National Conference on Small Business Act

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Conference on Small 
Business Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act--
            (1) the term ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of 
        the Small Business Administration;
            (2) the term ``Chief Counsel'' means the Chief Counsel for 
        Advocacy of the Small Business Administration;
            (3) the term ``National Commission'' means the National 
        Commission on Small Business established under section 6;
            (4) the term ``National Conference''--
                    (A) means the National Conference on Small Business 
                conducted under section 3(a); and
                    (B) includes the last White House Conference on 
                Small Business occurring before 2002;
            (5) the term ``small business'' has the meaning given the 
        term ``small business concern'' under section 3 of the Small 
        Business Act;
            (6) the term ``State'' means any of the 50 States of the 
        United States; and
            (7) the term ``State Conference'' means a State Conference 
        on Small Business conducted under section 3(b).

SEC. 3. NATIONAL AND STATE CONFERENCES ON SMALL BUSINESS.

    (a) National Conferences.--There shall be a National Conference on 
Small Business once every 4 years, to be held during the second year 
following each Presidential election, to carry out the purposes 
specified in section 4.
    (b) State Conferences.--Each National Conference referred to in 
subsection (a) shall be preceded by a State Conference on Small 
Business, with not fewer than 1 such conference held in each State, and 
with not fewer than 2 such conferences held in any State having a 
population of more than 10,000,000.

SEC. 4. PURPOSES OF NATIONAL CONFERENCES.

    The purposes of each National Conference shall be--
            (1) to increase public awareness of the contribution of 
        small business to the Nation's economy;
            (2) to identify the problems of small business;
            (3) to examine the status of minorities and women as small 
        business owners;
            (4) to assist small business in carrying out its role as 
        the Nation's job creator;
            (5) to assemble small businesses to develop such specific 
        and comprehensive recommendations for legislative and 
        regulatory action as may be appropriate for maintaining and 
        encouraging the economic viability of small business and 
        thereby, the Nation; and
            (6) to review the status of recommendations adopted at the 
        immediately preceding National Conference on Small Business.

SEC. 5. CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS.

    (a) In General.--To carry out the purposes specified in section 4, 
the National Commission shall conduct National and State Conferences to 
bring together individuals concerned with issues relating to small 
business.
    (b) Conference Delegates.--
            (1) Appointments.--Only individuals who are owners or 
        officers of a small business shall be eligible for appointment 
        as delegates (or alternates) to the National and State 
        Conferences pursuant to this subsection, and such appointments 
        shall consist of--
                    (A) 1 delegate (and 1 alternate) appointed by each 
                Governor of each State;
                    (B) 1 delegate (and 1 alternate) appointed by each 
                Member of the House of Representatives, from the 
                congressional district of that Member;
                    (C) 1 delegate (and 1 alternate) appointed by each 
                Member of the Senate from the home State of that 
                Member; and
                    (D) 50 delegates (and 50 alternates) appointed by 
                the President, 1 from each State.
            (2) Powers and duties.--Delegates to each National 
        Conference--
                    (A) shall attend the State conferences in his or 
                her respective State;
                    (B) shall conduct meetings and other activities at 
                the State level before the date of the National 
                Conference, subject to the approval of the National 
                Commission; and
                    (C) shall direct such State level conferences, 
                meetings, and activities toward the consideration of 
                the purposes of the National Conference specified in 
                section 4, in order to prepare for the next National 
                Conference.
            (3) Alternates.--Alternates shall serve during the absence 
        or unavailability of the delegate.
    (c) Role of the Chief Counsel.--The Chief Counsel for Advocacy of 
the Small Business Administration shall, after consultation and in 
coordination with the National Commission, assist in carrying out the 
National and State Conferences required by this Act by--
            (1) preparing and providing background information and 
        administrative materials for use by participants in the 
        conferences;
            (2) distributing issue information and administrative 
        communications, electronically where possible through an 
        Internet web site and e-mail, and in printed form if requested; 
        and
            (3) maintaining an Internet site and regular e-mail 
        communications after each National Conference to inform 
        delegates and the public of the status of recommendations and 
        related governmental activity.
    (d) Expenses.--Each delegate (and alternate) to each National and 
State Conference shall be responsible for his or her expenses related 
to attending the conferences, and shall not be reimbursed either from 
funds appropriated pursuant to this section or the Small Business Act.
    (e) Advisory Committee.--
            (1) In general.--The National Commission shall appoint a 
        Conference Advisory Committee consisting of 10 individuals who 
        were participants at the last preceding National Conference.
            (2) Preference.--Preference for appointment under this 
        subsection shall be given to those who have been active 
        participants in the implementation process following the prior 
        National Conference.
    (f) Public Participation.--National and State Conferences shall be 
open to the public, and no fee or charge may be imposed on such 
attendee, other than an amount necessary to cover the cost of any meal 
provided, plus a registration fee to defray the expense of meeting 
rooms and materials of not to exceed $15 per person.

