II 112th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3508 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES August 2, 2012 Ms. Landrieu (for herself, Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr. Coons) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship A BILL To strengthen resources for entrepreneurs by improving the SCORE program, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the SCORE for Small Business Act of 2012.

2.

SCORE Reauthorization

(a)

In general

Section 20 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 note) is amended— (1)by redesignating subsection (j) as subsection (f); and (2)by adding at the end the following: (g)

SCORE program

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to carry out the SCORE program authorized by section 8(b)(1) such sums as are necessary for the Administrator to make grants or enter into cooperative agreements in a total amount that does not exceed— (1)$13,000,000 in fiscal year 2013; (2)$15,000,000 in fiscal year 2014; and (3)$17,000,000 in fiscal year 2015. .

3.

SCORE program

Section 8 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637) is amended— (1)in subsection (b)(1)(B), by striking a Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and inserting the SCORE program described in subsection (c); and (2)by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following: (c)

SCORE program

(1)

Definition

In this subsection, the term SCORE program means the SCORE program authorized by subsection (b)(1)(B). (2)

Volunteers

(A)

In general

A volunteer participating in the SCORE program shall— (i)based on the business experience and knowledge of the volunteer— (I)provide at no cost to individuals who own, or aspire to own, small business concerns personal counseling, mentoring, and coaching relating to the process of starting, expanding, managing, buying, and selling a business; and (II)facilitate low-cost education workshops for individuals who own, or aspire to own, small business concerns; and (ii)as appropriate, use tools, resources, and expertise of other organizations to carry out the SCORE program. (B)

Orientation

The Administrator, in consultation with the SCORE Association, shall ensure that each volunteer participating in the SCORE program is adequately oriented and trained in the areas and disciplines necessary to ensure successful, outcome-oriented client interactions relating to the services provided by the SCORE program. (3)

Plans and goals

(A)

Outreach

The Administrator, in consultation with the SCORE Association, shall ensure that the SCORE program and each chapter of the SCORE program develop and implement plans and goals for outreach to individuals in rural, ethnically diverse, minority, and underserved communities, including a plan to recruit more diverse counselors. (B)

Service

The Administrator, in consultation with the SCORE Association, shall ensure that the SCORE program and each chapter of the SCORE program develop and implement plans and goals to more effectively and efficiently provide services to individuals in rural areas, economically disadvantaged communities, and other traditionally underserved communities, including plans for electronic initiatives, web-based initiatives, chapter expansion, partnerships, and the development of new skills by volunteers participating in the SCORE program. (4)

Annual report

The SCORE Association shall submit to the Administrator an annual report that contains— (A)the number of individuals counseled or trained under the SCORE program; (B)the number of hours of counseling provided under the SCORE program; and (C)to the extent possible— (i)the number of small business concerns formed with assistance from the SCORE program; (ii)the number of small business concerns expanded with assistance from the SCORE program; and (iii)the number of jobs created with assistance from the SCORE program. (5)

Privacy requirements

(A)

In general

Neither the Administrator nor the SCORE Association may disclose the name, address, or telephone number of any individual or small business concern receiving assistance from the SCORE Association without the consent of such individual or small business concern, unless— (i)the Administrator is ordered to make such a disclosure by a court in any civil or criminal enforcement action initiated by a Federal or State agency; or (ii)the Administrator determines such a disclosure to be necessary for the purpose of conducting a financial audit of the SCORE program, in which case disclosure shall be limited to the information necessary for the audit. (B)

Administrator use of information

This subsection shall not— (i)restrict the access of the Administrator to program activity data; or (ii)prevent the Administrator from using client information to conduct client surveys. (C)

Regulations

(i)

In general

The Administrator shall issue regulations to establish standards for— (I)disclosures with respect to financial audits under paragraph (1)(B); and (II)conducting client surveys, including standards for oversight of the surveys and for dissemination and use of client information. (ii)

Maximum privacy protection

The regulations issued under this paragraph shall, to the extent practicable, provide for the maximum amount of privacy protection. (iii)

Inspector general

Until the effective date of the regulations issued under this paragraph, any client survey and the use of any client information shall be approved by the Inspector General of the Administration, who shall include any such approval in the semi-annual report of the Inspector General. .

4.

Technical and conforming amendments

(a)

Small Business Act

The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended— (1)in section 7(m)(3)(A)(i)(VIII) (15 U.S.C. 636(m)(3)(A)(i)(VIII)), by striking Service Corps of Retired Executives and inserting SCORE program; and (2)in section 33(b)(2) (15 U.S.C. 657c(b)(2)), by striking Service Corps of Retired Executives and inserting SCORE program. (b)

Other laws

Section 621 of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (15 U.S.C. 657p) is amended— (1)in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following: (4)the term SCORE program means the SCORE program authorized by section 8(b)(1)(B) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)(B)); ; and (2)in subsection (b)(4)(A)(iv), by striking Service Corps of Retired Executives and inserting SCORE program.