II 112th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3194 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 16, 2012 Mrs. Hagan introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship A BILL To require the establishment of a small business common application and web portal for purposes of Federal small business assistance programs, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Small Business Common Application Act of 2012.

2.

Definitions

In this Act— (1)the term Administrator means the Administrator of the Small Business Administration; (2)the term Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development; (3)the term Executive agency has the same meaning as in section 105 of title 5, United States Code; (4)the term Executive Committee means the Executive Committee on a Small Business Common Application established under section 4; and (5)the term small business concern has the meaning given that term in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632).

3.

Establishment of a small business common application and web portal

(a)

Common application and web portal

Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Administrator, in consultation with the Executive Committee, shall establish a small business common application and web portal. (b)

Common application and web portal

(1)

In general

The web portal established under subsection (a) shall allow a small business concern to submit a single common application to apply for Federal assistance provided by any Executive agency, including— (A)a loan; (B)a loan guarantee; (C)a grant; (D)technical assistance; (E)counseling services; and (F)other forms of assistance provided by an Executive agency. (2)

Goals

The small business common application and web portal established under subsection (a) shall— (A)maximize the ability of small business concerns to use the common application and web portal to interact with Executive agencies; (B)maintain high standards for data privacy and security; (C)increase the degree and ease of information sharing and coordination among programs serving small business concerns that are carried out by Executive agencies, including State and local offices of Executive agencies; and (D)minimize redundancy in the administration of programs that use the common application and web portal. (c)

Use of common application and web portal

Each Executive agency that provides Federal assistance to small business concerns shall amend the rules of the Executive agency to provide for use of the common application and web portal to apply for such Federal assistance. (d)

Rules

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with the Executive Committee, shall issue final rules establishing the small business common application and web portal under this section. (e)

Maintenance and amendment

The Administrator shall maintain the small business common application and web portal established under subsection (a).

4.

Executive committee on a small business common application

(a)

Establishment

There is established in the Economic Development Administration an Executive Committee on a Small Business Common Application, which shall— (1)make recommendations regarding the establishment of the small business common application and web portal under section 3; (2)monitor the implementation of the small business common application and web portal; and (3)make periodic recommendations to the Administrator for the improvement of the small business common application and web portal. (b)

Membership

(1)

In general

The members of the Executive Committee shall consist of— (A)the Assistant Secretary; and (B)1 senior officer or employee having policy and technical expertise appointed by each of— (i)the Administrator of the General Services Administration; (ii)the Administrator of the Small Business Administration; (iii)the Director of the National Institutes of Health; (iv)the Director of the National Science Foundation; (v)the President of the Export-Import Bank; (vi)the Secretary of Agriculture; (vii)the Secretary of Defense; (viii)the Secretary of Health and Human Services; (ix)the Secretary of Labor; (x)the Secretary of State; (xi)the Secretary of the Treasury; and (xii)the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. (2)

Chairperson

The Assistant Secretary shall serve as chairperson of the Executive Committee. (3)

Period of appointment

Members of the Executive Committee shall be appointed for a term of 3 years. (4)

Vacancies

A vacancy in the Executive Committee shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, not later than 30 days after the date on which the vacancy occurs. (c)

Meetings

(1)

In general

The Executive Committee shall meet at the call of the chairperson of the Executive Committee. (2)

Quorum

A majority of the members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum. (3)

First meeting

The first meeting of the Executive Committee shall take place not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act. (4)

Public meeting

The Executive Committee shall hold at least one public meeting before the date described in subsection (d)(1) to receive comments from small business concerns and other interested parties. (d)

Duties

(1)

Recommendations

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, upon a vote of the majority of members of the Executive Committee then serving, the Executive Committee shall submit to the Administrator recommendations relating to the establishment of the small business common application and web portal described in section 3. (2)

Transmission to Executive agencies

The Executive Committee shall transmit to each Executive agency a complete copy of the recommendations submitted under paragraph (1). (3)

Recommendations by Executive agencies

Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Executive Committee transmits recommendations to the Executive agency under paragraph (2), each Executive agency that provides Federal assistance to small business concerns shall submit to Congress recommendations, if any, for legislative changes necessary for the Executive agency to carry out this Act. (e)

Personnel matters

(1)

Compensation of members

The members of the Executive Committee shall serve without compensation in addition to that received for their services as officers or employees of the United States. (2)

Detail of employees

The Administrator may detail to the Executive Committee any employee of the Economic Development Administration, and such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege. (f)

Federal Advisory Committee Act

Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply with respect to the Executive Committee.

5.

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.