[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2126 Reported in Senate (RS)]

<DOC>





                                                       Calendar No. 266
114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2126

    To reauthorize the women's business center program of the Small 
            Business Administration, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 1, 2015

 Ms. Cantwell (for herself, Mr. Vitter, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Peters, Mr. 
Booker, and Ms. Heitkamp) introduced the following bill; which was read 
       twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and 
                            Entrepreneurship

                            October 8, 2015

                Reported by Mr. Vitter, with amendments
  [Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To reauthorize the women's business center program of the Small 
            Business Administration, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Women's Small Business Ownership Act 
of 2015''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act--
            (1) the terms ``Administration'' and ``Administrator'' mean 
        the Small Business Administration and the Administrator 
        thereof, respectively;
            (2) the term terms ``small business concern'' and ``small 
        business development center'' have the meanings given those 
        terms in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632); 
        and
            (3) the term ``women's business center'' has the meaning 
        given that term in section 29(a) of the Small Business Act (15 
        U.S.C. 656(a)), as added by section 4(a)(1) of this Act.

SEC. 3. OFFICE OF WOMEN'S BUSINESS OWNERSHIP.

    Section 29(g) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(g)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (B)--
                            (i) in clause (i), by striking ``in the 
                        areas'' and all that follows through the end of 
                        subclause (I), and inserting the following: 
                        ``to address issues concerning the management, 
                        operations, manufacturing, technology, finance, 
                        retail and product sales, international trade, 
                        Government contracting, and other disciplines 
                        required for--
                                    ``(I) starting, operating, and 
                                increasing the business of a small 
                                business concern;''; and
                            (ii) in clause (ii)--
                                    (I) by striking ``Women's Business 
                                Center program'' each place that term 
                                appears and inserting ``women's 
                                business center program'';
                                    (II) in subclause (IX), by striking 
                                ``and'' at the end;
                                    (III) in subclause (X), by striking 
                                the period at the end and inserting ``; 
                                and''; and
                                    (IV) by adding at the end the 
                                following:
                                    ``(XI) work with Administration 
                                officials and collaborate with entities 
                                other than the Administration to ensure 
                                that the work of the women's business 
                                center program--
                                            ``(aa) maximizes taxpayer 
                                        dollars; and
                                            ``(bb) coordinates 
                                        effectively with and is not 
                                        duplicative of the efforts of 
                                        other Federal Government and 
                                        private sector programs.''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (C), by inserting before the 
                period at the end the following: ``, the National 
                Women's Business Council, and any organization 
                representing the majority of women's business 
                centers''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Mission.--The mission of the Office of Women's 
        Business Ownership shall be to assist women entrepreneurs to 
        start, grow, and compete in global markets by providing quality 
        support with access to capital, access to markets, job 
        creation, growth, and counseling and training by--
                    ``(A) fostering participation of women 
                entrepreneurs in the economy by overseeing a network of 
                women's business centers throughout States and 
                territories;
                    ``(B) creating public-private partnerships to 
                support women entrepreneurs and conduct outreach and 
                education to startup and existing small business 
                concerns owned and controlled by women; and
                    ``(C) working with other initiatives and programs 
                of the Administration to ensure women are well-
                represented and being served and to identify gaps where 
                participation by women could be increased.
            ``(4) Training.--The Administrator shall--
                    ``(A) provide annual programmatic and financial 
                examination training for women's business center 
                representatives and district office technical 
                representatives of the Administration to enable 
                representatives to carry out their responsibilities;
                    ``(B) in carrying out subparagraph (A), award 
                grants or enter into contracts or cooperative 
                agreements related to training; and
                    ``(C) not later than September 30, 2016, develop a 
                plan for a professional development training program 
                for women's business centers, including attendance to 
                relevant national conferences, related to--
                            ``(i) the managing, financing, and 
                        operation of small business concerns;
                            ``(ii) marketing, including the use of 
                        social media;
                            ``(iii) management and technology 
                        assistance regarding small business concern 
                        participation in international markets, export 
                        promotion, and technology transfer; and
                            ``(iv) delivery or distribution of the 
                        services and information described in clauses 
                        (i), (ii), and (iii).
            ``(5) Program and transparency improvements.--The 
        Administrator shall maximize the transparency of the women's 
        business center financial assistance proposal process and the 
        programmatic and financial examination process by--
                    ``(A) providing public notice of any announcement 
                for financial assistance under subsection (b) or a 
                grant under subsection (l);
                    ``(B) in the announcement described in subparagraph 
                (A), outlining award and program evaluation criteria 
                and describing the weighting of the criteria for 
                financial assistance under subsection (b) and grants 
                under subsection (l); and
                    ``(C) not later than 60 days after the completion 
                of a site visit to the women's business center (whether 
                conducted for an audit, performance review, or other 
                reason), when feasible, providing to each women's 
                business center a copy of any site visit reports or 
                evaluation reports prepared by district office 
                technical representatives or officers or employees of 
                the Administration.
            ``(6) Accreditation program.--Not later than September 30, 
        2016, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Small 
        Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee 
        on Small Business of the House of Representatives a plan to 
        develop, including identification of funding needs, an 
        accreditation program of women's business centers under this 
        section that would--
                    ``(A) be developed with the consultation and 
                collaboration of organizations representing a majority 
                of women's business centers;
                    ``(B) be carried out by and for women's business 
                centers under contract with the Administration;
                    ``(C) establish a regular system of site visits at 
                the discretion of the Administration and peer review to 
                be conducted in addition to the regular inspections and 
                audits conducted under subsection (h); and
                    ``(D) develop standards for assessment of the 
                performance of women's business centers, including--
                            ``(i) leadership and center management;
                            ``(ii) strategic planning;
                            ``(iii) market and client needs assessment; 
                        and
                            ``(iv) metrics and measurements of 
                        performance and results.''.

