Summary:
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Unifying Small Business Terminology Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Small Business Act to revise the range of the anticipated value of federal procurement contracts that must be reserved exclusively for small businesses.

The range shall be between the micro-purchase threshold ($3,000) and the simplified acquisition threshold ($100,000). (Currently the range of the anticipated value must be between $2,500 and $100,000.)

measure amended introduced summary expanded action occurred measure small business terminology act sec bill amends small_business_act revise range anticipated value federal procurement contracts reserved exclusively small businesses range shall micro purchase threshold simplified acquisition threshold currently range anticipated value


Summary:
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Small and Disadvantaged Business Enhancement Act of 2016

( Sec. 2) This bill amends the Small Business Act to allow for the management of each Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) to be vested in an individual whose primary responsibilities were for the functions and duties of: (1) the procurement program for small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, and (2) the HUBZone program.

The OSDBU of each federal agency with procurement powers shall review agency purchases that are greater than the micro-purchase threshold ($3,000) and less than the simplified acquisition threshold ($100,000) to ensure that the purchases have been made to comply with the Act and have been properly recorded in the Federal Procurement Data System, if the method of payment is a purchase card issued by the Department of Defense or by an executive agency head.

Each OSDBU must cite in its annual report to Congress any failure to comply with such a program.

measure amended introduced summary expanded action occurred measure small sec bill amends small_business_act allow management office_of_small disadvantaged_business_utilization vested individual primary responsibilities functions duties procurement program small business concerns owned controlled service disabled veterans hubzone program federal agency procurement powers shall review agency purchases greater micro purchase threshold simplified acquisition threshold ensure purchases comply act properly recorded method payment purchase card issued department_of_defense executive agency head cite annual report congress failure comply program


Summary:
Transparency in Small Business Goaling Act of 2016

This bill amends the Small Business Act to revise requirements for federal procurement contracts awarded to small businesses.

The total value of federal procurement contract awards for a fiscal year may not be determined in a manner that excludes the value of a contract based on:

 where the contract is awarded; where it is performed; whether the contract is required by federal law to be performed by an entity other than a small business; whether funding for the contract is made available in an appropriations Act, if the contract is subject to requirements for civilian procurement planning and solicitation or military procurement as well as the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR); or whether the contract is otherwise subject to the FAR.

transparency small business act bill amends small_business_act revise requirements federal procurement contracts awarded small businesses total value federal procurement contract awards fiscal year determined manner excludes value contract based contract awarded performed contract required federal law performed entity small business funding contract available appropriations act contract subject requirements civilian procurement planning solicitation military procurement federal_acquisition_regulation far contract subject far


Summary:
Improving Contract Procurement for Small Businesses through More Accurate Reporting Act of 2016

This bill amends the Small Business Act to require the Small Business Administration to report to the President and Congress an analysis of the number and dollar amount of prime contracts awarded by federal agencies each fiscal year to small business concerns, including those:

 owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans; located in qualified HUBZones; owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals; owned by an Indian tribe, an Alaska Native Corporation, or a Native Hawaiian Organization; or owned and controlled by women. The analyses shall cover all such small business concerns:

 that were purchased by another entity after the initial contract was awarded and as a result would no longer be deemed to be small business concerns for purposes of the initial contract, and that were awarded using a procurement method that restricted competition to the kinds of small business concerns listed here or a subset of any of them.

accurate reporting act bill amends small_business_act require small_business_administration report president congress analysis number dollar prime contracts awarded federal agencies fiscal year small business concerns including owned controlled service disabled veterans located qualified hubzones owned controlled socially economically disadvantaged individuals owned indian tribe alaska_native_corporation owned controlled women analyses shall cover small business concerns purchased entity initial contract awarded result longer deemed small business concerns purposes initial contract awarded procurement method restricted competition kinds small business concerns listed subset


Summary:
Small Business Easy Contract Compliance Enhancement and List Act of 2016 or the Small Business ECCEL Act

This bill amends the Small Business Act to require each Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to assist a small business concern awarded a federal contract or subcontract under the Act, or under military or civilian procurement law, in finding resources for education and training on compliance with contracting regulations (including the Federal Acquisition Regulation [FAR]) after such an award.

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 is amended to require agreements under the Mentor-Protege Program of Department of Defense (DOD) to include, if applicable, the assistance the mentor firm will give the protege firm in understanding contract regulations of the federal government and the DOD (including the FAR and the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement) after the award of a subcontract.

The Small Business Act is amended to require the SBA to give small business development centers and entities participating in the Procurement Technical Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, and make available on the SBA website, a list of resources for small business concerns seeking education and assistance on post-award compliance with contracting regulations.

Each procurement center representative may assist small business concerns in finding such education and training resources.

The SBA, with respect to a non-DOD mentor-protege program, shall issue regulations to address the extent to which assistance to improve the ability of proteges to compete for federal prime contracts and subcontracts complies with post-award federal contracting requirements.

small business easy contract compliance enhancement list act bill amends small_business_act require office_of_small disadvantaged_business_utilization small_business_administration sba assist small business concern awarded federal contract subcontract act military civilian procurement law finding resources education training compliance contracting regulations including federal_acquisition_regulation far award national defense authorization act fiscal year amended require agreements dod include applicable assistance mentor firm protege firm understanding contract regulations federal government dod including far award subcontract small business act amended require sba small business development centers entities participating available sba website list resources small business concerns seeking education assistance post award compliance contracting regulations procurement center representative assist small business concerns finding education training resources sba respect non dod mentor protege program shall issue regulations address extent assistance improve ability compete federal prime contracts subcontracts complies post award federal contracting requirements


Summary:
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Maximizing Small Business Competition Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Small Business Act to authorize a procurement center representative to review any solicitation for a contract or task order without regard to whether:

 it is set aside for small businesses, one or more contract or task order awards are reserved for small businesses under a multiple award contract, or the solicitation would or would not result in a bundled or consolidated contract or a bundled or consolidated task order.

measure amended introduced summary expanded action occurred measure sec bill amends small_business_act authorize procurement center representative review solicitation contract task order regard set aside small businesses contract task order awards reserved small businesses multiple award contract solicitation result bundled consolidated contract bundled consolidated task order


Summary:
Education for Contracting Personnel Improvement Act of 2016

This bill amends the Small Business Act to require the Small Business Administration (SBA) at least annually to provide to the Defense Acquisition University, the Federal Acquisition Institute, the individual responsible for mandatory training and education of the acquisition workforce of each executive agency, small business development centers, and entities participating in the Procurement Technical Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program:

 a list of all changes made in the prior year to regulations promulgated by the SBA that affect federal acquisition, and by the Federal Acquisition Council that implement changes to the Act; and any materials the SBA has developed to explain, train, or assist federal agencies or departments or small businesses to comply with such regulations.

education contracting personnel improvement act bill amends small_business_act require small_business_administration sba annually provide individual responsible mandatory training education acquisition workforce executive agency small business development centers entities participating list changes prior year regulations promulgated sba affect federal acquisition implement changes act materials sba developed explain train assist federal agencies departments small businesses comply regulations


Summary:
Improving Small Business Advocacy Act of 2016

This bill amends the Small Business Act to declare that the exclusive duties of a Business Opportunity Specialist reporting to the senior official (or designee) appointed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) with certain SBA loan responsibilities, including the procurement program for small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans and the Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) program, shall be to implement specified SBA loan programs, and complete other duties related to contracting programs.

Such duties shall include:

 performing specified functions with respect to small business concerns eligible to receive federal contracts and subcontracts; reviewing and monitoring compliance with mentor-protege agreements; representing the interests of the SBA and small business concerns in the award, modification, and administration of contracts and subcontracts awarded pursuant to the Act; and reporting fraud or abuse.

improving small business advocacy act bill amends small_business_act declare exclusive duties reporting senior official designee appointed small_business_administration sba certain sba loan responsibilities including procurement program small business concerns owned controlled service disabled veterans hubzone program shall implement specified sba loan programs complete duties related contracting programs duties shall include performing specified functions respect small business concerns eligible receive federal contracts subcontracts reviewing monitoring compliance mentor protege agreements representing interests sba small business concerns award modification administration contracts subcontracts awarded pursuant act reporting fraud abuse


Summary:
Defending America's Small Contractors Act of 2016

TITLE I--IMPROVING TRANSPARENCY AND CLARITY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

(Sec. 101) This bill amends the Small Business Act to revise requirements for increasing prime federal contracting opportunities for small business concerns, and determining awards or contracts for the sale of government property to such concerns.

