[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 999 Reported in Senate (RS)]

                                                       Calendar No. 109
114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 999

 To amend the Small Business Act to provide for improvements to small 
                     business development centers.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 16, 2015

  Mr. Vitter introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
    referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

                             June 10, 2015

               Reported by Mr. Vitter, with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend the Small Business Act to provide for improvements to small 
                     business development centers.

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

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    This Act may be cited as the ``Small Business Development 
Centers Improvement Act of 2015''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 2. USE OF AUTHORIZED ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT 
              PROGRAMS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 48. USE OF AUTHORIZED ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT 
              PROGRAMS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``(a) Expanded Support for Entrepreneurs.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other 
        provision of law, the Administrator shall only use the programs 
        authorized in sections 7(j), 7(m), 8(a), 8(b)(1), 21, 22, 29, 
        and 32 of this Act, and sections 358 and 389 of the Small 
        Business Investment Act to deliver entrepreneurial development 
        services, entrepreneurial education, support for the 
        development and maintenance of clusters, or business 
        training.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Exception.--This section shall not apply 
        to--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) services provided to assist small 
                business concerns owned by an Indian tribe (as such 
                term is defined in section 8(a)(13));</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) activities and programs in support 
                of a member of the Armed Forces, including National 
                Guard and Reserve components, a veteran, or a spouse of 
                a member of the Armed Forces or a veteran;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) the Microenterprise Technical 
                Assistance and Capacity Building Program established 
                under subtitle C of title I of the Riegle Community 
                Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994 (15 
                U.S.C. 6901 et seq.);</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) the State Trade and Export Promotion 
                Grant Program established under section 1207 of the 
                Small Business Export Enhancement and International 
                Trade Act of 2010 (15 U.S.C. 649b note); and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(E) the Federal and State Technology 
                Partnership Program established under section 34 of the 
                Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657d).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Annual Report.--Beginning on the first December 1 
after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Administrator shall 
annually report to the Committee on Small Business of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Small Business and 
Entrepreneurship of the Senate on all entrepreneurial development 
activities undertaken in the current fiscal year. This report shall 
include--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) a description and operating details for each 
        program and activity;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) operating circulars, manuals, and standard 
        operating procedures for each program and activity;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) a description of the process used to award 
        grants under each program and activity;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) a list of all awardees, contractors, and 
        vendors (including organization name and location) and the 
        amount of awards for the current fiscal year for each program 
        and activity;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) the amount of funding obligated for the 
        current fiscal year for each program and activity; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) the names and titles for those individuals 
        responsible for each program and activity.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 3. MARKETING OF SERVICES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 21 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(o) No Prohibition of Marketing of Services.--The 
Administrator shall not prohibit applicants receiving grants under this 
section from marketing and advertising their services to individuals 
and small businesses.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 4. DATA COLLECTION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 21(a)(3)(A) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
648(a)(3)(A)) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) by striking ``as provided in this section 
        and'' and inserting ``as provided in this section,''; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by inserting before the period at the end the 
        following: ``, and (iv) governing data collection activities 
        related to applicants receiving grants under this 
        section''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 5. FEES FROM PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND 
              COSPONSORSHIPS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 21(a)(3)(C) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
648(a)(3)(C)) is amended to read as follows:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(C) Participation in private partnerships and 
        cosponsorships with the Administration shall not limit small 
        business development centers from collecting fees or other 
        income related to the operation of such private partnerships 
        and cosponsorships.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 6. EQUITY FOR SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 
              CENTERS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 21(a)(4)(C)(v)(I) of the Small Business Act (15 
U.S.C. 648(a)(4)(C)(v)) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in item (aa), by striking ``; and'' and 
        inserting a period; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by striking item (bb).</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 7. ASSISTANCE TO OUT-OF-STATE SMALL BUSINESSES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 21(b)(3) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
648(b)(3)) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) by striking ``(3) At the discretion'' and 
        inserting the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Assistance to out-of-state small 
        businesses.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--At the discretion''; 
                and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Disaster recovery assistance.--
                </DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--At the 
                        discretion of the Administrator, the 
                        Administrator may authorize a small business 
                        development center to provide advice, 
                        information, and assistance, as described in 
                        subsection (c), to a small business concern 
                        located outside of the State, without regard to 
                        geographic proximity to the small business 
                        development center, if the small business 
                        concern is located in an area for which the 
                        President has declared a major disaster under 
                        section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
                        Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
                        5170).</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Term.--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) In general.--A small 
                                business development center may provide 
                                advice, information, and assistance to 
                                a small business concern under clause 
                                (i) for a period of not more than 2 
                                years after the date on which the 
                                President declared a major disaster 
                                under section 401 of the Robert T. 
                                Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
                                Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) for the 
                                area in which the small business 
                                concern is located.</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) Extension.--The 
                                Administrator may, at the discretion of 
                                the Administrator, extend the period 
                                described in subclause (I).</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(III) Continuity of 
                                services.--A small business development 
                                center that provides counselors to an 
                                area described in clause (i) shall, to 
                                the maximum extent practicable, ensure 
                                continuity of services in any State in 
                                which the small business development 
                                center otherwise provides 
                                services.</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(IV) Access to disaster 
                                recovery facilities.--For purposes of 
                                this subparagraph, the Administrator 
                                shall, to the maximum extent 
                                practicable, permit the personnel of a 
                                small business development center to 
                                use any site or facility designated by 
                                the Administrator for use to provide 
                                disaster recovery 
                                assistance.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 8. CONFIDENTIALITY REQUIREMENTS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 21(a)(7)(A) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
648(a)(7)(A)) is amended by inserting after ``under this section'' the 
following: ``to any State, local or Federal agency, or third 
party''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 9. LIMITATION ON AWARD OF GRANTS TO SMALL BUSINESS 
              DEVELOPMENT CENTERS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 21 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648), as 
amended by section 3 of this Act, is further amended by adding at the 
end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(p) Limitation on Award of Grants.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--Except for not-for-profit 
        institutions of higher education, and notwithstanding any 
        provision of law, the Administrator may not award grants 
        (including contracts and cooperative agreements) under this 
        section to any entity other than those that received grants 
        (including contracts and cooperative agreements) under this 
        section prior to September 30, 2015, and that seek to renew 
        such grants (including contracts and cooperative agreements) 
        after such date.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Rule of construction.--This subsection shall 
        not be construed to prohibit a grant recipient under this 
        section from entering into a grant, contract, or cooperative 
        agreement with any other entity.''.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Small Business Development Centers 
Improvement Act of 2015''.

