authority to establish, coordinate, and operate programs

authority to establish, coordinate, and operate programs Sec. 302. (a) The Director is authorized to establish and conduct, and to recruit, select, and train volunteers for (and to make grants or enter into contracts therefor), volunteer programs, including a Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and an Active Corps of Executives (ACE) and programs in which SCORE and ACE volunteers expand the application of their expertise beyond Small Business Administration clients, to carry out the purpose of this title: Provided, however, That the services of volunteers who are assisting persons or enterprises seeking to obtain, or receiving, financial or management counseling assistance from the Small Business Administration shall be performed under the direction of the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (hereinafter referred to in this title as the “Administrator”) pursuant to section 8(b)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)). (b) The assignment of volunteers engaged in programs under this title shall be on such terms and conditions as the Director may determine, except, that he shall prescribe such terms and conditions in agreement with the Administrator with respect to the service of volunteers described in the proviso in subsection (a) of this section. (c) (1) Such volunteers, while carrying out activities under this title and section 8(b)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637 (b) (1)), shall be deemed Federal employees for the purpose of the Federal tort claims provisions in title 28, United States Code. (2) The Director is authorized to reimburse such volunteers only for such necessary out-of-pocket expenses incident to their provision of services under this Act as he shall determine, in accordance with regulations which he shall prescribe, and. while they are carrying out 87 Stat. 405such activities away from their homes or regular places of business, for travel expenses (including per diem in lieu of subsistence) as authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States Code, for individuals serving without pay. (f) Such volunteers shall in no way (A) participate for the benefit of the Small Business Administration (rather than on behalf of their clients) in any screening or evaluation activities in connection with applications for loans from such Administration, or (B) provide services to a client of such Administration with a delinquent loan outstanding, except upon a specific request signed by such client for assistance in connection with such matter. (d) The Director and the Administrator shall cooperate in order to make available to such volunteers, or groups thereof, such use of the office facilities and related supplies, materials, and services of the Small Business Administration and the ACTION Agency as they deem appropriate to assist such volunteers to carry out such activities, including authorized meetings of groups of volunteers. (e) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, activities authorized to be carried out both by this title and by section 8(b)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)) shall be carried out under this title to the maximum extent feasible.