(Sec. 102) The bill revises requirements for annual Small Business Administration (SBA) reports to the President and Congress analyzing the number and dollar amount of prime contracts awarded by federal agencies each fiscal year to small business concerns.

The SBA shall include in such annual reports awards to these small business concerns that were purchased by another entity after the initial contract was awarded. The small business concern would no longer be deemed to be a small business because of such purchase. The SBA must also report on awards to small businesses that were awarded using a procurement method other than a small business set-aside, preference, or full and open competition.

(Sec. 103) For purposes of government-wide and agency-wide procurement goals for small business concerns, the total value of federal procurement contract awards to small business concerns for a fiscal year may not be determined in a manner that excludes the value of a contract based on where the contract is awarded, where it is performed, or whether:

 the contract is required by federal law to be performed by an entity other than a small business concern; funding for the contract is made available in an appropriations Act, if the contract is subject to requirements for civilian procurement planning and solicitation or military procurement as well as the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR); or whether the contract is otherwise subject to the FAR. (Sec. 104) The bill amends the Small Business Act to revise the range of the anticipated value of federal procurement contracts that must be reserved exclusively for small business concerns. The range shall be between the micro-purchase threshold ($3,000) and the simplified acquisition threshold ($100,000). (Currently the range of the anticipated value must be between $2,500 and $100,000.)

For purposes of federal procurement contracting, the term total purchases and contracts for property and services shall mean total number and total dollar amount of contracts and orders for property and services.

TITLE II--CLARIFYING THE ROLES OF SMALL BUSINESS ADVOCATES

(Sec. 201) The Small Business Act is amended to prohibit the SBA from limiting the scope of review by the Procurement Center Representative (PCR) for any solicitation of a contract or task order without regard to whether:

 the contract or task order or part of it is set aside for small business concerns, one or more contract or task order awards are reserved for small business concerns under a multiple award contract, or whether or not the solicitation would result in a bundled or consolidated contract or task order. The SBA must take these matters into consideration when limiting the scope of the PCR review for any such solicitation.

(Sec. 202) The bill makes a technical amendment to apply the Level I Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting, or the equivalent Department of Defense (DOD) certification requirement, to persons appointed as Commercial Market Representatives (CMRs) after November 25, 2015 (the date of enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2016).

The bill also specifies the principal duties of CMRs, who are government contracting staff stationed at area SBA offices and reporting to specified senior SBA officers. These principal duties must advance SBA policies relating to specified subcontracting criteria.

(Sec. 203) The bill also allows for the management of each Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) to be vested in an individual whose primary responsibilities were for the functions and duties of: (1) the procurement program for small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, and (2) the Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone) program.

The OSDBU of each federal agency with procurement powers shall review agency purchases ranging between the micro-purchase threshold and the simplified acquisition threshold to ensure that they have been made to comply with the Act and have been properly recorded in the Federal Procurement Data System, if the method of payment is a purchase card issued by the DOD or by an executive agency head.

This bill requires the OSDBU to report annually to specified congressional committees on any federal agency failure to comply with certain requirements of the Act.

(Sec. 204) Each OSDBU shall assist a small business concern awarded a federal contract or subcontract under the Act, or under military or civilian procurement law, in finding resources for education and training on compliance with contracting regulations after such an award.

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 is amended to require agreements under the Mentor-Protege Program of DOD to include, if applicable, the assistance the mentor firm will give the protege firm in understanding contract regulations of the federal government and the DOD after the award of a subcontract.

The Small Business Act is amended to require the SBA to give small business development centers and entities participating in the Procurement Technical Assistance Cooperative Agreement (PTACA) Program a list of resources for small business concerns seeking education and assistance on post-award compliance with contracting regulations.

This bill authorizes a PCR to assist small business concerns with finding resources for education and training on compliance with post-award contracting regulations.

The SBA shall issue regulations to address the extent to which assistance under a mentor-protege program to improve the ability of proteges to compete for federal prime contracts and subcontracts complies with post-award federal contracting requirements.

(Sec. 205) This bill also specifies the exclusive duties of Business Opportunity Specialists (BOSs) employed by the SBA and reporting to specified senior SBA officers. BOSs shall implement SBA requirements (in addition to other duties related to SBA contracting programs) for:

 business loans, procurement contracts or subcontracts, and mentor-protege programs. TITLE III--STRENGTHENING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMPETITION IN SUBCONTRACTING

(Sec. 301) The Small Business Act is amended to make it a material breach of the procurement contract if a subcontracting plan fails to include assurances that the offeror or bidder will submit such periodic reports and cooperate in any studies or surveys required by the federal agency or the SBA in order to determine the extent of compliance by the individual with the plan.

The findings of an SBA's review of a subcontracting plan shall cease to be advisory in nature only.

A federal agency's PCR or CMR may delay acceptance of a subcontracting plan for 30 days (15 days in the case of the DOD) if the plan fails to create the maximum practicable opportunity for certain covered small businesses to participate under the applicable contract. This authority, however, does not allow the PCR or CMR to delay the award or performance of the contract concerned.

A PCR or CMR may not delay acceptance of a subcontracting plan if the head of the contracting agency certifies that the agency's need for the supplies or services is of such an unusual and compelling urgency that the United States would be seriously injured unless the agency is permitted to accept it.

The SBA shall issue regulations giving examples of activities that would be considered a failure to make a good faith effort to comply with its requirements imposed on certain entities that are awarded prime contracts containing them.

(Sec. 302) The SBA shall establish a three-year pilot program for a small business concern performing as a first tier subcontractor under certain federal contracts to request a past performance rating in the system used by the federal government to monitor or record contractor past performance.

The GAO shall assess the program and make recommendations on how its operations can be improved.

TITLE IV--MENTOR-PROTEGE PROGRAMS

(Sec. 401) The bill amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 to revise the eligibility criteria under the Mentor-Protege Program of the DOD for a mentor firm to receive the award of a federal contract and enter into an agreement with one or more protege firms to provide them certain assistance.

Before approval of the agreement, neither the SBA nor DOD may have made any finding of affiliation between the mentor firm and the protege firm, nor must there be any such current finding.

Mentor firms may refer protege firms to women's business centers for assistance designed to develop the protege's firm.

(Sec. 402) The bill amends the Small Business Act to bar DOD from carrying out a Mentor-Protege Program for a small business unless: (1) it submits a plan to the SBA, and (2) the SBA approves that plan.

TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS

(Sec. 501) The bill amends the Small Business Act to require the SBA at least annually to report a list of pertinent regulation changes, together with compliance training materials, to the Defense Acquisition University, the Federal Acquisition Institute, the individual responsible for mandatory training and education of the acquisition workforce of each executive agency, small business development centers, and PTACA participants.

(Sec. 502) The bill makes permanent the authority of a contractor to protest the issuance or proposed issuance of a task or delivery order for federal agency procurement of services or property valued in excess of $10 million. (Such authority shall expire September 30, 2016.)

(Sec. 503) The bill specifies that any agricultural enterprise (farm) the Act covers is a small business concern regardless of whether its annual receipts, including those of any affiliates, exceed $750,000.

The SBA, by rule, shall establish size standards for such agricultural enterprises.

 (Sec. 504) The bill expands the definition of "small business concern owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans" to include certain small business concerns at least 51% of which, or at least 51% of whose stock (not including any stock owned by an employee stock ownership plan [ESOP]), is owned by one or more veterans with permanent, severe, and total service-connected disabilities rendering them unable to manage daily business operations.

This expanded definition also includes a small business concern whose death of its owner causes the concern to be less than 51% owned by one or more service-disabled veterans if:

 the surviving spouse of the deceased veteran acquires the veteran's ownership interest in the concern; the veteran had a service-connected disability rated as 100% disabling or the veteran died as a result of a service-connected disability; and immediately before the veteran's death, and during a specified time period, the small business concern is included in the database specified in this bill. The specified time period begins on the date of the veteran's death and ends on the earlier of the date:

 on which the surviving spouse remarries, on which the surviving spouse relinquishes an ownership interest in the small business concern, or that is 10 years after the veteran's death. Before listing a business concern in its database of veteran-owned businesses, the VA must use certain SBA regulations to verify the status of the concern as a small business concern and the concern's ownership and control; but may not issue related regulations of its own.

A small business concern may appeal to the SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) any denial of verification by the VA for inclusion in the database. The OHA decision shall be considered a final agency action.

