110 HR 2359 PCS: SBA Entrepreneurial Development
U.S. House of Representatives
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text/xml
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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.
1.Short title; table of
contents
(a)This Act may be cited
as the SBA Entrepreneurial Development
Programs Act of 2007
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Title I—Revisions to Small Business Development
Centers
Sec. 101. Small Business Development Centers operational
changes.
Title II—Grant initiatives
Sec. 201. Capital Access Initiative.
Sec. 202. Disaster Recovery Program.
Sec. 203. Innovation and Competitiveness Services to
Manufacturers Initiative.
Sec. 204. Mature Entrepreneurs Assistance Program.
Sec. 205. Small Business Sustainability Initiative.
Sec. 206. Grants to small business development centers to
provide assistance in securing affordable health insurance.
Sec. 207. National regulatory assistance.
Sec. 208. Report.
Title III—SCORE
Sec. 301. Repeal of Active Corporation of
Executives.
Sec. 302. Increasing the proportion of SCORE volunteers from
socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Sec. 303. Benchmark reporting.
<enum>I</enum><header>Revisions to Small
Business Development Centers</header>
<section id="H415C8065C94D4AB8AB38699301D209AD"><enum>101.</enum><header>Small Business
Development Centers operational changes</header>
<subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0906ADFD3B6F41CB00B921A643CD03B5"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Accreditation
requirement</header><text>Section 21(a)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
648(a)(1)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H5CF772326C5D49B1B7AB1E093CAF1BE2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the proviso, by
inserting before <quote>institution</quote> the following:
<quote>accredited</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H896E646E0EC24A5EA163E4CC5DB8A53E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in the sentence
beginning <quote>The Administration shall</quote>, by inserting before
<quote>institutions</quote> the following: <quote>accredited</quote>;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HD7C8C990AD044EA1A906EF2FF1B21C6"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following new sentence: <quote>As used in this paragraph, the term
<term>accredited institution of higher education</term> means an institution
that is accredited as described in section 101(a)(5) of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001(a)(5)).</quote></text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H6BC705474D30461EAA5E4BB4CB00E7F3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Program
negotiations</header><text>Section 21(a)(3) of the Small Business Act (15
U.S.C. 648(a)(3)) is amended, in the matter before subparagraph (A), by
inserting before <quote>agreed</quote> the following:
<quote>mutually</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H7BF6F61A50184EDCAA21B54587FDE17E"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Contract
negotiations</header><text>Section 21(a)(3)(A) of the Small Business Act (15
U.S.C. 648(a)(3)(A)) is amended by inserting after <quote>uniform
negotiated</quote> the following: <quote>mutually agreed to</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HA1ABD958D6994192A9E512424240EF57"><enum>(d)</enum><header>No SBA
interference in SBDC hiring</header><text>Section 21(c)(2)(A) of that Act (15
U.S.C. 648(c)(2)(A)) is amended by inserting after <quote>full-time
staff</quote> the following: <quote>, the hiring of which is carried out by the
center without interference from, and without influence by, any officer or
employee of the Administration,</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H59D3F9D017994A5FA6B622C3254905C6"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Content of
consultations covered by privacy requirements</header><text>Section 21(a)(7)(A)
of that Act (15
U.S.C. 648(a)(7)(A)) is amended by inserting after <quote>under
this section</quote> the following: <quote>, or the content of any consultation
with such an individual or small business concern,</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H3C8FBCF4C9CB42F8BD476DA078772B7D"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Repeal of
authority To use authorized amounts for administrative
expenses</header><text>Section 21(a)(4)(C)(v) of that Act (15 U.S.C.
648(a)(4)(C)(v)) is amended by amending subclause (I) to read as
follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H389674CF7B0142478671794200D4BAC" style="OLC">
<subclause id="H866F859751714975A8BBDF73E8C8DBCC"><enum>(I)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Of the amounts made available in any fiscal year to carry
out this section, not more than $500,000 may be used by the Administration to
pay expenses enumerated in subparagraphs (B) through (D) of section
20(a)(1).</text>
</subclause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H3204310A164049D58C1B8C43FC00A9C4"><enum>(g)</enum><header>No cap on
non-matching portability grants in the event of a
disaster</header><text>Section 21(a)(4)(C)(viii) of that Act (15 U.S.C.
648(a)(4)(C)(viii)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
<quote>However, in the event of a disaster, the dollar limitation in the
preceding sentence does not apply.</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H8839F590FDF04B21A3692071D06FBE7F"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Definition of
SBDC</header><text>Section 21(a) of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/648">15 U.S.C. 648(a)</external-xref>) is amended by
adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H82444B4E079C468CB88CC2DE19E365E" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H6EF4196CEAE945948E05A823CADE7BF" indent="up1"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Definition</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For the purposes of this section, a Small
Business Development Center is—</text>
<subparagraph id="H3D0FDBC2C4504CDEB0E4C5DA1B789E1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the entity selected by the
Administrator to receive funds pursuant to the funding formula set forth in
paragraph (4); or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFEC66A4FB69F4AF9A6BAA974986319CD"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the site at which the services
specified by this section are
delivered.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H7B377D6536E94A7F89FBE7D18ECAC7C"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Limitation on
distribution to SBDCs</header><text>Section 21(b) of that Act (15 U.S.C.
