the damage or destruction referred to in paragraph (1). The total amount shall be calculated without regard for any costs for which the small business concern is reimbursed under any insurance policy or otherwise.</text> </paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="H1BD1CFB2FB664E12BE638ED54EE5B08F"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Applicability for fiscal year 2006 to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma</header> <paragraph id="H3BDBA3F9E83A42C6ABEF82B4160044D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>For fiscal year 2006, the Administrator—</text> <subparagraph id="H777B3245090546C3B529C5DCF73B31"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">may carry out subsection (e) of section 7 of the Small Business Act (as added by subsection (b) of this section) with respect to a private nonprofit organization that was located, as of August 28, 2005, in a hurricane-affected area; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF43A92F0DD224420999100F090E1C4F"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">may carry out such subsection (e) with respect to a small business concern that was located, as of August 28, 2005, in a hurricane-affected area, for damage or destruction by reason of Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita, or Hurricane Wilma.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H009E6E03B65D4BF2997E41A92565D647"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Hurricane-affected area defined</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section, the term <term>hurricane-affected area</term> means a county or parish in the State of Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, or Texas, that has been designated by the Administrator of the Small Business Administration as a disaster area by reason of Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita, or Hurricane Wilma under disaster declaration 10176, 10177, 10178, 10179, 10180, 10181, 10203, 10204, 10205, 10206, 10222, or 10223.</text> </paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" id="H5FF4B2B23418402F9582A7D1D145391"><enum>202.</enum><header>Information tracking and follow-up system</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Small Business Act is amended by inserting after section 42 (as added by section 106) the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFDD1E834719E486D005713F456392282" style="OLC"> <section id="H353C9218F25145D5B45154D2E53A44F"><enum>43.</enum><header>Information tracking and follow-up system for disaster assistance</header> <subsection id="H834E8C9DBF514B479E44D5DFA988CDCF"><enum>(a)</enum><header>System required</header><text>The Administrator shall develop, implement, and maintain a centralized information system to track communications between personnel of the Administration and applicants for disaster assistance. The system shall ensure that whenever an applicant for disaster assistance communicates with such personnel on a matter relating to the application, the following information is recorded:</text> <paragraph commented="no" id="H0A1FD7D0DA12467FBC45822E8F3F16AD"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The method of communication.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HD363994796A64992BC51F9BDB6E143BF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The date of communication.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HAE69A51B493249F790B79FF5C5438E08"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The identity of the personnel.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H3E8BE2C2C5A44524B8E8903858BCBF74"><enum>(4)</enum><text>A summary of the subject matter of the communication.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H6541E2DC1EA14F97937B00348800E158"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Follow-up required</header><text>The Administrator shall ensure that an applicant for disaster assistance receives, by telephone, mail, or electronic mail, follow-up communications from the Administration at all critical stages of the application process, including the following:</text> <paragraph commented="no" id="H3EF791EE32EC4B0A8E4F93EDBA42C619"><enum>(1)</enum><text>When the Administration determines that additional information or documentation is required to process the application.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H47A79ADF8534421F8105D03CABFA23C1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>When the Administration determines whether to approve or deny the loan.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H7B223B0ED6F8420FACD7FB3FB1E7FCD"><enum>(3)</enum><text>When the primary contact person managing the loan application has changed.</text> </paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><section commented="no" id="HC7EC0DCFF9AD40D8935CA7D842998917"><enum>203.</enum><header>Immediate Disaster Assistance program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Small Business Act is amended by inserting after section 43 (as added by section 202) the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE5703FB94A9D4FC69399BB521E085F36" style="OLC"> <section id="H592F8F21A8874A25A83F878C6300B858"><enum>44.</enum><header>Immediate Disaster Assistance program</header> <subsection id="HC19A15C708A044DFA042AD1F8933684"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Program required</header><text>The Administrator shall carry out a program, to be known as the Immediate Disaster Assistance program, under which the Administration participates on a deferred (guaranteed) basis in 85 percent of the balance of the financing outstanding at the time of disbursement of the loan if such balance is less than or equal to $25,000 for businesses affected by a disaster.