If an interested party challenges the inclusion of such a small business concern in the database, the challenge shall be heard by the OHA. OHA's decision shall also be considered a final agency action. An interested party includes:

 the VA; and in the case of a small business concern awarded a contract, the contracting officer of the department or another small business concern that submitted an offer (bid) for such contract. For each fiscal year, the VA shall reimburse the SBA an amount necessary to cover any cost incurred by the OHA for its actions under this bill. The amount of any such reimbursement shall be determined jointly by the VA and the SBA, and shall be taken from fees collected by the VA under multiple-award schedule contracts. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) shall resolve any disagreement about the amount.

(Sec. 505) The bill directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to initiate a review of the SBA Office of Government Contracting and Business Development and make recommendations for its improvement or other suggestions for its procurement and business development programs.

(Sec. 506) The OMB shall submit within 10 days of receipt to specified congressional committees a list of information from specified federal departments and agencies about each major information technology investment, without regard to whether the investments are for new information technology acquisitions or for operations and maintenance of existing information technology, including data on cost, schedule, and performance.

(Sec. 507) The GAO shall initiate a review of surety bonds as they apply to federal small business procurement contracts. The review shall examine:

 how frequently bonding requirements are waived by federal agencies; an explanation of the standard and process for waiving the requirements; an explanation of the review process for such waivers, and in cases when bond requirements are waived, how results compare to instances where requirements are not waived; and the process that whistleblowers go through when instances of fraud related to surety bonds are reported.

small contractors act title improving transparency clarity small businesses sec bill amends small_business_act revise requirements increasing prime federal contracting opportunities small business concerns determining awards contracts sale government property concerns sec bill revises requirements annual small_business_administration sba reports president congress analyzing number dollar prime contracts awarded federal agencies fiscal year small business concerns sba shall include annual reports awards small business concerns purchased entity initial contract awarded small business concern longer deemed small business purchase sba report awards small businesses awarded procurement method small business set aside preference open competition sec purposes government wide agency wide procurement goals small business concerns total value federal procurement contract awards small business concerns fiscal year determined manner excludes value contract based contract awarded performed contract required federal law performed entity small business concern funding contract available appropriations act contract subject requirements civilian procurement planning solicitation military procurement federal_acquisition_regulation far contract subject far sec bill amends small_business_act revise range anticipated value federal procurement contracts reserved exclusively small business concerns range shall micro purchase threshold simplified acquisition threshold currently range anticipated value purposes federal procurement contracting term total purchases contracts property services shall mean total number total dollar contracts orders property services title clarifying roles small business advocates sec small business act amended prohibit sba limiting scope review solicitation contract task order regard contract task order set aside small business concerns contract task order awards reserved small business concerns multiple award contract solicitation result bundled consolidated contract task order sba matters consideration limiting scope review solicitation sec bill makes technical amendment apply contracting equivalent department_of_defense dod certification requirement persons appointed november date enactment national_defense_authorization_act fiscal year bill specifies principal duties government contracting staff stationed area sba offices reporting specified senior sba officers principal duties advance sba policies relating specified subcontracting criteria sec bill allows management office_of_small disadvantaged_business_utilization vested individual primary responsibilities functions duties procurement program small business concerns owned controlled service disabled veterans hubzone program federal agency procurement powers shall review agency purchases ranging micro purchase threshold simplified acquisition threshold ensure comply act properly recorded method payment purchase card issued dod executive agency head bill requires report annually specified congressional committees federal agency failure comply certain requirements act sec shall assist small business concern awarded federal contract subcontract act military civilian procurement law finding resources education training compliance contracting regulations award national defense authorization act fiscal year amended require agreements dod include applicable assistance mentor firm protege firm understanding contract regulations federal government dod award subcontract small business act amended require sba small business development centers entities participating program list resources small business concerns seeking education assistance post award compliance contracting regulations bill authorizes assist small business concerns finding resources education training compliance post award contracting regulations sba shall issue regulations address extent assistance mentor protege program improve ability compete federal prime contracts subcontracts complies post award federal contracting requirements sec bill specifies exclusive duties employed sba reporting specified senior sba officers shall implement sba requirements addition duties related sba contracting programs business loans procurement contracts subcontracts mentor protege programs title iii strengthening opportunities competition subcontracting sec small business act amended material breach procurement contract subcontracting plan fails include assurances offeror bidder submit periodic reports cooperate studies surveys required federal agency sba order determine extent compliance individual plan findings sba review subcontracting plan shall cease advisory nature federal agency delay acceptance subcontracting plan days days case dod plan fails create maximum practicable opportunity certain covered small businesses participate applicable contract authority allow delay award performance contract concerned delay acceptance subcontracting plan head contracting agency certifies agency need supplies services unusual compelling urgency united_states seriously injured agency permitted accept sba shall issue regulations giving examples activities considered failure good faith effort comply requirements imposed certain entities awarded prime contracts containing sec sba shall establish year pilot program small business concern performing tier subcontractor certain federal contracts request past performance rating system federal government monitor record contractor past performance gao shall assess program recommendations operations improved title mentor protege programs sec bill amends national_defense_authorization_act fiscal year revise eligibility criteria dod mentor firm receive award federal contract enter agreement protege firms provide certain assistance approval agreement sba dod finding affiliation mentor firm protege firm current finding mentor firms refer protege firms women business centers assistance designed develop protege firm sec bill amends small_business_act bar dod carrying small business submits plan sba sba approves plan title miscellaneous sec bill amends small_business_act require sba annually report list pertinent regulation changes compliance training materials individual responsible mandatory training education acquisition workforce executive agency small business development centers participants sec bill makes permanent authority contractor protest issuance proposed issuance task delivery order federal agency procurement services property valued excess million authority shall expire september sec bill specifies agricultural enterprise farm act covers small business concern regardless annual receipts including affiliates exceed sba rule shall establish size standards agricultural enterprises sec bill expands definition small business concern owned controlled service disabled veterans include certain small business concerns stock including stock owned employee stock ownership plan esop owned veterans permanent severe total service connected disabilities rendering unable manage daily business operations expanded definition includes small business concern death owner causes concern owned service disabled veterans surviving spouse deceased veteran acquires veteran ownership interest concern veteran service connected disability rated disabling veteran died result service connected disability immediately veteran death specified time period small business concern included database specified bill specified time period begins date veteran death ends earlier date surviving spouse remarries surviving spouse relinquishes ownership interest small business concern years veteran death listing business concern database veteran owned businesses use certain sba regulations verify status concern small business concern concern ownership control issue related regulations small business concern appeal denial verification inclusion database decision shall considered final agency action interested party challenges inclusion small business concern database challenge shall heard decision shall considered final agency action interested party includes case small business concern awarded contract contracting officer department small business concern submitted offer bid contract fiscal year shall reimburse sba necessary cover cost incurred actions bill reimbursement shall determined jointly sba shall taken fees collected multiple award schedule contracts office_of_management_and_budget omb shall resolve disagreement sec bill directs government_accountability_office gao initiate review recommendations improvement suggestions procurement business development programs sec omb shall submit days receipt specified congressional committees list information specified federal departments agencies major information technology investment regard investments new information technology acquisitions operations maintenance existing information technology including data cost schedule performance sec gao shall initiate review surety bonds apply federal small business procurement contracts review shall examine frequently bonding requirements waived federal agencies explanation standard process waiving requirements explanation review process waivers cases bond requirements waived results compare instances requirements waived process whistleblowers instances fraud related surety bonds reported


Summary:
SAVE for Small Businesses Act or the Savings Accounts for a Variable Economy for Small Businesses Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) provide for tax-exempt small business savings accounts, and (2) allow tax deductible contributions to such accounts of not more than 10% of the gross profits of an eligible small business (a business employing an average of 50 or fewer full-time employees) for the preceding taxable year.

The bill excludes qualified distributions from such accounts from gross income for income tax purposes. A "qualified distribution" is: (1) any amount that is distributed from a small business savings account during a specified period of economic hardship, and (2) the distribution of which is certified as being part of a plan that provides for the reinvestment of such distribution for the funding of worker hiring or financial stabilization for the purposes of job retention or creation.

