,i #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cbid ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #ai1 #bjag,ms4 ,velzquez 7for herself and ,mr4 ,chabot7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,small ,business ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,small ,business ,act to clarify the definitions relating to ,h,u,b,zones1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,h,u,b,zone ,unification and ,business ,stability ,act of #bjag4 #b4 ,transfer of ,h,u,b,zone definitions 7a7 ,redesignation ,section #ca of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #feg;a7 is amended by redesignating subsections 7b71 7c71 and 7d7 as subsections 7c71 7d71 and 7e71 respectively4 7b7 ,transfer ,subsection 7p7 of section #c of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fcb7p77 is transferred to section #ca of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #feg;a71 inserted so as to appear after subsection 7a71 and redesignated as subsection 7b71 and is amended-- 7#a7 by striking ,in this ,act3 and inserting ,in this section32 7#b7 in paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 by striking term and inserting terms2 and 7,b7 by striking means and inserting or ,h,u,b,zone mean2 and 7#c7 by striking paragraph 7#b7 7and redesignating subsequent paragraphs accordingly74 7c7 ,definition of qualified ,h,u,b,zone small business concern ,section #c of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fcb71 as amended by subsection 7a71 is further amended by inserting after subsection 7o7 the following new subsection 7p73 7p7 ,qualified ,h,u,b,zone small business concern ,in this ,act1 the term qualified ,h,u,b,zone small business concern has the meaning given such term in section #ca7;b74 4 7d7 ,conforming amendments 7#a7 ,mentor-protege program ,section #hca7n77#b77;,g7 of the ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year #aiia 7,public ,law #aja-eaj2 #ajd ,stat4 #afjg2 #aj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcjb note7 is amended by striking section #c7p7 of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fcb7p77 and inserting section #ca7;b7 of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #feg;a7b774 7#b7 ,title #aj ,section #bcbc of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by striking section #c7p7 of the ,small ,business ,act each place it appears and inserting section #ca7;b7 of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #feg;a7b774 7#c7 ,small ,business ,act ,section #h7;d77#c77;,g7 of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fcg7;d77#c77;,g77 is amended by striking section #c7p7 of the ,small ,business ,act and inserting section #ca7;b74 7#d7 ,comprehensive small business subcontracting plans ,section #hcd of the ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,years #aiij and #aiia 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fcg note7 is amended by striking section #c7p77#e7 of such ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fcb7p77#e77 and inserting section #ca7;b7 of such ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #feg;a7b774 7#e7 ,contracts for collection services ,section #cgah of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by striking section #c7p7 of the ,small ,business ,act each place it appears and inserting section #ca7;b7 of the ,small ,business ,act4 7#f7 ,title #da ,title #da1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7,a7 in section #aabb1 by striking section #c7p7 of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fcb7p77 each place it appears and inserting section #ca7;b7 of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #feg;a7b772 and 7,b7 in section #agac1 by striking section #c7p7 of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fcb7p77 and inserting section #ca7;b7 of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #feg;a7b774 7#g7 ,title #di ,title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7,a7 in section #dgajg1 by striking section #c7p7 of the ,small ,business ,act each place it appears and inserting section #ca7;b7 of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #feg;a7b772 and 7,b7 in section #dgaac7;a77#c71 by striking section #c7p7 of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fcb7o77 and inserting section #ca7;b7 of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #feg;a7b774 #c4 ,amendments to definitions of qualified census tract and qualified nonmetropolitan county 7a7 ,in general ,paragraph 7#c7 of section #ca7;b7 of the ,small ,business ,act 7as transferred and redesignated by section #b of this ,act7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subparagraph 7,a7-- 7,a7 by amending clause 7i7 to read as follows3 7i7 ,in general ,the term qualified census tract means a