</text> </subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H4582F02FECD3447DA1226DD2F71E025C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Eligibility requirement</header><text>To receive a loan guaranteed under subsection (a), the applicant must also apply for, and meet basic eligibility standards for, a loan under section 7(b).</text> </subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H45D32F4E481241E0AF7D2E32AF77B5DF"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Use of proceeds</header><text>A person who receives a loan under section 7(b) must use the proceeds of that loan to repay all loans guaranteed under subsection (a), if any, before using the proceeds for any other purpose.</text> </subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H3C80515B42894747B0CC7691C5E72589"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Approval or disapproval</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall ensure that each applicant for a loan under the program receives a decision approving or disapproving of the application within 36 hours after the Administration receives the application.</text> </subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><section commented="no" id="HAC7AF673834246EFBEB30070FC5DD0AB"><enum>204.</enum><header>Increased deferment period</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7 of the Small Business Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/636">15 U.S.C. 636</external-xref>) is amended by inserting after subsection (e) (as added by section 201(b)) the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE993E06B0A264B80B369087EB519BCC1" style="OLC"> <subsection id="H37EEE2F561A748B1A9C78BAD6B0035F3"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Additional requirements for <enum-in-header>7(b)</enum-in-header> loans</header> <paragraph id="HD42B5AC62D7E4EDBA52692CC6173ADCC"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Increased deferment authorized</header> <subparagraph id="HEB24630615D746B98F68514BC82B2F2E"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In making loans under section 7(b), the Administrator may provide, to the person receiving the loan, an option to defer repayment on the loan.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE37D26EF05414297AE2530C561C0C6C0"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Period</header><text>A deferment under subparagraph (A) may not exceed 4 years.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><section commented="no" id="H43EC34EE5F424E9B8181AF29F09517FB"><enum>205.</enum><header>Revised repayment terms</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7 of the Small Business Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/636">15 U.S.C. 636</external-xref>) is amended in subsection (f) by adding after paragraph (1) (as added by section 204) the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD5F064231E2943C6B989C835132818C" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="H2FC6E55AD5374FB400E7DB40F08BB5AC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Revised repayment terms</header><text>In making loans under section 7(b), the Administrator—</text> <subparagraph id="H4044AD8F4D4F49DEAF7D8040D0DECC04"><enum>(A)</enum><text>shall not require repayment to be made until 12 months after the date on which the final disbursement of approved amounts is made; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE13263A6863746CC844B00AF59A1DED3"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">shall calculate the amount of repayment based solely on the amounts disbursed.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><section commented="no" id="H3B29F3140F2F4A63952479EB120158BB"><enum>206.</enum><header>Revised disbursement process</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7 of the Small Business Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/636">15 U.S.C. 636</external-xref>) is amended in subsection (f) by adding after paragraph (2) (as added by section 205) the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H51EA0F0291C445E18FE94E5105315B1B" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="H91C3D769A2854D0ABA8DA3DE254BFC5F"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Revised disbursement process</header><text>In making loans under section 7(b), the Administrator shall disburse the loan amounts in stages as follows:</text> <subparagraph id="HFDB1C9B4C8984D0DBA635B2D72D61FDE"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Loans up to $150,000</header><text>If the total amount approved is less than or equal to $150,000—</text> <clause id="HD9BB66E6EFF74B2CBA52BE002B2347EA"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the first disbursement shall consist of 40 percent of the total loan amount, or a lesser percentage of the total loan amount if the Administrator and the borrower agree on such a lesser percentage;</text> </clause><clause id="H232EDC3AB9F54D67BB72C27267613D70"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the second disbursement shall consist of 50 percent of the amounts that remain after the first disbursement, and shall be made when the borrower has produced satisfactory receipts to demonstrate the proper use of the first half of the first disbursement; and</text> </clause><clause id="HF16AA4342A304F73BA8E3425310366DE"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the third disbursement shall consist of the amounts that remain after the preceding disbursements, and shall be made when the borrower has produced satisfactory receipts to demonstrate the proper use of the first disbursement and the first half of the second disbursement.