The Secretary of the Treasury shall: (1) establish minimum standards for small business savings accounts that seek to minimize fees and risk of loss of principal, and (2) ensure a range of investment risk options available to account beneficiaries.

save small businesses act savings_accounts variable economy small businesses act bill amends internal_revenue_code provide tax exempt small business savings accounts allow tax deductible contributions accounts gross profits eligible small business business employing average fewer time employees preceding taxable year bill excludes qualified distributions accounts gross income income tax purposes qualified distribution distributed small business savings account specified period economic hardship distribution certified plan provides reinvestment distribution funding worker hiring financial stabilization purposes job retention creation secretary treasury shall establish minimum standards small business savings accounts seek minimize fees risk loss principal ensure range investment risk options available account beneficiaries


Summary:
Commercializing on Small Business Innovation Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Small Business Act to reauthorize for FY2017-FY2022 both the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) shall continue through FY2022 to permit each federal agency to use up to 3% of its SBIR program funds to assist the agency in its required SBIR or STTR program's administration and related activities.

(Sec. 3) The bill also increases the percentages of required agency expenditures with small business concerns under these programs for each of those fiscal years.

(Sec. 4) The bill revises SBIR and STTR annual reporting requirements to establish deadline dates. The SBA's annual report to Congress on these programs shall be due by December 31 of each year. Federal agency annual reports to the SBA on their SBIR or STTR program shall be due by March 30. The SBA must report annually to Congress by June 30 on the use of SBIR program funds by federal agencies for specified purposes in the Act.

(Sec. 5) SBA policy directives shall index SBIR and STTR awards for inflation. As under current law, an award for: (1) Phase I of an SBIR or STTR program may not exceed $150,000, and (2) Phase II of such program may not exceed $1 million. The SBA shall continue to adjust these dollar amounts for inflation.

(Sec. 6) This bill requires the Department of Defense (which under current law is already authorized) to create insertion incentives under the Department of Defense Commercialization Readiness Program for any contract with a value of at least $100 million to:

 establish goals for the transition of Phase III technologies in subcontracting plans, and require a prime contractor on such a contract to report the number and dollar amount of contracts entered into by that prime contractor for Phase III SBIR or STTR projects. (Sec. 7) The SBA shall modify its policy directives to make clear that HUBZone small business concerns owned and controlled by Alaska Native Corporations, owned by Indian tribal governments, and owned by Native Hawaiian Organizations are eligible to receive SBIR and STTR awards.

(Sec. 8) Any federal agency required to have an SBIR program (covered agency) shall implement a commercialization assistance pilot program (CAPP) through FY2022 to award eligible entities with a second sequential SBIR award, unless the agency already has a program sufficiently similar to CAPP.

A covered agency may spend up to 5% of its total SBIR budget for CAPP awards, to be distributed during the recipient's Phase II award period. Such awards may only be used for research and development activities that build on the eligible entity's Phase II program and catalyze acceleration towards commercialization.

The SBA shall require as a condition of any CAPP award that an equal matching amount (excluding any fees collected from recipients of such assistance) be provided from an eligible third-party investor before the end of the CAPP award. An eligible entity may not use funding from ineligible sources to meet this matching requirement.

The term:

 "eligible entity" means a small business concern that has received a Phase II award and a Phase II sequential award from the covered agency to which such entity is applying for a second sequential SBIR award; "eligible third-party investor" means a small business concern other than the eligible entity, a venture capital firm, an individual investor, a non-SBIR federal, state, or local government, or any combination; and "ineligible sources" means the awardee's internal research and development funds, funding in forms other than cash such as in-kind or other intangible assets, funding from the owners of the eligible entity, or the family members or affiliates of such owners, or funding attained through loans or other forms of debt obligations. (Sec. 9) The bill eliminates the authority of an agency to request a waiver of the requirement to use a portion of SBIR funds for outreach efforts to increase the participation of:

 social and economically disadvantaged small business concerns and certain woman-owned small business concerns, and states in which a low level of SBIR awards have historically been awarded.

commercializing small business innovation act sec bill amends small_business_act reauthorize fy2017 fy2022 small_business_innovation_research sbir program small_business_technology_transfer sttr program small_business_administration sba shall continue fy2022 permit federal agency use sbir program funds assist agency required sbir sttr program administration related activities sec bill increases percentages required agency expenditures small business concerns programs fiscal years sec bill revises sbir sttr annual reporting requirements establish deadline dates sba annual report congress programs shall december year federal agency annual reports sba sbir sttr program shall march sba report annually congress june use sbir program funds federal agencies specified purposes act sec sba policy directives shall index sbir sttr awards inflation current law award phase sbir sttr program exceed phase program exceed million sba shall continue adjust dollar amounts inflation sec bill requires department_of_defense current law authorized create incentives contract value million establish goals transition phase iii technologies subcontracting plans require prime contractor contract report number dollar contracts entered prime contractor sttr projects sec sba shall modify policy directives clear hubzone small business concerns owned controlled alaska_native_corporations owned indian tribal governments owned eligible receive sbir sttr awards sec federal agency required sbir program covered agency shall implement commercialization assistance pilot program fy2022 award eligible entities second sequential sbir award agency program sufficiently similar covered agency spend total sbir budget awards distributed recipient phase award period awards research development activities build eligible entity phase_ii program acceleration commercialization sba shall require condition award equal matching excluding fees collected recipients assistance provided eligible party investor end award eligible entity use funding ineligible sources meet matching requirement term eligible entity means small business concern received phase award phase_ii sequential award covered agency entity applying second sequential sbir award eligible party investor means small business concern eligible entity venture capital firm individual investor non sbir federal state local government combination ineligible sources means awardee internal research development funds funding forms cash kind intangible assets funding owners eligible entity family members affiliates owners funding attained loans forms debt obligations sec bill eliminates authority agency request waiver requirement use portion sbir funds outreach efforts increase participation social economically disadvantaged small business concerns certain woman owned small business concerns states low level sbir awards historically awarded


Summary:
Main Street Jobs and Opportunity Act of 2016

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) repeal the estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes, and (2) make permanent the maximum 35% gift tax rate and the lifetime gift tax exemption, with adjustments for inflation.

The Paperwork Reduction Act is amended to direct federal agency heads not to impose civil fines for first-time paperwork violations by small businesses unless specified criteria are met.

The Department of Labor shall study the effects of occupational licensing requirements to determine how they may affect public safety and the service quality of certain occupations, and impose barriers to entry for establishing small businesses, among other negative effects.

The Internal Revenue Code is further amended to revise the formula for counting the hours of service of non-full-time employees in determining whether an employer is a large employer for health coverage purposes.

An individual or an eligible small business may enter into an agreement with the Department of the Treasury to establish in a bank or other eligible trust a small business start-up savings account for tax-deductible annual contributions by the account beneficiary.

The sanctions requirements of Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure are revised to require the court to impose an appropriate sanction on any attorney, law firm, or party that has violated, or is responsible for the violation of, the rule with regard to representations to the court. Requires any sanction to compensate parties injured by the conduct in question.

The Internal Revenue Code is further amended to:

 allow businesses with average annual gross receipts of not more than $50 million that prevail to recover their costs in any administrative or court proceeding involving the determination, collection, or refund of tax, interest, or penalty; increase the amount of civil damages against Internal Revenue Service officers or employees for reckless, intentional, or negligent disregard of internal revenue laws, and extend the statute of limitations for bringing a claim; and increase the penalties against federal officers or employees for unlawful acts in connection with internal revenue laws and for unauthorized disclosures or inspections of tax returns.

opportunity act bill amends internal_revenue_code repeal estate generation skipping transfer taxes permanent maximum gift tax rate lifetime gift tax exemption adjustments inflation paperwork reduction act amended direct federal agency heads impose civil fines time paperwork violations small businesses specified criteria met department_of_labor shall study effects occupational licensing requirements determine affect public safety service quality certain occupations impose barriers entry establishing small businesses negative effects internal revenue code amended revise formula counting hours service non time employees determining employer large employer health coverage purposes individual eligible small business enter agreement department_of_the_treasury establish bank eligible trust small business start savings account tax deductible annual contributions account beneficiary sanctions requirements rule federal_rules_of_civil_procedure revised require court impose appropriate sanction attorney law firm party violated responsible violation rule regard representations court requires sanction compensate parties injured conduct question internal revenue code amended allow businesses average annual gross receipts million prevail recover costs administrative court proceeding involving determination collection refund tax interest penalty increase civil damages internal_revenue_service officers employees reckless intentional negligent disregard internal revenue laws extend statute limitations bringing claim increase penalties federal officers employees unlawful acts connection internal revenue laws unauthorized disclosures inspections tax returns


Summary:
Small Business Lending Assistance Act of 2016

This bill amends the Small Business Act with respect to guarantee fees for small business loans.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) shall have discretion not to collect a guarantee fee for a loan repayable in one year or less.

