Small Business Development Centers Improvement Act of 2019

To amend the Small Business Act to improve the small business development centers program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This subtitle may be cited as the Small Business Development Centers Improvement Act of 2019 2. Use of authorized entrepreneurial development programs The Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 631 (1) by redesignating section 49 as section 50; and (2) by inserting after section 48 the following new section: 49. Use of authorized entrepreneurial development programs (a) Expanded support for entrepreneurs (1) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Administrator shall only deliver entrepreneurial development services, entrepreneurial education, and support for the development and maintenance of the Regional Innovation Clusters Program (or similar business training services) through a program authorized under— (A) section 7(j), 7(m), 8(a), 8(b)(1), 21, 22, 29, or 32 of this Act; or (B) sections 358 or 389 of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958. (2) Exception This section shall not apply to services provided to assist small business concerns owned by an Indian tribe (as such term is defined in section 8(a)(13)). (b) Annual report Beginning on the first December 1 after the date of the enactment of this section, the Administrator shall annually submit to the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate a report on the following: (1) All entrepreneurial development activities undertaken during the fiscal year preceding the date of the report through a program described in subsection (a), including— (A) a description and operating details for each program and the activities performed under each program; (B) operating circulars, manuals, and standard operating procedures for each program; (C) a description of the process used to award grants under such programs; (D) a list of all recipients of awards under a program described in subsection (a), contractors, and vendors (including organization name and location) and the amount of awards provided during the fiscal year preceding the date of the report for such programs and activities performed under such programs; (E) the total amount of funding obligated for such programs and activities for the fiscal year preceding the date of the report; and (F) the names and titles of the individuals responsible for such programs. (2) For entrepreneurial development activities undertaken during the fiscal year preceding the date of the report through the Small Business Development Center Program (in this section referred to as the Program (A) the number of individuals counseled or trained through the Program; (B) the total number of hours of counseling and training services provided through the Program; (C) the demographics of participants in the Program, which shall include the gender, race, and age of each such participant; (D) the number of participants in the Program who are veterans; (E) the number of new businesses started by participants in the Program; (F) to the extent practicable, the number of jobs supported, created, or retained with assistance from small business development centers; (G) the amount of capital secured by participants in the Program, including through loans and equity investment; (H) the number of participants in the Program receiving financial assistance, including the type and dollar amount, under the loan programs of the Administration; (I) an estimate of gross receipts, including (to the extent practicable) a description of any change in revenue, of small business concerns assisted through the Program; (J) the number of referrals to other resources and programs of the Administration; (K) the results of satisfaction surveys of participants in the Program, including a summary of any comments received from such participants; and (L) any recommendations by the Administrator to improve the delivery of services by the Program. . 3. Marketing of services Section 21 of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 648 (o) No prohibition of marketing of services An applicant receiving a grant under this section may market and advertise the services of such applicant to individuals and small business concerns. . 4. Data collection by the small business development center association (a) In general Section 21(a)(3)(A) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 648(a)(3)(A) (1) by striking as provided in this section and as provided in this section, (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 (b) Annual report on data collection Section 21 of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 648 (p) Annual report on data collection The Administrator shall annually submit to the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate a report on any data collection activities related to the Small Business Development Center Program. . (c) Working group To improve data collection (1) Establishment and study The Administrator of the Small Business Administration shall establish a group to be known as the Data Collection Working Group (2) Report Not later than the end of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Data Collection Working Group 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 the findings and determinations made in carrying out the study required under paragraph (1), including— (A) recommendations for revising existing data collection practices for the Small Business Development Center Program; and (B) a proposed plan for the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to implement such recommendations. 5. Fees from private partnerships and cosponsorships Section 21(a)(3) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 648(a)(3) (D) Fees from private partnerships and cosponsorships A small business development center that participates in a private partnership or cosponsorship, in which the Administrator or designee of the Administrator also participates, may collect fees or other income related to the operation of such private partnership or cosponsorship. . 6. Equity for small business development centers Subclause (I) of section 21(a)(4)(C)(v) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 648(a)(4)(C)(v)(I) (I) In general Of the amounts made available in any fiscal year to carry out this section, not more than $600,000 may be used by the Administration to pay expenses enumerated in subparagraphs (B) through (D) of section 20(a)(1). . 7. Confidentiality requirements Section 21(a)(7)(A) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 648(a)(7)(A) (1) by striking or telephone number , telephone number, or email address (2) by inserting , or the nature or content of such assistance, to any State, local, or Federal agency, or to any third party receiving assistance under this section 8. Limitation on award of grants to small business development centers (a) In general Section 21 of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 648 (1) in subsection (a)(1)— (A) by striking any women's business center operating pursuant to section 29, (B) by striking or a women's business center operating pursuant to section 29 (C) by striking and women's business centers operating pursuant to section 29 (2) by adding at the end the following: (q) Limitation on award of grants Except for not-for-profit institutions of higher education, and notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Administrator may not award a grant or contract to, or enter into a cooperative agreement with, an entity under this section unless that entity— (1) received a grant or contract from, or entered into a cooperative agreement with, the Administrator under this section before the date of the enactment of this subsection; and (2) seeks to renew such a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement after such date. . (b) Rule of Construction The amendments made by this section may not be construed as prohibiting a women’s business center (as described under section 29 of the Small Business Act) from receiving a subgrant from an entity receiving a grant under section 21 of the Small Business Act. 9. Management of program activities Section 21(a)(3) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 648(a)(3) (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking upon, with full participation of both parties, upon with the full participation of all parties (including the association authorized in subparagraph (A)), and carried out (2) in subparagraph (A), by striking and develop and negotiate the development of (3) in subparagraph (C)— (A) by striking Whereas (B) by inserting Program Center (C) by striking National national (D) by moving such subparagraph two ems to the left. 10. Authorization of appropriations Section 21(a)(4)(C) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 648(a)(4)(C) (1) in clause (vii), by striking subparagraph subparagraph $175,000,000 for fiscal years 2020 through 2023 (2) in clause (viii), by striking shall reserve not less than $1,000,000 shall reserve not more than $2,000,000 October 17, 2019 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

Summary: Small Business Development Centers Improvement Act of 2019 This bill reauthorizes the Small Business Development Center Program through FY2023 and otherwise revises the program. Specifically, the bill (1) generally prohibits entities other than institutions of higher education from receiving grants under the program; (2) allows centers to collect fees related to partnerships or sponsorships; (3) authorizes centers to market their services directly to small businesses; and (4) modifies or establishes provisions related to program funding, operations, data collection, and reporting.