SEC. 4. WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER PROGRAM.

    (a) Women's Business Center Financial Assistance.--Section 29 of 
the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (4);
                    (B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as 
                paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively;
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
            ``(2) the term `eligible entity' means--
                    ``(A) a private nonprofit organization;
                    ``(B) a State, regional, or local economic 
                development organization;
                    ``(C) a development, credit, or finance corporation 
                chartered by a State;
                    ``(D) a junior or community college, as defined in 
                section 312(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 1058(f)); or
                    ``(E) any combination of entities listed in 
                subparagraphs (A) through (D);''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) the term `women's business center' means a project 
        conducted by an eligible entity under this section.'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) 
                as subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), respectively, and 
                adjusting the margins accordingly;
                    (B) by striking ``The Administration'' and all that 
                follows through ``5-year projects'' and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(1) In general.--The Administration may provide financial 
        assistance to an eligible entity to conduct a project under 
        this section'';
                    (C) by striking ``The projects shall'' and 
                inserting the following:
            ``(2) Use of funds.--The project shall be designed to 
        provide training and counseling that meets the needs of women, 
        especially socially or economically disadvantaged women, and 
        shall''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Amount of financial assistance.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), the amount of financial assistance 
                provided under this subsection to an eligible entity 
                per project year shall be not more than $250,000.
                    ``(B) Additional financial assistance.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Administrator may 
                        award financial assistance under this 
                        subsection to an eligible entity in an amount 
                        that is more than $250,000 in a given project 
                        year if the Administrator determines that the 
                        eligible entity--
                                    ``(I) obtained more than $250,000 
                                in non-Federal contributions for that 
                                project year in accordance with 
                                subsection (c);
                                    ``(II) is in good standing with the 
                                women's business center program;
                                    ``(III) has met performance goals 
                                for the previous project year, if 
                                applicable; and
                                    ``(IV) proposes a new project to be 
                                carried out with the additional 
                                financial assistance in accordance with 
                                this section.
                            ``(ii) Limitations.--The Administrator may 
                        only award additional financial assistance 
                        under clause (i)--
                                    ``(I) from unobligated amounts made 
                                available to the Administration to 
                                carry out this section; and
                                    ``(II) if, in a given fiscal year, 
                                the aggregate amount of additional 
                                financial assistance provided to 
                                eligible entities under clause (i) is 
                                not more than 1 percent of the amount 
                                appropriated to the Administration to 
                                carry out this section for that fiscal 
                                year.
            ``(4) Consultation with organizations representing women's 
        business centers.--The Administrator shall seek advice, input, 
        and recommendations for policy changes from any organization 
        representing a majority of women's business centers to 
        develop--
                    ``(A) the training program for women's business 
                centers under subsection (g)(4)(C); and
                    ``(B) recommendations to improve the policies and 
                procedures for governing the general operations and 
                administration of the women's business center program, 
                including grant program improvements under subsection 
                (g)(4).'';
            (3) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``the recipient 
                organization'' and inserting ``an eligible entity'';
                    (B) in paragraph (3), in the second sentence, by 
                striking ``a recipient organization'' and inserting 
                ``an eligible entity'';
                    (C) in paragraph (4)--
                            (i) by striking ``recipient of assistance'' 
                        and inserting ``eligible entity'';
                            (ii) by striking ``during any project, it 
                        shall not be eligible thereafter'' and 
                        inserting ``during any project for 2 
                        consecutive years, the eligible entity shall 
                        not be eligible at any time after that 2-year 
                        period'';
                            (iii) by striking ``such organization'' and 
                        inserting ``the eligible entity''; and
                            (iv) by striking ``the recipient'' and 
                        inserting ``the eligible entity''; and
                    (D) by adding at end the following:
