SBA Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2920
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2008-04-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Authorization
Conferences
Day care
Defense contracts
Depressed areas
Disabled
Disaster loans
Drug abuse
Drugs and employment
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Employee health benefits
Entrepreneurs
Executive reorganization
Executives
Federal officials
Federally-guaranteed loans
Finance and Financial Sector
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Foreign trade promotion
Government Operations and Politics
Government lending
Government regulation
Health
Health insurance
Housing and Community Development
Indian economic development
Labor and Employment
Military base closures
Minorities
Minority business enterprises
National service
Securities
Small Business Administration
Small business
Social Welfare
Subcontractors
Venture capital
Women
Women in business

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: 
SBA Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2008 - Amends the Small Business Act (the Act) to reauthorize for FY2008-FY2010 certain small business assistance programs of the Small Business Administration (SBA), including: (1) the microloan program (loans made to very small businesses for start-up, expansion, or equipment); (2) section 7(a) loans (SBA-guaranteed general business loans); (3) certified development company (CDC) financings; (4) assistance to small businesses affected by a Department of Defense base closure or realignment or the termination of a defense contract or subcontract; (5) the Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs (PRIME); and (6) small business disaster loans.
 
Revises or adds provisions concerning the microloan program, including: (1) increased loan amounts; and (2) making eligible under such program persons with disabilities.
 
Transfers the PRIME Program from the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994 to the Act.
 
Establishes the Small Business Intermediary Lending Pilot Program under which the SBA Administrator provides loans to loan intermediaries, who then make loans to startup, newly established, and growing small businesses.
 
Revises or adds provisions concerning the 7(a) loan program, including: (1) establishing a Preferred Lenders Program under which the Administrator may authorize qualified lenders to make and service small business loans; (2) increasing maximum loan amounts and expanding loan eligibility; (3) authority for an alternative loan size standard and a variable loan interest rate; (4) establishing an Office of Minority Small Business Development; (5) increasing small business international trade loans; and (6) requiring a rural lending outreach program.
 
Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to revise or add provisions concerning CDCs, including: (1) replacing the term &quot;504 loan program&quot; with &quot;local development business loan program&quot;; (2) loan foreclosure and liquidation; (3) adding as an eligible purpose the expansion of businesses in low-income communities; (4) allowing CDC financings to include a limited amount of debt refinancing; (5) repealing the sunset on reserve requirements for premier certified lenders; (6) allowing development companies to issue debentures for the financing of loans; (7) allowing CDCs to provide loans to small, nonprofit child care businesses; and (8) requiring (in some cases) or authorizing CDCs to utilize real estate appraisals in connection with loans.
 
Revises or adds provisions concerning the Small Business Investment Company program, including: (1) reauthorization through FY2010; (2) increased outstanding leverage amounts; and (3) increased maximum investment in a single company.
 
Revises or adds provisions concerning the New Markets Venture Capital Program, including: (1) a goal of selecting at least one participating company from each SBA region; (2) establishing the Office of New Markets Venture Capital; and (3) the use of operational assistance grants.
 
Reauthorizes through FY2010 the: (1) Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) program; (2) small business development center program; and (3) Paul D. Coverdell drug-free workplace program.
 
Revises or adds provisions concerning women's small business ownership.
 
Establishes an Associate Administrator for International Trade.
 
Native American Small Business Development Act of 2008 - Establishes: (1) the Office of Native American Affairs; (2) a Native American small business development program; (3) a Native American development grant pilot program; and (4) an American Indian tribal assistance center grant pilot program.
 
National Small Business Regulatory Assistance Act of 2008 - Establishes a: (1) small business regulatory assistance pilot program; (2) minority entrepreneurship and innovation pilot program; (3) small business health insurance information pilot program; and (4) Native American economic development pilot program.
 
Directs the President to convene a National Small Business Summit.
 
Revises or adds provisions concerning small business lender oversight.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-28
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 720.
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Introduced in Senate