648(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEBCAD70B3DD147FAA72D1CB46400DBF5" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H2363CA8F8EFF43D396B88B4FC7A2908D" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Limitation on distribution to Small
Business Development Centers</header>
<subparagraph id="H3FEFD07DDD764666B435F77425FA3EE4"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as provided in this paragraph, the
Administrator shall not distribute funds to a Small Business Development Center
if the State in which the Small Business Development Center is located is
served by more than one Small Business Development Center. For purposes of this
limitation, the term Small Business Development Center shall have the meaning
set forth in subsection (a)(8).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC6D7AB5787064B2DAEDA49EE6B850000"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Unavailability
exception</header><text>The Administrator may distribute funds to two Small
Business Development Centers, as that term is defined in subsection (a)(8)(A),
if no applicant has applied to serve the entire State. Except as provided in
subparagraph (C), the Administrator is prohibited from distributing funds to
more than two Small Business Development Centers.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCA9733E7DC15412CA4E1DB6DF6CD2C"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Grandfather clause</header><text>The
limitations in this paragraph shall not apply for any State in which more than
one Small Business Development Center received funding prior to January 1,
2007.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H8613BF2424884B45831700EAEDE74517"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Reporting of
broadband service purchases</header><text>Section 21(c) of that Act (15 U.S.C.
648(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDE69C5AB0BBF416A89ADA5401ED2F853" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HFFA3FDAFC6014F3FA7BE7823E2085DEA"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Reporting of
broadband service purchases</header>
<subparagraph id="H29FB0A52E89C4BD6A93B18B9756EA8CC"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Pursuant to policies adopted by the Administrator, Small
Business Development Centers shall report information to the Administrator by
nine-digit zip code—</text>
<clause id="HB5B914BCEAA94FFE846E53EE79BA43C5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>whether the
individual seeking counseling purchases broadband service at the address
reported to the Small Business Development Center;</text>
</clause><clause id="H7F91ED7EDCC647D2B307A746CC696419"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>if the reported
address is different than the business address, whether broadband service is
purchased at the business address; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H2FED94F340334F88004834F9CE4E7CF0"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>if broadband
service is not purchased at the addresses set forth in clauses (i) and
(ii).</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEE49232C1E1E4AE0947655C4EE008771"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Reporting</header><text>The
Administrator shall aggregate data by nine-digit zip code reporting such
information to the Federal Communications Commission and the National
Telecommunication and Information
Administration.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Grant
initiatives</header>
<section id="H932CC04F7B5E4E348708B2B6B73917C2"><enum>201.</enum><header>Capital Access
Initiative</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 21 of the
Small Business Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/648">15 U.S.C. 648</external-xref>) is amended by adding
at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE3990B2CF342417A8026AA1443AC99BC" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H363994D0CBAA4586B3AED051D2CC23D"><enum>(n)</enum><header>Capital Access
Initiative</header>
<paragraph id="H2869C77933FF41EDBB629FEC57004284"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A lead Small Business
Development Center may apply for an additional grant to carry out a capital
access initiative program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H3766F199FA784C4294383F4D32A9FA8C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Elements of
program</header><text>Under a program under paragraph (1), the Center
shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H76E0623F872A4C498289B8201014B19D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>provide capital
education by creating a model template to assist individuals in preparing for a
broad range of capital offerings;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H49FB2F7C44A8433D002D397754E003F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>assess company
potential by conducting company assessments, which shall include, at a minimum,
risk analysis and mapping of best capital opportunities;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9DDAA1AE44E14BDB8200099724F48253"><enum>(C)</enum><text>prepare
individuals to request capital by advising on the various aspects of such a
request, including the business plan, the financials, the projections, the
presentation, and the approach;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2CB8C0DD8F324A768000CFB2AA09CCDB"><enum>(D)</enum><text>provide education
on the rules of access engagement, organizations involved and available, and
approaches that maximize successful requests; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H26AE8A5964FF486693833FE0E51366B6"><enum>(E)</enum><text>deliver ongoing
assistance once capital is secured.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H53F18AE9C3D64B6FB2D91E58FF3814F7"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Support</header><text>In
carrying out this subsection, the Administrator shall obtain support from
national associations and from organizations such as regional development
groups and <quote>angel</quote> groups founded by Small Business Development
Centers.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7869199A79B94B95B4EA8566C9A08697"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Minimum
amount</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each grant under this
subsection shall be for at least $100,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H879F603D093D4780B7ECEB01FBA3A910"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Maximum
amount</header><text>No applicant may receive more than $300,000 in grants
under this subsection in a fiscal year.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD8C291B4DA604253B9E55077A0915101"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Funding</header><text>Subject
to amounts approved in advance in appropriations Acts and separate from amounts
approved to carry out section 21(a)(1), the Administrator may make grants or
enter into cooperative agreements to carry out this
subsection.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9FB3DE1C59F845D38EE39BED997B4DE5"><enum>202.</enum><header>Disaster
Recovery Program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 21 of
the Small Business Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/648">15 U.S.C. 648</external-xref>), as amended by this
Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0A207271CE924277A0EAD7E56D91FE20" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HFF267DF4B2864DF9BBD6DCF075E0ADC"><enum>(o)</enum><header>Disaster Recovery
Program</header>
<paragraph id="H020FB7188BED43B2ACD1CE8EEADAF36B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A lead Small Business
Development Center may apply for an additional grant to carry out a disaster
recovery program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFE693F350B09492E86C522568C724D08"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Elements of
program</header><text>Under a program under paragraph (1), the Center
shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H529DA4DB562D48B1A9A001A1C95411E6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>serve, in
partnership with the Administration’s disaster center response teams, as a
locally based resource for first responders by—</text>
<clause id="H934A316983364D3DA1F87D131108A11F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>rotating personnel
into a disaster area for immediate response on the ground, processing
applications, developing an evaluating recovery business models, and
distributing accurate information; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H555E9E61484146BE9DB49F7EC3F992D1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>providing
continued interaction, over time, with businesses that are recovering from a
disaster;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H81E9FD91E17041B5BF510013CAFCB5A4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>participate in
ongoing national disaster training;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7C64F03EAE6842A2826B00033D030995"><enum>(C)</enum><text>develop specific
State-level disaster response plans; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB53817BEE0914EDE968D7935091F2BA3"><enum>(D)</enum><text>form a network
with other Centers to serve as a platform for sharing disaster expertise,
training, and human resources.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB8E671FCC02B4C029C426B7344CD6359"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Minimum
amount</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each grant under this
subsection shall be for at least $50,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H59181AEFE5F44FA29CFDF32D15007227"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Funding</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subject to amounts approved in advance in
appropriations Acts and separate from amounts approved to carry out section
21(a)(1), the Administrator may make grants or enter into cooperative
agreements to carry out this
subsection.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H18A9F3E881EC43A8896CBD94A972C2C8"><enum>203.</enum><header>Innovation and
Competitiveness Services to Manufacturers Initiative</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 21 of the Small Business Act (15
U.S.C. 648), as amended by this Act, is amended by adding at the end the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H752829AA6B594EF7931336A8A3ECB29" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H0FA17400CCFF4491BDB024506CCE03AF"><enum>(p)</enum><header>Innovation and
Competitiveness Services to Manufacturers Initiative</header>
<paragraph id="HA611CF610FAC47C3B290A9F3657B9127"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A lead Small Business
Development Center may apply for an additional grant to carry out an innovation
and competitiveness services to manufacturers initiative program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9DCCBCDDE74F4EB28ED729C73BAA69E2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Elements of
program</header><text>Under a program under paragraph (1), the Center
shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H79DBE451639A4C37BECAC323A128FA3D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>participate in
national training institutes to provide training to all programs of the Center
to assist those programs to qualify for technology accreditation
designation;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF744846EFA39414FBFA475003B35B29F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>develop,
disseminate, and regularly update best practices <quote>toolkits</quote> that
include best practices for resources, training programs, consultative
approaches, and support services;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3443C84A628F412200AAB57E3F9BBEA0"><enum>(C)</enum><text>recruit and engage
significant local assets and resources (such as colleges, universities,
economic development organizations, and trade associations) in each
State;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF64D8FFE40A14B3ABC746900D9829BBA"><enum>(D)</enum><text>launch nationally
a locally based but common themed marketing program, targeted at small
manufacturers;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9C7CAB2CABF14CE582D5F44DFD998950"><enum>(E)</enum><text>undertake
aggressive outreach to increase the levels of innovation and competitiveness,
focusing on business advisement and training for manufacturers;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9E5887C452784B56BC57E56F435B6BEB"><enum>(F)</enum><text>provide ongoing
professional development to personnel of the Center and of other resource
partners; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9DB044E573954511961DDD06BDC8D833"><enum>(G)</enum><text>develop and report
performance, using common evaluation metrics and outcome measurements.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H5DD2F61C3E164CAAA379772C2BB1B89"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Minimum
amount</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each grant under this
subsection shall be for at least $150,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1351B25436C84821A6A8D2F02705532D"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Maximum
amount</header><text>A grant under this subsection may not exceed
$500,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFCFF69C5E22E494EA2AA98DC3CE25581"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Funding</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subject to amounts approved in advance in
appropriations Acts and separate from amounts approved to carry out section
21(a)(1), the Administrator may make grants or enter into cooperative
agreements to carry out this
subsection.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF4FA052C3164403497D20056D9B7A337"><enum>204.</enum><header>Mature
Entrepreneurs Assistance Program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 21 of the Small Business Act (15
U.S.C. 648), as amended by this Act, is amended by adding at the end the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCFDEA131A4E7492AA83ECD78A801A507" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H377DB7BDE9834B868BD1ACACFD167940"><enum>(q)</enum><header>Mature
Entrepreneurs Assistance Program</header>
<paragraph id="H99811A060636451F9B43ADDA9F2CA000"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A lead Small Business
Development Center may apply for an additional grant to carry out a mature
entrepreneurs assistance program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H20DF32FE68F545D3B72BC4FB6E872E9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Elements of
program</header><text>Under a program under paragraph (1), the Center
shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H1FD7DA2EF7F14BB091EBA517F95211E0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>provide advisors
and training resources to assist business owners in recognizing and developing
transition plans, including by—</text>
<clause id="H8D3D4C3A83454870902DFA515027E43"><enum>(i)</enum><text>providing training
and educational screening processes on the potential benefits and hazards of
self-employment; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H863D187A92CD473900BB87D8A2F78F6B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>developing
courses, consulting processes, and highly targeted resource materials, and
deploying them throughout the Small Business Development Center network;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H72481BCCC78F4DECB1D83E3823BC088F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>link business
owners with additional resource service providers to prepare businesses for
transition, including by increasing partnership opportunities, particularly
with the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC38FF397E6AC4593AAA96713F0E6DF4"><enum>(C)</enum><text>identify business
opportunities for those interested in acquiring businesses;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1866DE0A8411452CBD251416E3669E45"><enum>(D)</enum><text>help individuals
identify and acquire financing for acquisition; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H439ED1AB225541FCAF37AB876E741171"><enum>(E)</enum><text>provide continuing
support once transition has occurred.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H70710984C6E14E2D837667CE4014D763"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Minimum
amount</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each grant under this
subsection shall be for at least $175,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7F854FE4C296487BAFA0E41522A84ED9"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Maximum
amount</header><text>A grant under this subsection may not exceed
$350,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB9652F678154447083057036E8B4FB2"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Funding</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subject to amounts approved in advance in
appropriations Acts and separate from amounts approved to carry out section
21(a)(1), the Administrator may make grants or enter into cooperative
agreements to carry out this
subsection.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H36E3B61B06BA435D83EBA8C88409EB64"><enum>205.</enum><header>Small Business
Sustainability Initiative</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 21 of the Small Business Act (15
U.S.C. 648), as amended by this Act, is amended by adding at the end the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB8A924575AAC478E86E4B8443661DBF" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H6AE85708E5074503B04313AB8E2321C1"><enum>(r)</enum><header>Small Business
Sustainability Initiative</header>
<paragraph id="H097DF42A614D43A28EA76572FFE47C83"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A lead Small Business
Development Center may apply for an additional grant to carry out a small
business sustainability initiative program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE1FFDAD05EFE42249C6F9CE2C556DF32"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Elements of
program</header><text>Under a program under paragraph (1), the Center
shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H17390FAD66CD4A369D2DBEE9AF680086"><enum>(A)</enum><text>provide necessary
support to smaller and medium-sized businesses to—</text>
<clause id="HF350D80C68264AD19DF3D9BEEF934500"><enum>(i)</enum><text>evaluate energy
efficiency and green building opportunities;</text>
</clause><clause id="HBBC2BB7DD61A4EE7BAF9A0ADADC855E"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>understand the
cost benefits of energy efficiency and green building opportunities;</text>
</clause><clause id="H5760E68A59B74807A8D4607493487B00"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>secure financing
to achieve energy efficiency or to construct green buildings; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HA3707C5286ED4B91BB63343540C17F63"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>empower
management to implement energy efficiency projects;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF11B4D1B78F2470599BDDA9F9B9BE41B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>assist
entrepreneurs with clean technology development and technology
commercialization through—</text>
<clause id="H482F3D677F494761B34DCB94F0473DC7"><enum>(i)</enum><text>technology
assessment;</text>
</clause><clause id="HFB735E2B88414C4D964F493703679BCD"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>intellectual
property;</text>
</clause><clause id="HFCE902ED4EC54BB5A67E56BFBAEB2229"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Small Business
Innovation Research submissions;</text>
</clause><clause id="H9A72F69A4F9742518EE05850016C0089"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>strategic
alliances;</text>
</clause><clause id="H54D60218D87E4082916F00356DD7FDCF"><enum>(v)</enum><text>business model
development; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H4994F18A09EA4AC0A9E665F08077FAAE"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>preparation for
investors; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H215AF977CF6A474FA8E82D2B02E6D3D2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>help small
business improve environmental performance by shifting to less hazardous
materials and reducing waste and emissions at the source, including by
providing assistance for businesses to adapt the materials they use, the
processes they operate, and the products and services they produce.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA12ADDFFFEFA40B3B6EA783F1F54D455"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Minimum
amount</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each grant under this
subsection shall be for at least $150,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFDC75983A1464DAC88D5C3AB1921FD27"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Maximum
amount</header><text>A grant under this subsection may not exceed
$300,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H93924EB8AF6F4B2DB267BEDA708FED4"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Funding</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subject to amounts approved in advance in
appropriations Acts and separate from amounts approved to carry out section
21(a)(1), the Administrator may make grants or enter into cooperative
agreements to carry out this
subsection.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1728164B1A3947A6987C0500BD9C4FFC" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>206.</enum><header>Grants to small
business development centers to provide assistance in securing affordable
health insurance</header>
<subsection id="HA6ADB966A10B4872B380FEFD78C2DAA"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Grant
authority</header><text>The Administrator of the Small Business Administration
(hereafter in this section referred to as the Administrator) may award a grant
under this section to a lead small business development center (as described
under section 21 of the Small Business Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/648">15 U.S.C. 648</external-xref>)).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H554BD026919F48F99EEAAF6598052EB"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Use of