SEC. 2. USE OF AUTHORIZED ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.

    The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating section 47 as section 48; and
            (2) by inserting after section 46 the following:

``SEC. 47. USE OF AUTHORIZED ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.

    ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
Administrator shall only use the programs authorized in sections 7(j), 
7(m), 8(a), 8(b)(1), 21, 22, 29, and 32 of this Act, and sections 358 
and 389 of the Small Business Investment Act (15 U.S.C. 689g and 690h) 
to deliver entrepreneurial development services, entrepreneurial 
education, support for the development and maintenance of clusters, or 
business training.
    ``(b) Exception.--This section shall not apply to--
            ``(1) services provided to assist small business concerns 
        owned by an Indian tribe (as such term is defined in section 
        8(a)(13));
            ``(2) activities and programs in support of a member of the 
        Armed Forces, including a member of a reserve component of the 
        Armed Forces named in section 10101 of title 10, United States 
        Code, a veteran, or a spouse of a member of the Armed Forces or 
        a veteran;
            ``(3) the Microenterprise Technical Assistance and Capacity 
        Building Program established under subtitle C of title I of the 
        Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 
        1994 (15 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.);
            ``(4) the State Trade and Export Promotion Grant Program 
        established under section 1207 of the Small Business Export 
        Enhancement and International Trade Act of 2010 (15 U.S.C. 649b 
        note); and
            ``(5) the Federal and State Technology Partnership Program 
        established under section 34.''.

SEC. 3. MARKETING OF SERVICES.

    Section 21 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
    ``(o) No Prohibition of Marketing of Services.--The Administrator 
shall not prohibit applicants receiving grants under this section from 
marketing and advertising their services to individuals and small 
businesses.''.

