S 3246 ISCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

112th CONGRESSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

2d SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

S. 3246CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To improve the Service Corps of Retired Executives, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

May 24, 2012CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Ms. SNOWE introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and EntrepreneurshipCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

A BILLCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To improve the Service Corps of Retired Executives, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘SCORE Program Improvement Act of 2012’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) the terms ‘Administration’ and ‘Administrator’ mean the Small Business Administration and the Administrator thereof, respectively;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the term ‘SCORE’ means the Service Corps of Retired Executives established under section 8(b)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1));CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) the term ‘SCORE Advisory Board’ means the SCORE Advisory Board established under section 101 of this Act;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) the term ‘SCORE chapter’ means a chapter of the Service Corps of Retired Executives; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) the term ‘small business concern’ has the meaning given that term under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE I--SCORE ADVISORY BOARDCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT OF ADVISORY BOARD.

(a) Establishment- There is established the SCORE Advisory Board.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Membership-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) COMPOSITION- The SCORE Advisory Board shall be composed of 6 members, who shall be appointed from among individuals having outstanding qualifications and known to be familiar with and sympathetic to the needs and problems of small business concerns.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) LIMITATIONS- Of the individuals appointed under paragraph (1)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) not more than 3 may be members of a SCORE chapter; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) 3 shall be owners or employees of small business concerns or members of an association that represents small business concerns.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) PROHIBITION- The members of the SCORE Advisory Board may not be employees of the Federal Government.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) DATE- The appointments of the members of the SCORE Advisory Board shall be made not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Terms-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in paragraph (2), a member of the SCORE Advisory Board shall be appointed for a term of 3 years.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) FIRST MEMBERS- Of the members first appointed to the SCORE Advisory Board--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) 2 shall be appointed for a term of 4 years, of whom 1 shall be a member described in subsection (b)(2)(A) and 1 shall be a member described in subsection (b)(2)(B);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) 2 shall be appointed for a term of 3 years, of whom 1 shall be a member described in subsection (b)(2)(A) and 1 shall be a member described in subsection (b)(2)(B); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) 2 shall be appointed for a term of 2 years, of whom 1 shall be a member described in subsection (b)(2)(A) and 1 shall be a member described in subsection (b)(2)(B).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Vacancies-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- A vacancy on the SCORE Advisory Board shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made and shall be subject to any conditions which applied with respect to the original appointment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) FILLING UNEXPIRED TERM- An individual chosen to fill a vacancy shall be appointed for the unexpired term of the member replaced.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Initial Meeting- Not later than 60 days after the date on which all members of the SCORE Advisory Board have been appointed, the SCORE Advisory Board shall hold its first meeting.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Meetings- The SCORE Advisory Board shall meet--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) not less frequently than semiannually; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) at the call of the Chairman.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(g) Quorum- A majority of the members of the SCORE Advisory Board shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(h) Chairman- The SCORE Advisory Board shall select a Chairman from among its members.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 102. DUTIES OF THE SCORE ADVISORY BOARD.

(a) Duties- The SCORE Advisory Board shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) review and monitor plans and programs developed in the public and private sector which affect SCORE chapters;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) provide advice on improving coordination between plans and programs described in paragraph (1);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) advise SCORE chapters on the use of Federal funds allocated to SCORE;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) develop and promote initiatives, policies, programs, and plans designed to assist with the mentoring services offered by SCORE chapters throughout the United States; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) advise the Administrator on the development and implementation of an annual comprehensive plan under subsection (b).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Development of Plan- The Administrator shall develop and implement an annual comprehensive plan for joint efforts by the public and private sectors to facilitate the formation and development of mentoring by SCORE volunteers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Annual Report- Not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal year, the SCORE Advisory Board shall submit to the President, the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate, and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives a report that contains--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) the minutes of each meeting of the SCORE Advisory Board during the fiscal year to which the report relates;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) a detailed description of the activities of the SCORE Advisory Board during the fiscal year to which the report relates, including how the SCORE Advisory Board carried out the duties described in subsection (a);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) recommendations for promoting SCORE chapters and mentoring services; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) any concurring or dissenting views of the Administrator.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 103. POWERS OF THE SCORE ADVISORY BOARD.

