Summary: SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2010 - Title I: Reauthorization of the SBIR and STTR Programs - (Sec. 101) Amends the Small Business Act (the Act) to reauthorize through FY2018 the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs of the Small Business Administration (SBA). (Sec. 102) Directs the SBA to maintain an Office of Technology to carry out oversight, reporting, and public database responsibilities as assigned by the SBA Administrator. (Sec. 103) Increases by 0.1% per year, from FY2011-FY2021, the percentage of participating federal agencies' extramural research budget to be set aside for SBIR program activities. Requires the Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Energy (DOE) to use the increased amounts for activities in their departments that further the readiness levels of technologies developed under Phase II SBIR awards. (Sec. 104) Increases the set-aside allocation under the STTR from 0.3% to 0.6% by increasing such percentage by 0.1% every two years from FY2012-FY2016. (Sec. 105) Increases, for both the SBIR and STTR programs, the individual small business award levels from: (1) $100,000 to $150,000, for participation at the Phase I level; and (2) $750,000 to $1 million, for participation at the Phase II level. Changes from every five years to annually the required SBA inflation adjustment of such awards. Prohibits an agency from issuing an SBIR or STTR award if the award size exceeds established guidelines by more than 50%, and requires participating agencies to maintain specified information on awards exceeding such guidelines. (Sec. 106) Allows a small business that receives an: (1) SBIR award from one agency to receive an award for a subsequent phase from another agency, as long as the head of each agency determines that the topics of the relevant awards are the same; and (2) award under either the SBIR or STTR program to receive an award for a subsequent phase under either program. (Sec. 107) Requires federal agencies to conduct solicitations of Phase II SBIR and STTR proposals without any invitation, pre-screening, pre-selection, or down-selection process between the first and second phases. (Sec. 108) Authorizes the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Secretary of Energy, and the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), 30 days after notifying the Administrator and the congressional small business committees, to award through competitive, merit-based procedures up to 25% of their respective SBIR funds to small businesses majority-owned by multiple venture capital companies. Permits other federal agencies to award up to 15% of their SBIR funds to such small businesses. Directs the Administrator to establish requirements relating to the affiliation of small businesses with venture capital companies for such purposes, and requires such small businesses to register with the SBA. Provides for federal agency compliance with such percentage limits. Directs the Administrator to post on the SBA website information on SBIR and STTR program affiliation rules. (Sec. 109) Requires federal agencies and federal prime contractors, to the greatest extent practicable, to issue Phase III awards relating to technology, including sole source awards, to the SBIR and STTR award recipients that developed the technology. (Sec. 110) Authorizes the head of each participating federal agency to issue SBIR and STTR awards to small businesses that have entered, or intend to enter, into a collaborative research and development (R&D) agreement with a federal laboratory or federally funded research and development center. Prohibits a federal agency from: (1) conditioning an award upon entering into such an agreement; (2) approving an agreement if the small business performs a lesser portion of the R&D activities than required by the Act and by SBIR and STTR Policy Directives; or (3) approving an agreement that violates any SBA provision or such Directives. Requires the Administrator to modify such Directives to ensure that small businesses may use the resources of federal laboratories or federally funded research and development centers without entering into such agreements. (Sec. 111) Requires any federal agency involved in a judicial or administrative case or controversy concerning the SBIR or STTR program to provide timely notice thereof to the Administrator. (Sec. 112) Allows a small business that receives a Phase II SBIR or STTR award to receive an additional Phase II SBIR or STTR award for that project. Title II: Outreach and Commercialization Initiatives - (Sec. 201) Reauthorizes through FY2014 the Federal and State Technology Partnership (FAST) program (a program of grants and cooperative agreements for strengthening the technological competitiveness of small businesses participating or desiring to participate in SBIR or STTR programs). Provides reduced matching funds requirements for FAST recipients in low-income and rural areas, recipients in one of the states receiving the fewest SBIR Phase I awards, and recipients in rural areas which are also in one of states receiving the fewest number of awards. Limits such grants and cooperative agreements to five years. Requires an annual report during such period from the Administrator to the small business committees on awards made and agreements entered into. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 202) Directs the Administrator to establish a SBIR-STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) workforce development grant pilot program to encourage the business community to provide workforce development opportunities for college students in such fields by providing an SBIR grant to be used for internships. Requires the Administrator to report to Congress on pilot program results. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 203) Increases the discretionary technical assistance that SBIR and STTR agencies can provide to awardees (by contracting out) from $4,000 to $5,000 for Phase I awards, and from $4,000 to $5,000 per year for Phase II awards. Allows awardees to use such amounts to select their own technical assistance contractor in lieu of the vendor selected by the agency. (Sec. 204) Makes permanent DOD's Commercialization Pilot Program (CPP), and extends such program to the STTR program. (Currently, the Commercialization Pilot Program is only authorized to be utilized under the SBIR program.) Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to establish goals for transitioning Phase III technologies in subcontracting plans for contracts of $100 million or more. Requires the Secretary to: (1) set a goal of increasing the number of Phase II SBIR and STTR contracts that lead to technology transition into DOD programs of record or fielded systems; (2) use incentives to encourage DOD agency program managers and prime contractors to meet such goal; and (3) include within annual congressional reporting requirements information on the status of projects funded through the CPP. (Sec. 205) Authorizes the head of each federal agency other than DOD to allocate up to 10% of SBIR and STTR funds for further technology development, testing, and evaluation of SBIR and STTR Phase II technologies. Prohibits a federal agency from establishing a pilot program for such purposes until 90 days after submitting to the Administrator a compelling reason that additional investment in SBIR or STTR technology is necessary. Allows qualifying agencies to make an award for such a pilot program of up to three times the amount generally established for Phase II awards. Requires any applicant receiving an award under such a pilot program to register with the SBA in a publicly-available registry. Terminates at the end of FY2014 the authority to establish such a pilot program. (Sec. 206) Establishes an advisory board at the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to conduct periodic SBIR program evaluations in order to improve program management through data-driven assessment. Requires the director of the NIH SBIR program to address gaps and deficiencies in data collection identified in a NAS report assessing the NIH's SBIR program. Authorizes such director to initiate a pilot program to spur innovation and test new strategies that may enhance the development of cures and therapies. Requires such director to report annually to Congress and the advisory board on NIH SBIR activities. Requires such director, to the greatest extent practicable, to reduce to 90 days the period between Phase I and II funding of grants under the NIH SBIR program. Terminates the requirements of this section five years after the enactment of this Act. (Sec. 207) Directs the head of each federal agency participating in an SBIR or STTR program to develop performance measures relating to commercializing research or research and development activities for SBIR or STTR participants that have been awarded multiple Phase I awards but have not been awarded Phase II awards. (Sec. 208) Further defines "Phase III" for purposes of the SBIR and STTR programs, including what will qualify as "commercialization" under such phase. (Sec. 209) Requires final decisions on SBIR or STTR program proposals or applications within 90 days after the close of solicitations, or within 180 days thereafter if extended by the Administrator. Allows the NIH Director to make an award under an NIH SBIR or STTR program if the application for the award has undergone technical and scientific peer review under requirements of the Public Health Service Act. Title III: Oversight and Evaluation - (Sec. 301) Directs the SBA, in currently-required annual reports concerning SBIR and STTR programs, to include information on: (1) proposals received from small businesses with venture capital investment; (2) efforts to increase outreach to small businesses owned and controlled by women and socially or economically disadvantaged individuals; (3) implementation and compliance with requirements concerning the allocation of funding to small businesses owned and controlled by multiple venture capital companies; and (4) appeals of Phase III awards, as well as notices of noncompliance with SBIR and STTR Policy Directives. Directs the SBA to coordinate the implementation of electronic databases at participating federal agencies. (Sec. 302) Requires agencies with an SBIR or STTR program to annually collect information similar to that outlined above for program assessment purposes. (Sec. 304) Requires specified information to be included in public and government databases maintained by the SBA concerning SBIR and STTR awardees. (Sec. 306) Directs the Comptroller General (CG), in each of the four years following the enactment of this Act, to: (1) conduct a fiscal and management audit of the SBIR and STTR programs; and (2) report audit results to the small business committees. (Sec. 307) Amends the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 2000 to continue NAS evaluation of the SBIR program, as well as reports on such evaluation from the National Research Council to participating agency heads and the small business committees. Requires updates every four years. (Sec. 308) Requires the SBA to include in an annual report to Congress specified information on Phase III awards issued by federal agencies participating in SBIR or STTR programs. (Sec. 309) Directs the CG to conduct a study of, and report to the small business committees on, federal agency compliance with data rights and technologies protection for SBIR awardees. (Sec. 310) Requires each federal agency conducting an SBIR or STTR program to obtain consent from program applicants to release their contact information to economic development organizations. (Sec. 311) Directs the Administrator to allow each federal agency required to conduct an SBIR program to use up to 3% of such funds for costs relating to administrative, oversight, and contract processing activities, including added costs necessitated by amendments made under this Act. (Sec. 312) Requires the CG to conduct a study of, and report to Congress on, the impact of requirements of this Act relating to venture capital company involvement in SBIR and STTR programs. (Sec. 313) Directs the Administrator to: (1) amend the SBIR and STTR Policy Directives to include measures to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse in SBIR and STTR programs; and (2) establish a telephone hotline for reporting such fraud, waste, and abuse. Requires the CG to: (1) conduct a study evaluating federal agency implementation of the amendments made to such Directives; and (2) report study results to the small business committees and SBIR/STTR-participating federal agencies. (Sec. 314) Requires the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to establish an Interagency SBIR/STTR Policy Committee to review, and make recommendations for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of, SBIR and STTR programs. Requires three reports from the Committee to the small business committees concerning such review and recommendations. Title IV: Policy Directives - (Sec. 401) Requires the Administrator to: (1) promulgate amendments to the SBIR and STTR Policy Directives to conform them to this Act and its amendments; and (2) publish the amended Directives in the Federal Register. Title V: Other Provisions - (Sec. 501) Directs federal agencies required to establish an SBIR or STTR program, when determining appropriate research topics, to give special priority to applications for the support of projects relating to nanotechnology, rare diseases, security, energy, transportation, or improving the security and quality of the water supply and the efficiency of water systems through the use of technology. Requires such agencies to: (1) give consideration to research topics identified by the NAS, the NIH, and the national nanotechnology strategic plan; and (2) encourage applications from small businesses located in underrepresented areas or areas with excessive unemployment rates, as well as small businesses owned and controlled by women, veterans, or Native Americans. Removes a requirement that certain specified DOD technology or research plans be utilized when identifying appropriate DOD research and development focus under SBIR or STTR programs. (Sec. 502) Directs each federal agency required to participate in an SBIR or STTR program to: (1) develop metrics to evaluate the effectiveness and benefit of such program; (2) conduct an annual evaluation of their program using such metrics; and (3) report evaluation results annually to the Administrator and the small business committees. (Sec. 503) Requires all SBIR or STTR funds to be awarded pursuant to competitive and merit-based selection procedures.