The SBA may not, however, collect a guarantee fee in connection with a loan repayable in one year or less if it is made to a borrower that resides in a county with an annual unemployment rate for the preceding calendar year of at least one percentage point greater than the national annual unemployment rate for that year.

small business lending assistance act bill amends small_business_act respect guarantee fees small business loans small_business_administration sba shall discretion collect guarantee fee loan repayable year sba collect guarantee fee connection loan repayable year borrower resides county annual unemployment rate preceding calendar year percentage point greater national annual unemployment rate year


Summary:
Improving Small Business Cyber Security Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Small Business Act to authorize the Small Business Administration (SBA) to make grants to small business development centers (SBDCs) in furtherance of a Small Business Development Center Cyber Strategy to be developed by the SBA and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issues a report that reviews federal cybersecurity resources aimed at assisting small businesses.

SBDCs shall have access to cybersecurity specialists to counsel their small business clients.

(Sec. 3) The Homeland Security Act of 2002 and the Small Business Act are amended to allow DHS and other federal agencies coordinating with DHS to leverage SBDCs to disseminate cybersecurity risk information and other homeland security information to help small businesses in developing cybersecurity infrastructure, threat awareness, and employee training programs.

(Sec. 5) The GAO's cyber resources report must include: (1) an accounting, description, and assessment of the utilization of federal programs that provide cybersecurity assistance to small businesses; and (2) an assessment of whether the resources are duplicative of other programs or accessible to small businesses.

The strategy must include:

 plans for leveraging SBDCs into existing federal cyber programs to assist small businesses; methods for the provision of counsel and assistance to improve small businesses' cyber security infrastructure, threat awareness, and training programs for employees, including agreements with Information Sharing and Analysis Centers to gain awareness of actionable threat information that may be beneficial to small businesses; and an analysis of how SBDCs can leverage federal programs and develop partnerships with federal, state, and local governments and private entities to improve cyber support services to small businesses. The SBA's and DHS's strategy must be developed in consultation with entities representing SBDC concerns and submitted to Congress.

sec bill amends small_business_act authorize small_business_administration sba grants small business development centers sbdcs furtherance developed sba department_of_homeland_security dhs government_accountability_office gao issues report reviews federal cybersecurity resources aimed assisting small businesses sbdcs shall access cybersecurity specialists counsel small business clients sec homeland security act small_business_act amended allow dhs federal agencies coordinating dhs leverage sbdcs disseminate cybersecurity risk information homeland security information help small businesses developing cybersecurity infrastructure threat awareness employee training programs sec gao cyber resources report include accounting description assessment utilization federal programs provide cybersecurity assistance small businesses assessment resources duplicative programs accessible small businesses strategy include plans leveraging sbdcs existing federal cyber programs assist small businesses methods provision counsel assistance improve small businesses cyber security infrastructure threat awareness training programs employees including agreements information sharing gain awareness actionable threat information beneficial small businesses analysis sbdcs leverage federal programs develop partnerships federal state local governments private entities improve cyber support services small businesses sba dhs strategy developed consultation entities representing sbdc concerns submitted congress


Summary:
Investing in America's Small Businesses Act of 2016

 This bill amends the Community Development Banking and Financial Institutions Act of 1994 to require the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund to make grants to community development financial institutions to enable such institutions to establish a loan-loss reserve fund to defray the costs of a small business loan program.

The bill defines "small business loan program" as a program in which a community development financial institution offers loans to small businesses that: (1) are made in amounts up to $50,000, (2) have no prepayment penalty, and (3) meet any affordability requirements established by Administrator of the Fund.

A community development financial institution must provide non-federal matching funds equal to 50% of the amount of any grant received.

The bill prohibits the use of such grants to make direct loans to small businesses.

A community development financial institution may use such a grant to: (1) help recapture a portion or all of a defaulted loan made under its small business loan program, and (2) designate and utilize a fiscal agent for services the agent normally provides.

The Fund shall make technical assistance grants to community development financial institutions to create, support, or maintain such a program.

investing america small businesses act bill amends financial institutions act require community_development_financial_institutions_fund grants community development financial institutions enable institutions establish loan loss reserve fund defray costs small business loan program bill defines small business loan program program community development financial institution offers loans small businesses amounts prepayment penalty meet affordability requirements established administrator fund community development financial institution provide non federal matching funds equal grant received bill prohibits use grants direct loans small businesses community development financial institution use grant help recapture portion defaulted loan small business loan program designate utilize fiscal agent services agent normally provides fund shall technical assistance grants community development financial institutions create support maintain program


Summary:
Small Business Access to Capital Act of 2016 This bill amends the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 to extend for an additional eight fiscal years the State Small Business Credit Initiative to assist participating states to give collateral support and other innovative credit access and guarantee initiatives for small business concerns and manufacturers.

The bill prescribes allocations of federal funds to participating states.

Treasury may award, on a competitive basis, up to a total of $1 billion in two tranches, according to specified criteria, to participating states and consortiums of participating states for use: (1) for making federal contributions to, or for the account of, an approved state program; or (2) as collateral for a qualifying loan or swap funding facility.

The State Small Business Credit Initiative Act of 2010 is amended to revise minimum program requirements for state capital access programs.

Treasury may not approve any state capital access program that fails to include a plan that promotes a fair share of federal contributions to be used to strengthen and increase economic opportunities for small business concerns in low-and moderate-income, minority, and other underserved communities and women- and minority-owned small business concerns.

In making a determination that a state other credit support program is eligible for federal contributions to, or for the account of, the state program, Treasury shall take into account the extent to which the state plans to use these contributions to provide access to capital for small business concerns in low- and moderate-income, minority, and other underserved communities and to women- and minority-owned small businesses, and the extent to which resulting small business lending will expand economic opportunities for such communities and such concerns.

The bill revises the mandatory contents of each participating state's annual report to Treasury on its capital access program.

Treasury shall:

 consult with the Office of Minority and Women Inclusion (OMWI) of the Departmental Offices of Treasury, among others, on the administration of the state capital access program; and ensure adequate oversight of the approved state programs to ensure efforts to expand economic opportunity for minority- and women-owned small business concerns. Treasury shall also:

 consult with the OMWI in issuing such regulations and other guidance to implement the Act; and in issuing these regulations, seek public input from community, civil rights, consumer advocates, small business advocates, and other interested or affected parties.

small business access capital act bill amends small_business_jobs_act extend additional fiscal years assist participating states collateral support innovative credit access guarantee initiatives small business concerns manufacturers bill prescribes allocations federal funds participating states treasury award competitive basis total billion according specified criteria participating states consortiums participating states use making federal contributions account approved state program collateral qualifying loan swap funding facility initiative act amended revise minimum program requirements state capital access programs treasury approve state capital access program fails include plan promotes fair share federal contributions strengthen increase economic opportunities small business concerns low moderate income minority underserved communities women- minority owned small business concerns making determination state credit support program eligible federal contributions account state program treasury shall account extent state plans use contributions provide access capital small business concerns low- moderate income minority underserved communities women- minority owned small businesses extent resulting small business lending expand economic opportunities communities concerns bill revises mandatory contents participating state annual report treasury capital access program treasury shall consult administration state capital access program ensure adequate oversight approved state programs ensure efforts expand economic opportunity women owned small business concerns treasury shall consult issuing regulations guidance implement act issuing regulations seek public input community civil rights consumer advocates small business advocates interested affected parties


Summary:
Strengthening Technical Assistance, Resources, and Training to Unleash the Potential of Veterans Act of 2016 or the STARTUP Vets Act of 2016

This bill amends the Small Business Act to require the Small Business Administration (SBA) to make two-year renewable grants to create and operate incubators and accelerators that provide technical assistance and training to covered individuals on how to become successful entrepreneurs and form small business concerns.

Such program shall be considered an SBA management and technical assistance training program.

Program outreach materials shall be made available at local Department of Veterans Affairs facilities.