(a) Hearings- The SCORE Advisory Board may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the SCORE Advisory Board considers advisable to carry out this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Task Groups- The SCORE Advisory Board may establish a temporary task group to carry out any duty of the SCORE Advisory Board described in section 4.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Information From Federal Agencies- The SCORE Advisory Board may secure directly from any Federal department or agency such information as the SCORE Advisory Board considers necessary to carry out this Act. Upon request of the Chairman of the SCORE Advisory Board, the head of such department or agency shall furnish such information to the SCORE Advisory Board.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Postal Services- The SCORE Advisory Board may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the Federal Government.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Gifts- The SCORE Advisory Board may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services or property.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 104. SCORE ADVISORY BOARD PERSONNEL MATTERS.

(a) Compensation- Members of the SCORE Advisory Board shall not be compensated for services performed on behalf of the SCORE Advisory Board.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Travel Expenses- The members of the SCORE Advisory Board shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the SCORE Advisory Board.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Detail of Government Employees- Any Federal Government employee may be detailed to the SCORE Advisory Board without reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 105. INAPPLICABILITY OF THE FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT TO THE SCORE ADVISORY BOARD.

Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply with respect to the SCORE Advisory Board.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 106. FUNDING.

The expenses of the SCORE Advisory Board, including expenses relating to personnel, as described in section 104, shall be paid by SCORE, from amounts made available to SCORE to carry out section 8(b)(1)(B) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)(B)).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE II--FINANCIAL REFORMSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 201. REAUTHORIZATION.

Section 20 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 note) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by redesignating subsection (j) as subsection (f); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(g) SCORE Program- The Administrator may make grants and enter into cooperative agreements to carry out the SCORE program authorized by section 8(b)(1) in a total amount that does not exceed $7,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2013, 2014, and 2015.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 202. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF SCORE.

(a) Limitation on Amount of Salary- The rate of basic pay of the chief executive officer of SCORE may not exceed the maximum rate of basic pay established under section 5382 of title 5, United States Code, for a position in the Senior Executive Service.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Federal Share of Salary- For any year during which the chief executive officer of SCORE serves in a leadership capacity on a foundation affiliated with SCORE, the Federal share of the basic pay of the chief executive officer of SCORE may not exceed 80 percent.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 203. ALLOCATION COMMITTEE.

(a) Establishment- SCORE shall establish a committee to determine the amount allocated each year to each SCORE chapter.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Members- The members of the committee established under subsection (a) shall include--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) 1 member of the staff of SCORE who is not the chief executive officer of SCORE; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) not fewer than 4 members of the SCORE Advisory Board.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 204. ALLOCATION OF AMOUNTS.

SCORE shall establish a method for allocating amounts received by SCORE from the Federal Government, which shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) ensure that not less than 50 percent of the amounts are allocated to SCORE chapters; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) be subject to the approval of the Administrator and the committee established under section 203.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 205. GAO STUDY AND REPORT.

(a) Study- The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study of the technology activities of SCORE that includes an examination of each expenditure by SCORE for technology activities and the result of each such expenditure.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Report- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress and the Administrator a report that contains--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) a detailed description of the amounts SCORE has expended for technology activities, including how SCORE expended Federal funds to carry out and sustain technology initiatives during the 4-year period ending on the date of enactment of this Act;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) a determination of whether SCORE has expended Federal funds efficiently and effectively to carry out technology activities;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) an evaluation of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) how well SCORE has met objectives relating to technology spending; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the policy that resulted in the establishment of objectives relating to technology spending; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) recommendations for actions by SCORE to achieve objectives relating to technology spending while safeguarding Federal funds.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink