Small Business Development Centers Improvement Act of 2014

To amend the Small Business Act to provide for improvements to small business development centers. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Small Business Development Centers Improvement Act of 2014 2. Use of Authorized Entrepreneurial Development Programs The Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 631 et seq. 48. Use of Authorized Entrepreneurial Development Programs (a) Expanded support for entrerpreneurs (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, business incubation services, growth acceleration services, support for the development and maintenance of clusters, or business training. (2) Exception This section shall not apply to services provided to assist small business concerns owned by an Indian tribe. (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— (1) a description and operating details for each program and activity; (2) operating circulars, manuals, and standard operating procedures for each program and activity; (3) a description of the process used to award grants under each program and activity; (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; (5) the amount of funding obligated for the current fiscal year for each program and activity; and (6) the names and titles for those individuals responsible for each program and activity. . 3. Marketing of Services Section 21 of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 648 (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. . 4. Confidentiality Requirements Section 21(a)(7)(A) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 648(a)(7)(A) under this section to any State, local or Federal agency or third party 5. Data Collection (a) In general Section 21(a)(3)(A) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 648(a)(3)(A) (1) in clause (ii), 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 report annually to the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate on data collection activities related to the Small Business Development Center program. . 6. Matchmaking and Other Events Section 21(a)(3)(C) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 648(a)(3)(C) (C) Such 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 partnerships and cosponsorships. . 7. Equity for SBDCs Section 21(a)(4)(C)(v)(I) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 648(a)(4)(C)(v)(I) (1) in item (aa), by striking ; and (2) by striking item (bb). 8. Award of Grants to SBDCs Section 21 of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 648 (q) Limitation on award of grants Except for not-for-profit institutions of higher education, notwithstanding any provision of law, the Administrator shall 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, 2014, and that seek to renew such grants (including contracts and cooperative agreements) after such date. . 9. Disaster reforms Section 21(b)(3) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 648(b)(3) (1) by striking (3) At the discretion (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 assistance, as described in subsection (c), to a small business concern located outside of the State, without regard to geographic proximity, 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) 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. (iii) 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. . 10. Inclusions of entrepreneurship training for unemployed individuals Section 21(c)(3)(A) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 648(c)(3)(A) (1) in clause (iii), by striking and (2) in clause (iv), by inserting and (3) by adding at the end the following: (v) educating unemployed individuals on entrepreneurship and working with such individuals to start new businesses; . May 21, 2014 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 2014 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Small Business Act with respect to the authority of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to use certain SBA programs, including the small business development center (SBDC) program, to provide grants, financial assistance, loans, export assistance, and subcontracting opportunities on federal contracts to specified small businesses, organizations, state governments, universities, companies, and other entities that provide assistance to smaller enterprises. Declares that the SBA shall only use such programs to deliver entrepreneurial development services, entrepreneurial education, business incubation services, growth acceleration services, support for the development and maintenance of clusters, or business training. Makes such program requirements inapplicable to services provided to assist small business concerns owned by an Indian tribe. Directs the SBA to report annually to specified congressional committees regarding all entrepreneurial development activities undertaken in the current fiscal year. Requires such report to include: (1) a description of the process used to award grants under each program and activity; (2) a list of all awardees, contractors, and vendors; and (3) the amount of funding obligated for the current fiscal year for each program and activity. (Sec. 3) Bars the SBA from prohibiting applicants receiving grants under the SBDC program from marketing and advertising their services to individuals and small businesses. (Sec. 4) Revises privacy requirements under such program to specify that SBDCs (including consortia and affiliated contractors or agents) are prohibited, subject to existing exceptions, from disclosing the name, address, or telephone number of any individual or small business concern receiving assistance to any state, local, or federal agency or third party. (Sec. 5) Directs the SBA to consult with SBDC associations to develop documents governing data collection activities related to applicants receiving grants. Requires the SBA to report annually to specified congressional committees regarding such data collection activities. (Sec. 6) Prohibits participation in private partnerships and cosponsorships with the SBA from limiting SBDCs from collecting fees or other income related to the operation of such partnerships and cosponsorships. (Sec. 7) Removes a limitation on the amount of funds the SBA may use to pay the examination expenses of the SBDC accreditation program. (Sec. 8) Prohibits the SBA from awarding grants (including contracts and cooperative agreements) under the SBDC program to any entity other than those that: (1) received such grants prior to September 30, 2014, and (2) seek to renew such grants after such date. Exempts not-for-profit institutions of higher education from such prohibition. (Sec. 9) Authorizes the SBA to permit SBDCs to provide certain problem-solving assistance to a small business concern located outside the state, without regard to geographic proximity, if it is located in a presidentially-declared major disaster area, during the period of the declaration. Requires a SBDC that provides counselors to such an area to ensure continuity of services in any state in which the SBDC otherwise provides services. Requires the SBA to permit SBDC personnel to use any SBA designated site or facility for use to provide disaster recovery assistance. (Sec. 10) Requires SBDC services to include educating unemployed individuals on entrepreneurship and working with them to start new businesses.