SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Small Business Regu-
latory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2015’’. 
SEC. 2. CLARIFICATION AND EXPANSION OF RULES COV-
ERED BY THE REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY 
ACT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Paragraph (2) of section 601 of 
title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(2) RULE.—The term ‘rule’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 551(4) of this title, ex-
cept that such term does not include— 
‘‘(A) a rule pertaining to the protection of 
the rights of and benefits for veterans or part 
232 of title 32 of the Code of Federal Regula-
tions (as in effect on July 1, 2014) or any suc-
cessor provisions thereto; or 
‘‘(B) a rule of particular (and not general) 
applicability relating to rates, wages, corporate 
or financial structures or reorganizations there-
of, prices, facilities, appliances, services, or al-
lowances therefor or to valuations, costs or ac-
counting, or practices relating to such rates, 
wages, structures, prices, appliances, services, 
or allowances.’’. 
(b) INCLUSION
OF RULES WITH INDIRECT EF-
FECTS.—Section 601 of title 5, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(9) ECONOMIC IMPACT.—The term ‘economic 
impact’ means, with respect to a proposed or final 
rule— 
‘‘(A) any direct economic effect on small 
entities of such rule; and 
‘‘(B) any indirect economic effect (includ-
ing compliance costs and effects on revenue) on 
small entities which is reasonably foreseeable 
and results from such rule (without regard to 
whether small entities will be directly regulated 
by the rule).’’. 
(c) INCLUSION OF RULES WITH BENEFICIAL EF-
FECTS.— 
(1) INITIAL REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY ANAL-
YSIS.—Subsection (c) of section 603 of title 5, 
United States Code, is amended by striking the first 
sentence and inserting ‘‘Each initial regulatory flexi-
bility analysis shall also contain a detailed descrip-
tion of alternatives to the proposed rule which mini-
mize any adverse significant economic impact or 
maximize any beneficial significant economic impact 
on small entities.’’.
(2) FINAL
REGULATORY
FLEXIBILITY
ANAL-
YSIS.—The first paragraph (6) of section 604(a) of 
title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking 
‘‘minimize the significant economic impact’’ and in-
serting ‘‘minimize the adverse significant economic 
impact or maximize the beneficial significant eco-
nomic impact’’. 
(d) INCLUSION OF RULES AFFECTING TRIBAL ORGA-
NIZATIONS.—Paragraph (5) of section 601 of title 5, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘and tribal 
organizations (as defined in section 4(l) of the Indian Self- 
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
450b(l))),’’ after ‘‘special districts,’’. 
(e) INCLUSION OF LAND MANAGEMENT PLANS AND 
FORMAL RULEMAKING.— 
(1) INITIAL REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY ANAL-
YSIS.—Subsection (a) of section 603 of title 5, 
United States Code, is amended in the first sen-
tence— 
(A) by striking ‘‘or’’ after ‘‘proposed 
rule,’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘or publishes a revision or 
amendment to a land management plan,’’ after 
‘‘United States,’’.
(2) FINAL
REGULATORY
FLEXIBILITY
ANAL-
YSIS.—Subsection (a) of section 604 of title 5, 
United States Code, is amended in the first sen-
tence— 
(A) by striking ‘‘or’’ after ‘‘proposed rule-
making,’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘or adopts a revision or 
amendment to a land management plan,’’ after 
‘‘section 603(a),’’. 
(3) LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN DEFINED.—Sec-
tion 601 of title 5, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(10) LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘land man-
agement plan’ means— 
‘‘(i) any plan developed by the Sec-
retary of Agriculture under section 6 of 
the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Re-
sources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 
1604); and 
‘‘(ii) any plan developed by the Sec-
retary of the Interior under section 202 of 
the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712).