"Covered individual" means:

 a member of the Armed Forces, without regard to whether he or she participates in the Transition Assistance Program of the Department of Defense; an individual who is participating in the Transition Assistance Program; an individual who served on active duty in any branch of the Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserves, and was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable; and a spouse or dependent.

strengthening technical assistance resources training potential veterans act startup vets act bill amends small_business_act require small_business_administration sba year renewable grants create operate incubators accelerators provide technical assistance training covered individuals successful entrepreneurs form small business concerns program shall considered sba management technical assistance training program program outreach materials shall available local department_of_veterans_affairs facilities covered individual means member armed_forces regard participates transition_assistance_program_of_the_department_of_defense individual participating transition_assistance_program individual served active duty branch armed_forces including discharged released conditions dishonorable spouse dependent


Summary:
Small Business Start-up Savings Accounts Act of 2016

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for tax-preferred Small Business Start-up Savings Accounts to pay for trade or business expenses, including the purchase of equipment or facilities, marketing, training, incorporation, and accounting fees. The bill allows annual nondeductible contributions to such accounts of up to $10,000, subject to a $150,000 limit on total contributions to the account and adjustments for inflation after 2017. The bill sets forth rules for the tax treatment of contributions to and rollovers or distributions from the accounts, similar to rules governing individual retirement accounts (IRAs). Qualified distributions from the accounts are excluded from gross income.

small business start savings accounts act bill amends internal_revenue_code provide tax preferred small business start savings_accounts pay trade business expenses including purchase equipment facilities marketing training incorporation accounting fees bill allows annual nondeductible contributions accounts subject limit total contributions account adjustments inflation bill sets forth rules tax treatment contributions rollovers distributions accounts similar rules governing individual retirement accounts iras qualified distributions accounts excluded gross income


Summary:
Mom and Pop SHOP Act of 2016 or the Mom and Mom SHOP Act of 2016 or the Pop and Pop SHOP Act of 2016

This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to make eligible for the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP health insurance exchange) an individual (and his or her spouse or domestic partner) who owns, or is a partner in, a business that has no employees.

mom shop act mom mom shop act shop act bill amends patient_protection affordable care act eligible shop health insurance exchange individual spouse domestic partner owns partner business employees


Summary:
Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2015

Amends the Paperwork Reduction Act to direct agency heads not to impose civil fines for first-time paperwork violations by small businesses unless there is potential for serious harm to the public interest, the detection of criminal activity would be impaired, the violation is not corrected within six months, the violation is a violation of internal revenue law or a law concerning the assessment or collection of any tax, debt, revenue, or receipt, or the violation presents a danger to the public health or safety. Permits an agency to determine that a fine should not be imposed for a violation that presents a danger to public health or safety if the violation is corrected within 24 hours after receipt by the small business owner of notification of the violation.

Makes this Act inapplicable to any violation by a small business of a requirement regarding the collection of information by an agency if the small business previously violated any requirement concerning the collection of information by that agency.

small business paperwork relief act amends paperwork reduction act direct agency heads impose civil fines time paperwork violations small businesses potential harm public interest detection criminal activity impaired violation corrected months violation violation internal revenue law law concerning assessment collection tax debt revenue receipt violation presents danger public health safety permits agency determine fine imposed violation presents danger public health safety violation corrected hours receipt small business owner notification violation makes act inapplicable violation small business requirement collection information agency small business previously violated requirement concerning collection information agency


Summary:
Transparency in Small Business Assistance Act

 Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to collect, for specified periods, information from small businesses that receive SBA assistance, including a loan, loan guarantee, grant, or counseling services.

Requires such information to include: (1) the operational status of the small business and, if it is no longer operational, the reason for closure; (2) the number of part- and full-time employees; and (3) the number of referrals that SBA makes to another federal assistance program if it is unable to provide assistance to the business.

transparency small business assistance act directs administrator small_business_administration sba collect specified periods information small businesses receive sba assistance including loan loan guarantee grant counseling services requires information include operational status small business longer operational reason closure number time employees number referrals sba makes federal assistance program unable provide assistance business


Summary:
Small Business Health Relief Act of 2015

Repeals provisions of the Internal Revenue Code that: (1) impose fines on large employers (those with 50 or more full-time employees) who fail to offer their full-time employees the opportunity to enroll in minimum essential health insurance coverage, and (2) require large employers to file a report with the Department of the Treasury on health insurance coverage provided to their full-time employees.

Repeals provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) that: (1) limit the annual deductible on health plans offered in the small group market, (2) deem catastrophic plans to meet essential health benefits coverage requirements for certain individuals, and (3) impose an annual fee on health insurance entities.

Deems high deductible health plans to meet essential health benefits coverage requirements if the enrollee has established a health savings account.

Amends the Public Health Service Act to repeal the limitation on premium rate variance by age in the individual or small group market.

Repeals the prohibitions on payments for over-the-counter medications from health savings accounts, medical savings accounts, and health flexible spending arrangements.

Repeals the $2,500 annual limit on employee contributions by salary reduction to a health flexible spending arrangement under a cafeteria plan.

Allows a health plan to maintain its status as a grandfathered health plan regardless of any modification to cost-sharing, employer contribution rates, or covered benefits. Makes this allowance effective as if included in PPACA.

small business health relief act repeals provisions internal_revenue_code impose fines large employers time employees fail offer time employees opportunity enroll minimum essential health insurance coverage require large employers file report department_of_the_treasury health insurance coverage provided time employees repeals provisions patient_protection affordable care act ppaca limit annual deductible health plans offered small group market deem catastrophic plans meet essential health benefits coverage requirements certain individuals impose annual fee health insurance entities deems high deductible health plans meet essential health benefits coverage requirements enrollee established health savings account amends public_health_service_act repeal limitation premium rate variance age individual small group market repeals prohibitions payments counter medications health savings accounts medical savings accounts health flexible spending arrangements repeals annual limit employee contributions salary reduction health flexible spending arrangement cafeteria plan allows health plan maintain status grandfathered health plan regardless modification cost sharing employer contribution rates covered benefits makes allowance effective included ppaca


Summary:
Start-up Jobs and Innovation Act

 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) make permanent the increase to $500,000 of the expensing allowance for business assets, including computer software, and the treatment of qualified real property as depreciable business property; (2) make permanent the 100% exclusion from gross income of gain from the sale or exchange of small business stock; (3) increase and equalize the tax deduction for business start-up expenses and organizational expenditures; (4) increase from $5 million to $10 million the gross receipt test used to determine the eligibility of small businesses to use simplified cash accounting and inventory rules; and (5) exempt from passive loss rules any research activity carried on by a high technology research small business pass-thru entity.

start jobs innovation act amends internal revenue code permanent increase expensing allowance business assets including computer software treatment qualified real property depreciable business property permanent exclusion gross income gain sale exchange small business stock increase equalize tax deduction business start expenses organizational expenditures increase million million gross receipt test determine eligibility small businesses use simplified cash accounting inventory rules exempt passive loss rules research activity carried high technology research small business pass entity


Summary:
Small Business Investment Company Capital Act of 2015

 (Sec. 2) Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to increase from $225 million to $350 million the maximum amount of outstanding leverage to be made available by the Small Business Administration to two or more commonly controlled small business investment companies not under capital impairment.

act sec amends small_business_investment_act increase million million maximum outstanding leverage available small_business_administration commonly controlled small business investment companies capital impairment


Summary:
Small Business Regulatory Sunset Act of 2015

Requires each federal agency to establish a plan for the periodic review (every nine years) of: (1) its rules that have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, and (2) any small entity compliance guide required to be published by an agency. Sets forth criteria for review of a rule, including the continued need for the rule, the complexity of the rule, and the economic impact of the rule on small entities. Requires: (1) each agency to publish in the Federal Register and on the agency website a list of the rules and small entity compliance guides to be reviewed under the plan, and (2) the agency Inspector General to determine whether the agency has conducted the required review.

Provides that each covered rule (i.e., any rule for which an agency is required to prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis and which is a major rule) promulgated by an agency shall cease to have effect seven years after the final version of such rule is published unless renewed by the agency using the notice and comment rulemaking process.

small business regulatory sunset act requires federal agency establish plan periodic review years rules significant economic impact substantial number small entities small entity compliance guide required published agency sets forth criteria review rule including continued need rule complexity rule economic impact rule small entities requires agency publish federal_register agency website list rules small entity compliance guides reviewed plan agency inspector general determine agency conducted required review provides covered rule rule agency required prepare regulatory flexibility analysis major rule promulgated agency shall cease effect seven years final version rule published renewed agency notice comment rulemaking process


Summary:
Small Business Taxpayer Bill of Rights Act of 2015

 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow businesses with average annual gross receipts of not more than $50,000 that prevail in an administrative or court proceeding involving the determination, collection, or refund of tax, interest, or penalty to recover their costs incurred in such proceedings; (2) increase the amount of civil damages against Internal Revenue Service (IRS) officers or employees for reckless, intentional, or negligent disregard of internal revenue laws and extend from two to five years the period for bringing a claim for damages; (3) increase the penalties against federal officers or employees for unlawful acts in connection with internal revenue laws and for unauthorized disclosures or inspections of tax returns; and (4) allow a taxpayer whose interest abatement claim does not exceed $50,000 to elect to bring a small tax case petition in U.S. Tax Court.