funds</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A recipient of a grant
under this section shall use the grant only for the purpose of providing to the
owner of a small business concern assistance in identifying and securing
affordable health insurance for their business and employees. A recipient of
such a grant shall identify Federal, State, and local initiatives designed to
assist small businesses and provide such education information to small
business concerns seeking assistance on obtaining health insurance. A recipient
of such a grant shall also work with health insurance providers in the area to
identify premiums charged on health insurance for small business. A recipient
of such a grant shall also attempt to negotiate lower health insurance premiums
for small business concerns that seek the assistance of the recipient.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HB5F51DFC9A7D4327AEACA0A64F3DA883"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Minimum grant
amount</header><text>A grant under this section may not be in an amount less
than $200,000.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H21D78FEAF5CC46FF8923CA740093B24E"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Application</header><text>Each
applicant for a grant under this section shall submit to the Administrator an
application in such form as the Administrator may require. The application
shall include information regarding the applicant’s goals and objectives for
helping address entrepreneur’s concerns with health insurance costs.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HB912798B9B844E4086DB597BF3643E63"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Report to
Administrator</header><text>As a condition of receiving a grant under this
section, the Administrator shall require the recipient of a grant to submit to
the Administrator, not later than 18 months after the date on which the grant
is received, a report describing how the grant funds were used.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H61267D1EC92C49DDB496C48069BE49F"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Cooperative
agreements and contracts</header><text>The Administrator may enter into a
cooperative agreement or contract with the recipient of a grant under this
section to provide additional assistance that furthers the purposes of this
section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H14374AB28A6A42F79F08D7C458DC07DF"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Applicability of
grant requirements</header><text>An applicant for a grant under this section
shall comply with all of the requirements applicable to a grantee under section
21 of the Small Business Act, except that the matching funds requirements of
such section shall not apply.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HAFF2F7FE8D884A9587969BA2BD3AF70"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Evaluation of
program</header><text>Not later than March 31, 2009, the Administrator shall
submit to Congress a report that contains an evaluation of the grant program
under this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H79B915A9C28A4C5487B405F7C953B7D"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Funding</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subject to amounts approved in advance in
appropriations Acts and separate from amounts approved to carry out section
21(a)(1), the Administrator may make grants or enter into cooperative
agreements to carry out this subsection.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H4BBAFFBD636742929BCFC56E778B5929"><enum>207.</enum><header>National
regulatory assistance</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The
Small Business Act is amended by inserting after section 21 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/648">15 U.S.C. 648</external-xref>) the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5BF962C415E94FA39DCDE4B3CF29DBCD" style="OLC">
<section id="H9E8E5F57CB244261A9FD4DB2000632A4"><enum>21A.</enum><header>Small business
regulatory assistance</header>
<subsection id="HC497B7A907CD40E292784362911C8BDD"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section, the following definitions
apply:</text>
<paragraph id="H4011E3F99DFC465EA9DB534145198842"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Association</header><text>The
term ‘Association’ means the association recognized by the Administrator of the
Small Business Administration under section 21(a)(3)(A).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB41E7E7167224B71A009C5E65ECD5BB8"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Participating
small business development center</header><text>The term ‘participating Small
Business Development Center’ means a Small Business Development Center
participating in the program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF4FC0C85B79749928FFEBC0292BB0D"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Program</header><text>The
term ‘program’ means the regulatory assistance program established under this
section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5F521F1BC2B44E16A7ADF13236CBD53D"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Regulatory
compliance assistance</header><text>The term ‘regulatory compliance assistance’
means assistance provided by a Small Business Development Center to a small
business concern to enable the concern to comply with Federal regulatory
requirements.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H59B2DE98D24149C3009462F5F2CE137"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Small Business
Development Center</header><text>The term ‘Small Business Development Center’
means a lead Small Business Development Center described in section 21.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H126E6A4AE2E24025B4ED248DC33435C3"><enum>(6)</enum><header>State</header><text>The
term ‘State’ means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American
Samoa.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H763B024986EB44E0A692AB104B43182C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authority</header><text>In
accordance with this section, the Administrator shall establish a program to
provide regulatory compliance assistance to small business concerns through
selected Small Business Development Centers, the Association of Small Business
Development Centers, and Federal compliance partnership programs.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H7DBC5A4499114F25A86892CFC8C024D9"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Small Business
Development Centers</header>
<paragraph id="H30DA9557909746E0907B00AEE292EEB"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>In carrying out the program, the Administrator shall
enter into arrangements with selected Small Business Development Centers under
which such Centers shall provide—</text>
<subparagraph id="HA5BA52E2FCBA4ADEB7C08F53288DFC3E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>access to
information and resources, including current Federal and State nonpunitive
compliance and technical assistance programs similar to those established under
section 507 of the Clean Air Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/7661f">42 U.S.C. 7661f</external-xref>);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5A8D2B87F55F456DBEEBA93516BB83B1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>training and