‘‘(B) 
REVISION.—The 
term 
‘revision’ 
means any change to a land management plan 
which— 
‘‘(i) in the case of a plan described in 
subparagraph (A)(i), is made under section 
6(f)(5) of the Forest and Rangeland Re-
newable Resources Planning Act of 1974 
(16 U.S.C. 1604(f)(5)); or 
‘‘(ii) in the case of a plan described in 
subparagraph (A)(ii), is made under sec-
tion 1610.5–6 of title 43, Code of Federal 
Regulations (or any successor regulation). 
‘‘(C) AMENDMENT.—The term ‘amend-
ment’ means any change to a land management 
plan which— 
‘‘(i) in the case of a plan described in 
subparagraph (A)(i), is made under section 
6(f)(4) of the Forest and Rangeland Re-
newable Resources Planning Act of 1974 
(16 U.S.C. 1604(f)(4)) and with respect to 
which the Secretary of Agriculture pre-
pares a statement described in section 
102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy 
Act 
of 
1969 
(42 
U.S.C. 
4332(2)(C)); or
‘‘(ii) in the case of a plan described in 
subparagraph (A)(ii), is made under sec-
tion 1610.5–5 of title 43, Code of Federal 
Regulations (or any successor regulation) 
and with respect to which the Secretary of 
the Interior prepares a statement described 
in section 102(2)(C) of the National Envi-
ronmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
4332(2)(C)).’’. 
(f) INCLUSION OF CERTAIN INTERPRETIVE RULES 
INVOLVING THE INTERNAL REVENUE LAWS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Subsection (a) of section 
603 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by 
striking the period at the end and inserting ‘‘or a 
recordkeeping requirement, and without regard to 
whether such requirement is imposed by statute or 
regulation.’’. 
(2) COLLECTION OF INFORMATION.—Paragraph 
(7) of section 601 of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(7) COLLECTION OF INFORMATION.—The term 
‘collection of information’ has the meaning given 
such term in section 3502(3) of title 44.’’.
$7 million and has not more than 500 em-
ployees. 
‘‘(B) LOCAL LABOR ORGANIZATIONS.—In 
the case of any local labor organization, sub-
paragraph (A) shall be applied without regard 
to any national or international organization of 
which such local labor organization is a part. 
‘‘(C) 
AGENCY
DEFINITIONS.—Subpara-
graphs (A) and (B) shall not apply to the ex-
tent that an agency, after consultation with the 
Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Ad-
ministration and after opportunity for public 
comment, establishes one or more definitions 
for such term which are appropriate to the ac-
tivities of the agency and publishes such defini-
tions in the Federal Register.’’. 
SEC. 3. EXPANSION OF REPORT OF REGULATORY AGENDA. 
Section 602 of title 5, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘, and’’ 
at the end and inserting ‘‘;’’; 
(B) by redesignating paragraph (3) as 
paragraph (4); and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (2) the 
following: 
‘‘(3) a brief description of the sector of the 
North American Industrial Classification System 
that is primarily affected by any rule which the 
agency expects to propose or promulgate which is 
likely to have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities; and’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c), to read as follows: 
‘‘(c) Each agency shall prominently display a plain 
language summary of the information contained in the 
regulatory flexibility agenda published under subsection 
(a) on its website within 3 days of its publication in the 
Federal Register. The Office of Advocacy of the Small 
Business Administration shall compile and prominently 
display a plain language summary of the regulatory agen-
das referenced in subsection (a) for each agency on its 
website within 3 days of their publication in the Federal 
Register.’’. 
SEC. 4. REQUIREMENTS PROVIDING FOR MORE DETAILED 
ANALYSES. 
