I 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6119 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 12, 2012 Mr. Honda introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform A BILL To establish a program to accelerate entrepreneurship and innovation by partnering world-class entrepreneurs with Federal agencies.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Entrepreneur-in-Residence Act of 2012.

2.

Definitions

In this Act: (1)The term Director means the Director of the Office of Personnel Management. (2)The term program means the Federal entrepreneur-in-residence program established under section 3(a). (3)The term entrepreneur-in-residence means an individual appointed to a position under the program. (4)The term agency means an Executive agency, as defined in section 105 of title 5, United States Code.

3.

Federal entrepreneur-in-residence program

(a)

Program established

The Director, in consultation with the Administrator of the Small Business Administration and the Secretary of Commerce, shall establish a Federal entrepreneur-in-residence program under which the Director, with the concurrence of the head of an agency, may appoint an entrepreneur-in-residence to a position in the excepted service in the agency to carry out the duties described in subsection (d). (b)

Mission of program

The mission of the program shall be to— (1)provide for better outreach by the Federal Government to the private sector; (2)strengthen coordination and interaction between the Federal Government and the private sector on issues relevant to entrepreneurs and business concerns; and (3)make Federal programs simpler, quicker, more efficient, and more responsive to the needs of business concerns and entrepreneurs. (c)

Appointments

(1)

In general

The Director— (A)shall appoint entrepreneurs-in-residence under the program during each year; and (B)may not appoint more than 10 entrepreneurs-in-residence during any year. (2)

Selection

The Director shall select entrepreneurs-in-residence from among individuals who— (A)are successful in their field; (B)have demonstrated success in working with business concerns and entrepreneurs; or (C)have successfully developed, invented, or created a product and brought the product to the marketplace. (3)

Placement

In appointing entrepreneurs-in-residence, the Director shall— (A)give priority to placing entrepreneurs-in-residence across the Federal Government at separate agencies; and (B)to the extent practicable, not appoint more than 2 entrepreneurs-in-residence to positions in the same agency during the same year. (4)

Terms of appointment

An entrepreneur-in-residence— (A)shall be a full-time employee of the agency to which the entrepreneur-in-residence is appointed; and (B)may not serve as an entrepreneur-in-residence for more than a period of 2 years. (d)

Duties

An entrepreneur-in-residence shall— (1)assist Federal agencies in improving outreach to business concerns and entrepreneurs; (2)provide recommendations to the head of the agency employing the entrepreneur-in-residence on inefficient or duplicative programs, if any, at the agency; (3)provide recommendations to the head of the agency employing the entrepreneur-in-residence on methods to improve program efficiency at the agency or new initiatives, if any, that may be instituted at the agency; (4)facilitate meetings and forums to educate business concerns and entrepreneurs on programs or initiatives of the agency employing the entrepreneur-in-residence; (5)facilitate in-service sessions with employees of the agency employing the entrepreneur-in-residence on issues of concern to business concerns and entrepreneurs; and (6)provide technical assistance or mentorship to business concerns and entrepreneurs in accessing programs at the agency employing the entrepreneur-in-residence. (e)

Compensation

(1)

In general

Except as provided in paragraph (2), the rate of basic pay payable to an entrepreneur-in-residence shall be determined in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Director, but shall in no event be less than the minimum rate of basic pay payable for grade GS–10 of the General Schedule nor more than the rate payable for level II of the Executive Schedule. (2)

Highest rate allowable

The rate of basic pay payable to an entrepreneur-in-residence may be increased to the rate payable for level II of the Executive Schedule if— (A)the rate last payable to such entrepreneur-in-residence, before the effective date of the increase, is equal to the highest rate allowable under paragraph (1); (B)the entrepreneur-in-residence has satisfactorily completed at least 1 year of service, in a position under this section, within the employing agency; and (C)the employing agency has a performance appraisal system which, as of such effective date, is certified under section 5307(d)(2) of title 5, United States Code.”. (f)

Reporting

An entrepreneur-in-residence shall report directly to the head of the agency employing the entrepreneur-in-residence. (g)

Authority To establish working group

The Director may establish an informal working group of entrepreneurs-in-residence to allow for entrepreneurs-in-residence to meet to discuss best practices, experiences, and recommendations in order to create an informal knowledge base for current and future entrepreneurs-in-residence. (h)

Termination

The Director may not appoint an entrepreneur-in-residence under this section after September 30, 2016.