title reauthorization sbir sec amends small_business_act act reauthorize sbir small_business_technology_transfer sttr programs small_business_administration sba sec directs sba maintain office_of_technology carry oversight reporting public database responsibilities assigned sba administrator sec increases year percentage participating federal agencies extramural research budget set aside sbir program activities requires department_of_defense dod department_of_energy doe use increased amounts activities departments readiness levels technologies developed phase_ii_sbir awards sec increases set aside allocation sttr increasing percentage years fy2012-fy2016 sec increases sbir sttr programs individual small business award levels participation phase level million participation phase_ii level changes years annually required sba inflation adjustment awards prohibits agency issuing sbir sttr award award size exceeds established guidelines requires participating agencies maintain specified information awards exceeding guidelines sec allows small business receives sbir award agency receive award subsequent phase agency long head agency determines topics relevant awards award sbir sttr program receive award subsequent phase program sec requires federal agencies conduct solicitations phase_ii_sbir sttr proposals invitation pre screening pre selection selection process second phases sec authorizes director national_institutes_of_health nih secretary energy director national_science_foundation nsf days notifying administrator congressional small business committees award competitive merit based procedures respective sbir funds small businesses majority owned multiple venture capital companies permits federal agencies award sbir funds small businesses directs administrator establish requirements relating affiliation small businesses venture capital companies purposes requires small businesses register sba provides federal agency compliance percentage limits directs administrator post sba website information sbir sttr program affiliation rules sec requires federal agencies federal prime contractors greatest extent practicable issue phase iii awards relating technology including sole source awards sbir sttr award recipients developed technology sec authorizes head participating federal agency issue sbir sttr awards small businesses entered intend enter collaborative research development agreement federal laboratory federally funded research development center prohibits federal agency conditioning award entering agreement approving agreement small business performs lesser portion activities required act sbir sttr policy directives approving agreement violates sba provision directives requires administrator modify directives ensure small businesses use resources federal laboratories federally funded research development centers entering agreements sec requires federal agency involved judicial administrative case controversy concerning sbir sttr program provide timely notice thereof administrator sec allows small business receives phase sbir sttr award receive additional phase sbir sttr award project title outreach sec reauthorizes fy2014 federal_and_state_technology_partnership fast program program grants cooperative agreements strengthening technological competitiveness small businesses participating desiring participate sbir sttr programs provides reduced matching funds requirements fast recipients low income rural areas recipients states receiving fewest awards recipients rural areas states receiving fewest number awards limits grants cooperative agreements years requires annual report period administrator small business committees awards agreements entered authorizes appropriations sec directs administrator establish science technology engineering mathematics workforce development grant pilot program encourage business community provide workforce development opportunities college students fields providing sbir grant internships requires administrator report congress pilot program results authorizes appropriations sec increases discretionary technical assistance sbir sttr agencies provide awardees contracting phase awards year phase_ii awards allows awardees use amounts select technical assistance contractor lieu vendor selected agency sec makes permanent dod commercialization_pilot_program extends program sttr program currently commercialization_pilot_program authorized utilized sbir program authorizes secretary defense establish goals transitioning phase iii technologies subcontracting plans contracts million requires secretary set goal increasing number phase_ii_sbir sttr contracts lead technology transition dod programs record fielded systems use incentives encourage dod agency program managers prime contractors meet goal include annual congressional reporting requirements information status projects funded sec authorizes head federal agency dod allocate sbir sttr funds technology development testing evaluation sbir sttr phase technologies prohibits federal agency establishing pilot program purposes days submitting administrator compelling reason additional investment sbir sttr technology necessary allows qualifying agencies award pilot program times generally established phase_ii awards requires applicant receiving award pilot program register sba publicly available registry terminates end fy2014 authority establish pilot program sec establishes advisory board national_academy_of_sciences nas conduct periodic sbir program evaluations order improve program management data driven assessment requires director nih_sbir program address gaps deficiencies data collection identified nas report assessing nih sbir program authorizes director initiate pilot program spur innovation test new strategies enhance development cures therapies requires director report annually congress advisory board nih_sbir activities requires director greatest extent practicable reduce days period phase funding grants nih_sbir program terminates requirements section years enactment act sec directs head federal agency participating sbir sttr program develop performance measures relating commercializing research research development activities sbir sttr participants awarded multiple phase awards awarded phase_ii awards sec defines phase iii purposes sbir sttr programs including qualify commercialization phase sec requires final decisions sbir sttr program proposals applications days close solicitations days extended administrator allows nih director award nih_sbir sttr program application award undergone technical scientific peer review requirements public_health_service_act title iii oversight evaluation sec directs sba currently required annual reports concerning sbir sttr programs include information proposals received small businesses venture capital investment efforts increase outreach small businesses owned controlled women socially economically disadvantaged individuals implementation compliance requirements concerning allocation funding small businesses owned controlled multiple venture capital companies appeals phase_iii awards notices noncompliance sbir sttr policy directives directs sba coordinate implementation electronic databases participating federal agencies sec requires agencies sbir sttr program annually collect information similar outlined program assessment purposes sec requires specified information included public government databases maintained sba concerning sbir sttr awardees sec directs comptroller general years following enactment act conduct fiscal management audit sbir sttr programs report audit results small business committees sec amends small_business_reauthorization_act continue nas evaluation sbir program reports evaluation national_research_council participating agency heads small business committees requires updates years sec requires sba include annual report congress specified information phase_iii awards issued federal agencies participating sbir sttr programs sec directs conduct study report small business committees federal agency compliance data rights technologies protection sbir awardees sec requires federal agency conducting sbir sttr program obtain consent program applicants release contact information economic development organizations sec directs administrator allow federal agency required conduct sbir program use funds costs relating administrative oversight contract processing activities including added costs necessitated amendments act sec requires conduct study report congress impact requirements act relating venture capital company involvement sbir sttr programs sec directs administrator amend sbir sttr policy directives include measures prevent fraud waste abuse sbir sttr programs establish telephone hotline reporting fraud waste abuse requires conduct study evaluating federal agency implementation amendments directives report study results small business committees participating federal agencies sec requires director office_of_science_and_technology_policy establish interagency sbir sttr policy committee review recommendations improving effectiveness efficiency sbir sttr programs requires reports committee small business committees concerning review recommendations title policy directives sec requires administrator promulgate amendments sbir sttr policy directives conform act amendments publish amended directives federal_register title provisions sec directs federal agencies required establish sbir sttr program determining appropriate research topics special priority applications support projects relating nanotechnology rare diseases security energy transportation improving security quality water supply efficiency water systems use technology requires agencies consideration research topics identified nas nih national nanotechnology strategic plan encourage applications small businesses located underrepresented areas areas excessive unemployment rates small businesses owned controlled women veterans native americans removes requirement certain specified dod technology research plans utilized identifying appropriate dod research development focus sbir sttr programs sec directs federal agency required participate sbir sttr program develop metrics evaluate effectiveness benefit program conduct annual evaluation program metrics report evaluation results annually administrator small business committees sec requires sbir sttr funds awarded pursuant competitive merit based selection procedures