(a) INITIAL REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY ANALYSIS.— 
Subsection (b) of section 603 of title 5, United States 
Code, is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(b) Each initial regulatory flexibility analysis re-
quired under this section shall contain a detailed state-
ment— 
‘‘(1) describing the reasons why action by the 
agency is being considered; 
‘‘(2) describing the objectives of, and legal basis 
for, the proposed rule; 
‘‘(3) estimating the number and type of small 
entities to which the proposed rule will apply; 
‘‘(4) describing the projected reporting, record-
keeping, and other compliance requirements of the 
proposed rule, including an estimate of the classes of 
small entities which will be subject to the require-
ment and the type of professional skills necessary 
for preparation of the report and record; 
‘‘(5) describing all relevant Federal rules which 
may duplicate, overlap, or conflict with the proposed 
rule, or the reasons why such a description could not 
be provided; 
‘‘(6) estimating the additional cumulative eco-
nomic impact of the proposed rule on small entities 
beyond that already imposed on the class of small 
entities by the agency or why such an estimate is 
not available;
‘‘(7) describing any disproportionate economic 
impact on small entities or a specific class of small 
entities; and 
‘‘(8) describing any impairment of the ability of 
small entities to have access to credit.’’. 
(b) FINAL REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY ANALYSIS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 604(a) of title 5, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘an ex-
planation’’ and inserting ‘‘a detailed expla-
nation’’; 
(B) in each of paragraphs (4), (5), and the 
first paragraph (6), by inserting ‘‘detailed’’ be-
fore ‘‘description’’; 
(C) in the first paragraph (6), by striking 
‘‘; and’’ at the end; 
(D) in the second paragraph (6), by strik-
ing the period and inserting ‘‘; and’’; 
(E) by redesignating the second paragraph 
(6) as paragraph (7); and 
(F) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(8) a detailed description of any dispropor-
tionate economic impact on small entities or a spe-
cific class of small entities.’’.
(2) INCLUSION OF RESPONSE TO COMMENTS ON 
CERTIFICATION
OF
PROPOSED
RULE.—Paragraph 
(2) of section 604(a) of title 5, United States Code, 
is amended by inserting ‘‘(or certification of the pro-
posed rule under section 605(b))’’ after ‘‘initial reg-
ulatory flexibility analysis’’. 
(3) PUBLICATION OF ANALYSIS ON WEBSITE.— 
Subsection (b) of section 604 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) The agency shall make copies of the final regu-
latory flexibility analysis available to the public, including 
placement of the entire analysis on the agency’s website, 
and shall publish in the Federal Register the final regu-
latory flexibility analysis, or a summary thereof which in-
cludes the telephone number, mailing address, and link to 
the website where the complete analysis may be ob-
tained.’’. 
(c) CROSS-REFERENCES
TO OTHER ANALYSES.— 
Subsection (a) of section 605 of title 5, United States 
Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) A Federal agency shall be treated as satisfying 
any requirement regarding the content of an agenda or 
regulatory flexibility analysis under section 602, 603, or 
604, if such agency provides in such agenda or analysis 
a cross-reference to the specific portion of another agenda
or analysis which is required by any other law and which 
satisfies such requirement.’’. 
(d) CERTIFICATIONS.—Subsection (b) of section 605 
of title 5, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘detailed’’ before ‘‘statement’’ 
the first place it appears; and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘and legal’’ after ‘‘factual’’. 
(e) QUANTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.—Section 607 
of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘§ 607. Quantification requirements 
‘‘In complying with sections 603 and 604, an agency 
shall provide— 
‘‘(1) a quantifiable or numerical description of 
the effects of the proposed or final rule and alter-
natives to the proposed or final rule; or 
‘‘(2) a more general descriptive statement and 
a detailed statement explaining why quantification is 
not practicable or reliable.’’. 
SEC. 5. REPEAL OF WAIVER AND DELAY AUTHORITY; ADDI-
TIONAL POWERS OF THE CHIEF COUNSEL 
FOR ADVOCACY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 608 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(c) The Chief Counsel for Advocacy may file com-
ments in response to any agency notice requesting com-
ment, regardless of whether the agency is required to file 
a general notice of proposed rulemaking under section 
553.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) Section 611(a)(1) of such title is amended 
by striking ‘‘608(b),’’. 
(2) Section 611(a)(2) of such title is amended 
by striking ‘‘608(b),’’. 
(3) Section 611(a)(3) of such title is amend-
ed— 
(A) by striking subparagraph (B); and 
(B) by striking ‘‘(3)(A) A small entity’’ 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(3) A small entity’’. 