educational activities;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC97A566033024FC5A51F504C7E709C46"><enum>(C)</enum><text>confidential,
free-of-charge, one-on-one, in-depth counseling to the owners and operators of
small business concerns regarding compliance with Federal and State
regulations, as long as such counseling is not considered to be the practice of
law in a State in which a Small Business Development Center is located or in
which such counseling is conducted;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC0497297162F4088BC1EC55529321830"><enum>(D)</enum><text>technical
assistance;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4022F134F4814DA087A0AD7704CCDC8"><enum>(E)</enum><text>referrals to
experts and other providers of compliance assistance who meet such standards
for educational, technical, and professional competency as are established by
the Administrator; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H62CB49D74359421CAFFF41B4F613264D"><enum>(F)</enum><text>access to the
Internet and training on Internet use, including the use of the Internet
website established by the Administrator under subsection (d)(1)(C).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H791A26564FDE43718B003869C390B2C8"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Reports</header>
<subparagraph id="H6732F47269EA43598D91AEC9BE13B7F"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Each selected Small Business Development Center shall
transmit to the Administrator a quarterly report that includes—</text>
<clause id="HAEBBD640DCF64A08B663614DE9EFB9C4"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a
summary of the regulatory compliance assistance provided by the center under
the program; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H9570F408D482457DAC65867505F21868"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>any data and
information obtained by the center from a Federal agency regarding regulatory
compliance that the agency intends to be disseminated to small business
concerns.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0F78613066FA41369276C9E3122E0089"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Electronic
form</header><text>Each report required under subparagraph (A) shall be
transmitted in electronic form.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF4BF097F72B64365BC8F33B62D27D12"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Interim
reports</header><text>A participating Small Business Development Center may
transmit to the Administrator such interim reports as the Center considers
appropriate.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA17AC28F94A548AD8438AC9350ED95C5"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Limitation on
disclosure requirements</header><text>The Administrator shall not require a
Small Business Development Center to disclose the name or address of any small
business concern that received or is receiving assistance under the program,
except that the Administrator shall require such a disclosure if ordered to do
so by a court in any civil or criminal action.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HEE2980B42C044EAA8433FB00A92FEF35"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Data repository
and clearinghouse</header>
<paragraph id="H53F943E075ED437D84009C6603008389"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>In carrying out the program, the Administrator
shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H5518FBE3AD5C41F791B5EB3770C293AF"><enum>(A)</enum><text>act as the
repository of and clearinghouse for data and information submitted by Small
Business Development Centers;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H669412EBA8F544149E33A1847DBCC9CB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>submit to the
President, the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate,
and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives an annual
report that includes—</text>
<clause id="H45863BC7F5D64B078588D320918000F7"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a
description of the types of assistance provided by participating Small Business
Development Centers under the program;</text>
</clause><clause id="HEF2F78B0B5554A249F4300BB0011E064"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>data regarding
the number of small business concerns that contacted participating Small
Business Development Centers regarding assistance under the program;</text>
</clause><clause id="H04020852FBE544A9A0D49F62653714A0"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>data regarding
the number of small business concerns assisted by participating Small Business
Development Centers under the program;</text>
</clause><clause id="H0B9EEC72A4BF4A63A400055B28514D5D"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>data and
information regarding outreach activities conducted by participating Small
Business Development Centers under the program, including any activities
conducted in partnership with Federal agencies;</text>
</clause><clause id="HC4EA8A62ECEF41D3AAC7573B8B80AA9C"><enum>(v)</enum><text>data and
information regarding each case known to the Administrator in which one or more
Small Business Development Centers offered conflicting advice or information
regarding compliance with a Federal or State regulation to one or more small
business concerns;</text>
</clause><clause id="HE131F2F6EB504FA6B1CEFCA78C863B00"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>any
recommendations for improvements in the regulation of small business concerns;
and</text>
</clause><clause id="HDD514E2AE9F548ECB9DF76BB7075C30"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>a
list of regulations identified by the Administrator, after consultation with
the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Administration, who shall review such
list, and the Small Business and Agriculture Regulatory Enforcement Ombudsman,
as being most burdensome to small business concerns, and recommendations to
reduce or eliminate the burdens of such regulations; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8A65E654974640AFAFAD25FEC52FEBCC"><enum>(C)</enum><text>establish an
Internet website that—</text>
<clause id="H9123695693A84A089FFB198F6F6EE159"><enum>(i)</enum><text>provides access to
Federal, State, academic, and industry association Internet websites containing
industry-specific regulatory compliance information that the Administrator
deems potentially useful to small businesses attempting to comply with Federal
regulations; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H653BFA83AEC1433AB9D9A4CE4C57EB2"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>arranges such
Internet websites in industry-specific categories.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H4C34A310D9414DD89E31F66C85E7E7CA"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Review of
burdensome regulations and petition for agency review</header>
<paragraph id="HA2E5C24512B041EF9EF2B07E553471E0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Transmission of
list of regulations to Chief Counsel for Advocacy</header><text>The
Administrator shall transmit to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the
Administration a copy of the list of regulations submitted under subsection