qualified census tract as defined in section #db7;d77#e77;,b77ii7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf that is reflected in an online tool prepared by the ,administrator described under subsection 7d77#g74 2 and 7,b7 in clause 7ii7 by inserting and that is reflected in the online tool described under clause 7i7 after such section2 and 7#b7 in subparagraph 7,b7-- 7,a7 by inserting and that is reflected in the online tool described under subparagraph 7,a77i7 after any county2 and 7,b7 in clause 7ii7-- 7i7 in subclause 7,i71 by striking nonmetropolitan2 and 7ii7 by striking the most recent data available each place such term appears and inserting a #e-year average of the available data4 7b7 ,technical amendments ,paragraph 7#c77;,b7 of section #ca7;b7 of the ,small ,business ,act 7as transferred and redesignated by section #b of this ,act71 as amended by subsection 7a71 is further amended-- 7#a7 in clause 7i71 by striking section #db7;d77#e77;,c77ii7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf and inserting section #db7;d77#e77;,b77ii7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf2 and 7#b7 in clause 7ii77,,iii71 by striking section #db7;d77#e77;,c77iii7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf and inserting section #db7;d77#e77;,b77iii7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf4 #d4 ,amendments to definitions of base closure area and qualified disaster area ,paragraph 7#c7 of section #ca7;b7 of the ,small ,business ,act 7as transferred and redesignated by section #b of this ,act71 as amended by section #c1 is further amended-- 7#a7 by amending clause 7ii7 of subparagraph 7,d7 to read as follows3 7ii7 ,limitation ,with respect to a base closure area that is a census tract or nonmetropolitan county described in clause 7i71 such census tract or nonmetropolitan shall be treated as a ,h,u,b,zone for a period beginning on the date the military installation undergoes final closure and ending on the date the base closure area ceases to be a qualified census tract under subparagraph 7,a7 or a qualified nonmetropolitan county under subparagraph 7,b7 in accordance with the online tool prepared by the ,administrator described under subsection 7d77#g74 2 and 7#b7 by amending subparagraph 7,e7 to read as follows3 7,e7 ,qualified disaster area 7i7 ,in general ,subject to clauses 7ii7 and 7iii71 the term qualified disaster area means any census tract or nonmetropolitan county located in a major disaster area or an area in which a catastrophic incident has occurred if such census tract or nonmetropolitan county ceased to be qualified under subparagraph 7,a7 or 7,b71 as applicable1 during the period beginning #e years before the date on which the ,president declared the major disaster or the catastrophic incident occurred4 7ii7 ,duration ,a census tract or nonmetropolitan county shall be considered to be a qualified disaster area only for the period of time ending on the date the area ceases to be a qualified census tract under subparagraph 7,a7 or a qualified nonmetropolitan county under subparagraph 7,b71 in accordance with the online tool prepared by the ,administrator described under subsection 7d77#g7 and beginning-- 7,i7 in the case of a major disaster declared by the ,president1 on the date the ,president declared the major disaster for the area in which the census tract or nonmetropolitan county1 as applicable1 is located2 or 7,,ii7 in the case of a catastrophic incident1 on the date on which the catastrophic incident occurred in the area in which the census tract or nonmetropolitan county1 as applicable1 is located4 7iii7 ,extension ,with respect to a census tract or nonmetropolitan county that is a qualified disaster area because it is located in an area in which a catastrophic incident occurred1 the ,administrator may extend the period described in clause 7ii7 if the ,administrator determines that the census tract or nonmetropolitan county has not fully recovered from the catastrophic incident4 7iv7 ,definitions ,in this subparagraph3 7,i7 ,major disaster area ,the term major disaster area means an area for which the ,president has declared a major disaster under section #dja of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj74 7,,ii7 ,other definitions ,the terms census tract and nonmetropolitan county have the meanings given such terms in subparagraph 7,d77iii74 4 #e4 ,amendment to definition of redesignated areas ,paragraph 7#c7 of section #ca7;b7 of the ,small ,business ,act 7as transferred and redesignated by section #b of this ,act71 as amended by section #d1 is further amended by amending subparagraph 7,c7 to read as follows3 7,c7 ,redesignated area ,the term redesignated area means any census tract that ceases to be qualified under subparagraph 7,a7 and any nonmetropolitan county