SEC. 6. PROCEDURES FOR GATHERING COMMENTS. 
Section 609 of title 5, United States Code, is amend-
ed by striking subsection (b) and all that follows through 
the end of the section and inserting the following: 
‘‘(b)(1) Prior to publication of any proposed rule de-
scribed in subsection (e), an agency making such rule shall 
notify the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Busi-
ness Administration and provide the Chief Counsel with—
‘‘(A) all materials prepared or utilized by the 
agency in making the proposed rule, including the 
draft of the proposed rule; and 
‘‘(B) information on the potential adverse and 
beneficial economic impacts of the proposed rule on 
small entities and the type of small entities that 
might be affected. 
‘‘(2) An agency shall not be required under para-
graph (1) to provide the exact language of any draft if 
the rule— 
‘‘(A) relates to the internal revenue laws of the 
United States; or 
‘‘(B) is proposed by an independent regulatory 
agency (as defined in section 3502(5) of title 44). 
‘‘(c) Not later than 15 days after the receipt of such 
materials and information under subsection (b), the Chief 
Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administra-
tion shall— 
‘‘(1) identify small entities or representatives of 
small entities or a combination of both for the pur-
pose of obtaining advice, input, and recommenda-
tions from those persons about the potential eco-
nomic impacts of the proposed rule and the compli-
ance of the agency with section 603; and
‘‘(2) convene a review panel consisting of an 
employee from the Office of Advocacy of the Small 
Business Administration, an employee from the 
agency making the rule, and in the case of an agen-
cy other than an independent regulatory agency (as 
defined in section 3502(5) of title 44), an employee 
from the Office of Information and Regulatory Af-
fairs of the Office of Management and Budget to re-
view the materials and information provided to the 
Chief Counsel under subsection (b). 
‘‘(d)(1) Not later than 60 days after the review panel 
described in subsection (c)(2) is convened, the Chief Coun-
sel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration 
shall, after consultation with the members of such panel, 
submit a report to the agency and, in the case of an agen-
cy other than an independent regulatory agency (as de-
fined in section 3502(5) of title 44), the Office of Informa-
tion and Regulatory Affairs of the Office of Management 
and Budget. 
‘‘(2) Such report shall include an assessment of the 
economic impact of the proposed rule on small entities, 
including an assessment of the proposed rule’s impact on 
the cost that small entities pay for energy, an assessment 
of the proposed rule’s impact on startup costs for small 
entities, and a discussion of any alternatives that will min-
imize adverse significant economic impacts or maximize 
beneficial significant economic impacts on small entities. 
‘‘(3) Such report shall become part of the rulemaking 
record. In the publication of the proposed rule, the agency 
shall explain what actions, if any, the agency took in re-
sponse to such report. 
‘‘(e) A proposed rule is described by this subsection 
if the Administrator of the Office of Information and Reg-
ulatory Affairs of the Office of Management and Budget, 
the head of the agency (or the delegatee of the head of 
the agency), or an independent regulatory agency deter-
mines that the proposed rule is likely to result in— 
‘‘(1) an annual effect on the economy of $100 
million or more; 
‘‘(2) a major increase in costs or prices for con-
sumers, individual industries, Federal, State, or local 
governments, tribal organizations, or geographic re-
gions; 
‘‘(3) significant adverse effects on competition, 
employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or 
on the ability of United States-based enterprises to 
compete with foreign-based enterprises in domestic 
and export markets; or 
‘‘(4) a significant economic impact on a sub-
stantial number of small entities.
‘‘(f) Upon application by the agency, the Chief Coun-
sel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration 
may waive the requirements of subsections (b) through (e) 
if the Chief Counsel determines that compliance with the 
requirements of such subsections are impracticable, un-
necessary, or contrary to the public interest. 