</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2974C80246EE4A7EAAF2E4DC46005026"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Loans from $150,000 to $500,000</header><text>If the total amount approved is more than $150,000 but less than or equal to $500,000—</text> <clause id="H37802D732F024EA0876826BE237CB4FE"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the first disbursement shall consist of 20 percent of the total loan amount, or a lesser percentage if the Administrator and the borrower agree on such a lesser percentage;</text> </clause><clause id="H1B792246B4104DCBB2CBFABE69236C5F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the second disbursement shall consist of 30 percent of the total loan amount remaining after the first disbursement, and shall be made when the borrower has produced satisfactory receipts to demonstrate the proper use of the first half of the first disbursement;</text> </clause><clause id="HF06ACC152B8C4BD3B86DEB5397474D32"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the third disbursement shall consist of 25 percent of the total loan amount remaining after the first and second disbursements, and shall be made when the borrower has produced satisfactory receipts to demonstrate the proper use of the first disbursement and the first half of the second disbursement; and</text> </clause><clause id="HB63868C49510440E9605009D37D30539"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the fourth disbursement shall consist of the amounts that remain after the preceding disbursements, and shall be made when the borrower has produced satisfactory receipts to demonstrate the proper use of the first and second disbursements and the first half of the third disbursement.</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAAC99769DE1C4D78A4875798B1DF94F8"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Loans greater than $500,000</header><text>If the total amount approved is more than $500,000—</text> <clause id="H5F13F74A62874D9483E788935586C926"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the first disbursement shall consist of at least $100,000, or a lesser amount if the Administrator and the borrower agree on such a lesser amount; and</text> </clause><clause id="H3CF5C8F461394BB5B0213490740421F4"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the number of disbursements after the first, and the amount of each such disbursement, shall be in the discretion of the Administrator, but the amount of each such disbursement shall be not less than $100,000.</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><section commented="no" id="HB1B7B20F1DEE424896A36C417150CE65"><enum>207.</enum><header>Revised collateral requirements</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7 of the Small Business Act is amended in subsection (f) by adding after paragraph (3) (as added by section 206) the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF0C1FAB5402A417FA2501E0093B1457B" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="HB20E3051B82D484396D8DCD005E873A5"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Revised collateral requirements</header><text>In making a business loan under section 7(b), the total approved amount of which is less than or equal to $100,000, the Administrator shall not require the borrower to use the borrower’s home as collateral.</text> </paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><section commented="no" id="H870F3C2F72214846A5B4BB256DB82DA"><enum>208.</enum><header>Enhanced lending authority for private lenders</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Small Business Act is amended by inserting after section 44 (as added by section 203) the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H04AAF07A3D6B461487BA108BE71AD37" style="OLC"> <section id="HCEFFEDF4245A495FA9129326F5BB0455"><enum>45.</enum><header>Enhanced lending authority for private lenders</header> <subsection id="H7ACC710E2DA94395B2CD42C816C45F6B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Program authorized</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator may, and during a period specified in subsection (b) shall, carry out a program under which the Administrator permits banks and other financial institutions to process, approve, close, and service disaster loans under section 7(b) for a fee not to exceed 2 percent of the total loan amount.</text> </subsection><subsection id="HDD4E19328EA74509BBA3517FE54EF570"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Periods during which program is required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The program under subsection (a) is required to be carried out during the following periods:</text> <paragraph id="HA9E69C87AE4C47989400F67615835E86"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any period of an incident of national significance (as declared by the President or his designee).</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HA8BAE004A6744CB88218F9EC9DE4848"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Any period during which the average time for the Administration to approve disaster loans in response to any single disaster is 30 days or more.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H315528636F5245C783777C7E90F411CA"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Exclusion of lenders</header><text>If the number or rate of defaults on loans processed, approved, and closed by a lender under the program under subsection (a) are inordinate, as determined by the Administrator, the Administrator may do any one or more of the following:</text> <paragraph id="H3732E22684B541BE883B3ED9D49D002E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Exclude the lender from participating in the program under subsection (a).</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H08F2B73AAEED49109E8162A7740500B3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Exclude the lender from participating in the Preferred Lenders Program under section 7(a)(2)(C)(ii).