SEC. 4. DATA COLLECTION.

    Section 21(a)(3)(A) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
648(a)(3)(A)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``as provided in this section and'' and 
        inserting ``as provided in this section,''; and
            (2) by inserting before the period at the end the 
        following: ``, and (iv) governing data collection activities 
        related to applicants receiving grants under this section''.

SEC. 5. FEES FROM PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND COSPONSORSHIPS.

    Section 21(a)(3)(C) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
648(a)(3)(C)) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(C) Participation in private partnerships and 
        cosponsorships with the Administration shall not limit small 
        business development centers from collecting fees or other 
        income related to the operation of such private partnerships 
        and cosponsorships.''.

SEC. 6. EQUITY FOR SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS.

    Section 21(a)(4)(C)(v)(I) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
648(a)(4)(C)(v)(I)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``this section'' and all that follows 
        through ``pay expenses enumerated'' and inserting ``this 
        section, not more than $500,000 may be used by the 
        Administration to pay expenses enumerated''; and
            (2) by striking ``; and'' and all that follows and 
        inserting a period.

SEC. 7. ASSISTANCE TO OUT-OF-STATE SMALL BUSINESSES.

    Section 21(b)(3) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648(b)(3)) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``(3) At the discretion'' and inserting the 
        following:
            ``(3) Assistance to out-of-state small businesses.--
                    ``(A) In general.--At the discretion''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) Disaster recovery assistance.--
                            ``(i) In general.--At the discretion of the 
                        Administrator, the Administrator may authorize 
                        a small business development center to provide 
                        advice, information, and assistance, as 
                        described in subsection (c), to a small 
                        business concern located outside of the State, 
                        without regard to geographic proximity to the 
                        small business development center, if the small 
                        business concern is located in an area for 
                        which the President has declared a major 
                        disaster under section 401 of the Robert T. 
                        Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
                        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170).
                            ``(ii) Term.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--A small business 
                                development center may provide advice, 
                                information, and assistance to a small 
                                business concern under clause (i) for a 
                                period of not more than 2 years after 
                                the date on which the President 
                                declared a major disaster under section 
                                401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
                                Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
                                U.S.C. 5170) for the area in which the 
                                small business concern is located.
                                    ``(II) Extension.--The 
                                Administrator may, at the discretion of 
                                the Administrator, extend the period 
                                described in subclause (I).
                                    ``(III) Continuity of services.--A 
                                small business development center that 
                                provides counselors to an area 
                                described in clause (i) shall, to the 
                                maximum extent practicable, ensure 
                                continuity of services in any State in 
                                which the small business development 
                                center otherwise provides services.
                                    ``(IV) Access to disaster recovery 
                                facilities.--For purposes of this 
                                subparagraph, the Administrator shall, 
                                to the maximum extent practicable, 
                                permit the personnel of a small 
                                business development center to use any 
                                site or facility designated by the 
                                Administrator for use to provide 
                                disaster recovery assistance.''.

SEC. 8. CONFIDENTIALITY REQUIREMENTS.

    Section 21(a)(7)(A) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
648(a)(7)(A)) is amended by inserting after ``under this section'' the 
following: ``to any State, local or Federal agency, or third party''.

SEC. 9. LIMITATION ON AWARD OF GRANTS TO SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 
              CENTERS.

    Section 21 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648), as amended by 
section 3 of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(p) Limitation on Award of Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except for not-for-profit institutions 
        of higher education, and notwithstanding any other provision of 
        law, the Administrator may not award grants (including 
        contracts and cooperative agreements) under this section to any 
        entity other than those that received grants (including 
        contracts and cooperative agreements) under this section prior 
        to September 30, 2015, and that seek to renew such grants 
        (including contracts and cooperative agreements) after such 
        date.
            ``(2) Rule of construction.--This subsection shall not be 
        construed to prohibit a grant recipient under this section from 
        entering into a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement with 
        any other entity.''.
                                                       Calendar No. 109

114th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                                 S. 999

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 To amend the Small Business Act to provide for improvements to small 
                     business development centers.

_______________________________________________________________________

                             June 10, 2015

                       Reported with an amendment