            ``(5) Separation of project and funds.--An eligible entity 
        shall--
                    ``(A) carry out a project under this section 
                separately from other projects, if any, of the eligible 
                entity; and
                    ``(B) separately maintain and account for any 
                financial assistance under this section.'';
            (4) in subsection (e)--
                    (A) by striking ``applicant organization'' and 
                inserting ``eligible entity'';
                    (B) by striking ``a recipient organization'' and 
                inserting ``an eligible entity''; and
                    (C) by striking ``site'';
            (5) by striking subsection (f) and inserting the following:
    ``(f) Applications and Criteria for Initial Financial Assistance.--
            ``(1) Application.--Each eligible entity desiring financial 
        assistance under subsection (b) shall submit to the 
        Administrator an application that contains--
                    ``(A) a certification that the eligible entity--
                            ``(i) has designated an executive director 
                        or program manager, who may be compensated 
                        using financial assistance under subsection (b) 
                        or other sources, to manage the women's 
                        business center for which assistance under 
                        subsection (b) is sought;
                            ``(ii) as a condition of receiving 
                        financial assistance under subsection (b), 
                        agrees--
                                    ``(I) to receive a site visit at 
                                the discretion of the Administrator as 
                                part of the final selection process;
                                    ``(II) to undergo an annual 
                                programmatic and financial examination; 
                                and
                                    ``(III) to remedy any problems 
                                identified pursuant to the site visit 
                                or examination under subclause (I) or 
                                (II); and
                            ``(iii) meets the accounting and reporting 
                        requirements established by the Director of the 
                        Office of Management and Budget;
                    ``(B) information demonstrating that the eligible 
                entity has the ability and resources to meet the needs 
                of the market to be served by the women's business 
                center for which financial assistance under subsection 
                (b) is sought, including the ability to obtain the non-
                Federal contribution required under subsection (c);
                    ``(C) information relating to the assistance to be 
                provided by the women's business center for which 
                financial assistance under subsection (b) is sought in 
                the area in which the women's business center is 
                located;
                    ``(D) information demonstrating the experience and 
                effectiveness of the eligible entity in--
                            ``(i) conducting financial, management, and 
                        marketing assistance programs, as described in 
                        subsection (b)(2), which are designed to teach 
                        or upgrade the business skills of women who are 
                        business owners or potential business owners;
                            ``(ii) providing training and services to a 
                        representative number of women who are socially 
                        or economically disadvantaged; and
                            ``(iii) working with resource partners of 
                        the Administration and other entities, such as 
                        universities; and
                    ``(E) a 5-year plan that describes the ability of 
                the women's business center for which financial 
                assistance under subsection (b) is sought--
                            ``(i) to serve women who are business 
                        owners or potential business owners by 
                        conducting training and counseling activities; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) to provide training and services to 
                        a representative number of women who are 
                        socially or economically disadvantaged.
            ``(2) Review and approval of applications for initial 
        financial assistance.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Administrator shall--
                            ``(i) review each application submitted 
                        under paragraph (1), based on the information 
                        described in such paragraph and the criteria 
                        set forth under subparagraph (B) of this 
                        paragraph; and
                            ``(ii) to the extent practicable, as part 
                        of the final selection process, conduct a site 
                        visit to each women's business center for which 
                        financial assistance under subsection (b) is 
                        sought.
                    ``(B) Selection criteria.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Administrator shall 
                        evaluate applicants for financial assistance 
                        under subsection (b) in accordance with 
                        selection criteria that are--
                                    ``(I) established before the date 
                                on which applicants are required to 
                                submit the applications;
                                    ``(II) stated in terms of relative 
                                importance; and
                                    ``(III) publicly available and 
                                stated in each solicitation for 
                                applications for financial assistance 
                                under subsection (b) made by the 
                                Administrator.