Prohibits ex parte communications between officers in the IRS Office of Appeals and other IRS employees with respect to matters pending before such officers and employees.

Authorizes new alternative dispute resolution procedures for taxpayer disputes with the IRS.

Extends to three years: (1) the period in which taxpayer property that has been wrongfully levied upon may be returned, and (2) the period for bringing suit against the United States for a wrongful tax levy.

Authorizes the waiver of the fee for establishing an installment agreement for payment of tax for certain low-income taxpayers who agree to make electronic debit payments.

 Allows a taxpayer seeking review of a claim for innocent spouse relief or of a collection case in U.S. Tax Court a 60-day suspension of the period for filing a petition for such review when the U.S. Bankruptcy Court has issued an automatic stay in a bankruptcy case involving the taxpayer's claim.

Allows de novo review in U.S. Tax Court of any determination by the IRS with respect to a claim for equitable innocent spouse relief.

Prohibits the IRS Office of Appeals from considering or deciding any new issue in an internal appeal that is not within the scope of the initial determination made in a taxpayer's case.

Prohibits the imposition of a tax lien against a taxpayer's principal residence unless a written determination is made that all other property of the taxpayer, if sold, is insufficient to pay the tax liability and the lien will not create an economic hardship for the taxpayer.

Requires the termination of an IRS employee for disproportionate scrutiny of an organization applying for tax-exempt status based on the ideology expressed in the name or purpose of the organization;

Authorizes a court to issue a declaratory judgment with respect to the initial or continuing classification of a tax-exempt social welfare organization;

Requires the Inspector General for Tax Administration of the Department of the Treasury to: (1) review any IRS criteria for selection of tax returns for examination or audit, assessment or collection of deficiencies, criminal investigation or referral, refunds for amounts paid, or any heightened scrutiny or review to determine whether such criteria discriminates against taxpayers on the basis of race, religion, or political ideology; and (2) consult with the IRS on recommended amendments to such criteria.

small business taxpayer bill rights act amends internal revenue code allow businesses average annual gross receipts prevail administrative court proceeding involving determination collection refund tax interest penalty recover costs incurred proceedings increase civil damages internal_revenue_service irs officers employees reckless intentional negligent disregard internal revenue laws extend years period bringing claim damages increase penalties federal officers employees unlawful acts connection internal revenue laws unauthorized disclosures inspections tax returns allow taxpayer interest abatement claim exceed elect bring small tax case petition prohibits parte communications officers irs_office_of_appeals irs employees respect matters pending officers employees authorizes new alternative dispute resolution procedures taxpayer disputes irs extends years period taxpayer property wrongfully levied returned period bringing suit united_states wrongful tax levy authorizes waiver fee establishing installment agreement payment tax certain low income taxpayers agree electronic debit payments allows taxpayer seeking review claim innocent spouse relief collection case day suspension period filing petition review issued automatic stay bankruptcy case involving taxpayer claim novo review determination irs respect claim equitable innocent spouse relief prohibits irs_office_of_appeals considering deciding new issue internal appeal scope initial determination taxpayer case prohibits imposition tax lien taxpayer principal residence written determination property taxpayer sold insufficient pay tax liability lien create economic hardship taxpayer requires termination irs employee disproportionate scrutiny organization applying tax exempt status based ideology expressed purpose organization authorizes court issue declaratory judgment respect initial continuing classification tax exempt social welfare organization requires inspector general tax administration department treasury review irs criteria selection tax returns examination audit assessment collection deficiencies criminal investigation referral refunds amounts paid heightened scrutiny review determine criteria discriminates taxpayers basis race religion political ideology consult irs recommended amendments criteria


Summary:
Small Business Disaster Reform Act of 2015

 Amends the Small Business Act with respect to obtaining the best available collateral for a disaster loan of up to $200,000 relating to damage to or destruction of the property of, or economic injury to, a small business. Prohibits the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), in obtaining such collateral, from requiring the small business owner to use the owner's primary residence as collateral if the owner has other assets with a value equal to or greater than the loan amount that could be used.

Allows the Administrator to authorize a Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to provide assistance to small businesses outside the state of that SBDC, without regard to geographical proximity, if the small business is in a declared major disaster area.

Expresses the sense of Congress that the Administrator shall ensure that a SBDC is appropriately reimbursed for any legitimate expenses in carrying out such assistance.

Directs the Administrator to increase oversight of small businesses receiving economic injury disaster loans, including random site visits and random reviews of loan usage. Expresses the sense of Congress that no additional federal funds shall be made available for such increased oversight.

Expresses the sense of Congress that the Administrator should: (1) reduce paperwork burdens on small businesses applying for SBA disaster assistance loans; and (2) ensure that the application for such assistance facilitates deterring and detecting potential instances of waste, fraud, and abuse. Requires the Administrator to take steps to reduce such paperwork.

Requires a report from the Administrator to specified congressional committees relating to the creation of a web portal to track the status of applications for SBA disaster assistance.

small business disaster reform act amends small_business_act respect obtaining best available collateral disaster loan relating damage destruction property economic injury small business prohibits administrator small_business_administration sba obtaining collateral requiring small business owner use owner primary residence collateral owner assets value equal greater loan allows administrator authorize small business development center sbdc provide assistance small businesses outside state sbdc regard geographical proximity small business declared major disaster area expresses sense congress administrator shall ensure sbdc appropriately reimbursed legitimate expenses carrying assistance directs administrator increase oversight small businesses receiving economic injury disaster loans including random site visits random reviews loan usage expresses sense congress additional federal funds shall available increased oversight expresses sense congress administrator reduce paperwork burdens small businesses applying sba disaster assistance loans ensure application assistance facilitates deterring detecting potential instances waste fraud abuse requires administrator steps reduce paperwork requires report administrator specified congressional committees relating creation web portal track status applications sba disaster assistance


Summary:
Small Business Fairness Act

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Small Business Act to revise requirements with respect to solicitation of offers for bundled contracts issued by the head of a federal agency that allows a small business to submit an offer (bid) that provides for the use of a particular team of subcontractors for the performance of the contract.

The small business may now also bid on a bundled or consolidated contract that provides for the use of a joint venture of small businesses.

The Small Business Administration (SBA), with respect to either a single or a multiple contract award, must evaluate teams and joint ventures of small business concerns by considering their prior experience and past performance as well as (according to current law) their capabilities.

For certain federal procurement contracts awarded to a team of small business prime contractors and subcontractors or a joint venture of small businesses, the contracting officer must certify annually to the SBA, for each year the contract is in effect, that each small business member of the team or joint venture has the same status of a small business, small business owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, qualified HUBZone small business, small business owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, or small business owned and controlled by women, as applicable, that it had at the time the contract was awarded.