‘‘(g) A small entity or a representative of a small enti-
ty may submit a request that the agency provide a copy 
of the report prepared under subsection (d) and all mate-
rials and information provided to the Chief Counsel for 
Advocacy of the Small Business Administration under 
subsection (b). The agency receiving such request shall 
provide the report, materials and information to the re-
questing small entity or representative of a small entity 
not later than 10 business days after receiving such re-
quest, except that the agency shall not disclose any infor-
mation that is prohibited from disclosure to the public 
pursuant to section 552(b) of this title.’’. 
SEC. 7. PERIODIC REVIEW OF RULES. 
Section 610 of title 5, United States Code, is amend-
ed to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 610. Periodic review of rules 
‘‘(a) Not later than 180 days after the enactment of 
this section, each agency shall publish in the Federal Reg-
ister and place on its website a plan for the periodic review
of rules issued by the agency which the head of the agency 
determines have a significant economic impact on a sub-
stantial number of small entities. Such determination shall 
be made without regard to whether the agency performed 
an analysis under section 604. The purpose of the review 
shall be to determine whether such rules should be contin-
ued without change, or should be amended or rescinded, 
consistent with the stated objectives of applicable statutes, 
to minimize any adverse significant economic impacts or 
maximize any beneficial significant economic impacts on 
a substantial number of small entities. Such plan may be 
amended by the agency at any time by publishing the revi-
sion in the Federal Register and subsequently placing the 
amended plan on the agency’s website. 
‘‘(b) The plan shall provide for the review of all such 
agency rules existing on the date of the enactment of this 
section within 10 years of the date of publication of the 
plan in the Federal Register and for review of rules adopt-
ed after the date of enactment of this section within 10 
years after the publication of the final rule in the Federal 
Register. If the head of the agency determines that com-
pletion of the review of existing rules is not feasible by 
the established date, the head of the agency shall so certify 
in a statement published in the Federal Register and may 
extend the review for not longer than 2 years after publi-
cation of notice of extension in the Federal Register. Such 
certification and notice shall be sent to the Chief Counsel 
for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration and 
the Congress. 
‘‘(c) The plan shall include a section that details how 
an agency will conduct outreach to and meaningfully in-
clude small businesses (including small business concerns 
owned and controlled by women, small business concerns 
owned and controlled by veterans, and small business con-
cerns owned and controlled by socially and economically 
disadvantaged individuals (as such terms are defined in 
the Small Business Act)) for the purposes of carrying out 
this section. The agency shall include in this section a plan 
for how the agency will contact small businesses and gath-
er their input on existing agency rules. 
‘‘(d) Each agency shall annually submit a report re-
garding the results of its review pursuant to such plan 
to the Congress, the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the 
Small Business Administration, and, in the case of agen-
cies other than independent regulatory agencies (as de-
fined in section 3502(5) of title 44) to the Administrator 
of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of the 
Office of Management and Budget. Such report shall in-
clude the identification of any rule with respect to which 
the head of the agency made a determination described
in paragraph (5) or (6) of subsection (e) and a detailed 
explanation of the reasons for such determination. 
‘‘(e) In reviewing a rule pursuant to subsections (a) 
through (d), the agency shall amend or rescind the rule 
to minimize any adverse significant economic impact on 
a substantial number of small entities or disproportionate 
economic impact on a specific class of small entities, or 
maximize any beneficial significant economic impact of the 
rule on a substantial number of small entities to the great-
est extent possible, consistent with the stated objectives 
of applicable statutes. In amending or rescinding the rule, 
the agency shall consider the following factors: 
‘‘(1) The continued need for the rule. 
‘‘(2) The nature of complaints received by the 
agency from small entities concerning the rule. 
‘‘(3) Comments by the Regulatory Enforcement 
Ombudsman and the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of 
the Small Business Administration. 
‘‘(4) The complexity of the rule. 
‘‘(5) The extent to which the rule overlaps, du-
plicates, or conflicts with other Federal rules and, 
unless the head of the agency determines it to be in-
feasible, State, territorial, and local rules. 