                            ``(ii) Required criteria.--The selection 
                        criteria for financial assistance under 
                        subsection (b) shall include--
                                    ``(I) the experience of the 
                                applicant in conducting programs or 
                                ongoing efforts designed to teach or 
                                enhance the business skills of women 
                                who are business owners or potential 
                                business owners;
                                    ``(II) the ability of the applicant 
                                to begin a project within a minimum 
                                amount of time, as established under 
                                the program announcement or by 
                                regulation;
                                    ``(III) the ability of the 
                                applicant to provide training and 
                                services to a representative number of 
                                women who are socially or economically 
                                disadvantaged;
                                    ``(IV) the ability of the applicant 
                                to successfully complete participation 
                                in the training program developed under 
                                subsection (g)(4)(C);
                                    ``(V) the ability of the applicant 
                                to successfully acquire accreditation 
                                under the accreditation program 
                                developed under subsection (g)(6);
                                    ``(VI) whether the women's business 
                                center proposed by the applicant will 
                                be sustainable for more than a 5-year 
                                period; and
                                    ``(VII) the location for the 
                                women's business center proposed by the 
                                applicant, including whether the 
                                applicant is located in an area in 
                                which--
                                            ``(aa) women are 
                                        underserved; or
                                            ``(bb) significant groups 
                                        of women are underserved due to 
                                        language or other social, 
                                        cultural, and economic 
                                        barriers.
                    ``(C) Proximity.--If the principal place of 
                business of an applicant for financial assistance under 
                subsection (b) is located less than 50 miles from the 
                principal place of business of a women's business 
                center that received funds under this section on or 
                before the date of the application, the applicant shall 
                not be eligible for the financial assistance, unless 
                the applicant--
                            ``(i) submits a detailed written 
                        justification of the need for an additional 
                        women's business center in the area in which 
                        the applicant is located, including information 
                        demonstrating that the applicant is not 
                        providing services that are redundant or 
                        duplicative of those provided by that existing 
                        or current women's business center;
                            ``(ii) submits a detailed plan for how the 
                        applicant plans to reach clients outside of the 
                        geographic area in which the existing or 
                        current women's business center is located; and
                            ``(iii) demonstrates that the applicant has 
                        a pre-existing presence in other parts of the 
                        geographic area in which the existing or 
                        current women's business center is located.
                    ``(D) Record retention.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Administrator shall 
                        maintain a copy of each application submitted 
                        under this subsection for not less than 5 
                        years.
                            ``(ii) Paperwork reduction.--The 
                        Administrator shall take steps to reduce, to 
                        the maximum extent practicable, the paperwork 
                        burden associated with carrying out clause 
                        (i).''; and
            (6) in subsection (m)--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(3) Application and approval for renewal grants.--
                    ``(A) Solicitation of applications.--The 
                Administrator shall solicit applications and award 
                grants under this subsection for the first fiscal year 
                beginning after the date of enactment of the Women's 
                Small Business Ownership Act of 2015, and every third 
                fiscal year thereafter.
                    ``(B) Contents of application.--Each eligible 
                entity desiring a grant under this subsection shall 
                submit to the Administrator an application that 
                contains--
                            ``(i) a certification that the applicant--
                                    ``(I) is an eligible entity;
                                    ``(II) has designated an executive 
                                director or program manager to manage 
                                the women's business center operated by 
                                the applicant; and
                                    ``(III) as a condition of receiving 
                                a grant under this subsection, agrees--
                                            ``(aa) to receive a site 
                                        visit as part of the final 
                                        selection process, at the 