This requirement shall not apply to a contract awarded to a joint venture of small businesses that is a protege under a SBA approved mentor-protege program.

small business fairness act sec bill amends small_business_act revise requirements respect solicitation offers bundled contracts issued head federal agency allows small business submit offer bid provides use particular team subcontractors performance contract small business bid bundled consolidated contract provides use joint venture small businesses small_business_administration sba respect single multiple contract award evaluate teams joint ventures small business concerns considering prior experience past performance according current law capabilities certain federal procurement contracts awarded team small business prime contractors subcontractors joint venture small businesses contracting officer certify annually sba year contract effect small business member team joint venture status small business small business owned controlled service disabled veterans qualified hubzone small business small business owned controlled socially economically disadvantaged individuals small business owned controlled women applicable time contract awarded requirement shall apply contract awarded joint venture small businesses protege sba approved mentor protege program


Summary:
Small Business Innovation Impact Act

This bill requires the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration to submit an analysis, using existing resources, to specified congressional committees on:

 the investment of small businesses in developing new and useful inventions and obtaining patents on them; the importance of university technology transfer to small businesses; the use of patent licensing arrangements by them; the impact of patent ownership for small businesses on attracting outside investment, creating new jobs, protecting against foreign infringing goods, and competing against larger businesses; and the impact on small businesses from patent-related demand letters and civil actions arising under federal law relating to patent infringement.

small business innovation impact act bill requires chief counsel advocacy small_business_administration submit analysis existing resources specified congressional committees investment small businesses developing new useful inventions obtaining patents importance university technology transfer small businesses use patent licensing arrangements impact patent ownership small businesses attracting outside investment creating new jobs protecting foreign infringing goods competing larger businesses impact small businesses patent related demand letters civil actions arising federal law relating patent infringement


Summary:
Commercial Real Estate and Economic Development Act of 2015 or the CREED Act of 2015

 (Sec. 2) Reinstates the authority for Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest refinancing of small business debt not involving business expansion under the SBA's local development business loan program, effective:

 on and after enactment of this Act, and during any fiscal year in which the federal government's cost in making loan guarantees under such program is zero. Repeals a provision of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 that terminated such authority as of September 27, 2012.

commercial real estate economic development act creed act sec reinstates authority small_business_administration sba low interest refinancing small business debt involving business expansion sba local development business loan program effective enactment act fiscal year federal government cost making loan guarantees program zero repeals provision small_business_jobs_act terminated authority september


Summary:
Communicating Lender Activity Reports from the Small Business Administration Act or the CLEAR SBA Act

(Sec. 2) Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Small Business Administration (SBA) to make publicly available a user-friendly database of information relating to lenders making loans under such Act or the Small Business Investment Act of 1958.

Requires the SBA to: (1) include in the database information on such loans made during FY2009-FY2015, and (2) incorporate information relating to such loans on an ongoing basis.

Prohibits the SBA from requiring lenders to submit additional information or to otherwise increase burdens on lenders in order to comply with this Act.

Expresses the sense of Congress that no additional funds should be made available to carry out this Act.

communicating lender activity reports clear sba act sec amends small business act direct small_business_administration sba publicly available user friendly database information relating lenders making loans act small_business_investment_act requires sba include database information loans fy2009 fy2015 incorporate information relating loans ongoing basis prohibits sba requiring lenders submit additional information increase burdens lenders order comply act expresses sense congress additional funds available carry act


Summary:
Small Business Development Centers Improvement Act of 2015

 (Sec. 2) Amends the Small Business Act with respect to the authority of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to use certain SBA programs, including the small business development center (SBDC) program, to provide grants, financial assistance, loans, export assistance, and subcontracting opportunities on federal contracts to specified small businesses, organizations, state governments, universities, companies, and other entities that assist smaller enterprises.

Declares that the SBA shall only use such programs to deliver entrepreneurial development services, entrepreneurial education, support for the development and maintenance of clusters, or business training.

 Makes such program requirements inapplicable to:

 services provided to assist small businesses owned by an Indian tribe; activities and programs in support of members of the Armed Forces (including the Army National Guard, the Army Reserve, the Navy Reserve, the Marine Corps Reserve, the Air National Guard, the Air Force Reserve, and the Coast Guard), a veteran, or a spouse of a member of the Armed Forces or a veteran; or the Microenterprise Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Program, the State Trade and Export Promotion Grant Program, and the Federal and State Technology Partnership Program. (Sec. 3) Bars the SBA from prohibiting grant recipients under the SBDC program from marketing and advertising their services to individuals and small businesses.

(Sec. 4) Directs the SBA to consult with SBDC associations to develop documents governing data collection activities related to grant recipients.

(Sec. 5) Prohibits participation in private partnerships and cosponsorships with the SBA from limiting SBDCs from collecting fees or other income related to the operation of such partnerships and cosponsorships.

(Sec. 6) Removes a limitation on the amount of funds the SBA may use to pay the examination expenses of the SBDC accreditation program.

(Sec. 7) Authorizes the SBA to permit a SBDC to provide advice, information, and assistance to small businesses outside the SBDC's state, without regard to geographic proximity, if the small business is in a declared major disaster area.

(Sec. 8) Revises privacy requirements under the program to specify that SBDCs (including consortia and affiliated contractors or agents) are prohibited, subject to existing exceptions, from disclosing certain identifying information of any individual or small business receiving assistance to any state, local, or federal agency or third party.

(Sec. 9) Prohibits the SBA from awarding grants (including contracts and cooperative agreements) under the SBDC program to any entity other than those that: (1) received such grants before September 30, 2015; and (2) seek to renew them after such date. Exempts not-for-profit institutions of higher education from such prohibition.

improvement act sec amends small_business_act respect authority small_business_administration sba use certain sba programs including small business development center sbdc program provide grants financial assistance loans export assistance subcontracting opportunities federal contracts specified small businesses organizations state governments universities companies entities assist smaller enterprises declares sba shall use programs deliver entrepreneurial development services entrepreneurial education support development maintenance clusters business training makes program requirements inapplicable services provided assist small businesses owned indian tribe activities programs support members armed_forces including army_national_guard navy_reserve air_national_guard air_force_reserve coast_guard veteran spouse member armed_forces veteran sec bars sba prohibiting grant recipients sbdc program marketing advertising services individuals small businesses sec directs sba consult sbdc associations develop documents governing data collection activities related grant recipients sec prohibits participation private partnerships sba limiting sbdcs collecting fees income related operation partnerships sec removes limitation funds sba use pay examination expenses sbdc accreditation program sec authorizes sba permit sbdc provide advice information assistance small businesses outside sbdc state regard geographic proximity small business declared major disaster area sec revises privacy requirements program specify sbdcs including consortia affiliated contractors agents prohibited subject existing exceptions disclosing certain identifying information individual small business receiving assistance state local federal agency party sec prohibits sba awarding grants including contracts cooperative agreements sbdc program entity received grants september seek renew date exempts profit institutions higher education prohibition


Summary:
SCORE for Small Business Act of 2015

 (Sec. 2) Amends the Small Business Act to reauthorize the SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) program for FY2015-FY2018 for Small Business Administration (SBA) grants or cooperative agreements that do not exceed a total of $10.5 million in each such fiscal year.

Requires a SCORE program volunteer, based on business experience and knowledge, to:

 provide at no cost to individuals who own, or aspire to own, small businesses personal counseling, mentoring, and coaching relating to the process of starting, expanding, managing, buying, and selling a business; facilitate low-cost education workshops for these individuals; and use appropriate tools, resources, and expertise of other organizations to carry out the SCORE program. Directs the SBA to ensure that the SCORE program and each of its chapters 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 development of new skills by SCORE program volunteers.

Bars the SBA and the SCORE Association from disclosing certain personal identifying information on any individual or small business receiving SCORE Association's assistance without the individual's or small business's consent, unless the SBA:

 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 determines such a disclosure to be necessary to conduct a financial audit of the SCORE program, in which case the disclosure shall be limited to the information necessary for the audit. Exempts from these privacy requirements SBA access to program activity data or SBA use of client information to conduct client surveys.

Prohibits the SBA, in carrying out the Entrepreneurship Education Program during each of FY2016-FY2018, from obligating: (1) more than $5 million, and (2) less than $2.5 million to carry out the Emerging Leaders Initiatives.

score small business act sec amends small business act reauthorize program sba grants cooperative agreements exceed total million fiscal year requires score program volunteer based business experience knowledge provide cost individuals aspire small businesses personal counseling mentoring coaching relating process starting expanding managing buying selling business facilitate low cost education workshops individuals use appropriate tools resources expertise organizations carry score program directs sba ensure score program chapters develop implement plans goals effectively efficiently provide services individuals rural areas economically disadvantaged communities traditionally underserved communities including plans electronic initiatives web based initiatives chapter expansion partnerships development new skills score program volunteers bars sba disclosing certain personal identifying information individual small business receiving assistance individual small business consent sba ordered disclosure court civil criminal enforcement action initiated federal state agency determines disclosure necessary conduct financial audit score program case disclosure shall limited information necessary audit exempts privacy requirements sba access program activity data sba use client information conduct client surveys prohibits sba carrying fy2016 fy2018 obligating million million carry emerging leaders initiatives


Summary:
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Small Business Lending Reauthorization Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill authorizes the Small Business Administration to make general business loans in the amount of $20.5 billion for FY2015, and $23.5 billion for FY2016.

measure amended introduced summary expanded action occurred measure small business lending reauthorization act sec bill authorizes small_business_administration general business loans billion fy2015 billion fy2016