‘‘(6) The contribution of the rule to the cumu-
lative economic impact of all Federal rules on the
class of small entities affected by the rule, unless the 
head of the agency determines that such calculations 
cannot be made and reports that determination in 
the annual report required under subsection (d). 
‘‘(7) The length of time since the rule has been 
evaluated or the degree to which technology, eco-
nomic conditions, or other factors have changed in 
the area affected by the rule. 
‘‘(f) Each year, each agency shall publish in the Fed-
eral Register and on its website a list of rules to be re-
viewed pursuant to such plan. The agency shall include 
in the publication a solicitation of public comments on any 
further inclusions or exclusions of rules from the list, and 
shall respond to such comments. Such publication shall 
include a brief description of the rule, the reason why the 
agency determined that it has a significant economic im-
pact on a substantial number of small entities (without 
regard to whether it had prepared a final regulatory flexi-
bility analysis for the rule), and request comments from 
the public, the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small 
Business Administration, and the Regulatory Enforce-
ment Ombudsman concerning the enforcement of the 
rule.’’.
SEC. 8. JUDICIAL REVIEW OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE RE-
QUIREMENTS OF THE REGULATORY FLEXI-
BILITY ACT AVAILABLE AFTER PUBLICATION 
OF THE FINAL RULE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Paragraph (1) of section 611(a) 
of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking 
‘‘final agency action’’ and inserting ‘‘such rule’’. 
(b) JURISDICTION.—Paragraph (2) of such section is 
amended by inserting ‘‘(or which would have such jurisdic-
tion if publication of the final rule constituted final agency 
action)’’ after ‘‘provision of law,’’. 
(c) TIME FOR BRINGING ACTION.—Paragraph (3) of 
such section is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘final agency action’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘publication of the final rule’’; and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘, in the case of a rule for 
which the date of final agency action is the same 
date as the publication of the final rule,’’ after ‘‘ex-
cept that’’. 
(d) INTERVENTION BY CHIEF COUNSEL FOR ADVO-
CACY.—Subsection (b) of section 612 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting before the first pe-
riod ‘‘or agency compliance with section 601, 603, 604, 
605(b), 609, or 610’’.
SEC. 9. JURISDICTION OF COURT OF APPEALS OVER RULES 
IMPLEMENTING THE REGULATORY FLEXI-
BILITY ACT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2342 of title 28, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(2) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (7) the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(8) all final rules under section 608(a) of title 
5.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Paragraph (3) of 
section 2341 of title 28, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(2) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(F) the Office of Advocacy of the Small 
Business Administration, when the final rule is 
under section 608(a) of title 5.’’. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION TO INTERVENE AND COMMENT 
ON AGENCY COMPLIANCE WITH ADMINISTRATIVE PROCE-
DURE.—Subsection (b) of section 612 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘chapter 5, and 
chapter 7,’’ after ‘‘this chapter,’’. 
SEC. 10. ESTABLISHMENT AND APPROVAL OF SMALL BUSI-
NESS CONCERN SIZE STANDARDS BY CHIEF 
COUNSEL FOR ADVOCACY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subparagraph (A) of section 
3(a)(2) 
of 
the 
Small 
Business 
Act 
(15 
U.S.C. 
632(a)(2)(A)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In addition to the cri-
teria specified in paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(i) the Administrator may specify de-
tailed definitions or standards by which a 
business concern may be determined to be 
a small business concern for purposes of 
this Act or the Small Business Investment 
Act of 1958; and 
‘‘(ii) the Chief Counsel for Advocacy 
may specify such definitions or standards 
for purposes of any other Act.’’. 
(b) APPROVAL BY CHIEF COUNSEL.—Clause (iii) of 
section 3(a)(2)(C) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
632(a)(2)(C)(iii)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(iii) except in the case of a size 
standard prescribed by the Administrator,
is approved by the Chief Counsel for Advo-
cacy.’’. 
