Short title

This title may be cited as the

SCORE for Small Business Act of 2018

SCORE Reauthorization

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 $10,500,000 in each of fiscal years 2019 and 2020.

SCORE program

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

(c)

SCORE program

(1)

Definition

In this subsection: (A)

SCORE Association

The term SCORE Association means the Service Corps of Retired Executives Association or any successor or other organization that receives a grant from the Administrator to operate the SCORE program under paragraph (2)(A). (B)

SCORE program

The term SCORE program means the SCORE program authorized by subsection (b)(1)(B). (2)

Management and volunteers

(A)

In general

The Administrator shall provide a grant to the SCORE Association to manage the SCORE program. (B)

Volunteers

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. (3)

Plans and goals

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 paragraph 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)

Standards

(i)

In general

The Administrator shall, after the opportunity for notice and comment, establish standards for— (I)disclosures with respect to financial audits under subparagraph (A)(ii); 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 standards issued under this subparagraph shall, to the extent practicable, provide for the maximum amount of privacy protection.

Online component

(a)

In general

Section 8(c) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(c)), as amended by section 3, is further amended by adding at the end the following:

(6)

Online component

In carrying out this subsection, the SCORE Association shall make use of online counseling, including by developing and implementing webinars and an electronic mentoring platform to expand access to services provided under this subsection and to further support entrepreneurs.

(b)

Online component report

(1)

In general

At the end of fiscal year 2019, the SCORE Association shall issue a report to the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate on the effectiveness of the online counseling and webinars required as part of the SCORE program, including a description of— (A)how the SCORE Association determines electronic mentoring and webinar needs, develops training for electronic mentoring, establishes webinar criteria curricula, and evaluates webinar and electronic mentoring results; (B)the internal controls that are used and a summary of the topics covered by the webinars; and (C)performance metrics, including the number of small business concerns counseled by, the number of small business concerns created by, the number of jobs created and retained by, and the funding amounts directed towards such online counseling and webinars. (2)

Definitions

For purposes of this subsection, the terms SCORE Association and SCORE program have the meaning given those terms, respectively, under section 8(c)(1) of the Small Business Act, as added by section 3 of this Act.

Study and report on the future role of the SCORE program

(a)

Study

The SCORE Association shall carry out a study on the future role of the SCORE program and develop a strategic plan for how the SCORE program will meet the needs of small business concerns during the 5-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, with specific objectives for the first, third, and fifth years of the 5-year period. (b)

Report

Not later than the end of the 6-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the SCORE Association shall issue a report to the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate containing— (1)all findings and determination made in carrying out the study required under subsection (a); (2)the strategic plan developed under subsection (a); (3)an explanation of how the SCORE Association plans to achieve the strategic plan, assuming both stagnant and increased funding levels. (c)

Definitions

For purposes of this section, the terms SCORE Association and SCORE program have the meaning given those terms, respectively, under section 8(c)(1) of the Small Business Act, as added by section 3 of this Act.

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 (15 U.S.C. 636)— (A)in subsection (b)(12)— (i)in the paragraph heading, by inserting

program

after

SCORE

; and (ii)in subparagraph (A), by striking Service Corps of Retired Executives and inserting SCORE program; and (B)in subsection (m)(3)(A)(i)(VIII), by striking Service Corps of Retired Executives and inserting SCORE program; and (2)in section 22 (15 U.S.C. 649)— (A)in subsection (b)— (i)in paragraph (1), by striking Service Corps of Retired Executives and inserting SCORE program; and (ii)in paragraph (3), by striking Service Corps of Retired Executives and inserting SCORE program; and (B)in subsection (c)(12), by striking Service Corps of Retired Executives and inserting SCORE program. (b)

Other laws

(1)

Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997

Section 707 of the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997 (15 U.S.C. 631 note) is amended by striking Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) program and inserting SCORE program (as defined in section 8(c)(1) of the Small Business Act). (2)

Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999

Section 301 of the Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999 (15 U.S.C. 657b note) is amended by striking Service Core of Retired Executives and inserting SCORE program. (3)

Military Reservist and Veteran Small Business Reauthorization and Opportunity Act of 2008

Section 3(5) of the Military Reservist and Veteran Small Business Reauthorization and Opportunity Act of 2008 (15 U.S.C. 636 note) is amended by striking means the SCORE program. (4)

Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009

Section 621 of the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (15 U.S.C. 657p) is amended— (A)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

(B)in subsection (b)(4)(A)(iv), by striking Service Corps of Retired Executives and inserting SCORE program. (5)

Energy Policy and Conservation Act

Section 337(d)(2)(A) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6307(d)(2)(A)) is amended by striking Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and inserting SCORE program.