                                        discretion of the 
                                        Administrator; and
                                            ``(bb) to remedy any 
                                        problem identified pursuant to 
                                        the site visit under item (aa);
                            ``(ii) information demonstrating that the 
                        applicant has the ability and resources to meet 
                        the needs of the market to be served by the 
                        women's business center for which a grant under 
                        this subsection is sought, including the 
                        ability to obtain the non-Federal contribution 
                        required under paragraph (4)(C);
                            ``(iii) information relating to assistance 
                        to be provided by the women's business center 
                        in the geographic area served by the women's 
                        business center for which a grant under this 
                        subsection is sought;
                            ``(iv) information demonstrating that the 
                        applicant is not providing services redundant 
                        or duplicative of those provided by a women's 
                        business center receiving funds under this 
                        subsection that is located less than 50 miles 
                        from the principal place of business of the 
                        applicant;
                            ``(v) information demonstrating that the 
                        applicant has worked with resource partners of 
                        the Administration and other entities;
                            ``(vi) a 3-year plan that describes the 
                        services provided by the women's business 
                        center for which a grant under this subsection 
                        is sought--
                                    ``(I) to serve women who are 
                                business owners or potential business 
                                owners by conducting training and 
                                counseling activities; and
                                    ``(II) to provide training and 
                                services to a representative number of 
                                women who are socially or economically 
                                disadvantaged; and
                            ``(vii) any additional information that the 
                        Administrator may reasonably require.
                    ``(C) Review and approval of applications for 
                grants.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Administrator--
                                    ``(I) shall review each application 
                                submitted under subparagraph (B), based 
                                on the information described in such 
                                subparagraph and the criteria set forth 
                                under clause (ii) of this subparagraph; 
                                and
                                    ``(II) as part of the final 
                                selection process, may, at the 
                                discretion of the Administrator, 
                                conduct a site visit to each women's 
                                business center for which a grant under 
                                this subsection is sought, in 
                                particular to evaluate the women's 
                                business center using the selection 
                                criteria described in clause (ii)(II).
                            ``(ii) Selection criteria.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--The 
                                Administrator shall evaluate applicants 
                                for grants under this subsection in 
                                accordance with selection criteria that 
                                are--
                                            ``(aa) established before 
                                        the date on which applicants 
                                        are required to submit the 
                                        applications;
                                            ``(bb) stated in terms of 
                                        relative importance; and
                                            ``(cc) publicly available 
                                        and stated in each solicitation 
                                        for applications for grants 
                                        under this subsection made by 
                                        the Administrator.
                                    ``(II) Required criteria.--The 
                                selection criteria for a grant under 
                                this subsection shall include--
                                            ``(aa) the total number of 
                                        entrepreneurs served by the 
                                        applicant;
                                            ``(bb) the total number of 
                                        new startup companies assisted 
                                        by the applicant;
                                            ``(cc) the percentage of 
                                        clients of the applicant that 
                                        are socially or economically 
                                        disadvantaged;
                                            ``(dd) the percentage of 
                                        individuals in the community 
                                        served by the applicant who are 
                                        socially or economically 
                                        disadvantaged;
                                            ``(ee) the successful 
                                        participation of the applicant 
                                        in the training program 
                                        developed under subsection 
                                        (g)(4)(C);
