,,ii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #gg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,january #be1 #bjbc,mrs4 ,shaheen introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,small ,business and ,entrepreneurship ,a ,,bill ,to reauthorize the ,state ,trade ,expansion ,program of the ,small ,business ,administration1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,,step ,improvement ,act of #bjbc4 #b4 ,state ,trade ,expansion program 7a7 ,application requirements ,section #bb7l77#c7 of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fdi7l77#c77 is amended-- 7#a7 in subparagraph 7,d7-- 7,a7 in clause 7i71 by inserting 1 including a budget plan for use of funds awarded under this subsection before the period at the end2 and 7,b7 by adding at the end the following3 7iii7 ,timing ,the ,associate ,administrator shall-- 7,i7 publish information on how to apply for a grant under this subsection1 including specific calculations and other determinations used to award such a grant1 not later than ,march #ca of each year2 7,,ii7 establish a deadline for the submission of applications that is not earlier than #fj days after the date on which the information is published under subclause 7,i7 and that is not later than ,may #ca2 and 7,,iii7 announce grant recipients not later than ,august #ca of each year4 2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7,e7 ,application information ,the ,associate ,administrator shall clearly communicate to applicants and grant recipients any information about the ,state ,trade ,expansion ,program1 including-- 7i7 for each unsuccessful applicant for a grant awarded under this subsection1 recommendations to improve a subsequent application for such a grant2 and 7ii7 for each successful applicant for such a grant1 an explanation for the amount awarded1 if different from the amount requested in the application4 7,f7 ,budget plan revisions 7i7 ,in general ,a ,state receiving a grant under this subsection may revise the budget plan of the ,state submitted under subparagraph 7,d7 after the disbursal of grant funds if-- 7,i7 the revision complies with allowable uses of grant funds under this subsection2 and 7,,ii7 such ,state submits notification of the revision to the ,associate ,administrator4 7ii7 ,exception ,if a revision under clause 7i7 reallocates #aj percent or more of the amounts described in the budget plan of the ,state submitted under subparagraph 7,d71 the ,state may not implement the revised budget plan without the approval of the ,associate ,administrator1 unless the ,associate ,administrator fails to approve or deny the revised plan within #bj days after receipt of such revised plan4 4 7b7 ,survey ,section #bb7l7 of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fdi7l77 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating paragraphs 7#g7 through 7#i7 as paragraphs 7#h7 through 7#aj71 respectively2 and 7#b7 by inserting after paragraph 7#f7 the following3 7#g7 ,survey ,the ,associate ,administrator shall conduct an annual survey of each ,state that received a grant under this subsection during the preceding year to solicit feedback on the program and develop best practices for grantees4 4 7c7 ,annual report ,paragraph 7#h77;,b7 of section #bb7l7 of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fdi7l771 as so redesignated by subsection 7b71 is amended-- 7#a7 in clause 7i7-- 7,a7 in subclause 7,,iii71 by inserting 1 including the total number of eligible small business concerns assisted by the program 7disaggregated by socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns1 small business concerns owned and controlled by women1 and rural small business concerns7 before the semicolon at the end2 7,b7 in subclause 7,,iv71 by striking and at the end2 7,c7 in subclause 7,v7-- 7i7 by striking description of best practices and inserting detailed description of best practices2 and 7ii7 by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon2 and 7,d7 by adding at the end the following3 7,,vi7 an analysis of the performance metrics described in clause 7iii71 including a determination of whether or not any goals relating to such performance metrics were met1 and an analysis of the survey described in paragraph 7#g72 and 7,,vii7 a description of lessons learned by grant recipients under this subsection that may apply to other assistance provided by the ,administration4 2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7iii7 ,performance metrics ,annually1 the ,associate ,administrator shall collect data on eligible small business concerns assisted by the program for the following performance metrics3 7,i7 ,total number of such concerns1 disaggregated by socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns1 small business concerns owned and controlled by women1 and rural small business concerns4 7,,ii7 ,total dollar amount of export sales by eligible small business concerns assisted by the program4 7,,iii7 ,number of such concerns that have not previously participated in an activity described in paragraph 7#b74 7,,iv7 ,number of such concerns that1 because of participation in the program1 have accessed a new market4 7,v7 ,number of such concerns that1 because of participation in the program1 have created new jobs4 7,,vi7 ,number of such concerns participating in foreign trade missions or trade show exhibitions1 disaggregated by socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns1 small business concerns owned and controlled by women1 and rural small business concerns4 4 7d7 ,expansion of definition of eligible small business concern ,section #bb7l77#a77;,a7 of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fdi7l77#a77;,a77 is amended-- 7#a7 in clause 7iii77,,ii71 by adding and at the end2 7#b7 by striking clause 7iv72 and 7#c7 by redesignating clause 7v7 as clause 7iv74 7e7 ,authorization of appropriations ,paragraph 7#aj7 of section #bb7l7 of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fdi7l771 as so redesignated by subsection 7b71 is amended by striking fiscal years #bjaf through #bjbj and inserting fiscal years #bjbd through #bjbh4 7f7 ,report to congress ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,associate ,administrator for ,international ,trade of the ,small ,business ,administration shall submit to ,congress a report on the ,state ,trade ,expansion ,program established under section #bb7l7 of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fdi7l771 as amended by this section1 that includes a description of-- 7#a7 the process developed for review of revised budget plans submitted under subparagraph 7,f7 of section #bb7l77#c7 of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fdi7l77#c771 as added by this ,act2 7#b7 any changes made to streamline the application process to remove duplicative requirements and create a more transparent process2 7#c7 the process developed to share best practices by ,states described in paragraph 7#h77;,b77i77,v7 of section #bb7l7 of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fdi7l771 as so redesignated by this ,act1 particularly for first-time grant recipients under the ,state ,trade ,expansion ,program or grant recipients that are facing problems using grant funds2 and 7#d7 the process developed to communicate1 both verbally and in writing1 relevant information about the ,state ,trade ,expansion ,program to all grant recipients in a timely manner4