(d)(1)(B) as part of the annual report required by that subsection.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8F6FC8EBDE6247EE976569774582987E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Review of list
of regulations</header><text>The Chief Counsel for Advocacy shall review the
list of regulations transmitted under paragraph (1) and identify any regulation
that—</text>
<subparagraph id="H524B4D3EF10A45479DE32825C5BEB390"><enum>(A)</enum><text>is eligible for
review in accordance with
section
610 of title 5, United States Code;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA5258E9C9DDE47DE99FB10078200B58F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>has a significant
impact on a substantial number of small business concerns that is substantially
different from the impact indicated in the final regulatory flexibility
analysis for that regulation, as published with the final regulation in the
Federal Register; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC80F0690ED694E72AA19451B10C26187"><enum>(C)</enum><text>has a significant
impact on a substantial number of small business concerns and for which no
final regulatory flexibility analysis was ever performed.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H9A20909D27824017BD47C2017559DB1B"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Notification and
agency review</header><text>With respect to any regulation identified under
paragraph (2) the Chief Counsel for Advocacy shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H0D960FBD9FBC4B0A9F85FC09E2922BF9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>notify the
appropriate Federal rulemaking agency and the Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs of the Office of Management of the identification of such
rule or regulation; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE8106CC66D144B03AA03F5B28D57A500"><enum>(B)</enum><text>request the review
of such regulation—</text>
<clause id="H6B507F7E48D3487282F8EB61E330B71C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in
accordance with <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/610">section 610</external-xref> of title 5, United States
Code; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H7F0EC2E3384148D6BB852F90E8B982E7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>for any impact it
has on small business concerns.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H80721310CFE1432EA005378F4FDBC700"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Annual
report</header><text>The Chief Counsel for Advocacy shall publish an annual
report containing a list of any regulation identified under paragraph (2) and
the disposition by the appropriate agency.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1E4A20D579C8488EB14D191B87423BFA"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Eligibility</header>
<paragraph id="H381033D4C7C6437E98124904CFEFC1B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>A Small Business Development Center shall be eligible to
receive assistance under the program only if the center is certified under
section 21(k)(2).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0C0A9D5994C3462091B17319EDB7A08C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Waiver</header><text>With
respect to a Small Business Development Center seeking assistance under the
program, the Administrator may waive the certification requirement set forth in
paragraph (1) if the Administrator determines that the center is making a good
faith effort to obtain such certification.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H6B90E0CA0ADA4538833CDA1F7CF82069"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Selection of
participating State programs</header>
<paragraph id="HA68797507CEE4501A1B5D818D4F8983"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Establishment of
program</header><text>In consultation with the Association and giving
substantial weight to the Association's recommendations, the Administrator
shall select the Small Business Development Center programs of 2 States from
each of the following groups of States to participate in the program:</text>
<subparagraph id="HD517CEA1683C4B36B7AFD4698CE91CA6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Group 1: Maine,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Vermont, and Rhode Island.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H95B1D7855A874F9292D38605226D7D87"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Group 2: New York,
New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAB84DAC7FFDC44209DCBDE56EC388FB"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Group 3:
Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and
Delaware.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H925B76956A074F62B9050036A4264787"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Group 4: Georgia,
Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Kentucky, and
Tennessee.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H55A81FCDE9EB4BC1834C783D31C700B"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Group 5: Illinois,
Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H74191A4DCBE54044A7C8F113D2597FDA"><enum>(F)</enum><text>Group 6: Texas,
New Mexico, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6FD31BABF5364525B840DEBE9700F7FE"><enum>(G)</enum><text>Group 7: Missouri,
Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H04DC8ED3422945A4B871D6D8B752DA2D"><enum>(H)</enum><text>Group 8: Colorado,
Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Utah.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H465E3E334561497A8F9BA2267B379C31"><enum>(I)</enum><text>Group 9:
California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, and Arizona.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5C08CF89EC4F47BEB7730103A6F49BC6"><enum>(J)</enum><text>Group 10:
Washington, Alaska, Idaho, and Oregon.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB8FCF87309554005B7AEEB05F7BC411F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Deadline for
initial selections</header><text>The Administrator shall make selections under
paragraph (1) not later than 60 days after promulgation of regulations under
subsection (k).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1B545232762B48068C6D317FDFA87354"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Additional
selections</header><text>Not earlier than the date 3 years after the date of
the enactment of this paragraph, the Administrator may select Small Business
Development Center programs of States in addition to those selected under
paragraph (1). The Administrator shall consider the effect on the programs
selected under paragraph (1) before selecting additional programs under this
paragraph.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H30FD71F3C13D4CB0BA6226E9215C79DB"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Coordination to
avoid duplication with other programs</header><text>In selecting programs under
this subsection, the Administrator shall give a preference to Small Business
Development Center programs that have a plan for consulting with Federal and
State agencies to ensure that any assistance provided under this section is not
duplicated by an existing Federal or State program.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HBE27A3D420C54B8A9BEA00E07C1BA7CD"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Matching not
required</header><text>Subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 21(a)(4) shall not
