MANAGEMENT OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER PROGRAM.

SEC. 223. MANAGEMENT OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER PROGRAM. (a) Section 21(a)(3) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648) is amended by adding the following at the end thereof: “(A) Small business development centers are authorized to form an association to pursue matters of common concern. If more than a majority of the small business development centers which are operating pursuant to agreements with the Administration are members of such an association, the Administration is authorized and directed to recognize the existence and activities of such an association and to consult with it and develop documents (i) announcing the annual scope of activities pursuant to this section, (ii) requesting proposals to deliver assistance as provided in this section and (iii) governing the general operations and administration of the Small Business Development Center Program, specifically including the development of regulations and a uniform negotiated cooperative agreement for use on an annual basis when entering into individual negotiated agreements with small business development centers. “(B) Provisions governing audits, cost principles and administrative requirements for Federal grants, contracts and cooperative agreements which are included in uniform requirements of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars shall be incorporated by reference and shall not be set forth in summary or other form in regulations.”. (b) Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration shall submit to the Committees on Small Business and the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives, proposed regulations for the Small Business Development Center Program authorized by section 21 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648). Such proposed regulations shall not be published in the Federal Register.