[114th Congress Public Law 88]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 685]]

   RECOVERY IMPROVEMENTS FOR SMALL ENTITIES AFTER DISASTER ACT OF 2015

[[Page 129 STAT. 686]]

Public Law 114-88
114th Congress

                                 An Act


 
   To improve the disaster assistance programs of the Small Business 
         Administration. <<NOTE: Nov. 25, 2015 -  [H.R. 208]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Recovery 
Improvements for Small Entities After Disaster Act of 2015.>> 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) <<NOTE: 15 USC 631 note.>>  Short Title.--This Act may be cited 
as the ``Recovery Improvements for Small Entities After Disaster Act of 
2015'' or the ``RISE After Disaster Act of 2015''.

    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

     DIVISION A--SUPERSTORM SANDY RELIEF AND DISASTER LOAN PROGRAM 
                              IMPROVEMENTS

Sec. 1001. Short title.
Sec. 1002. Findings.

                TITLE I--DISASTER ASSISTANCE IMPROVEMENTS

Sec. 1101. Revised disaster deadline.
Sec. 1102. Use of physical damage disaster loans to construct safe 
           rooms.
Sec. 1103. Reducing delays on closing and disbursement of loans.
Sec. 1104. Safeguarding taxpayer interests and increasing transparency 
           in loan approvals.
Sec. 1105. Disaster plan improvements.

          DIVISION B--RECOVERY IMPROVEMENTS FOR SMALL ENTITIES

Sec. 2001. Short title.

          TITLE I--IMPROVEMENTS OF DISASTER RESPONSE AND LOANS

Sec. 2101. Additional awards to small business development centers, 
           women's business centers, and SCORE for disaster recovery.
Sec. 2102. Collateral requirements for disaster loans.
Sec. 2103. Assistance to out-of-State business concerns to aid in 
           disaster recovery.
Sec. 2104. FAST program.
Sec. 2105. Use of Federal surplus property in disaster areas.
Sec. 2106. Recovery opportunity loans.
Sec. 2107. Contractor malfeasance.
Sec. 2108. Local contracting preferences and incentives.
Sec. 2109. Clarification of collateral requirements.

               TITLE II--DISASTER PLANNING AND MITIGATION

Sec. 2201. Business recovery centers.

                       TITLE III--OTHER PROVISIONS

Sec. 2301. Increased oversight of economic injury disaster loans.
Sec. 2302. GAO report on paperwork reduction.
Sec. 2303. Report on web portal for disaster loan applicants.

[[Page 129 STAT. 687]]

 DIVISION A-- <<NOTE: Superstorm Sandy Relief and Disaster Loan Program 
  Improvement Act of 2015.>> SUPERSTORM SANDY RELIEF AND DISASTER LOAN 
PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS
SEC. 1001. <<NOTE: 15 USC 631 note.>>  SHORT TITLE.

    This division may be cited as the ``Superstorm Sandy Relief and 
Disaster Loan Program Improvement Act of 2015''.
SEC. 1002. <<NOTE: 15 USC 636 note.>>  FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) In 2012, Superstorm Sandy caused substantial physical 
        and economic damage to the United States, and New York in 
        particular.
            (2) For businesses and homeowners, the primary means of 
        obtaining long-term Federal financial assistance in the wake of 
        disasters such as Superstorm Sandy is through the Small Business 
        Administration's Disaster Loan Program.
            (3) With regard to the Small Business Administration's 
        operation of the Disaster Loan Program after Superstorm Sandy, 
        the Government Accountability Office found that the 
        Administration did not meet its timeliness goals for processing 
        business loan applications.
            (4) According to the Government Accountability Office, the 
        Small Business Administration stated that it was challenged by 
        an unexpectedly high volume of loan applications that it 
        received early in its response to Superstorm Sandy.
            (5) As a result, many businesses and homeowners affected by 
        Superstorm Sandy were unable to apply for financing from the 
        Small Business Administration.

                TITLE I--DISASTER ASSISTANCE IMPROVEMENTS

SEC. 1101. REVISED DISASTER DEADLINE.