Summary: Small Business Tax Cut Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a qualified small business a tax deduction equal to 20% of the lesser of qualified domestic business income or taxable income. Defines: (1) "qualified small business" as any employer engaged in a trade or business if such employer had fewer than 500 full-time employees in either 2010 or 2011; and (2) "qualified domestic business income" as an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the taxpayer's domestic business gross receipts (i.e., gross receipts effectively connected with a trade or business within the United States) for a taxable year over the sum of the cost of goods sold allocable to such receipts and other expenses, losses, or deductions properly allocable to such receipts. Limits the amount of such deduction to 50% of the greater of: (1) the taxpayer's W-2 wages (payroll) paid to non-owners of the taxpayer's business; or (2) the sum of the W-2 wages paid to individuals who are non-owner family members of direct owners (i.e., stockholders of the business), plus any W-2 wages paid to direct owners who have an ownership interest in the business of 10% or less. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe regulations to carry out this Act, including regulations to prevent a taxpayer that reorganizes from being treated as a qualified small business if such taxpayer would not have been treated as a qualified small business prior to such reorganization.

internal revenue code allow qualified small business tax deduction equal lesser qualified domestic business income taxable income defines qualified small business employer engaged trade business employer fewer time employees qualified domestic business income equal excess taxpayer domestic business gross receipts gross receipts effectively connected trade business united_states taxable year sum cost goods sold allocable receipts expenses losses deductions properly allocable receipts limits deduction greater taxpayer w-2 wages payroll paid non owners taxpayer business sum w-2 wages paid individuals non owner family members direct owners stockholders business plus w-2 wages paid direct owners ownership interest business directs secretary treasury prescribe regulations carry act including regulations prevent taxpayer treated qualified small business taxpayer treated qualified small business prior reorganization


Summary: Creating Jobs From Innovative Small Businesses Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a general business tax credit of 20% of the amount paid to acquire an equity investment in a qualified high technology small business concern. Defines "qualified high technology small business concern" as a small business concern that employs an average of fewer than 500 employees during a year and devotes at least 50% of its gross expenditures to research and experimentation.

creating jobs innovative small businesses act amends internal revenue code allow general business tax credit paid acquire equity investment qualified high technology small business concern defines qualified high technology small business concern small business concern employs average fewer employees year gross expenditures research experimentation


Summary: Extends through May 31, 2011, under the same terms and conditions, the authorization for any program, authority, or provision, including any pilot program, that is currently authorized through January 31, 2011, under the Small Business Act or the Small Business Investment Act of 1958.

extends terms conditions authorization program authority provision including pilot program currently authorized january small business act small_business_investment_act


Summary: Small Business Innovation Research Enhancement Act of 2011 or SBIR Enhancement Act of 2011 - Amends the Small Business Act to increase from 2.5% to 5% the amount that each federal agency with an extramural research and development budget in excess of $100 million must spend specifically in connection with Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programs provided through the Small Business Administration (SBA). Directs the SBA Administrator to modify SBIR policy directives to provide for an increase to $200,000 in the amount which an agency may award in the first phase of an SBIR program, and to $1.5 million the amount for the second phase, with an adjustment of such amounts once every five years to reflect economic adjustments and programmatic considerations.

small business innovation research enhancement act amends small business act increase federal agency extramural research development budget excess million spend specifically connection small_business_innovation_research sbir programs provided small_business_administration sba directs sba administrator modify sbir policy directives provide increase agency award phase sbir program million second phase adjustment amounts years reflect economic adjustments programmatic considerations


Summary: Small Business Innovation Enhancement Act of 2011 - Amends the Small Business Act to increase from 2.5% to 5% the amount that each federal agency with an extramural research and development budget in excess of $100 million must spend specifically in connection with Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programs provided through the Small Business Administration (SBA). Directs the SBA Administrator to modify SBIR policy directives to provide for an increase to $200,000 the amount which an agency may award in the first phase of an SBIR program, and to $1.5 million the amount for the second phase, with an adjustment of such amounts once every five years to reflect economic adjustments and programmatic considerations. Increases from 0.3% to 0.6% the amount that each federal agency with an extramural research or research and development budget in excess of $1 billion must spend specifically in connection with the SBA's Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. Increases from $100,000 to $200,000, and from $750,000 to $1.5 million, respectively, the amounts which such agency may award in the first and second phases of STTR programs, with the same five-year adjustment as made under the SBIR program.

small business innovation enhancement act amends small business act increase federal agency extramural research development budget excess million spend specifically connection small_business_innovation_research sbir programs provided small_business_administration sba directs sba administrator modify sbir policy directives provide increase agency award phase sbir program million second phase adjustment amounts years reflect economic adjustments programmatic considerations increases federal agency extramural research research development budget excess billion spend specifically connection sba small_business_technology_transfer sttr program increases million respectively amounts agency award second phases sttr programs year adjustment sbir program


Summary: STTR Enhancement Act of 2011 - Increases from 0.3% to 0.6% the amount that each federal agency with an extramural research or research and development budget in excess of $1 billion must spend specifically in connection with the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program of the Small Business Administration (SBA). Increases from $100,000 to $200,000, and from $750,000 to $1.5 million, respectively, the amounts which such agency may award in the first and second phases of STTR programs, with an adjustment of such amounts once every five years to reflect economic adjustments and programmatic considerations.

sttr enhancement act increases federal agency extramural research research development budget excess billion spend specifically connection small_business_technology_transfer sttr program small_business_administration sba increases million respectively amounts agency award second phases sttr programs adjustment amounts years reflect economic adjustments programmatic considerations


Summary: Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2011 - Amends the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA) to: (1) define the "economic impact" of a proposed or final rule to include both direct economic effects on small entities and any indirect economic effects which are reasonably foreseeable and result from such proposed or final rule, and (2) include tribal organizations within the definition of "small governmental jurisdictions" for purposes of such Act. Requires initial and final regulatory flexibility analyses under RFA to: (1) describe alternatives to a proposed rule that minimize any adverse significant economic impact or maximize the beneficial significant economic impact on small entities, and (2) include revisions or amendments to a land management plan developed by the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of the Interior under specified Acts. Requires the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to comply with RFA requirements when codifying a regulation in the Code of Federal Regulations that imposes a collection-of-information or recordkeeping requirement. Revises the definition of "small organization" under RFA to include consideration of size standards, net worth, and the number of employees. (Sec. 3) Requires each federal agency to include in its regulatory flexibility agenda a description of the sector of the North American Industrial Classification System that is affected by a proposed agency rule which is likely to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. (Sec. 4) Requires an agency to include in its initial regulatory flexibility analysis a detailed statement, including: (1) a description of why action by the agency is being considered and the objectives of, and legal basis for, the proposed rule; (2) an estimate of the number and types of small entities to which the proposed rule will apply; (3) the projected compliance requirements of the proposed rule; (4) an estimate of the additional cumulative economic impact of the proposed rule, or of any other rule stemming from the implementation of the Free Trade Agreements, on small entities; and (5) a description of any disproportionate economic impact on small entities or a specific class of such entities. Requires an agency, in developing an initial and final regulatory flexibility analysis, to provide a quantifiable or numerical description of the effects of a proposed or final rule and alternatives to such rule, or a more general descriptive statement and a detailed statement explaining why quantification is not practicable or reliable. (Sec. 5) Repeals agency authority to waive an initial regulatory flexibility analysis or delay a final regulatory flexibility analysis in emergency situations. Authorizes the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to make rules governing agency compliance with RFA requirements and to intervene in agency adjudications. (Sec. 6) Revises requirements for agency notification of the Chief Counsel prior to the publication of any proposed rule that is likely to result in: (1) an annual effect of the economy of $100 million or more; (2) a major increase in costs or prices; (3) a significant adverse effect on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of U.S. enterprises to compete internationally; or (4) a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Requires agencies to provide the Chief Counsel with: (1) all materials prepared or utilized in making the proposed rule, and (2) information on the potential adverse and beneficial economic impacts of the proposed rule on small entities. Requires the Chief Counsel to convene a panel to review such materials. Authorizes the Chief Counsel to waive such review requirements upon determining that compliance with such requirements is impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest. (Sec. 7) Expands requirements for the periodic review of agency rules to require an agency to: (1) publish its plan for periodic review of agency rules determined to have a significant economic impact on small entities on its website; (2) detail in its plan how it will conduct outreach to include small businesses in the review process; (3) submit an annual report on the results of its review to Congress, the Chief Counsel , and the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB); (4) amend or rescind a rule to minimize any adverse economic impact on small entities or to maximize any beneficial impact on such entities, taking into account specified factors; and (5) publish in the Federal Register and on its website a list of rules to be reviewed under its plan. (Sec. 8) Allows judicial review of agency compliance with requirements of RFA when an agency publishes a final rule (currently, when final agency action is completed). Authorizes the Chief Counsel to file an amicus curiae brief in cases concerning agency compliance with RFA. (Sec. 9) Amends the federal judicial code to grant exclusive jurisdiction to the U.S. Courts of Appeals to review all final rules promulgated by the Chief Counsel governing agency compliance with RFA. (Sec. 11) Amends the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 to require federal agencies, in preparing small entity compliance guides, to solicit input from affected small entities or associations of small entities.