                                            ``(ff) the successful 
                                        accreditation of the applicant 
                                        under the accreditation program 
                                        developed under subsection 
                                        (g)(6); and
                                            ``(gg) any additional 
                                        criteria that the Administrator 
                                        may reasonably require.
                            ``(iii) Conditions for continued funding.--
                        In determining whether to make a grant under 
                        this subsection, the Administrator--
                                    ``(I) shall consider the results of 
                                the most recent evaluation of the 
                                women's business center for which a 
                                grant under this subsection is sought, 
                                and, to a lesser extent, previous 
                                evaluations; and
                                    ``(II) may withhold a grant under 
                                this subsection, if the Administrator 
                                determines that the applicant has 
                                failed to provide the information 
                                required to be provided under this 
                                paragraph, or the information provided 
                                by the applicant is inadequate.
                    ``(D) Notification.--Not later than 60 days after 
                the date of each deadline to submit applications under 
                this paragraph, the Administrator shall approve or deny 
                any each submitted application under this paragraph and 
                notify the applicant for each such application of the 
                approval or denial.
                    ``(E) Record retention.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Administrator shall 
                        maintain a copy of each application submitted 
                        under this paragraph for not less than 5 years.
                            ``(ii) Paperwork reduction.--The 
                        Administrator shall take steps to reduce, to 
                        the maximum extent practicable, the paperwork 
                        burden associated with carrying out clause 
                        (i).''; and
                    (B) by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(5) Award to previous recipients.--There shall be no 
        limitation on the number of times the Administrator may award a 
        grant to an applicant under this subsection.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--Section 29 of the Small 
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (h)(2), by striking ``to award a contract 
        (as a sustainability grant) under subsection (l) or'';
            (2) in subsection (j)(1), by striking ``The 
        Administration'' and inserting ``Not later than November 1 of 
        each year, the Administrator'';
            (3) in subsection (k)--
                    (A) by striking paragraphs (1) and (4);
                    (B) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph 
                (4);
                    (C) by inserting before paragraph (2) the 
                following:
            ``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
        to the Administration to carry out this section, to remain 
        available until expended, $21,750,000 for each of fiscal years 
        2016 through 2020.'';
                    (D) in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraph (B) 
                and inserting the following:
                    ``(B) Exceptions.--Of the amount made available 
                under this subsection for a fiscal year, the following 
                amounts shall be available for selection panel costs, 
                costs associated with developing and maintaining a 
                training program, costs associated with maintaining an 
                accreditation program, post-award conference costs, and 
                costs related to monitoring and oversight:
                            ``(i) For fiscal year 2016, 2.65 percent.
                            ``(ii) For each of fiscal years 2017 
                        through 2020, 2.5 percent.''; and
                    (E) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
            ``(3) Continuing grant and cooperative agreement 
        authority.--
                    ``(A) Prompt disbursement.--Upon receiving funds to 
                carry out this section for a fiscal year, the 
                Administrator shall, to the extent practicable, 
                promptly reimburse funds to any women's business center 
                awarded financial assistance under this section if the 
                center meets the eligibility requirements under this 
                section.
                    ``(B) Suspension or termination.--If the 
                Administrator has entered into a grant or cooperative 
                agreement with a women's business center under this 
                section, the Administrator may not suspend or terminate 
                the grant or cooperative agreement, unless the 
                Administrator--
                            ``(i) provides the women's business center 
                        with written notification setting forth the 
                        reasons for that action; and
                            ``(ii) affords the women's business center 
                        an opportunity for a hearing, appeal, or other 
                        administrative proceeding under chapter 5 of 
                        title 5, United States Code.'';
            (4) in subsection (m)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``subsection (b) 
                or (l)'' and inserting ``this subsection or subsection 
                (b)''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (4)(D), by striking ``or 
                subsection (l)''; and
            (5) by redesignating subsections (m), (n), and (o), as 
        amended by this Act, as subsections (l), (m), and (n), 
        respectively.
    (c) Effect on Existing Grants.--