SEC. 6. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON SMALL BUSINESS.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established the National Commission on 
Small Business.
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) Appointment.--The National Commission shall be composed 
        of 9 members, including--
                    (A) the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small 
                Business Administration;
                    (B) 2 members appointed by the President;
                    (C) 2 members appointed by the majority leader of 
                the Senate;
                    (D) 1 member appointed by the minority leader of 
                the Senate;
                    (E) 2 members appointed by the majority leader of 
                the House of Representatives; and
                    (F) 1 member appointed by the minority leader of 
                the House of Representatives.
            (2) Selection.--Members of the National Commission shall be 
        selected among distinguished individuals noted for their 
        knowledge and experience in fields relevant to the issue of 
        small business and the purposes of this Act.
            (3) Time of appointment.--The appointments required by 
        paragraph (1) shall be made 1 year before the opening date of 
        each National Conference, and shall expire 9 months after the 
        date on which each National Conference is convened.
    (c) Election of Chairperson.--At the first meeting of each National 
Commission, a majority of the members of the National Commission 
present and voting shall elect the Chairperson of the National 
Commission.
    (d) Powers and Duties of Commission.--The National Commission--
            (1) may enter into contracts with public agencies, private 
        organizations, and academic institutions to carry out this Act;
            (2) shall consult, coordinate, and contract with an 
        independent, nonpartisan organization that--
                    (A) has both substantive and logistical experience 
                in developing and organizing conferences and forums 
                throughout the Nation with elected officials and other 
                government and business leaders;
                    (B) has experience in generating private resource 
                from multiple States in the form of event sponsorships; 
                and
                    (C) can demonstrate evidence of a working 
                relationship with Members of Congress from the majority 
                and minority parties, and at least 1 Federal agency; 
                and
            (3) shall prescribe such financial controls and accounting 
        procedures as needed for the handling of funds from fees and 
        charges and the payment of authorized meal, facility, travel, 
        and other related expenses.
    (e) Planning and Administration of Conferences.--In carrying out 
the National and State Conferences required by this Act, the National 
Commission shall consult with the Office of Advocacy of the Small 
Business Administration, the Congress, and such other Federal agencies 
as it deems appropriate.
    (f) Reports Required.--Not later than 6 months after the date on 
which each National Conference is convened, the National Commission 
shall submit to the President and to the chairpersons and ranking 
minority Members of the Committees on Small Business of the Senate and 
the House of Representatives a final report, which shall--
            (1) include the findings and recommendations of the 
        National Conference and any proposals for legislative action 
        necessary to implement those recommendations; and
            (2) be made available to the public.
    (g) Quorum.--4 voting members of the National Commission shall 
constitute a quorum for purposes of transacting business.
    (h) Meetings.--The National Commission shall meet not later than 20 
calendar days after the appointment of all members, and at least every 
30 calendar days thereafter.
    (i) Vacancies.--Any vacancy of the National Commission shall not 
affect its powers, but shall be filled in the manner in which the 
original appointment was made.
    (j) Executive Director and Staff.--The National Commission may 
appoint and compensate an Executive Director and such other personnel 
to conduct the National and State Conferences as it may deem advisable, 
without regard to title 5, United States Code, governing appointments 
in the competitive service, and without regard to chapter 51 and 
subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title, relating to classification 
and General Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay for the 
Executive Director and other personnel may not exceed the rate payable 
for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.
    (k) Funding.--Members of the National Commission shall be allowed 
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence at rates 
authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 
of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular 
places of business in the performance of services for the National 
Commission.

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.

    (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out each National and State Conference required 
by this Act, $5,000,000, which shall remain available until expended. 
New spending authority or authority to enter contracts as provided in 
this Act shall be effective only to such extent and in such amounts as 
are provided in advance in appropriation Acts.
    (b) Specific Earmark.--No amount made available to the Small 
Business Administration may be made available to carry out this Act, 
other than amounts made available specifically for the purpose of 
conducting the National Conferences.

Summary: National Conference on Small Business Act - Provides for a National Conference on Small Business, once every four years, to: (1) increase public awareness of the contribution of small business to the Nation's economy; (2) identify the problems of small business; (3) examine the status of minorities and women as small business owners; (4) assist small business in carrying out its role as the Nation's job creators; (5) assemble small businesses to develop recommendations for legislative and regulatory action for maintaining and encouraging the economic viability of small business and, thereby, the Nation; and (6) review the status of recommendations adopted at the prior national conference. 
Establishes the National Commission on Small Business.  Requires the Commission to conduct National and State conferences to bring together individuals concerned with issues relating to small business. Directs the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration to assist in carrying out such conferences.  Requires the Commission to appoint a Conference Advisory Committee from participants at the last national conference. 
Requires the Commission to report to the President and ranking minority members of the congressional small business committees on conference findings, recommendations, and proposals, as well as necessary legislative action to implement such recommendations. 
Authorizes appropriations to carry out each national and State conference.