SCORE for Small Business Act of 2014

Bill: 113-s-2008
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2014-02-10
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Business education

Executive agency funding and structure

Minority and disadvantaged businesses

Right of privacy

Small Business Administration

Small business

Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Latest action: action_date: 2014-02-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Summaries:
action_date: 2014-02-10
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>SCORE for Small Business Act of 2014 - Amends the Small Business Act, with respect to the SCORE program (Service Corps of Retired Executives), to: (1) reauthorize such program for FY2015-FY2017; (2) modify requirements of such program with respect to the role of participating volunteers, program plans and goals, and reporting; and (3) outline privacy requirements pertaining to the disclosure of information of businesses assisted under such program. </p> <p>Amends the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994 to repeal the program of assistance to microenterprises (i.e., businesses that have fewer than five employees and generally lack access to conventional loans, equity, or other banking services).</p>

tv_txt: II 113th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2008 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 10, 2014 Ms. Landrieu (for herself and Mr. Risch ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship A BILL To strengthen resources for entrepreneurs by improving the SCORE program, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the SCORE for Small Business Act of 2014 . 2. SCORE Reauthorization Section 20 of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 631 note) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (j) as subsection (f); and (2) by adding at the end the following: (g) SCORE program There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to carry out the SCORE program authorized by section 8(b)(1) such sums as are necessary for the Administrator to make grants or enter into cooperative agreements in a total amount that does not exceed— (1) $9,100,000 in fiscal year 2015; (2) $10,500,000 in fiscal year 2016; and (3) $10,500,000 in fiscal year 2017. . 3. SCORE program Section 8 of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 637 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (b)(1)(B), by striking a Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and inserting the SCORE program described in subsection (c) ; and (2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following: (c) SCORE program (1) Definition In this subsection, the term SCORE program means the SCORE program authorized by subsection (b)(1)(B). (2) Volunteers A volunteer participating in the SCORE program shall— (A) based on the business experience and knowledge of the volunteer— (i) provide at no cost to individuals who own, or aspire to own, small business concerns personal counseling, mentoring, and coaching relating to the process of starting, expanding, managing, buying, and selling a business; and (ii) facilitate low-cost education workshops for individuals who own, or aspire to own, small business concerns; and (B) as appropriate, use tools, resources, and expertise of other organizations to carry out the SCORE program. (3) Plans and goals The Administrator, in consultation with the SCORE Association, shall ensure that the SCORE program and each chapter of the SCORE program develop and implement plans and goals to more effectively and efficiently provide services to individuals in rural areas, economically disadvantaged communities, and other traditionally underserved communities, including plans for electronic initiatives, web-based initiatives, chapter expansion, partnerships, and the development of new skills by volunteers participating in the SCORE program. (4) Annual report The SCORE Association shall submit to the Administrator an annual report that contains— (A) the number of individuals counseled or trained under the SCORE program; (B) the number of hours of counseling provided under the SCORE program; and (C) to the extent possible— (i) the number of small business concerns formed with assistance from the SCORE program; (ii) the number of small business concerns expanded with assistance from the SCORE program; and (iii) the number of jobs created with assistance from the SCORE program. (5) Privacy requirements (A) In general Neither the Administrator nor the SCORE Association may disclose the name, address, or telephone number of any individual or small business concern receiving assistance from the SCORE Association without the consent of such individual or small business concern, unless— (i) the Administrator is ordered to make such a disclosure by a court in any civil or criminal enforcement action initiated by a Federal or State agency; or (ii) the Administrator determines such a disclosure to be necessary for the purpose of conducting a financial audit of the SCORE program, in which case disclosure shall be limited to the information necessary for the audit. (B) Administrator use of information This paragraph shall not— (i) restrict the access of the Administrator to program activity data; or (ii) prevent the Administrator from using client information to conduct client surveys. (C) Regulations (i) In general The Administrator shall issue regulations to establish standards for— (I) disclosures with respect to financial audits under subparagraph (A)(II); and (II) conducting client surveys, including standards for oversight of the surveys and for dissemination and use of client information. (ii) Maximum privacy protection The regulations issued under this subparagraph shall, to the extent practicable, provide for the maximum amount of privacy protection. (iii) Inspector general Until the effective date of the regulations issued under this subparagraph, any client survey and the use of any client information shall be approved by the Inspector General of the Administration, who shall include any such approval in the semi-annual report of the Inspector General. . 4. Repeal of authority for the Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs (a) Repeal Subtitle C of title I of the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994 ( 15 U.S.C. 6901 et seq. ) is repealed. (b) Rule of construction Nothing in this section shall affect any grant or assistance provided under subtitle C of title I of the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994 ( 15 U.S.C. 6901 et seq. ) before the date of enactment of this Act, and any such grant or assistance shall be subject to such subtitle C, as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act. 5. Technical and conforming amendments (a) Small Business Act The Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 631 et seq. ) is amended— (1) in section 7(m)(3)(A)(i)(VIII) ( 15 U.S.C. 636(m)(3)(A)(i)(VIII) ), by striking Service Corps of Retired Executives and inserting SCORE program ; and (2) in section 22 ( 15 U.S.C. 649 )— (A) in subsection (b)— (i) in paragraph (1), by striking Service Corps of Retired Executives and inserting SCORE program ; and (ii) in paragraph (3), by striking Service Corps of Retired Executives and inserting SCORE program ; (B) in subsection (c)(12), by striking Service Corps of Retired Executives and inserting SCORE program . (b) Other laws (1) Section 621 of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 ( 15 U.S.C. 657p ) is amended— (A) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following: (4) the term SCORE program means the SCORE program authorized by section 8(b)(1)(B) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)(B)); ; and (B) in subsection (b)(4)(A)(iv), by striking Service Corps of Retired Executives and inserting SCORE program . (2) Section 337(d)(2)(A) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act ( 42 U.S.C. 6307(d)(2)(A) ) is amended by striking Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and inserting SCORE program .