,i  #aaeth ,,congress  #ast ,session    
,h4 ,r4 #afda  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of  
,,representatives  ,march #bj1 #bjag,ms4
 ,maxine ,waters of ,california 7for    
herself and ,ms4 ,velzquez7 introduced  
the following bill2 which was referred  
to the ,committee on ,small ,business   
,a ,,bill  ,to amend the ,small         
,business ,act to clarify the           
responsibilities of ,business           
,opportunity ,specialists1 and for other
 purposes4  #a4 ,responsibilities of    
,business ,opportunity ,specialists     
,section #d7;g7 of the ,small ,business 
,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fcc7;g77 is        
amended-- 7#a7 in the subsection        
heading1 by striking ,certification     
,requirements for2  7#b7 in paragraph   
7#b7-- 7,a7 by redesignating            
subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b7 as clauses  
7i7 and 7ii71 respectively 7and         
conforming the margins accordingly72    
7,b7 by amending clause 7ii7 7as so     
redesignated7 to read as follows3  7ii7 
,application ,the requirements of clause

 7i7 shall be included in any initial   
job posting for the position of a       
,business ,opportunity ,specialist and  
shall apply to any person appointed as a
 ,business ,opportunity ,specialist     
after ,january #c1 #bjac4  2 and  7,c7  
in clause 7i7 7as so redesignated71 by  
striking paragraph 7#a7 and inserting   
subparagraph 7,a72  7#c7 by             
redesignating paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b7  
as subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b71         
respectively 7and conforming the margins
 accordingly72  7#d7 in subparagraph    
7,a7 7as so redesignated71 by striking  
paragraph 7#b7 and inserting            
subparagraph 7,b72 and  7#e7 by         
inserting before subparagraph 7,a7 7as  
so redesignated7 the following3  7#a7   
,duties ,the exclusive duties of a      
,business ,opportunity ,specialist      
employed by the ,administrator and      
reporting to the senior official        
appointed by the ,administrator with    
responsibilities under sections #h1 #ae1
 #ca1 and #cf 7or the designee of such  

official7 shall be to implement sections
 #g1 #h1 and #de and to complete other  
duties related to contracting programs  
under this ,act4 ,such duties shall     
include--  7,a7 with respect to small   
business concerns eligible to receive   
contracts and subcontracts pursuant to  
section #h7;a7--  7i7 providing         
guidance1 counseling1 and referrals for 
assistance with technical1 management1  
financial1 or other matters that will   
improve the competitive viability of    
such concerns2  7ii7 identifying causes 
of success or failure of such concerns2 
7iii7 providing comprehensive           
assessments of such concerns1 including 
identifying the strengths and weaknesses
 of such concerns2  7iv7 monitoring and 
documenting compliance with the         
requirements of sections #g and #h and  
any regulations implementing those      
sections2  7v7 explaining the           
requirements of sections #g1 #h1 #ae1   
#ca1 #cf1 and #de2 and  7vi7 advising on
 compliance with contracting regulations

 7including the ,federal ,acquisition   
,regulation7 after award of such a      
contract or subcontract2  7,b7 reviewing
 and monitoring compliance with         
mentor-protege agreements under section 
#de2  7,c7 representing the interests of
 the ,administrator and small business  
concerns in the award1 modification1 and
 administration of contracts and        
subcontracts awarded pursuant to section
 #h7;a72 and  7,d7 reporting fraud or   
abuse under section #g1 #h1 #ae1 #ca1   
#cf1 or #de or any regulations          
implementing such sections4  7#b7       
,certification requirements  4