    Section 7(d) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(d)) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:
            ``(8) Disaster loans for superstorm sandy.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding any other 
                provision of law, and subject to the same requirements 
                and procedures that are used to make loans pursuant to 
                subsection (b), a small business concern, homeowner, 
                nonprofit entity, or renter that was located within an 
                area and during the time period with respect to which a 
                major disaster was declared by the President under 
                section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
                and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) by reason 
                of Superstorm Sandy may apply to the Administrator--
                          ``(i) for a loan to repair, rehabilitate, or 
                      replace property damaged or destroyed by reason of 
                      Superstorm Sandy; or
                          ``(ii) if such a small business concern has 
                      suffered substantial economic injury by reason of 
                      Superstorm Sandy, for a loan to assist such a 
                      small business concern.

[[Page 129 STAT. 688]]

                    ``(B) Timing.--The Administrator shall select loan 
                recipients and make available loans for a period of not 
                less than 1 year after the date on which the 
                Administrator carries out this authority.
                    ``(C) Inspector general review.--Not later than 6 
                months after the date on which the Administrator begins 
                carrying out this authority, the Inspector General of 
                the Administration shall initiate a review of the 
                controls for ensuring applicant eligibility for loans 
                made under this paragraph.''.
SEC. 1102. USE OF PHYSICAL DAMAGE DISASTER LOANS TO CONSTRUCT SAFE 
                          ROOMS.

    Section 7(b)(1)(A) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
636(b)(1)(A)) is amended by striking ``mitigating measures'' and all 
that follows through ``modifying structures'' and inserting the 
following: ``mitigating measures, including--
                    ``(i) construction of retaining walls and sea walls;
                    ``(ii) grading and contouring land; and
                    ``(iii) relocating utilities and modifying 
                structures, including construction of a safe room or 
                similar storm shelter designed to protect property and 
                occupants from tornadoes or other natural disasters, if 
                such safe room or similar storm shelter is constructed 
                in accordance with applicable standards issued by the 
                Federal Emergency Management Agency''.
SEC. 1103. REDUCING DELAYS ON CLOSING AND DISBURSEMENT OF LOANS.

    Section 7(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)) is amended 
by inserting before the undesignated matter following paragraph (9) the 
following:
            ``(10) Reducing closing and disbursement delays.-- 
        <<NOTE: Notification. Web posting.>> The Administrator shall 
        provide a clear and concise notification on all application 
        materials for loans made under this subsection and on relevant 
        websites notifying an applicant that the applicant may submit 
        all documentation necessary for the approval of the loan at the 
        time of application and that failure to submit all documentation 
        could delay the approval and disbursement of the loan.''.
SEC. 1104. SAFEGUARDING TAXPAYER INTERESTS AND INCREASING 
                          TRANSPARENCY IN LOAN APPROVALS.

    Section 7(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)) is amended 
by inserting before the undesignated matter following paragraph (10), as 
added by section 1103 of this Act, the following:
            ``(11) Increasing transparency in loan approvals.-- 
        <<NOTE: Procedures.>> The Administrator shall establish and 
        implement clear, written policies and procedures for analyzing 
        the ability of a loan applicant to repay a loan made under this 
        subsection.''.
SEC. 1105. <<NOTE: 15 USC 6571 note.>>  DISASTER PLAN 
                          IMPROVEMENTS.

    The Administrator of the Small Business Administration shall revise 
the comprehensive written disaster response plan required in section 40 
of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657l), or any successor thereto, to 
incorporate the Administration's response to a situation in which an 
extreme volume of applications are received during the period of time 
immediately after a disaster, which shall

[[Page 129 STAT. 689]]

include a plan to ensure that sufficient human and technological 
resources are made available and a plan to prevent delays in loan 
processing.

  DIVISION B-- <<NOTE: Recovery Improvements for Small Entities After 
Disaster Act of 2015.>> RECOVERY IMPROVEMENTS FOR SMALL ENTITIES
SEC. 2001. <<NOTE: 15 USC 631 note.>>  SHORT TITLE.

    This division may be cited as the ``Recovery Improvements for Small 
Entities After Disaster Act of 2015'' or the ``RISE After Disaster Act 
of 2015''.

          TITLE I--IMPROVEMENTS OF DISASTER RESPONSE AND LOANS

SEC. 2101. ADDITIONAL AWARDS TO SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 
                          CENTERS, WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTERS, AND 
                          SCORE FOR DISASTER RECOVERY.