</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1EB8CB43903A4947B400B722A3A38288"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Factor in Preferred Lenders Program</header><text>In determining whether a lender is to be certified or recertified to participate in the Preferred Lenders Program under section 7(a)(2)(C)(ii), the Administrator may consider as a factor the following:</text> <paragraph id="HE94E7B6FC42A4E6BBCD0DE888B9EA25F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The loans processed, approved, and closed by the lender under the program under subsection (a).</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H05AFDD134DBC4F39B9987FEA2B61FF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The participation or non-participation of the lender in the program under subsection (a).</text> </paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><section commented="no" id="H420F7F15D26B4757A449D548F0BA3154"><enum>209.</enum><header>Disaster processing redundancy</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Small Business Act is amended by inserting after section 45 (as added by section 208) the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H157E917BA13A4BB80075BFBE1B229153" style="OLC"> <section id="HCD76DAA7A8D04D30BFDFF3D9891641E9"><enum>46.</enum><header>Disaster processing redundancy</header> <subsection commented="no" id="H9AD8F5496ADD4516802FF4392457EFA5"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator shall ensure that the Administration has in place a facility for disaster loan processing that, whenever the Administration’s primary facility for disaster loan processing becomes unavailable, is able to take over all disaster loan processing from that primary facility within 2 days.</text> </subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HEF7E2660A04B447A95BDA2D1B4D9FD71"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary.</text> </subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><section commented="no" id="H3C3B00A57F994D46998FE8FD414104CE"><enum>210.</enum><header>Grant program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7(b) of the Small Business Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/636">15 U.S.C. 636(b)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting immediately after paragraph (3) the following:</text> <quoted-block id="H4D805DAFBEEC48DC909ED077E0DD7D00"> <paragraph commented="no" id="HB17213FBF1F3458586C08933BDC55C1F"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Grants to disaster-affected small businesses</header> <subparagraph commented="no" id="H588D5747D4304A3DB427DE00C6765073"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator may make a grant of up to $100,000 to a small business concern that—</text> <clause commented="no" id="HDD5EAB7130CA4160B900E206BCF7F87C"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">was located in a designated disaster area affected by disaster declaration 10176, 10177, 10178, 10179, 10180, 10181, 10203, 10204, 10205, 10206, 10222, or 10233, and was located in a county or parish that, as a result of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, or Wilma of 2005, experienced a loss of at least 100 housing units, experienced a loss of at least 1 percent of available housing stock, and required Federal infrastructure assistance of a least $200,000;</text> </clause><clause commented="no" id="H03FE3F4A70E046B1A8EA66368DE7A65"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">submits to the Administrator a certification by the owner of the concern of intent to reestablish the concern in the same county or parish in which the business was originally located, or in any other county or parish described in clause (i);</text> </clause><clause id="HB28A0DCB02D741F98FD396203072D1E9"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>has applied for, and was rejected for, a conventional disaster assistance loan under section 7(b); and</text> </clause><clause id="H01E80F2E50884D2BA0C61654D1F19E4C"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>was in existence for at least 2 years before the date on which the applicable disaster declaration was made.</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HF660CDBE3994491197E0849C1B7EE732"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Priority</header><text>In making grants under this paragraph, the Administrator shall give priority to a small business concern that the Administrator determines is economically viable but unable to meet short-term financial obligations.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H9566C66989B04433A61F1DB23D007EF9"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Definition</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this paragraph, the term <term>disaster-affected area</term> means an area that has been designated by the Administrator as a disaster area.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1666E0374F5D4BEC89CCB88D8004D53F"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated for grants under this paragraph such funds as may be necessary.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2BF39630D6424CF2AAB7D7EE0036C29B"><enum>211.</enum><header>Hurricane Assistance Replacement Grant Program</header> <subsection id="HEEF610420F354404AFBB212CCF8EFEF4"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Program established</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator may carry out a program under which the Administrator may, in the Administrator’s discretion, make grants to individuals who—</text> <paragraph id="H5BE74C5E8BF444D7AA1662FB12D32CEC"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">are victims of a disaster under disaster declaration 10176, 10177, 10178, 10179, 10180, 10181, 10203, 10204, 10205, 10206, 10222, or 10223; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H9CA2047D90C24C23BAAAA291000B142"><enum>(2)</enum><text>receive (whether before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act) 7(b) disaster assistance because of that disaster.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HDC9C7A66834540558FC03200A7976C57"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H7496E1EEE2FB4CB7873485F5B3CE3B89"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Eligibility</header><text>An individual is eligible to receive a grant under this section only if the individual—</text> <paragraph id="HE2E6FA805CD24942875F128424B256A6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>receives benefits (other than the 7(b) disaster assistance) because of the disaster; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HD0D2AFE92A844DFCA14C1CF22D1751A9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>is required to remit those benefits to the Small Business Administration because of a duplication of benefits.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H33C262AB30324EB294F7D892EBC419A9"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Amount</header><text>The amount of a grant under this section to an individual shall not exceed the amount of the benefits required to be remitted by the individual, as described in subsection (c).</text> </subsection><subsection id="HC399788CB9DE415EBDDE8F66681DF7B8"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Time</header><text>The Administrator shall ensure that, to the maximum extent practicable, a grant made under this section is made—</text> <paragraph id="HD7E871FDCD9B45FFB527F18500F08CF5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>concurrent with the Administration’s receipt of the remittance, if the remittance is made after the date of the enactment of this Act; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H3422BBEB666E47449636F5E803147711"><enum>(2)</enum><text>as soon as possible after the Administration’s receipt of the remittance, in all other cases.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H8AB0B26C6AF84E62BF8F986D2E2C524E"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Treatment of Grants</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Grants made under this section shall not be considered a duplication of benefits by the Administrator.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H1B6CD9AD82154276AEF5D837E67BC7FC"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text> <paragraph id="H4FF55C0DA1CF443D8841EA6D11B8F04"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The term <term>Administrator</term> means the Administrator of the Small Business Administration.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H745ABBD622FF4BF49909FB1E30136EE3"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>7(b) disaster assistance</term> means assistance under paragraph (1) or (2) of section 7(b)(2) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)).</text> </paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" id="H5E606BAE02BB493FA6C84FF6860667C"><enum>212.</enum><header>Increase legislative limit</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7(b)(3)(E) of the Small Business Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/636">15 U.S.C. 636(b)(3)(E)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>$1,500,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$3,000,000</quote> both places such term appears.</text> </section><section commented="no" id="H8C0879111EBD47D99BF3C2B03DC8E2CD"><enum>213.</enum><header>Net earnings clauses prohibited</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7 of the Small Business Act is amended in subsection (f) by adding after paragraph (4) (as added by section 207) the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1D505E3863634CB79B092C39FF039E9E" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="H55CC08140A114A518F1735933FFFC8E8"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Net earnings clauses prohibited</header><text>In making loans under section 7(b), the Administrator shall not require the borrower to pay any non-amortized amount for the first 5 years after repayment begins.</text> </paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><section id="H2EB3FAEAA6084FD19F3BF1ACB68626B0"><enum>214.</enum><header>Economic injury disaster loans to nonprofits</header> <subsection id="H02C3716BA3CD42E494DDD28CA88957F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 7 of the Small Business Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/636">15 U.S.C. 636</external-xref>) is amended in subsection (b)(2)—</text> <paragraph id="HB5C59121B6CF493D9638E28D170079D2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)—</text> <subparagraph id="H05EFA0ED8FC247528F5859E097F4A41C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by inserting after <quote>small business concern</quote> the following: <quote>, private nonprofit organization,</quote>; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF00A71E92FBA4B5489C0BB968DF0E130"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by inserting after <quote>the concern</quote> the following: <quote>, organization,</quote>; and</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H81B9FA2425B14C5CB6584DB5B07D9FF3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subparagraph (D) by inserting after <quote>small business concerns</quote> the following: <quote>, private nonprofit organizations,</quote>.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H49FDEEED2B4C4E01B0ADD4BBCB7BB5E4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Such section is further amended in subsection (c)(5)(C) by inserting after <quote>business</quote> the following: <quote>, organization,</quote>.