that ceases to be qualified under subparagraph 7,b7 for a period of #c years after the date on which the census tract or nonmetropolitan county ceased to be so qualified4 4 #f4 ,repeal of #e-year limitation on ,h,u,b,zone status of base closure areas ,section #aeb7;a7 of title ,i of division ,k of the ,consolidated ,appropriations ,act1 #bjje 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fcb note7 is amended by repealing paragraph 7#b74 #g4 ,amendment to definition of qualified ,h,u,b,zone small business concern ,paragraph 7#d7 of section #ca7;b7 of the ,small ,business ,act 7as transferred and redesignated by section #b of this ,act7 is amended to read as follows3 7#d7 ,qualified ,h,u,b,zone small business concern ,the term qualified ,h,u,b,zone small business concern means a ,h,u,b,zone small business concern that has been certified by the ,administrator in accordance with the procedures described in this section4 4 #h4 ,amendments to ,h,u,b,zone ,program 7a7 ,clarifications to eligibility for ,h,u,b,zone ,program ,section #ca7;d7 of the ,small ,business ,act1 as redesignated by section #b1 is amended to read as follows3 7d7 ,eligibility requirements2 enforcement 7#a7 ,certification ,in order to be certified by the ,administrator as a qualified ,h,u,b,zone small business concern1 a ,h,u,b,zone small business concern shall submit documentation the ,administrator stating that-- 7,a7 at the time of certification and at each examination conducted pursuant to paragraph 7#d71 the principal office of the concern is located in a ,h,u,b,zone and not fewer than #ce percent of its employees reside in a ,h,u,b,zone2 7,b7 the concern will attempt to maintain the applicable employment percentage under subparagraph 7,a7 during the performance of any contract awarded to such concern on the basis of a preference provided under subsection 7b72 and 7,c7 the concern will ensure that the requirements of section #df are satisfied with respect to any subcontract entered into by such concern pursuant to a contract awarded under this section4 7#b7 ,verification ,in carrying out this section1 the ,administrator shall establish procedures relating to-- 7,a7 the filing1 investigation1 and disposition by the ,administration of any challenge to the eligibility of a ,h,u,b,zone small business concern to receive assistance under this section 7including a challenge1 filed by an interested party1 relating to the veracity of documentation provided to the ,administration by such a concern under paragraph 7#a772 and 7,b7 verification by the ,administrator of the accuracy of any documentation provided by a ,h,u,b,zone small business concern under paragraph 7#a74 7#c7 ,timing ,the ,administrator shall complete the verification procedures described in paragraph 7#b7 in a reasonable time1 not later than #cj days after the date on which the ,administrator receives sufficient and complete documentation from a ,h,u,b,zone small business concern under paragraph 7#a74 7#d7 ,examinations ,the ,administrator shall conduct program examinations of qualified ,h,u,b,zone small business concerns1 using a risk-based analysis to select such concerns1 to ensure that each such concern meets the requirements of paragraph 7#a74 7#e7 ,recertification ,the ,administrator shall verify the accuracy of any documentation provided by a ,h,u,b,zone small business concern under paragraph 7#a7 to determine if such ,h,u,b,zone small business concern is a qualified ,h,u,b,zone small business concern #c years after the date that such ,h,u,b,zone small business concern has been certified as a qualified ,h,u,b,zone small business concern1 and every #c years thereafter4 7#f7 ,loss of certification ,a ,h,u,b,zone small business concern that1 based on the results of an examination conducted pursuant to paragraph 7#d7 no longer meets the requirements of paragraph 7#a71 shall have #cj days to submit documentation to the ,administrator to be eligible to be certified as a qualified ,h,u,b,zone small business concern4 ,during the #cj-;day period1 such concern may not compete for or be awarded a contract under this section4 ,if such concern fails to meet the requirements of paragraph 7#a7 by the last day of the #cj-;day period1 such concern will not be certified as a qualified ,h,u,b,zone small business concern4 7#g7 ,h,u,b,zone online tool 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator shall develop a publicly accessible online tool that depicts ,h,u,b,zones4 ,such online tool shall be updated-- 7i7 with respect to qualified areas described under subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b7 of subsection 7b77#c71 beginning on ,january #a1 #bjbj1 and every #e years thereafter2 7ii7 with respect to qualified areas described under subsection 7b77#c77;,c71 immediately after an area ceases to