    Section 7(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)) is amended 
by inserting before the undesignated matter following paragraph (11), as 
added by section 1104 of this Act, the following:
            ``(12) <<NOTE: Grants. Contracts.>>  Additional awards to 
        small business development centers, women's business centers, 
        and score for disaster recovery.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Administration may provide 
                financial assistance to a small business development 
                center, a women's business center described in section 
                29, the Service Corps of Retired Executives, or any 
                proposed consortium of such individuals or entities to 
                spur disaster recovery and growth of small business 
                concerns located in an area for which the President has 
                declared a major disaster.
                    ``(B) Form of financial assistance.--Financial 
                assistance provided under this paragraph shall be in the 
                form of a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement.
                    ``(C) No matching funds required.--Matching funds 
                shall not be required for any grant, contract, or 
                cooperative agreement under this paragraph.
                    ``(D) Requirements.--A recipient of financial 
                assistance under this paragraph shall provide 
                counseling, training, and other related services, such 
                as promoting long-term resiliency, to small business 
                concerns and entrepreneurs impacted by a major disaster.
                    ``(E) Performance.--
                          ``(i) In general.--The Administrator, in 
                      cooperation with the recipients of financial 
                      assistance under this paragraph, shall establish 
                      metrics and goals for performance of grants, 
                      contracts, and cooperative agreements under this 
                      paragraph, which shall include recovery of sales, 
                      recovery of employment, reestablishment of 
                      business premises, and establishment of new small 
                      business concerns.
                          ``(ii) Use of estimates.--The Administrator 
                      shall base the goals and metrics for performance 
                      established

[[Page 129 STAT. 690]]

                      under clause (i), in part, on the estimates of 
                      disaster impact prepared by the Office of Disaster 
                      Assistance for purposes of estimating loan-making 
                      requirements.
                    ``(F) Term.--
                          ``(i) In general.--The term of any grant, 
                      contract, or cooperative agreement under this 
                      paragraph shall be for not more than 2 years.
                          ``(ii) Extension.--The Administrator may make 
                      1 extension of a grant, contract, or cooperative 
                      agreement under this paragraph for a period of not 
                      more than 1 year, upon a showing of good cause and 
                      need for the extension.
                    ``(G) Exemption from other program requirements.--
                Financial assistance provided under this paragraph is in 
                addition to, and wholly separate from, any other form of 
                assistance provided by the Administrator under this Act.
                    ``(H) Competitive basis.--The Administration shall 
                award financial assistance under this paragraph on a 
                competitive basis.''.
SEC. 2102. COLLATERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR DISASTER LOANS.

    (a) In General.--Section 7(d)(6) of the Small Business Act (15 
U.S.C. 636(d)(6)) is amended in the third proviso--
            (1) by striking ``$14,000'' and inserting ``$25,000''; and
            (2) by striking ``major disaster'' and inserting 
        ``disaster''.

    (b) Sunset.-- <<NOTE: Effective date. 15 USC 636 note.>> Effective 
on the date that is 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, 
section 7(d)(6) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(d)(6)) is 
amended in the third proviso--
            (1) by striking ``$25,000'' and inserting ``$14,000''; and
            (2) by inserting ``major'' before ``disaster''.

    (c) Report.--Not later than 180 days before the date on which the 
amendments made by subsection (b) are to take effect, the Administrator 
of the Small Business Administration shall submit to Committee on Small 
Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small 
Business of the House of Representatives a report on the effects of the 
amendments made by subsection (a), which shall include--
            (1) <<NOTE: Assessment.>>  an assessment of the impact and 
        benefits resulting from the amendments; and
            (2) <<NOTE: Recommenda- tion.>>  a recommendation as to 
        whether the amendments should be made permanent.
SEC. 2103. ASSISTANCE TO OUT-OF-STATE BUSINESS CONCERNS TO AID IN 
                          DISASTER RECOVERY.

    (a) In General.--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 business concerns.--
                    ``(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

[[Page 129 STAT. 691]]

                      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.
                          ``(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 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.''.

    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that, subject to 
the availability of funds, the Administrator of the Small Business 
Administration should, to the extent practicable, ensure that a small 
business development center is appropriately reimbursed for any 
legitimate expenses incurred in carrying out activities under section 
21(b)(3)(B) of the Small Business Act, as added by subsection (a).
SEC. 2104. FAST PROGRAM.

    (a) Definitions.--Section 34(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
657d(a)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (9) as 
        paragraphs (4) through (10), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
            ``(3) Catastrophic incident.--The term `catastrophic 
        incident' means a major disaster that is comparable to the 
        description of a catastrophic incident in the National Response 
        Plan of the Administration, or any successor thereto.''.

