STEP Improvement Act of 2023

To reauthorize the State Trade Expansion Program of the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the STEP Improvement Act of 2023 2. State Trade Expansion program (a) Application requirements Section 22(l)(3) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 649(l)(3) (1) in subparagraph (D)— (A) in clause (i), by inserting , including a budget plan for use of funds awarded under this subsection (B) by adding at the end the following: (iii) Timing The Associate Administrator shall— (I) publish information on how to apply for a grant under this subsection, including specific calculations and other determinations used to award such a grant, not later than March 31 of each year; (II) establish a deadline for the submission of applications that is not earlier than 60 days after the date on which the information is published under subclause (I) and that is not later than May 31; and (III) announce grant recipients not later than August 31 of each year. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (E) Application information The Associate Administrator shall clearly communicate to applicants and grant recipients any information about the State Trade Expansion Program, including— (i) for each unsuccessful applicant for a grant awarded under this subsection, recommendations to improve a subsequent application for such a grant; and (ii) for each successful applicant for such a grant, an explanation for the amount awarded, if different from the amount requested in the application. (F) Budget plan revisions (i) In general A State receiving a grant under this subsection may revise the budget plan of the State submitted under subparagraph (D) after the disbursal of grant funds if— (I) the revision complies with allowable uses of grant funds under this subsection; and (II) such State submits notification of the revision to the Associate Administrator. (ii) Exception If a revision under clause (i) reallocates 10 percent or more of the amounts described in the budget plan of the State submitted under subparagraph (D), the State may not implement the revised budget plan without the approval of the Associate Administrator, unless the Associate Administrator fails to approve or deny the revised plan within 20 days after receipt of such revised plan. . (b) Survey Section 22(l) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 649(l) (1) by redesignating paragraphs (7) through (9) as paragraphs (8) through (10), respectively; and (2) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following: (7) Survey The Associate Administrator shall conduct an annual survey of each State that received a grant under this subsection during the preceding year to solicit feedback on the program and develop best practices for grantees. . (c) Annual report Paragraph (8)(B) of section 22(l) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 649(l) (1) in clause (i)— (A) in subclause (III), by inserting , including the total number of eligible small business concerns assisted by the program (disaggregated by socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns, small business concerns owned and controlled by women, and rural small business concerns) (B) in subclause (IV), by striking and (C) in subclause (V)— (i) by striking description of best practices detailed description of best practices (ii) by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (D) by adding at the end the following: (VI) an analysis of the performance metrics described in clause (iii), including a determination of whether or not any goals relating to such performance metrics were met, and an analysis of the survey described in paragraph (7); and (VII) a description of lessons learned by grant recipients under this subsection that may apply to other assistance provided by the Administration. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (iii) Performance metrics Annually, the Associate Administrator shall collect data on eligible small business concerns assisted by the program for the following performance metrics: (I) Total number of such concerns, disaggregated by socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns, small business concerns owned and controlled by women, and rural small business concerns. (II) Total dollar amount of export sales by eligible small business concerns assisted by the program. (III) Number of such concerns that have not previously participated in an activity described in paragraph (2). (IV) Number of such concerns that, because of participation in the program, have accessed a new market. (V) Number of such concerns that, because of participation in the program, have created new jobs. (VI) Number of such concerns participating in foreign trade missions or trade show exhibitions, disaggregated by socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns, small business concerns owned and controlled by women, and rural small business concerns. . (d) Expansion of definition of eligible small business concern Section 22(l)(1)(A) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 649(l)(1)(A) (1) in clause (iii)(II), by adding and (2) by striking clause (iv); and (3) by redesignating clause (v) as clause (iv). (e) Authorization of appropriations Paragraph (10) of section 22(l) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 649(l) fiscal years 2016 through 2020 fiscal years 2024 through 2028 (f) Report to congress Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Associate Administrator for International Trade of the Small Business Administration shall submit to Congress a report on the State Trade Expansion Program established under section 22(l) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 649(l) (1) the process developed for review of revised budget plans submitted under subparagraph (F) of section 22(l)(3) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 649(l)(3) (2) any changes made to streamline the application process to remove duplicative requirements and create a more transparent process; (3) the process developed to share best practices by States described in paragraph (8)(B)(i)(V) of section 22(l) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 649(l) (4) the process developed to communicate, both verbally and in writing, relevant information about the State Trade Expansion Program to all grant recipients in a timely manner.

Summary: STEP Improvement Act of 2023 This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 the Small Business Administration's (SBA) State Trade Expansion Program, which provides foreign trade assistance to small businesses, and it revises provisions related to the administration of the program. Specifically, the SBA must establish a time frame for, and provide certain information related to, the application process, and it must conduct an annual survey to solicit feedback on the program. The SBA must collect data on certain performance metrics such as the (1) total number of small businesses assisted by the program, (2) total dollar amount of export sales by participating small businesses, and (3) number of small businesses that have created new jobs through their participation in the program. The bill also requires applicants for participation to include a budget plan that outlines their intended use of funds awarded under the program.