regulatory flexibility improvements act amends regulatory flexibility act rfa define economic impact proposed final rule include direct economic effects small entities indirect economic effects reasonably foreseeable result proposed final rule include tribal organizations definition small governmental jurisdictions purposes act requires initial final regulatory flexibility analyses rfa describe alternatives proposed rule minimize adverse significant economic impact maximize beneficial significant economic impact small entities include revisions amendments land management plan developed secretary agriculture secretary interior specified acts requires internal_revenue_service irs comply rfa requirements regulation code federal regulations imposes collection information recordkeeping requirement revises definition small organization rfa include consideration size standards net worth number employees sec requires federal agency include regulatory flexibility agenda description sector north_american_industrial_classification_system affected proposed agency rule likely significant economic impact substantial number small entities sec requires agency include initial regulatory flexibility analysis detailed statement including description action agency considered objectives legal basis proposed rule estimate number types small entities proposed rule apply projected compliance requirements proposed rule estimate additional cumulative economic impact proposed rule rule stemming implementation small entities description disproportionate economic impact small entities specific class entities requires agency developing initial final regulatory flexibility analysis provide quantifiable numerical description effects proposed final rule alternatives rule general descriptive statement detailed statement explaining quantification practicable reliable sec repeals agency authority waive initial regulatory flexibility analysis delay final regulatory flexibility analysis emergency situations authorizes chief counsel advocacy small_business_administration sba rules governing agency compliance rfa requirements intervene agency adjudications sec revises requirements agency notification chief counsel prior publication proposed rule likely result annual effect economy million major increase costs prices significant adverse effect competition employment investment productivity innovation ability enterprises compete internationally significant economic impact substantial number small entities requires agencies provide chief counsel materials prepared utilized making proposed rule information potential adverse beneficial economic impacts proposed rule small entities requires chief counsel convene panel review materials authorizes chief counsel waive review requirements determining compliance requirements impracticable unnecessary contrary public interest sec expands requirements periodic review agency rules require agency publish plan periodic review agency rules determined significant economic impact small entities website detail plan conduct outreach include small businesses review process submit annual report results review congress chief counsel administrator office_of_information_and_regulatory_affairs office_of_management_and_budget omb amend rescind rule minimize adverse economic impact small entities maximize beneficial impact entities taking account specified factors publish website list rules reviewed plan sec allows judicial review agency compliance requirements rfa agency publishes final rule currently final agency action completed authorizes chief counsel file amicus curiae brief cases concerning agency compliance rfa sec amends federal judicial code grant exclusive jurisdiction review final rules promulgated chief counsel governing agency compliance rfa sec amends small_business_regulatory_enforcement fairness act require federal agencies preparing small entity compliance guides solicit input affected small entities associations small entities


Summary: Small Business Size Standard Flexibility Act of 2011 - Amends the Small Business Act (the Act) to authorize the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration (SBA), in addition to the SBA Administrator, to specify definitions or standards by which a business may be determined to be a small business (size standard) for purposes of the Act or the Small Business Investment Act of 1958. Requires Chief Counsel approval of any size standard prescribed by the Administrator. Authorizes the party seeking judicial review of a rule which includes a size standard approved by the Chief Counsel to join the Chief Counsel as a party in such action.

small business size standard flexibility act amends small business act act authorize chief counsel advocacy small_business_administration sba addition sba administrator specify definitions standards business determined small business size standard purposes act small_business_investment_act requires chief counsel approval size standard prescribed administrator authorizes party seeking judicial review rule includes size standard approved chief counsel join chief counsel party action


Summary: Department of Transportation Bonding Assistance Authority Act of 2011 - Replaces the mandate for the Minority Resource Center to provide bonding assistance to disadvantaged business enterprises. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Minority Resource Center, to prescribe, guarantee, and enter into commitments to guarantee a surety against loss resulting from a small business concern's breach of a bond that is required for it to bid on or perform a transportation project contract, pay on the contract, or serve as a prime contractor or subcontractor on such contract. Authorizes the Secretary to indemnify such a surety up to 90% of any loss sustained by it in avoiding or attempting to avoid a breach of a bond guaranteed under this Act. Requires the Secretary to establish a program under which not more than five selected states may carry out: (1) the activities of the Secretary with respect to issuing surety guarantees, as well as (2) the activities of sureties to assist eligible small business concerns.

replaces mandate provide bonding assistance disadvantaged business enterprises authorizes secretary transportation acting prescribe guarantee enter commitments guarantee surety loss resulting small business concern breach bond required bid perform transportation project contract pay contract serve prime contractor subcontractor contract authorizes secretary indemnify surety loss sustained avoiding attempting avoid breach bond guaranteed act requires secretary establish program selected states carry activities secretary respect issuing surety guarantees activities assist eligible small business concerns


Summary: Small Distillery Excise Tax Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow small distilled spirits producers a credit against the excise tax on distilled spirits equal to 80% of the otherwise applicable tax on the first 65,000 of proof gallons of distilled spirits produced in or imported into the United States. Defines "small distilled spirits producer" as any person who produces not more than 100,000 proof gallons of distilled spirits during the calendar year.

small distillery excise tax act amends internal revenue code allow small distilled spirits producers credit excise tax distilled spirits equal applicable tax proof gallons distilled spirits produced imported united_states defines small distilled spirits producer person produces proof gallons distilled spirits calendar year


Summary: Fast Track to College Act of 2011 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award matching six-year grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) that partner with institutions of higher education (IHEs) to establish or support dual enrollment programs, such as early college high schools, that allow secondary school students to earn credit simultaneously toward a secondary school diploma and a postsecondary degree or certificate. Gives grant priority to applicants: (1) that propose to establish or support a dual enrollment program for a student body at least 40% of which is impoverished; and (2) from states that provide assistance to dual enrollment programs, such as assistance defraying the costs of higher education. Requires applicants to make assurances that: (1) students will not be required to pay tuition or fees for postsecondary courses, and (2) those courses will be taught by faculty that meet their partner IHE's normal standards. Authorizes the Secretary to award matching five-year grants to states to: (1) plan and implement statewide strategies to make dual enrollment programs more accessible to students who are underrepresented in postsecondary education; (2) provide technical assistance to dual enrollment programs; and (3) engage in outreach, assessment, and teacher training activities designed to strengthen such programs. Directs the Secretary to: (1) contract for an independent evaluation of this Act's programs; and (2) provide technical assistance to LEAs and their partners, and disseminate information concerning best practices in dual enrollment programs.

fast track college act authorizes secretary education award matching year grants local educational agencies leas partner institutions higher education ihes establish support dual enrollment programs early college high schools allow secondary school students earn credit simultaneously secondary school diploma postsecondary degree certificate gives grant priority applicants propose establish support dual enrollment program student body impoverished states provide assistance dual enrollment programs assistance defraying costs higher education requires applicants assurances students required pay tuition fees postsecondary courses courses taught faculty meet partner ihe normal standards authorizes secretary award matching year grants states plan implement statewide strategies dual enrollment programs accessible students underrepresented postsecondary education provide technical assistance dual enrollment programs engage outreach assessment teacher training activities designed strengthen programs directs secretary contract independent evaluation act programs provide technical assistance leas partners disseminate information concerning best practices dual enrollment programs