    (b) Priority.--Section 34(c)(2) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
657d(c)(2)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in subparagraph (B)(vi)(III), by striking the period at 
        the end and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) shall give special consideration to an 
                applicant that is located in an area affected by a 
                catastrophic incident.''.

[[Page 129 STAT. 692]]

    (c) Additional Assistance.--Section 34(c) of the Small Business Act 
(15 U.S.C. 657d(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) Additional assistance for catastrophic incidents.--
        Upon application by an applicant that receives an award or has 
        in effect a cooperative agreement under this section and that is 
        located in an area affected by a catastrophic incident, the 
        Administrator may--
                    ``(A) provide additional assistance to the 
                applicant; and
                    ``(B) <<NOTE: Waiver authority.>>  waive the 
                matching requirements under subsection (e)(2).''.
SEC. 2105. USE OF FEDERAL SURPLUS PROPERTY IN DISASTER AREAS.

    Section 7(j)(13)(F) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
636(j)(13)(F)) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(i)'' after ``(F)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(ii)(I) In this clause-- <<NOTE: Definition. Time 
                period.>> 
                          ``(aa) the term `covered period' means the 2-
                      year period beginning on the date on which the 
                      President declared the applicable major disaster; 
                      and
                          ``(bb) the term `disaster area' means the area 
                      for which the President has declared a major 
                      disaster, during the covered period.
                    ``(II) The Administrator may transfer technology or 
                surplus property under clause (i) on a priority basis to 
                a small business concern located in a disaster area if--
                          ``(aa) the small business concern meets the 
                      requirements for such a transfer, without regard 
                      to whether the small business concern is a Program 
                      Participant; and
                          ``(bb) for a small business concern that is a 
                      Program Participant, on and after the date on 
                      which the President declared the applicable major 
                      disaster, the small business concern has not 
                      received property under this subparagraph on the 
                      basis of the status of the small business concern 
                      as a Program Participant.
                    ``(III) For any transfer of property under this 
                clause to a small business concern, the terms and 
                conditions shall be the same as a transfer to a Program 
                Participant, except that the small business concern 
                shall agree not to sell or transfer the property to any 
                party other than the Federal Government during the 
                covered period.
                    ``(IV) A small business concern that receives a 
                transfer of property under this clause may not receive a 
                transfer of property under clause (i) during the covered 
                period.
                    ``(V) If a small business concern sells or transfers 
                property in violation of the agreement described in 
                subclause (III), the Administrator may initiate 
                proceedings to prohibit the small business concern from 
                receiving a transfer of property under this clause or 
                clause (i), in addition to any other remedy available to 
                the Administrator.''.
SEC. 2106. RECOVERY OPPORTUNITY LOANS.

    Section 7(a)(31) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a)(31)) is 
amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A)--

[[Page 129 STAT. 693]]

                    (A) by redesignating clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) as 
                clauses (ii), (iii), and (iv), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting before clause (ii), as so 
                redesignated, the following:
                          ``(i) <<NOTE: Definition. Time period.>>  The 
                      term `disaster area' means the area for which the 
                      President has declared a major disaster, during 
                      the 5-year period beginning on the date of the 
                      declaration.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(H) Recovery opportunity loans.--
                          ``(i) In general.--The Administrator may 
                      guarantee an express loan to a small business 
                      concern located in a disaster area in accordance 
                      with this subparagraph.
                          ``(ii) Maximums.--For a loan guaranteed under 
                      clause (i)--
                                    ``(I) the maximum loan amount is 
                                $150,000; and
                                    ``(II) the guarantee rate shall be 
                                not more than 85 percent.
                          ``(iii) Overall cap.--A loan guaranteed under 
                      clause (i) shall not be counted in determining the 
                      amount of loans made to a borrower for purposes of 
                      subparagraph (D).
                          ``(iv) Operations.-- 
                      <<NOTE: Certification.>> A small business concern 
                      receiving a loan guaranteed under clause (i) shall 
                      certify that the small business concern was in 
                      operation on the date on which the applicable 
                      major disaster occurred as a condition of 
                      receiving the loan.
                          ``(v) Repayment ability.--A loan guaranteed 
                      under clause (i) may only be made to a small 
                      business concern that demonstrates, to the 
                      satisfaction of the Administrator, sufficient 
                      capacity to repay the loan.
                          ``(vi) Timing of payment of guarantees.--
                                    ``(I) In general.-- 
                                <<NOTE: Deadline. Determination.>> Not 
                                later than 90 days after the date on 
                                which a request for purchase is filed 
                                with the Administrator, the 
                                Administrator shall determine whether to 
                                pay the guaranteed portion of the loan.
                                    ``(II) Recapture.--Notwithstanding 
                                any other provision of law, unless there 
                                is a subsequent finding of fraud by a 
                                court of competent jurisdiction relating 
                                to a loan guaranteed under clause (i), 
                                on and after the date that is 6 months 
                                after the date on which the 
                                Administrator determines to pay the 
                                guaranteed portion of the loan, the 
                                Administrator may not attempt to 
                                recapture the paid guarantee.
                          ``(vii) Fees.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--Unless the 
                                Administrator has waived the guarantee 
                                fee that would otherwise be collected by 
                                the Administrator under paragraph (18) 
                                for a loan guaranteed under clause (i), 
                                and except as provided in subclause 
                                (II), the guarantee fee for the loan 
                                shall be equal to the guarantee fee that 
                                the Administrator would collect if the 
                                guarantee rate for the loan was 50 
                                percent.