            (1) Terms and conditions.--A nonprofit organization 
        receiving a grant under section 29(m) of the Small Business Act 
        (15 U.S.C. 656(m)), as in effect on the day before the date of 
        enactment of this Act, shall continue to receive the grant 
        under the terms and conditions in effect for the grant on the 
        day before the date of enactment of this Act, except that the 
        nonprofit organization may not apply for a renewal of the grant 
        under section 29(m)(5) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
        656(m)(5)), as in effect on the day before the date of 
        enactment of this Act.
            (2) Length of renewal grant.--The Administrator may award a 
        grant under section 29(l) of the Small Business Act, as so 
        redesignated by subsection (a)(5) (b)(5) of this section, to a 
        nonprofit organization receiving a grant under section 29(m) of 
        the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(m)), as in effect on the 
        day before the date of enactment of this Act, for the period--
                    (A) beginning on the day after the last day of the 
                grant agreement under such section 29(m); and
                    (B) ending at the end of the third fiscal year 
                beginning after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 5. MATCHING REQUIREMENTS UNDER WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 29(c) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
656(c)), as amended by section 4 of this Act, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``As a condition'' and 
        inserting ``Subject to paragraph (6), as a condition''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) Waiver of non-federal share.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Upon request by a recipient 
                organization  an eligible entity, and in accordance 
                with this paragraph, the Administrator may waive, in 
                whole or in part, the requirement to obtain non-Federal 
                funds under this subsection for counseling and training 
                activities of the recipient organization eligible 
                entity carried out using financial assistance under 
                this section for a fiscal year. The Administrator may 
                not waive the requirement for a recipient organization 
                an eligible entity to obtain non-Federal funds under 
                this paragraph for more than a total of 2 consecutive 
                fiscal years.
                    ``(B) Considerations.--In determining whether to 
                waive the requirement to obtain non-Federal funds under 
                this paragraph, the Administrator shall consider--
                            ``(i) the economic conditions affecting the 
                        recipient organization eligible entity;
                            ``(ii) the impact a waiver under this 
                        clause paragraph would have on the credibility 
                        of the women's business center program under 
                        this section;
                            ``(iii) the demonstrated ability of the 
                        recipient organization eligible entity to raise 
                        non-Federal funds; and
                            ``(iv) the performance of the recipient 
                        organization eligible entity.
                    ``(C) Limitation.--The Administrator may not waive 
                the requirement to obtain non-Federal funds under this 
                paragraph if granting the waiver would undermine the 
                credibility of the women's business center program 
                under this section.
            ``(7) Solicitation.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        law, a recipient organization an eligible entity may--
                    ``(A) solicit cash and in-kind contributions from 
                private individuals and entities to be used to carry 
                out the activities of the recipient organization 
                eligible entity under the project conducted under this 
                section; and
                    ``(B) use amounts made available by the 
                Administration under this section for the cost of such 
                solicitation and management of the contributions 
                received.
            ``(8) Excess non-federal dollars.--The amount of non-
        Federal dollars obtained by an eligible entity that is above 
        the amount that is required to be obtained by the eligible 
        entity under this subsection and is not used as matching funds 
        for purposes of implementing the women's business center 
        program under this section shall not be subject to the 
        requirements of part 200 of title 2, Code of Federal 
        Regulations, or any successor thereto.''.
    (b) Regulations.--
            (1) In general.--The Administrator shall--
                    (A) except as provided in paragraph (2), and not 
                later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
                Act, publish in the Federal Register proposed 
                regulations by the Administrator to carry out the 
                amendments made to section 29 of the Small Business Act 
                (15 U.S.C. 656) by this Act; and
                    (B) accept public comments on such proposed 
                regulations for not less than 60 days.
            (2) Existing proposed regulations.--Paragraph (1)(A) shall 
        not apply to the extent proposed regulations by the 
        Administrator have been published on the date of enactment of 
        this Act that are sufficient to carry out the amendments made 
        to section 29 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656) by this 
        Act.
                                                       Calendar No. 266

114th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                                S. 2126

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

    To reauthorize the women's business center program of the Small 
            Business Administration, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                            October 8, 2015

                        Reported with amendments