</text> </subsection></section><section id="HB189A5A6AE4E453491E813B16674B59F"><enum>215.</enum><header>Applicants that will constitute a major source of employment due to changed economic circumstances</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7(b)(3)(E) of the Small Business Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/636">15 U.S.C. 636(b)(3)(E)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting after <quote>constitutes</quote> the following: <quote>, or will due to changed economic circumstances constitute,</quote>.</text> </section><section id="H7D78B43E32694A8AA57964F65949D8D5"><enum>216.</enum><header>Preliminary application process for assistance for small business concerns with essential employees ordered to serve on active duty in the Armed Forces</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7(b)(3) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)(3)) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H0A7EC16CED134684BFF924F29857C91"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subparagraph (C)—</text> <subparagraph id="H990AE62E4AFF477B81C3EFEB05F52BDB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>90 days</quote> and inserting <quote>1 year</quote>; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE65219F2E1E84E458F7574FD50867BAA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following: <quote>The Administrator may, when appropriate (as determined by the Administrator), waive the ending date specified in the preceding sentence and provide a later ending date.</quote>; and</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H370BB650017041D5A9047E41B17E005B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2374F5729BA940FFA6697F7E9CE0EF65" style="OLC"> <subparagraph id="HDDE27EC89B5848DE89FE66AD445BA4B4" indent="up1"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall establish a process under which a small business concern described in subparagraph (B) may file a preliminary application for assistance under this paragraph, accompanied by supporting documentation, before the date on which the essential employee is ordered to active duty. The Administrator may not actively consider such an application or provide assistance to the small business concern based on such an application until the date on which the essential employee is ordered to active duty.</text> </subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAF6D1477B1E84D30B9202FDB6DC36BD8" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>217.</enum><header>Economic injury disaster loans in cases of ice storms and blizzards</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 3(k)(2) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(k)(2)) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H15999B76A07C4595BF8FD950DB15FC66"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A) by striking <quote>and</quote>;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HCD2786BA306C49849EDC2567B9F15FEC"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HBEFB391BB02D45C09D37162100FC7F30"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA259BF705AA747C4907C823DDC698207" style="OLC"> <subparagraph id="H71E87B76EA574A80B9E73E779C544D4B" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>ice storms and blizzards.</text> </subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H814516B3CF6249D986F78893691B6027"><enum>218.</enum><header>Report regarding lack of snow fall</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later that 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration shall conduct a study of, and submit a report to the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate that describes—</text> <paragraph id="HFFF9F0E7510042D3980073EB005EDCB2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the ability of the Administrator to provide loans under section 7(b)(2) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)(2)) to small business concerns that depend on high snow fall amounts and sustain economic injury (as described under that section) due to a lack of snow fall;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H06CFEDF612FC4B6EAC680120C34C3532"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the criteria the Administrator would use to determine whether to provide a loan under section 7(b)(2) of the Small Business Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/636">15 U.S.C. 636(b)(2)</external-xref>) to a small business concern that has been adversely affected by a lack of snow fall;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HF57173C92C504CB98FA4442E572D7441"><enum>(3)</enum><text>other Federal assistance (including loans) available to small business concerns that are adversely affected by a lack of snow fall; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H8AA82037909A4B5EAFB68E1E16A6D53D"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the history relating to providing loans under section 7(b)(2) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)(2)) to small business concerns that have been adversely affected by a lack of snow fall.</text> </paragraph></section><section id="HF2342416229B4CE3A11BC20017306DF8"><enum>219.</enum><header>Gulf Coast Disaster Loan Refinancing Program</header> <subsection id="HE10AFA883D474EEB9E44D3001DBE2607"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator of the Small Business Administration may carry out a program to refinance Gulf Coast disaster loans.