[[Page 129 STAT. 694]]

                                    ``(II) Exception.--Subclause (I) 
                                shall not apply if the cost of carrying 
                                out the program under this subsection in 
                                a fiscal year is more than zero and such 
                                cost is directly attributable to the 
                                cost of guaranteeing loans under clause 
                                (i).
                          ``(viii) Rules.-- <<NOTE: Deadline.>> Not 
                      later than 270 days after the date of enactment of 
                      this subparagraph, the Administrator shall 
                      promulgate rules to carry out this 
                      subparagraph.''.
SEC. 2107. CONTRACTOR MALFEASANCE.

    Section 7(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)) is amended 
by inserting before the undesignated matter following paragraph (12), as 
added by section 2101 of this Act, the following:
            ``(13) Supplemental assistance for contractor malfeasance.--
                    ``(A) In general.--If a contractor or other person 
                engages in malfeasance in connection with repairs to, 
                rehabilitation of, or replacement of real or personal 
                property relating to which a loan was made under this 
                subsection and the malfeasance results in substantial 
                economic damage to the recipient of the loan or 
                substantial risks to health or safety, upon receiving 
                documentation of the substantial economic damage or the 
                substantial risk to health and safety from an 
                independent loss verifier, and subject to subparagraph 
                (B), the Administrator may increase the amount of the 
                loan under this subsection, as necessary for the cost of 
                repairs, rehabilitation, or replacement needed to 
                address the cause of the economic damage or health or 
                safety risk.
                    ``(B) Requirements.--The Administrator may only 
                increase the amount of a loan under subparagraph (A) 
                upon receiving an appropriate certification from the 
                borrower and person performing the mitigation attesting 
                to the reasonableness of the mitigation costs and an 
                assignment of any proceeds received from the person 
                engaging in the malfeasance. The assignment of proceeds 
                recovered from the person engaging in the malfeasance 
                shall be equal to the amount of the loan under this 
                section. <<NOTE: Audit.>>  Any mitigation activities 
                shall be subject to audit and independent verification 
                of completeness and cost reasonableness.''.
SEC. 2108. LOCAL CONTRACTING PREFERENCES AND INCENTIVES.

    Section 15 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644) is amended by 
inserting after subsection (e) the following:
    ``(f) Contracting Preference for Small Business Concerns in a Major 
Disaster Area.--
            ``(1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `disaster 
        area' means the area for which the President has declared a 
        major disaster, during the period of the declaration.
            ``(2) Contracting preference.--An agency shall provide a 
        contracting preference for a small business concern located in a 
        disaster area if the small business concern will perform the 
        work required under the contract in the disaster area.
            ``(3) Credit for meeting contracting goals.--If an agency 
        awards a contract to a small business concern under the 
        circumstances described in paragraph (2), the value of the 
        contract shall be doubled for purposes of determining

[[Page 129 STAT. 695]]

        compliance with the goals for procurement contracts under 
        subsection (g)(1)(A).''.
SEC. 2109. CLARIFICATION OF COLLATERAL REQUIREMENTS.