Summary: Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2011 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to provide for establishment and governance of association health plans (AHPs), which are group health plans whose sponsors are trade, industry, professional, chamber of commerce, or similar business associations, and which meet certain ERISA certification requirements. Prescribes rules governing AHPs, including requirements relating to certification, sponsors and boards of trustees, participation and coverage, nondiscrimination, contribution rates, notice of voluntary termination, correction actions, and mandatory termination. Establishes the Association Health Plan Fund to be used by the Secretary of Labor to make payments to an insurer to maintain coverage for a plan if there is a reasonable expectation that, without such payments, claims would not be satisfied by reason of termination of coverage. Requires the Secretary to establish a Solvency Standards Working Group. Allows a state to impose a contribution tax on an association health plan that commenced operations in such state after the enactment of this Act. Preempts any state law that may preclude a health insurance issuer from: (1) offering health insurance coverage in connection with a certified AHP; or (2) offering health insurance coverage of the same policy type to other employers operating in the state that are eligible for coverage under such AHPs, whether or not such other employers are participating employers in such plan. Subjects to criminal penalties a person who willfully makes false representations with respect to an AHP.

small_business_health_fairness_act amends employee retirement income security act erisa provide establishment governance association health plans ahps group health plans sponsors trade industry professional chamber commerce similar business associations meet certain erisa certification requirements prescribes rules governing ahps including requirements relating certification sponsors boards trustees participation coverage nondiscrimination contribution rates notice voluntary termination correction actions mandatory termination establishes_the_association_health_plan_fund secretary labor payments insurer maintain coverage plan reasonable expectation payments claims satisfied reason termination coverage requires secretary establish allows state impose contribution tax association health plan commenced operations state enactment act preempts state law preclude health insurance issuer offering health insurance coverage connection certified ahp offering health insurance coverage policy type employers operating state eligible coverage ahps employers participating employers plan subjects criminal penalties person willfully makes false representations respect ahp


Summary: Small Business Start-up Savings Accounts Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow businesses with 500 or fewer employees to establish small business start-up savings accounts for the payment of certain business expenses, including the purchase of equipment or facilities, marketing, training, incorporation, and accounting fees. Requires all distributions from such accounts for payment of business expenses to be completed within five years after the first account distribution. Allows a tax deduction for contributions to a start-up savings account, limited to the lesser of: (1) $10,000, or (2) $150,000 reduced by the aggregate account contributions for all taxable years. Excludes distributions from such accounts from gross income for income tax purposes. Imposes an excise tax on excess contributions to and for nonqualified distributions from such accounts.

small business start savings accounts act amends internal revenue code allow businesses fewer employees establish small business start savings accounts payment certain business expenses including purchase equipment facilities marketing training incorporation accounting fees requires distributions accounts payment business expenses completed years account distribution allows tax deduction contributions start savings account limited lesser reduced aggregate account contributions taxable years excludes distributions accounts gross income income tax purposes imposes excise tax excess contributions nonqualified distributions accounts


Summary: Small Business Lending Fund Accountability Act of 2011 - Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to give the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) oversight over the Small Business Lending Fund established under the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010.

small business lending fund accountability act amends emergency economic stabilization act special inspector general troubled_asset_relief_program tarp oversight established small_business_jobs_act


Summary: Fairness to Veterans Act of 2011 - Requires the head of a federal department or agency, in evaluating any bid or proposal relating to a federal contract, to provide to a veteran or veteran-owned business any race- or gender-based preference that any individual or business is eligible for, if that preference takes into consideration race or gender, without regard to whether the veteran or veteran-owned business would otherwise qualify for that preference. Requires the head of a state or local government to provide the same preference in the case of a state or local contract that involves the use of federal funding.

fairness veterans act requires head federal department agency evaluating bid proposal relating federal contract provide veteran veteran owned business gender based preference individual business eligible preference takes consideration race gender regard veteran veteran owned business qualify preference requires head state local government provide preference case state local contract involves use federal funding