(c) INDUSTRY VARIATION.—Paragraph (3) of section 
3(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(a)(3)) is 
amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘or Chief Counsel for Advo-
cacy, as appropriate’’ before ‘‘shall ensure’’; and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘or Chief Counsel for Advo-
cacy’’ before the period at the end. 
(d) JUDICIAL REVIEW
OF SIZE STANDARDS AP-
PROVED BY CHIEF COUNSEL.—Section 3(a) of the Small 
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(a)) is amended by adding 
at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(9) JUDICIAL
REVIEW
OF
STANDARDS
AP-
PROVED BY CHIEF COUNSEL.—In the case of an ac-
tion for judicial review of a rule which includes a 
definition or standard approved by the Chief Counsel 
for Advocacy under this subsection, the party seek-
ing such review shall be entitled to join the Chief 
Counsel as a party in such action.’’. 
SEC. 11. CLERICAL AMENDMENTS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 601 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)—
(A) by striking the semicolon at the end 
and inserting a period; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘(1) the term’’ and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(1) AGENCY.—The term’’; 
(2) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) by striking the semicolon at the end 
and inserting a period; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘(3) the term’’ and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(3) SMALL BUSINESS.—The term’’; 
(3) in paragraph (5)— 
(A) by striking the semicolon at the end 
and inserting a period; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘(5) the term’’ and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(5) SMALL GOVERNMENTAL JURISDICTION.— 
The term’’; and 
(4) in paragraph (6)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘; and’’ and inserting a pe-
riod; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘(6) the term’’ and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(6) SMALL ENTITY.—The term’’.
(b) INCORPORATIONS BY REFERENCE AND CERTIFI-
CATIONS.—The heading of section 605 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 605. Incorporations by reference and certifi-
cations’’. 
(c) TABLE OF SECTIONS.—The table of sections for 
chapter 6 of title 5, United States Code, is amended as 
follows: 
(1) By striking the item relating to section 605 
and inserting the following new item: 
‘‘605. Incorporations by reference and certifications.’’. 
(2) By striking the item relating to section 607 
and inserting the following new item: 
‘‘607. Quantification requirements.’’. 
(3) By striking the item relating to section 608 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘608. Additional powers of Chief Counsel for Advocacy.’’. 
(d) OTHER CLERICAL AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 
6.—Chapter 6 of title 5, United States Code, is amended 
in section 603(d)— 
(1) by striking paragraph (2); 
(2) by striking ‘‘(1) For a covered agency,’’ and 
inserting ‘‘For a covered agency,’’; 
(3) by striking ‘‘(A) any’’ and inserting ‘‘(1) 
any’’;
(4) by striking ‘‘(B) any’’ and inserting ‘‘(2) 
any’’; and 
(5) by striking ‘‘(C) advice’’ and inserting ‘‘(3) 
advice’’. 
SEC. 12. AGENCY PREPARATION OF GUIDES. 
Section 212(a)(5) the Small Business Regulatory En-
forcement Fairness Act of 1996 (5 U.S.C. 601 note) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(5) AGENCY PREPARATION OF GUIDES.—The 
agency shall, in its sole discretion, taking into ac-
count the subject matter of the rule and the lan-
guage of relevant statutes, ensure that the guide is 
written using sufficiently plain language likely to be 
understood by affected small entities. Agencies may 
prepare separate guides covering groups or classes of 
similarly affected small entities and may cooperate 
with associations of small entities to distribute such 
guides. In developing guides, agencies shall solicit 
input from affected small entities or associations of 
affected small entities. An agency may prepare 
guides and apply this section with respect to a rule 
or a group of related rules.’’. 
SEC. 13. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States
shall complete and publish a study that examines whether 
the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Ad-
ministration has the capacity and resources to carry out 
the duties of the Chief Counsel under this Act and the 
amendments made by this Act. 
Passed the House of Representatives February 5, 
2015. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 527 
AN ACT 
To amend chapter 6 of title 5, United States Code 
(commonly known as the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act), to ensure complete analysis of potential im-
pacts on small entities of rules, and for other 
purposes.