apply to assistance made available under the program.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HEA833D0075DD47FC8BBA528CC373994F"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Distribution of
grants</header>
<paragraph id="HB9FDBE88E43047DB8E7978812C05E4AF"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (2), each State program
selected to receive a grant under subsection (g) in a fiscal year shall be
eligible to receive a grant in an amount not to exceed the product obtained by
multiplying—</text>
<subparagraph id="H369AC4EBEEAD401C946633F3237D60F7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the amount made
available for grants under this section for the fiscal year; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0BBAD690529747E19E25286370C195C2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the ratio that the
population of the State bears to the population of all the States with programs
selected to receive grants under subsection (g) for the fiscal year.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HF2930B56532342058B4C6FE80234A20"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Minimum
amount</header><text>The minimum amount that a State program selected to
receive a grant under subsection (g) shall be eligible to receive under this
section for any fiscal year shall be $200,000. The Administrator shall reduce
the amount described in paragraph (1) as appropriate to carry out the purposes
of this paragraph and subsection (j)(2).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HF8B8DCDC4F5D46A59B49A619E7EABCC7"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Evaluation and
report</header><text>Not later than 3 years after the establishment of the
program, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an
evaluation of the program and shall transmit to the Administrator, the
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate, and the
Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives a report containing
the results of the evaluation along with any recommendations as to whether the
program, with or without modification, should be extended to include the
participation of all Small Business Development Centers.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HFB817F9E09DC42EEAF485B3825D02ECE"><enum>(k)</enum><header>Promulgation of
regulations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">After providing
notice and an opportunity for comment and after consulting with the Association
(but not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section),
the Administrator shall promulgate final regulations to carry out this section,
including regulations that establish—</text>
<paragraph id="H824CAA51E3974F7EA3DA8F11E2E6B991"><enum>(1)</enum><text>priorities for the
types of assistance to be provided under the program;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC4A13A1D70CA40C082A626853004250"><enum>(2)</enum><text>standards relating
to educational, technical, and support services to be provided by participating
Small Business Development Centers;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H39FCF0F7042B45BABFB0AE10B28F5071"><enum>(3)</enum><text>standards relating
to any national service delivery and support function to be provided by the
Association under the program;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCD200CBF99964A78A59142F803323F67"><enum>(4)</enum><text>standards relating
to any work plan that the Administrator may require a participating Small
Business Development Center to develop; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H58B03F5E7F7A494FB098478605990065"><enum>(5)</enum><text>standards relating
to the educational, technical, and professional competency of any expert or
other assistance provider to whom a small business concern may be referred for
compliance assistance under the program.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H140EC03E9F5541FF989BC279159E75FF"><enum>(l)</enum><header>Funding</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subject to amounts approved in advance in
appropriations Acts and separate from amounts approved to carry out section
21(a)(1), the Administrator may make grants or enter into cooperative
agreements to carry out this
section.</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="HA9C0035698CF45EA93EFAD98992258D0"><enum>208.</enum><header>Report</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 18 months after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Small Business
Administration shall submit to Congress a report evaluating the effectiveness
of the new Small Business Development Center programs added by the amendments
made by this title.</text>
</section><enum>III</enum><header>SCORE</header>
<section id="HD7F69F19C0B94E7DAD759115C13D1797"><enum>301.</enum><header>Repeal of
Active Corporation of Executives</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 8(b)(1)(B) of the Small Business Act
(15 U.S.C.
637(b)(1)(B)) is amended by striking <quote>and an Active Corps
of Executive (ACE)</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="H52CC4CECCED5411DB0F6721340AC53C8"><enum>302.</enum><header>Increasing the
proportion of SCORE volunteers from socially and economically disadvantaged
backgrounds</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 8(b)(1) of
the Small Business Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/637">15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)</external-xref>) is amended by
adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8EAE334FF82A467C92A01E8E615C3E" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="HE39868EA17164169B5D42FEEFE99FE98"><enum>(H)</enum><text>The Service Corps
of Retired Executives (SCORE) established under subparagraph (B) shall carry
out a plan to increase the proportion of mentors who are from socially or
economically disadvantaged backgrounds. SCORE shall, on an annual basis, report
to the Administrator on the implementation of this
subparagraph.</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="H52253A055FB74103AAA82D2FE0EF00"><enum>303.</enum><header>Benchmark
reporting</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 8(b)(1) of
the Small Business Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/637">15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)</external-xref>), as amended by
section 202, is further amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFF21D5B7D4A343DB86FF9B3F1768EDB4" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="H7510C498AEAE4B29B357BBC9FBF6D3C7"><enum>(I)</enum><text>The Service Corps
of Retired Executives (SCORE) established under subparagraph (B) shall, in
consultation with the Administrator, establish benchmarks for use in evaluating
the performance of its activities and the performance of its volunteers. The
benchmarks shall include benchmarks relating to the demographic characteristics
and the geographic characteristics of persons assisted by SCORE, benchmarks
relating to the hours spent mentoring by volunteers, and benchmarks relating to
the performance of the persons assisted by SCORE. SCORE shall, on an annual
basis, report to the Administrator on the extent to which the benchmarks
established under this subparagraph are being
attained.</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section>
Passed the House of
Representatives June 20, 2007.
Lorraine C. Miller,
Clerk.
June 22, 2007
Read the second time and placed on the
calendar