be a redesignated area2 and 7iii7 with respect to qualified areas described under subparagraphs 7,d7 and 7,e7 of subsection 7b77#c71 immediately after an area is designated as a base closure area or a qualified disaster area4 7,b7 ,data ,the online tool required under subparagraph 7,a7 shall clearly and conspicuously provide access to the data used by the ,administrator to determine whether or not an area is a qualified area in the year in which the online tool was prepared4 7,c7 ,notification of update ,the ,administrator shall include in the online tool a notification of the date on which the online tool1 and the data used to create the online tool1 will be updated4 7#h7 ,list of qualified ,h,u,b,zone small business concerns ,the ,administrator shall establish and maintain on the ,internet a list of qualified ,h,u,b,zone small business concerns that shall-- 7,a7 to the extent practicable1 include the name1 address1 and type of business with respect to such concern2 7,b7 be updated by the ,administrator not less than annually2 and 7,c7 be provided upon request to any ,federal agency or other entity4 7#i7 ,provision of data ,upon the request of the ,administrator1 the ,secretary of ,labor1 the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency1 the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development1 and the ,secretary of the ,interior 7or the ,assistant ,secretary for ,indian ,affairs71 shall promptly provide to the ,administrator such information as the ,administrator determines to be necessary to carry out this subsection4 7#aj7 ,penalties ,in addition to the penalties described in section #af7;d71 any small business concern that is determined by the ,administrator to have misrepresented the status of that concern as a qualified ,h,u,b,zone small business concern for purposes of this section1 shall be subject to liability for fraud1 including section #ajja of title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code1 and sections #cgbi through #cgcc of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code4 4 7b7 ,performance metrics ,section #ca of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #feg;a7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a71 by inserting 1 including promoting economic development in economically distressed areas 7as defined in section #g7m77#aa771 after assistance2 7#b7 by redesignating subsection 7e7 7as redesignated by section #b of this ,act7 as subsection 7f72 and 7#c7 by inserting after subsection 7d7 the following new subsection3 7e7 ,performance metrics 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator shall publish performance metrics designed to measure the success of the ,h,u,b,zone program established under this section in meeting the program's objective of promoting economic development in economically distressed areas 7as defined in section #g7m77#aa774 7#b7 ,collecting and managing ,h,u,b,zone data ,the ,administrator shall develop processes to incentivize regional offices of the ,administration to collect and manage data on ,h,u,b,zones within the geographic area served by such regional office4 7#c7 ,report ,not later than #ij days after the last date of each fiscal year1 the ,administrator shall submit to the ,committee on ,small ,business and ,entrepreneurship of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,small ,business of the ,house of ,representatives a report-- 7,a7 analyzing the data from the performance metrics2 and 7,b7 including the number of ,h,u,b,zone small business concerns that lost certification as a qualified ,h,u,b,zone small business concern because of the results of an examination performed under subsection 7d77#f71 and the number of those concerns that did not submit documentation to be recertified under subsection 7d77#g74 4 7c7 ,authorization of appropriations ,section #ca7;f7 of the ,small ,business ,act1 as redesignated by subsection 7b71 is amended by striking fiscal years #bjjd through #bjjf and inserting fiscal years #bjag through #bjbj4 #i4 ,current qualified ,h,u,b,zone small business concerns ,a ,h,u,b,zone small business concern that was qualified pursuant to section #c7p77#e7 of the ,small ,business ,act on or before the date of the enactment of this ,act shall continue to be considered as a qualified ,h,u,b,zone small business concern during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this ,act and ending on the date that the ,administrator of the ,small ,business ,administration prepares the online tool depicting qualified areas described under section #ca7;d77#g7 7as added by this ,act74 #aj4 ,effective date ,the provisions of this ,act shall take effect-- 7#a7 with respect to section #i1 on the date of the enactment of this ,act2 and 7#b7 with respect to sections #a through #h1 on ,january #a1 #bjbj4