Summary: Creating Jobs Through Small Business Innovation Act of 2011 - Title I: Reauthorization of the SBIR and STTR Programs - (Sec. 101) Amends the Small Business Act (the Act) to reauthorize through FY2014 the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs of the Small Business Administration (SBA). (Sec. 102) Increases, for both the SBIR and STTR programs, the individual small business award levels from: (1) $100,000 to $150,000, for participation at the Phase I level; and (2) $750,000 to $1 million, for participation at the Phase II level. Changes from every five years to annually the required SBA inflation adjustment of such awards. Prohibits an agency from issuing an SBIR or STTR award if the award size exceeds established guidelines by more than 50%, and requires participating agencies to maintain specified information on awards exceeding such guidelines. (Sec. 103) Allows a small business that receives a: (1) Phase I SBIR award from one agency to receive a Phase II award from another agency, as long as the head of each agency determines that the topics of the relevant awards are the same; and (2) Phase I award under either the SBIR or STTR program to receive a Phase II award under either program. (Sec. 104) Requires federal agencies to conduct solicitations of Phase II SBIR and STTR proposals without any invitation, pre-screening, pre-selection, or down-selection process between the first and second phases. (Sec. 105) Allows a federal agency to provide a Phase II SBIR only if the agency finds that the small business has been provided a Phase I SBIR award with respect to that project or has completed required determinations with respect to such project despite not having been provided a Phase I award. (Sec. 106) Authorizes the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Secretary of Energy, and the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), 30 days after notifying the Administrator and specified congressional committees, to award through competitive, merit-based procedures up to 45% of their respective SBIR funds to small businesses majority-owned by multiple venture capital companies, hedge funds, or private equity firms (such entities). Permits other federal agencies to award up to 35% of their SBIR funds to such small businesses. Provides conditions under which a small business which was not majority-owned by any such entities at the time of application for an SBIR award, but is so owned on the date of the award, may still be eligible for such award. (Sec. 107) Provides conditions and requirements for allowing small businesses with less than 50% investment from entities described above to participate in SBIR and STTR programs. (Sec. 108) Requires federal agencies and federal prime contractors, to the greatest extent practicable, to issue Phase III awards relating to technology, including sole source awards, to the SBIR and STTR award recipients that developed the technology. (Sec. 109) Authorizes the head of each participating federal agency to issue SBIR and STTR awards to small businesses that have entered, or intend to enter, into a collaborative research and development (R&D) agreement with a federal laboratory or federally funded research and development center. Prohibits a federal agency from: (1) conditioning an award upon entering into such an agreement, (2) approving an agreement if the small business performs a lesser portion of the R&D activities than required by the Act and by SBIR and STTR Policy Directives, or (3) approving an agreement that violates any SBA provision or such Directives. Requires the Administrator to modify such Directives to ensure that small businesses may use the resources of federal laboratories or federally funded research and development centers without entering into such agreements. (Sec. 110) Requires any federal agency involved in a judicial or administrative case or controversy concerning the SBIR or STTR program to provide timely notice thereof to the Administrator. (Sec. 111) Allows a small business that receives a Phase II SBIR or STTR award to receive one additional Phase II SBIR or STTR award for continued work on that project. Title II: Outreach and Commercialization Initiatives - (Sec. 201) Allows each federal agency conducting an STTR program (under current law, only an SBIR program) to contract for the provision of technical assistance to small businesses participating in that program. Extends from three to five years the authorized period of such assistance. Increases from $4,000 to $5,000 the amount authorized to be provided to SBIR or STTR participants under the first and second phases of such projects. (Sec. 202) Redesignates the Commercialization Pilot Program as the Commercialization Readiness Program, and includes STTR technology projects under such Program. Makes such Program permanent. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to: (1) establish goals for the transition of phase III technologies in subcontracting plans; and (2) require prime contractors to report on the number and amount of contracts entered into for phase III SBIR or STTR projects. Allows a contractor to certify, after consultation with the Secretary, that an appropriate Phase III technology is not available to be incorporated into a project of the prime contractor. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish goals for increasing the number of phase II STIR and STTR contracts awarded that lead to technology transition into programs of record or fielded systems; (2) use incentives or create new incentives to encourage agency program managers and prime contractors to meet such goals; and (3) include in a required annual report to Congress information on projects funded through the Program and efforts to transition their technologies into programs of record or fielded systems. (Sec. 203) Allows the head of each federal agency to allocate up to 10% of SBIR and STTR program funds to establish a pilot program: (1) for awards for technology development, testing, evaluation, and commercialization assistance for SBIR and STTR phase II technologies; or (2) to support the progress of research, research and development, and commercialization conducted under such programs to phase III. Outlines pilot program application requirements, and requires such agency heads to include pilot program information in required annual reports to the SBA Administrator. Terminates the pilot program at the end of FY2014. (Sec. 204) Requires the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to establish an Interagency SBIR/STTR Policy Committee to review, and make recommendations for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of, SBIR and STTR programs. Requires four reports from the Committee to specified congressional committees concerning such review and recommendations. (Sec. 205) Further defines "Phase III" for purposes of the SBIR and STTR programs, including what will qualify as "commercialization" under such phase. (Sec. 206) Requires final decisions on SBIR or STTR program proposals or applications within 90 days after the close of solicitations, or within 180 days thereafter if extended by the Administrator. Allows the NIH Director to make an award under an NIH SBIR or STTR program if the application for the award has undergone technical and scientific peer review under requirements of the Public Health Service Act. (Sec. 207) Establishes a three-year Proof of Concept Partnership pilot program under which NIH shall use $10 million of the NIH STTR allocation to provide awards to qualifying universities and research institutions to set up programs to fund competitive grants of up to $100,000 for researchers to support proof of concept work and commercialization mentoring needed to translate promising research projects and technologies into a viable company. Limits pilot program awards to qualifying institutions to up to $1,000,000 annually. Title III: Oversight and Evaluation - (Sec. 301) Directs the SBA, in currently-required annual reports concerning SBIR and STTR programs, to include information on: (1) proposals received from small businesses with venture capital, hedge fund, or private equity investment; (2) efforts to increase outreach to small businesses owned and controlled by women and socially or economically disadvantaged individuals; (3) implementation and compliance with requirements concerning the allocation of funding to small businesses owned and controlled by venture capital companies, hedge funds, or private equity firms; and (4) appeals of Phase III awards, as well as notices of noncompliance with SBIR and STTR Policy Directives. Directs the SBA to coordinate the implementation of electronic databases at participating federal agencies. (Sec. 302) Requires agencies with an SBIR or STTR program to annually collect information similar to that outlined above for program assessment purposes. (Sec. 304) Requires specified information concerning SBIR and STTR awardees to be included in public and government databases maintained by the SBA. (Sec. 306) Directs the Comptroller General (CG), in each of the five years following the enactment of this Act, to: (1) conduct a fiscal and management audit of the SBIR and STTR programs, and (2) report audit results to specified congressional committees. (Sec. 307) Amends the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 2000 to continue NAS evaluation of the SBIR program, as well as reports on such evaluation from the National Research Council to participating agency heads and specified congressional committees. Requires updates every four years. (Sec. 308) Requires the SBA to include in an annual report to Congress specified information on Phase III awards issued by federal agencies participating in SBIR or STTR programs. (Sec. 309) Requires each federal agency conducting an SBIR or STTR program to obtain consent from program applicants to release their contact information to economic development organizations. (Sec. 310) Directs the Administrator, during the three-year period following enactment, to allow each federal agency required to conduct an SBIR program to use up to 3% of such funds for costs relating to administrative, oversight, and contract processing activities, including added costs necessitated by amendments made under this Act. (Sec. 311) Requires the CG to conduct a study of, and report to Congress on, the impact of requirements of this Act relating to venture capital company, hedge fund, and private equity firm involvement in SBIR and STTR programs. (Sec. 312) Directs the Administrator to: (1) amend the SBIR and STTR Policy Directives to include measures to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse in SBIR and STTR programs; and (2) establish a telephone hotline for reporting such fraud, waste, and abuse. Requires the CG to: (1) conduct a study every three years evaluating federal agency implementation of the amendments made to such Directives; and (2) report each study's results to specified congressional committees and SBIR/STTR-participating federal agencies. (Sec. 313) Directs the Administrator to issue regulations to ensure that each federal agency required to carry out an SBIR or STTR program simplifies and standardizes the program proposal, selection, contracting, compliance and audit procedures to reduce the paperwork and regulatory compliance burden on small businesses participating in such program. (Sec. 314) Requires the CG to study, and report on, reducing vulnerabilities of the SBIR STTR programs to fraud, waste, and abuse. Title IV: Policy Directives - (Sec. 401) Requires the Administrator to: (1) promulgate amendments to the SBIR and STTR Policy Directives to conform them to this Act and its amendments, and (2) publish the amended Directives in the Federal Register. Title V: Other Provisions - (Sec. 501) Directs each federal agency required to participate in an SBIR or STTR program to: (1) develop metrics to evaluate the effectiveness and benefit of such program, (2) conduct an annual evaluation of their program using such metrics, and (3) report evaluation results annually to the Administrator and Congress. (Sec. 502) Requires all SBIR or STTR funds to be awarded pursuant to competitive and merit-based selection procedures. (Sec. 503) Directs the Administrator to promulgate a rule that determines what restrictions, conditions, or covenants contained in a note, bond, debenture, other evidence of indebtedness, or preferred stock constitutes affiliation for SBA purposes, as defined in the Code of Federal Regulations. (Sec. 504) Limits to three years any current or future SBIR- or STTR-related pilot program not specifically authorized by law. (Sec. 505) Prohibits a small business from receiving an SBIR or STTR award if such small business has received, in that fiscal year, a dollar amount or aggregate number of such awards that exceeds 50% of the dollar amount or aggregate number of such awards received by the median state in the preceding fiscal year. (Sec. 506) Requires the inspector general of each participating agency to report annually to Congress concerning cases related to fraud, waste, or abuse with respect to an SBIR or STTR program. (Sec. 507) Requires participating federal agencies to attempt to shorten the time between the provision of notice of an SBIR or STTR program award and the subsequent release of award funding. (Sec. 508) Directs the Administrator to establish and maintain a public Internet website of information relating to notice of and application for awards under the SBIR and STTR programs of each participating federal agency as the Administrator determines appropriate. (Sec. 509) Requires federal agencies to give priority to applications that increase the number of SBIR and STTR award recipients conducting research with respect to clean coal technology, including coal gasification. (Sec. 510) Requires the head of each agency that makes more than $50 million in combined SBIR-STTR awards to report annually to Congress on efforts to enhance manufacturing activities, encourage manufacturing innovation, and develop new manufacturing technologies and processes. (Sec. 511) Allows each federal agency with an SBIR program to develop "fast-track" programs to eliminate delays between a Phase I award and the application for and extension of a Phase II award in the case of promising Phase I research. (Sec. 512) Requires SBIR-participating federal agencies to establish initiatives for encouraging partnerships between SBIR awardees and prime contractors, venture capital investment companies, business incubators, and larger businesses, for the purpose of facilitating the progress of SBIR awardees to Phase III. (Sec. 513) Requires federal agencies to give priority to applications that increase the number of SBIR and STTR award recipients conducting research related to reducing the environmental impact of: (1) acid mine drainage, and (2) the use of hydraulic fracturing during natural gas exploration activities.

creating jobs small business innovation act title reauthorization sbir sec amends small_business_act act reauthorize sbir small_business_technology_transfer sttr programs small_business_administration sba sec increases sbir sttr programs individual small business award levels participation phase level million participation phase_ii level changes years annually required sba inflation adjustment awards prohibits agency issuing sbir sttr award award size exceeds established guidelines requires participating agencies maintain specified information awards exceeding guidelines sec allows small business receives phase sbir award agency receive phase award agency long head agency determines topics relevant awards phase award sbir sttr program receive phase award program sec requires federal agencies conduct solicitations phase_ii_sbir sttr proposals invitation pre screening pre selection selection process second phases sec allows federal agency provide phase sbir agency finds small business provided phase sbir award respect project completed required determinations respect project despite having provided phase award sec authorizes director national_institutes_of_health nih secretary energy director national_science_foundation nsf days notifying administrator specified congressional committees award competitive merit based procedures respective sbir funds small businesses majority owned multiple venture capital companies hedge funds private equity firms entities permits federal agencies award sbir funds small businesses provides conditions small business majority owned entities time application sbir award owned date award eligible award sec provides conditions requirements allowing small businesses investment entities described participate sbir sttr programs sec requires federal agencies federal prime contractors greatest extent practicable issue phase iii awards relating technology including sole source awards sbir sttr award recipients developed technology sec authorizes head participating federal agency issue sbir sttr awards small businesses entered intend enter collaborative research development agreement federal laboratory federally funded research development center prohibits federal agency conditioning award entering agreement approving agreement small business performs lesser portion activities required act sbir sttr approving agreement violates sba provision directives requires administrator modify directives ensure small businesses use resources federal laboratories federally funded research development centers entering agreements sec requires federal agency involved judicial administrative case controversy concerning sbir sttr program provide timely notice thereof administrator sec allows small business receives phase sbir sttr award receive additional phase sbir sttr award continued work project title outreach sec allows federal agency conducting sttr program current law sbir program contract provision technical assistance small businesses participating program extends years authorized period assistance increases authorized provided sbir sttr participants second phases projects sec redesignates commercialization_pilot_program includes sttr technology projects program makes program permanent authorizes secretary defense establish goals transition phase iii technologies subcontracting plans require prime contractors report number contracts entered phase sttr projects allows contractor certify consultation secretary appropriate phase_iii technology available incorporated project prime contractor directs secretary establish goals increasing number phase sttr contracts awarded lead technology transition programs record fielded systems use incentives create new incentives encourage agency program managers prime contractors meet goals include required annual report congress information projects funded program efforts transition technologies programs record fielded systems sec allows head federal agency allocate sbir sttr program funds establish pilot program awards technology development testing evaluation commercialization assistance sbir sttr phase technologies support progress research research development commercialization conducted programs phase iii outlines pilot program application requirements requires agency heads include pilot program information required annual reports sba administrator terminates pilot program end fy2014 sec requires director office_of_science_and_technology_policy establish interagency sbir sttr policy committee review recommendations improving effectiveness efficiency sbir sttr programs requires reports committee specified congressional committees concerning review recommendations sec defines phase iii purposes sbir sttr programs including qualify commercialization phase sec requires final decisions sbir sttr program proposals applications days close solicitations days extended administrator allows nih director award nih_sbir sttr program application award undergone technical scientific peer review requirements public_health_service_act sec establishes year proof pilot program nih shall use million nih sttr allocation provide awards qualifying universities research institutions set programs fund competitive grants researchers support proof concept work commercialization mentoring needed translate promising research projects technologies viable company limits pilot program awards qualifying institutions annually title iii oversight evaluation sec directs sba currently required annual reports concerning sbir sttr programs include information proposals received small businesses venture capital hedge fund private equity investment efforts increase outreach small businesses owned controlled women socially economically disadvantaged individuals implementation compliance requirements concerning allocation funding small businesses owned controlled venture capital companies hedge funds private equity firms appeals phase_iii awards notices noncompliance sbir sttr policy directives directs sba coordinate implementation electronic databases participating federal agencies sec requires agencies sbir sttr program annually collect information similar outlined program assessment purposes sec requires specified information concerning sbir sttr awardees included public government databases maintained sba sec directs comptroller general years following enactment act conduct fiscal management audit sbir sttr programs report audit results specified congressional committees sec amends small_business_reauthorization_act continue nas evaluation sbir program reports evaluation national_research_council participating agency heads specified congressional committees requires updates years sec requires sba include annual report congress specified information phase_iii awards issued federal agencies participating sbir sttr programs sec requires federal agency conducting sbir sttr program obtain consent program applicants release contact information economic development organizations sec directs administrator year period following enactment allow federal agency required conduct sbir program use funds costs relating administrative oversight contract processing activities including added costs necessitated amendments act sec requires conduct study report congress impact requirements act relating venture capital company hedge fund private equity firm involvement sbir sttr programs sec directs administrator amend sbir sttr policy directives include measures prevent fraud waste abuse sbir sttr programs establish telephone hotline reporting fraud waste abuse requires conduct study years evaluating federal agency implementation amendments directives report study results specified congressional committees participating federal agencies sec directs administrator issue regulations ensure federal agency required carry sbir sttr program simplifies program proposal selection contracting compliance audit procedures reduce paperwork regulatory compliance burden small businesses participating program sec requires study report reducing vulnerabilities sbir sttr programs fraud waste abuse title policy directives sec requires administrator promulgate amendments sbir sttr policy directives conform act amendments publish amended directives federal_register title provisions sec directs federal agency required participate sbir sttr program develop metrics evaluate effectiveness benefit program conduct annual evaluation program metrics report evaluation results annually administrator congress sec requires sbir sttr funds awarded pursuant competitive merit based selection procedures sec directs administrator promulgate rule determines restrictions conditions covenants contained note bond debenture evidence indebtedness preferred stock constitutes affiliation sba purposes defined code federal regulations sec limits years current future sttr related pilot program specifically authorized law sec prohibits small business receiving sbir sttr award small business received fiscal year dollar aggregate number awards exceeds dollar aggregate number awards received median state preceding fiscal year sec requires inspector general participating agency report annually congress concerning cases related fraud waste abuse respect sbir sttr program sec requires participating federal agencies attempt time provision notice sbir sttr program award subsequent release award funding sec directs administrator establish maintain public internet website information relating notice application awards sbir sttr programs participating federal agency administrator determines appropriate sec requires federal agencies priority applications increase number sbir sttr award recipients conducting research respect clean coal technology including coal gasification sec requires head agency makes million combined awards report annually congress efforts enhance manufacturing activities encourage manufacturing innovation develop new manufacturing technologies processes sec allows federal agency sbir program develop fast track programs eliminate delays phase award application extension phase award case promising phase research sec requires sbir participating federal agencies establish initiatives encouraging partnerships sbir awardees prime contractors venture capital investment companies business incubators larger businesses purpose facilitating progress sbir awardees phase_iii sec requires federal agencies priority applications increase number sbir sttr award recipients conducting research related reducing environmental impact acid drainage use hydraulic fracturing natural gas exploration activities


Summary: Voluntary Protection Program Act - Directs the Secretary of Labor to enter into cooperative agreements with employers to: (1) encourage establishment of comprehensive safety and health management systems to protect employees from occupational hazards, and (2) establish a voluntary protection program to encourage excellence and recognize its achievement in both the technical and managerial protection of employees from occupational hazards. Requires the Secretary to take necessary steps for the orderly transition from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cooperative agreements and voluntary protection programs existing before enactment of this Act to agreements and programs authorized under this Act. Directs the Secretary to establish a program to increase small business participation in the voluntary protection program.

secretary labor enter cooperative agreements employers encourage establishment comprehensive safety health management systems protect employees occupational hazards establish voluntary protection program encourage excellence recognize achievement technical managerial protection employees occupational hazards requires secretary necessary steps orderly transition occupational_safety_and_health_administration osha cooperative agreements voluntary protection programs existing enactment act agreements programs authorized act directs secretary establish program increase small business participation voluntary protection program


Summary: Small Business Tax Relief and Retirement Restoration Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit until December 31, 2011, penalty-free distributions from an individual retirement account (IRA) or a qualified employer plan for the purpose of making loans to a small business to purchase depreciable property to be used by such business or for employee salaries or wages (other than for bonuses). Requires such loans to be repaid to the IRA within five years.

small business tax relief retirement restoration act amends internal revenue code permit december penalty free distributions individual retirement account ira qualified employer plan purpose making loans small business purchase depreciable property business employee salaries wages bonuses requires loans repaid ira years


Summary: Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain small businesses with gross receipts in the preceding taxable year not exceeding $20 million a work opportunity tax credit for hiring individuals who have been receiving state unemployment compensation for not less than 4 weeks in the 1-year period ending on the hiring date. Increases the amount of wages eligible for such credit from $6,000 to $12,000 for the hiring of individuals in a high unemployment zone (a county that has an unemployment rate exceeding the greater of 4% or the national unemployment rate). Terminates such credit after December 31, 2013.

amends internal revenue code allow certain small businesses gross receipts preceding taxable year exceeding million work opportunity tax credit hiring individuals receiving state unemployment compensation weeks year period ending hiring date increases wages eligible credit hiring individuals high unemployment zone county unemployment rate exceeding greater national unemployment rate terminates credit december


Summary: Small Business Start-up Savings Accounts Act of 2011- Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for tax-exempt 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. Allows annual contributions to such accounts up to $10,000. Sets forth rules for the tax treatment of contributions to and rollovers from such accounts, similar to rules governing individual retirement accounts (IRAs).

small business start savings accounts act amends internal revenue code provide tax exempt small business start savings_accounts pay trade business expenses including purchase equipment facilities marketing training incorporation accounting fees allows annual contributions accounts sets forth rules tax treatment contributions rollovers accounts similar rules governing individual retirement accounts iras


Summary: Innovative Technologies Investment Incentive Act of 2011- Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a new business-related tax credit for 25% of the equity investment (i.e., stock and capital or profits interest) in a small business concern that is engaged in a high technology or biotechnology trade or business and employs an average of fewer than 500 employees in a taxable year. Establishes a national innovative technology investment credit limitation of $500 million.

act amends internal revenue code allow new business related tax credit equity investment stock capital profits interest small business concern engaged high technology biotechnology trade business employs average fewer employees taxable year establishes national innovative technology investment credit limitation million


Summary: Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2011 - Amends the Paperwork Reduction Act to direct agency heads not to impose civil fines for first-time paperwork violations by small business concerns 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 business concerns 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: Small Business Growth Act - Directs the Administrator of General Services to establish a small business growth pilot program under which a contracting officer of the General Services Administration (GSA) may award an contract on the basis of competition restricted to an entity that: (1) is enrolled as a mentor or participating in the GSA's Mentor-Protege program related to contracting; (2) if participating as a mentor, has at least one protege that is a small business; (2) has fewer than 1,500 employees; and (4) is not a small business. Requires the contracting officer to consider awarding a contract under the pilot program before awarding the contract under full and open competition, and to report to the Administrator on the reasons a contract was or was not awarded to a pilot program participant.

small business growth act directs administrator general_services establish small business growth pilot program contracting officer general_services_administration gsa award contract basis competition restricted entity enrolled mentor participating gsa program related contracting participating mentor protege small business fewer employees small business requires contracting officer consider awarding contract pilot program awarding contract open competition report administrator reasons contract awarded pilot program participant


Summary: Small Business Banking Improvement Act of 2011 - Prohibits the Secretary of the Treasury from requiring any financial institution or any of its directors, officers, employees, or agents to report any suspicious transaction relevant to a possible violation of law or regulation if a person involved in such transaction is a legitimate business. Deems a person a legitimate business if the governor of each state in which such person does business has certified to the Secretary that: (1) the person is a business engaged in activities currently legal under state law, and (2) the state has an interest in exempting such person from mandatory reporting of suspicious transactions. Requires the Secretary to maintain a public website with a list of all persons deemed to be a legitimate business for purposes of this Act.

small business banking improvement act prohibits secretary treasury requiring financial institution directors officers employees agents report suspicious transaction relevant possible violation law regulation person involved transaction legitimate business deems person legitimate business governor state person business certified secretary person business engaged activities currently legal state law state interest exempting person mandatory reporting suspicious transactions requires secretary maintain public website list persons deemed legitimate business purposes act


Summary: Risk Retention Modernization Act of 2011 - Amends the Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986 to require the Director of the Federal Insurance Office to: (1) report periodically to the President and Congress on the extent of state compliance with the Act's prohibition against state regulation of risk retention and purchasing groups that are not domiciliaries of the state; and (2) issue certain corporate governance standards, meeting specified criteria, for risk retention groups. Extends the coverage of the Act to risk retention groups offering commercial property insurance. Applies to commercial property insurance the exemption of purchasing groups from state law. Revises procedures for: (1) submitting financial documents to state insurance commissioners, and (2) mandatory disclosures. Imposes a fiduciary duty upon the board of directors of a risk retention group to operate in the best interests of the group. Redesignates the Act as the Risk Retention Act.

risk retention modernization act amends liability risk retention act require director federal_insurance_office report periodically president congress extent state compliance act prohibition state regulation risk retention purchasing groups state issue certain corporate governance standards meeting specified criteria risk retention groups extends coverage act risk retention groups offering commercial property insurance applies commercial property insurance exemption purchasing groups state law revises procedures submitting financial documents state insurance commissioners mandatory disclosures imposes fiduciary duty board directors risk retention group operate best interests group redesignates act risk retention act


Summary: Protect HUBZones Act of 2011 - Amends the Small Business Act to revise the definition of "redesignated area" for HUBZone designation purposes to extend the time period during which a census tract or nonmetropolitan county that loses its HUBZone status due to the 2010 census may be so designated.

protect hubzones act amends small business act revise definition redesignated area hubzone designation purposes extend time period census tract nonmetropolitan county loses hubzone status census designated


Summary: Amends the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to define "family office" (exempt from coverage by the Act) as a company (including any director, partner, trustee, or employee of such company, when acting in their respective capacities as such) that has no clients other than family clients and is owned, controlled, or operated primarily for the benefit of family clients and does not hold itself out to the public as an investment adviser.

amends investment advisers act define family office exempt coverage act company including director partner trustee employee company acting respective capacities clients family clients owned controlled operated primarily benefit family clients hold public investment adviser


Summary: Expanding Opportunities for Main Street Act of 2011 - Requires a federal agency, to the extent practicable, to award to a small business concern each acquisition contract of more than $3,000 and less than $500,000 (eligible contract). Authorizes a federal department or agency to award an eligible contract as a sole source contract to a small business if at least one small business submits a contract offer. Requires federal contracting officers to provide a determination of and reasons for not awarding an eligible contract to a small business. Amends the Small Business Act to prohibit considering an individual having net worth of over $1.5 million as economically disadvantaged for purposes of making certain awards to small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals under the Minority Small Business and Capital Ownership Development Program of the Small Business Administration (SBA). Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to make permanent the increase from $2 million to $5 million in the surety bond guaranty limit of the SBA. Relieves the SBA from reimbursing the surety if: (1) the surety obtained such guarantee or agreement, or applied for such reimbursement, by fraud or material misrepresentation; (2) the total contract amount at the time of bond execution exceeds $5 million; (3) the surety has breached a material term or condition of such guarantee agreement; or (4) the surety has substantially violated regulations promulgated by the SBA. Redefines the terms "bundled contracts" and "bundling of contract requirements" for purposes of small business participation in federal procurement contracts. Increases federal small business procurement contracting goals. Requires the withholding of specified contract amounts to contractors who fail to award a specified percentage of its subcontracts to small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Requires the National Director of the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) to establish: (1) the Minority Business Development Program to assist qualified minority businesses with technical assistance, loan guarantees, and contract procurement assistance; and (2) a database to assist prime contractors in identifying historically disadvantaged firms for subcontracting. Authorizes the National Director to: (1) enter into agreements to provide set-aside contracting opportunities to minority businesses, and (2) terminate a minority business from the Program for specified violations. Directs the Secretary of Labor to establish a minimum percentage of construction work hours to be performed by targeted workers (workers whose families have incomes of no more than 200% of federal poverty guidelines) under contracts for facilities and infrastructure construction and rehabilitation funded directly by or assisted in whole or in part by the federal government in FY2012. Requires the utilization of apprenticeship programs for such workers. Expresses the sense of Congress urging participation in such contracts by socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2013: (1) the new markets tax credit national limitation of $3.5 billion, and (2) empowerment zone designations.

expanding opportunities main street act requires federal agency extent practicable award small business concern acquisition contract eligible contract authorizes federal department agency award eligible contract sole source contract small business small business submits contract offer requires federal contracting officers provide determination reasons awarding eligible contract small business amends small_business_act prohibit considering individual having net worth million economically disadvantaged purposes making certain awards small businesses owned controlled socially economically disadvantaged individuals small_business_administration sba amends small_business_investment_act permanent increase million million surety bond guaranty limit sba relieves sba reimbursing surety surety obtained guarantee agreement applied reimbursement fraud material misrepresentation total contract time bond execution exceeds million surety breached material term condition guarantee agreement surety substantially violated regulations promulgated sba redefines terms bundled contracts bundling contract requirements purposes small business participation federal procurement contracts increases federal small business procurement contracting goals requires withholding specified contract amounts contractors fail award specified percentage subcontracts small businesses owned controlled socially economically disadvantaged individuals requires national director minority_business_development_agency establish assist qualified minority businesses technical assistance loan guarantees contract procurement assistance database assist prime contractors identifying historically disadvantaged firms subcontracting authorizes national director enter agreements provide set aside contracting opportunities minority businesses terminate minority business program specified violations directs secretary labor establish minimum percentage construction work hours performed targeted workers workers families incomes federal poverty guidelines contracts facilities infrastructure construction rehabilitation funded directly assisted federal government fy2012 requires utilization apprenticeship programs workers expresses sense congress urging participation contracts socially economically disadvantaged small businesses amends internal revenue code extend new markets tax credit national limitation billion empowerment zone designations


Summary: IRS Rulemaking Fairness Act of 2011 - Expands requirements relating to review of federal agency actions that have a significant economic impact on small entities (e.g., small organizations and businesses) to include rulemaking by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

irs rulemaking fairness act expands requirements relating review federal agency actions significant economic impact small entities small organizations businesses include rulemaking internal_revenue_service irs