Bill > HR4788

This bill, the SCORE for Small Business Act of 2016, amends the Small Business Act to reauthorize the SCORE program, which provides free counseling and mentoring to small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs by retired executives, for fiscal years 2017 and 2018, authorizing up to $10.5 million annually for its operation. It requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to award grants to the SCORE Association, or a successor organization, to manage the program, and modifies program requirements to emphasize the role of volunteers in providing personal counseling, mentoring, and coaching, as well as facilitating low-cost educational workshops. The bill also mandates that the SCORE Association develop plans and goals to better serve underserved communities, including through online initiatives, and requires an annual report to the SBA detailing program activities and outcomes, such as the number of individuals assisted and jobs created. Furthermore, it establishes strict privacy requirements, preventing the disclosure of client information without consent, except in specific legal or audit situations, and mandates the use of online counseling, including webinars and an electronic mentoring platform, to expand access to services. Finally, the SCORE Association is required to conduct a study and develop a five-year strategic plan for the program's evolution to meet the changing needs of entrepreneurs.