small business development centers
under subsection (e)(1); and
‘‘(II) the quality of assistance
provided by the small business devel-
opment center or consortium of small
business development centers to small
business concerns under this section is
acceptable; and
‘‘(ii) may review any client records
maintained by the small business develop-
ment center or consortium of small busi-
ness development centers, except that in
conducting any such review, the Council
shall ensure that the identity of clients and
all information relating to clients remains
confidential, and that no identifying infor-
mation about any client is provided to any
Federal agency.
‘‘(2) INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ASSESSMENT.—
Upon the expiration of the three-year period begin-
ning on the date on which all small business develop-
ment centers and consortia of small business devel-
opment centers begin implementation of the work
plans described under subsection (e)(1), the Council
shall provide for an evaluation of the system of vol-
untary compliance established under this section by
an independent third party.
‘‘(g) FUNDING.—
‘‘(1) SET-ASIDE.—To assist small business de-
velopment centers and consortia of small business
development centers in carrying out the system of
voluntary compliance under this section—
‘‘(A) the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration of the Department of Labor
shall set aside not less than 0.38 percent of
amounts made available to the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration in each of
fiscal years 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001;
‘‘(B) the Environmental Protection Agency
shall set aside—
‘‘(i) not less than 0.20 percent of
amounts made available to the Environ-
mental Protection Agency in fiscal year
1997;
‘‘(ii) not less than 0.24 percent of
amounts made available to the Environ-
mental Protection Agency in fiscal year
1998;
‘‘(iii) not less than 0.29 percent of
amounts made available to the Environ-
mental Protection Agency in fiscal year
1999; and
‘‘(iv) not less than 0.35 percent of
amounts made available to the Environ-
mental Protection Agency in each of the
fiscal years 2000 and 2001; and
‘‘(C) the Internal Revenue Service of the
Department of the Treasury shall set aside—
‘‘(i) not less than 0.25 percent of
amounts made available to the Internal
Revenue Service in fiscal year 1997;
‘‘(ii) not less than 0.31 percent of
amounts made available to the Internal
Revenue Service in fiscal year 1998; and
‘‘(iii) not less than 0.39 percent of
amounts made available to the Internal
Revenue Service in fiscal year 1999; and
‘‘(iv) not less than 0.49 percent of
amounts made available to the Internal
Revenue Service in each of the fiscal years
2000 and 2001.
‘‘(2) NATIONAL REGULATORY RELIEF FUND.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Amounts set aside
under paragraph (1) shall be deposited in a
fund, which shall be established and adminis-
tered by the Council, to be known as the Na-
tional Regulatory Relief Fund. Subaccounts for
each participating agency shall be established
within the National Regulatory Relief Fund.
‘‘(B) 
UNEXPENDED
AMOUNTS.—Any
amounts in the National Regulatory Relief
Fund that are not obligated or expended during
the fiscal year in which the amounts are depos-
ited shall remain available for obligation in any
succeeding fiscal year.
‘‘(3) DISTRIBUTION OF ASSISTANCE.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (C), in each fiscal year, amounts depos-
ited in the National Regulatory Relief Fund
under paragraph (2) shall be distributed by the
Council to the small business development cen-
ter network in each State in accordance with
subparagraph (B).
‘‘(B) POPULATION-BASED
FUNDING
FOR-
MULA.—The small business development center
in each State shall receive a distribution under
subparagraph (A) in an amount that is equal to
the sum of—
‘‘(i) the pro rata share of the State of
the total amount distributed by the Council
under subparagraph (A), based upon the
population of the State as compared to the
total population in the United States, as
determined by the Council; and
‘‘(ii) $300,000.
‘‘(C) 
ADMINISTRATIVE
COSTS.—Of
amounts deposited in the National Regulatory
Relief Fund under paragraph (2), not more
than 5 percent shall be used by the Council for
administration, 
evaluation, 
and 
reporting
costs.’’.
Æ