118 HR 1651 IH: Small Business 7(a) Loan Agent Transparency Act U.S. House of Representatives 2023-03-17 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I118th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 1651IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMarch 17, 2023Mr. Phillips (for himself and Mr. Meuser) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Small BusinessA BILLTo amend the Small Business Act to establish requirements for 7(a) agents, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Small Business 7(a) Loan Agent Transparency Act.

2.

Requirements for 7(a) agents

(a)

Office of Credit Risk Management Duties

Section 47(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657t(b)) is amended— (1)in paragraph (2), by striking and at the end; (2)in paragraph (3), by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; and (3)by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (4)any 7(a) agent.. (b)

Enforcement authority

(1)

Office of Credit Risk Management

Section 47(e) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657t(e)) is amended by inserting or 7(a) agent after 7(a) lender each place such term appears. (2)

Lender Oversight Committee

Section 48(c)(2) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657u(c)(2)) is amended by striking and any Lending Partner or Intermediary participant and inserting , any 7(a) agent (as defined in section 47), or any Lending Partner or Intermediary participant. (c)

Registration system

Section 47 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657t) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsections: (j)

Registration system for 7(a) agents

(1)

In general

The Director shall establish a registration system for 7(a) agents that assigns a unique identifier to each 7(a) agent and collects data necessary for the Director to submit the report required under paragraph (4). (2)

Requirements

A 7(a) agent shall— (A)register in the system established under paragraph (1) before providing covered services to a lender or applicant; and (B)effective 1 year after the date of the enactment of this subsection, submit an annual fee for such registration to the Director. (3)

Database

The Director shall establish and maintain an electronic database of the types of covered services provided by each 7(a) agent. (k)

Definitions

In this section: (1)

7(a) agent

The term 7(a) agent means a person who provides covered services on behalf of a lender or applicant. (2)

Covered services

The term covered services means— (A)assistance with completing an application for a loan under section 7(a) (including preparing a business plan, cash flow projections, financial statements, and related documents); or (B)consulting, broker, or referral services with respect to a loan under section 7(a).. (d)

Effective date

This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.