    Section 7(d)(6) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(d)(6)) is 
amended by inserting after ``which are made under paragraph (1) of 
subsection (b)'' the following: ``: <<NOTE: Determination.>>  Provided 
further, That the Administrator, in obtaining the best available 
collateral for a loan of not more than $200,000 under paragraph (1) or 
(2) of subsection (b) relating to damage to or destruction of the 
property of, or economic injury to, a small business concern, shall not 
require the owner of the small business concern to use the primary 
residence of the owner as collateral if the Administrator determines 
that the owner has other assets of equal quality and with a value equal 
to or greater than the amount of the loan that could be used as 
collateral for the loan: Provided further, That nothing in the preceding 
proviso may be construed to reduce the amount of collateral required by 
the Administrator in connection with a loan described in the preceding 
proviso or to modify the standards used to evaluate the quality (rather 
than the type) of such collateral''.

               TITLE II--DISASTER PLANNING AND MITIGATION

SEC. 2201. BUSINESS RECOVERY CENTERS.

    Section 7(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)) is amended 
by inserting before the undesignated matter following paragraph (13), as 
added by section 2108 of this Act, the following:
            ``(14) Business recovery centers.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Administrator, acting through 
                the district offices of the Administration, shall 
                identify locations that may be used as recovery centers 
                by the Administration in the event of a disaster 
                declared under this subsection or a major disaster.
                    ``(B) Requirements for identification.--Each 
                district office of the Administration shall--
                          ``(i) identify a location described in 
                      subparagraph (A) in each county, parish, or 
                      similar unit of general local government in the 
                      area served by the district office; and
                          ``(ii) ensure that the locations identified 
                      under subparagraph (A) may be used as a recovery 
                      center without cost to the Government, to the 
                      extent practicable.''.

                       TITLE III--OTHER PROVISIONS

SEC. 2301. INCREASED OVERSIGHT OF ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOANS.

    (a) In General.--Section 7(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
636(b)) is amended by inserting before the undesignated matter following 
paragraph (14), as added by section 2201 of this Act, the following:

[[Page 129 STAT. 696]]

            ``(15) Increased oversight of economic injury disaster 
        loans.--The Administrator shall increase oversight of entities 
        receiving loans under paragraph (2), and may consider--
                    ``(A) scheduled site visits to ensure borrower 
                eligibility and compliance with requirements established 
                by the Administrator; and
                    ``(B) reviews of the use of the loan proceeds by an 
                entity described in paragraph (2) to ensure compliance 
                with requirements established by the Administrator.''.

    (b) Sense of Congress Relating To Using Existing Funds.--It is the 
sense of Congress that no additional Federal funds should be made 
available to carry out the amendments made by this section.
SEC. 2302. GAO REPORT ON PAPERWORK REDUCTION.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Comptroller General of the United States 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 report evaluating 
steps that the Small Business Administration has taken, with respect to 
the application for disaster assistance under section 7(b) of the Small 
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)), to comply with subchapter I of chapter 
35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly known as the ``Paperwork 
Reduction Act'') and related guidance.
SEC. 2303. REPORT ON WEB PORTAL FOR DISASTER LOAN APPLICANTS.

    Section 38 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657j) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Report on Web Portal for Disaster Loan Application Status.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
        enactment of this subsection, 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 report relating to the creation of a web 
        portal to the track the status of applications for disaster 
        assistance under section 7(b).
            ``(2) Contents.--The report under paragraph (1) shall 
        include--
                    ``(A) information on the progress of the 
                Administration in implementing the information system 
                under subsection (a);
                    ``(B) <<NOTE: Recommenda- tions.>>  recommendations 
                from the Administration relating to the creation of a 
                web portal for applicants to check the status of an 
                application for disaster assistance under section 7(b), 
                including a review of best practices and web portal 
                models from the private sector;
                    ``(C) information on any related costs or staffing 
                needed to implement such a web portal;
                    ``(D) information on whether such a web portal can 
                maintain high standards for data privacy and data 
                security;
                    ``(E) information on whether such a web portal will 
                minimize redundancy among Administration disaster 
                programs, improve management of the number of inquiries 
                made by disaster applicants to employees located in the 
                area affected by the disaster and to call centers, and 
                reduce paperwork burdens on disaster victims; and

[[Page 129 STAT. 697]]

                    ``(F) such additional information as is determined 
                necessary by the Administrator.''.

    Approved November 25, 2015.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 208 (S. 1811):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 114-186 (Comm. on Small Business).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 161 (2015):
            July 13, considered and passed House.
            Oct. 21, considered and passed Senate, amended.
            Nov. 16, House concurred in Senate amendments.

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