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H20D31F482743470700FF00AA2BEC85CA"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Terms</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The terms of a Gulf Coast disaster loan refinanced under the program shall be identical to the terms of the original loan, except that the Administrator may provide an option to defer repayment on the loan. Such a deferment may not exceed 4 years after the date on which the initial disbursement under the original loan was made.</text> </subsection><subsection id="HF28D3D6C980F4D3F8EC6CCC0E0D116D4"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Amount</header><text>The amount of a Gulf Coast disaster loan refinanced under the program shall not exceed the amount of the original loan.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H7E9DC4E784194BD8A4B907D7050093F1"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Disclosure of accrued interest</header><text>Whenever the Administrator provides an option to defer repayment under subsection (b), the Administrator shall disclose the accrued interest that must be paid under the option.</text> </subsection><subsection id="HD662585326DA4CABB50046170081A5A1"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>In this section, the term <term>Gulf Coast disaster loan</term> means a loan—</text> <paragraph id="HEB8E255737344913BF274FC1CB31845"><enum>(1)</enum><text>made under section 7(b) of the Small Business Act;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H4B92307AD0B843ED88BCE25864008F72"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in response to Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita, or Hurricane Wilma of 2005; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HC10D06BB823941D6AF880132E727222"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">for a small business located in a county or parish designated by the Administrator as a disaster area by reason of such Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita, or Hurricane Wilma under disaster declaration 10176, 10177, 10178, 10179, 10180, 10181, 10203, 10204, 10205, 10206, 10222, or 10223.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HDB8D607D73654BEAA1FBE4F3A5C21300"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.</text> </subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>Oversight</header> <section id="HD855EBE8383F498782B5ECEB956260B6"><enum>301.</enum><header>Reports on disaster assistance</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Small Business Act is amended by inserting after section 46 (as added by section 209) the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8CC296944E644C99BDC6F4DD5521B792" style="OLC"> <section id="H94FDB1E169B64954BC0663CB26EFCD45"><enum>47.</enum><header>Reports on disaster assistance</header> <subsection id="HE8DF70A7E6F04A688EB733DAE3A44B8B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Annual report required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 45 days after the end of a fiscal year, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Small Business of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives a report on the disaster assistance operations of the Administration for that fiscal year. The report shall—</text> <paragraph id="HA2C3644748CF4CF7AE6BCE366E95B7EC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>specify the number of Administration personnel involved in such operations;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H83ECC5AD27764288A70076824919ED44"><enum>(2)</enum><text>describe any material changes to those operations, such as changes to technologies used or to personnel responsibilities;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H833D72B9110D4EC19DAE03358226C3B2"><enum>(3)</enum><text>describe and assess the effectiveness of the Administration in responding to disasters during that fiscal year, including a description of the number and amounts of loans made for damage and for economic injury; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H1BC5CD74487945CFBF07F4776EF31CD3"><enum>(4)</enum><text>describe the plans of the Administration for preparing to respond to disasters during the next fiscal year.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H8DFD05B15D5945CAB7875F84567DF136"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Incidents of national significance</header><text>During the period of an incident of national significance (as declared by the President or his designee), the Administrator shall, on a monthly basis, submit to the committees specified in subsection (a) a report on the disaster assistance operations of the Administration with respect to that incident of national significance. The report shall specify—</text> <paragraph id="H06BF6E8F247A47699440E3E6758C4680"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the number of applications distributed;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H9BA077CF8E704C1F8B3630E4305419D3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the number of applications received;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H25F314B49E084F3D8D0844CB33F472E9"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the average time for the Administration to approve or disapprove an application;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HE76BF63128C94066B87B8FA1F20234F4"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the amount of disaster loans approved;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H69566EA871B04BF9BD89C4DE9041001C"><enum>(5)</enum><text>the average time for initial disbursement of loan proceeds; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H6673F57056994CE7B80000CCDD410016"><enum>(6)</enum><text>the amount of disaster loan proceeds disbursed.</text> </paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section>

Passed the House of Representatives April 18, 2007.

Lorraine C. Miller, Clerk.Marjorie C. Kelaher, Deputy Clerk.

August 3, 2007

Read twice and placed on the calendar