HouseH.R. 10785119th Congress
SCORE for Small Business Act of 2026
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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10785 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 10785
To amend the Small Business Act to reauthorize the SCORE program, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 9, 2026
Ms. Mejia introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Small Business
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Small Business Act to reauthorize the SCORE program, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``SCORE for Small Business Act of
2026''.
SEC. 2. SCORE PROGRAM PROVISIONS AND REQUIREMENTS.
Section 8 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(1)(B), by striking ``a Service Corps
of Retired Executives (SCORE)'' and inserting ``a program to be
carried out by SCORE as described in subsection (c)''; and
(2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
``(c) SCORE Program.--
``(1) SCORE defined.--In this subsection, the term `SCORE'
means the organization that carries out the volunteer program
authorized by subsection (b)(1)(B).
``(2) Cooperative agreement.--The Administrator shall enter
into a cooperative agreement with the SCORE to carry out the
volunteer program authorized by subsection (b)(1)(B). The
cooperative agreement shall include the following requirements:
``(A) Administrator duties.--The Administrator
shall--
``(i) every 2 years, conduct a financial
examination of SCORE to ensure that any costs
paid for with Federal funds are allowable,
allocable, and reasonable;
``(ii) review and approve contracts, of a
value greater than an amount determined by the
Administrator, entered into by SCORE to provide
goods or services for the program;
``(iii) maintain a system through which
SCORE provides documentation relating to such
contracts; and
``(iv) within 30 days of the receipt of a
quarterly report on the achievements of the
program carried out by SCORE, reconcile
differences between such report and the
performance results of the program reported in
a management information system of the Office
of Entrepreneurial Development.
``(B) SCORE duties.--SCORE shall--
``(i) manage nationwide chapters of the
program carried out by SCORE;
``(ii) provide annual training to employees
of SCORE on generating and using program income
from the program;
``(iii) submit documentation to the
Administrator verifying such annual training is
completed;
``(iv) separate funds donated to SCORE from
program income and funds received pursuant to a
cooperative agreement; and
``(v) maintain and enforce requirements for
volunteers participating in the program carried
out by SCORE, including requirements that each
such volunteer shall--
``(I) based on the business
experience and knowledge of the
volunteer--
``(aa) provide personal
counseling, mentoring, and
coaching on the process of
starting, expanding, managing,
buying, and selling a business
at no cost to individuals who
own, or aspire to own, small
business concerns; and
``(bb) facilitate free or
low-cost education workshops
for individuals who own, or
aspire to own, small business
concerns; and
``(II) as appropriate, use tools,
resources, and expertise of other
organizations to carry out the program.
``(C) Joint duties.--The Administrator, in
consultation with SCORE, shall ensure that the program
and each chapter of SCORE--
``(i) develops and implements plans and
goals to effectively and efficiently provide
services to individuals at all stages of
business growth and in all communities,
including plans for virtual, remote, and web-
based initiatives, chapter expansion,
partnerships, and the development of new skills
by volunteers participating in the program; and
``(ii) reinforces an inclusive culture by
recruiting volunteers from a variety of
industries, ages, and communities for the
chapters of SCORE.
``(3) Online component.--In addition to providing in-person
services, SCORE shall maintain and expand online counseling
services including webinars, electronic mentoring platforms,
and online toolkits to further support entrepreneurs.
``(4) Accounting.--SCORE shall--
``(A) maintain a centralized accounting and
financing system for each chapter of SCORE;
``(B) maintain uniform policy and procedures to
manage Federal funds received pursuant to a cooperative
agreement described in paragraph (2); and
``(C) maintain an employee of SCORE to serve as a
compliance officer to ensure expenditures of the
program are fully compliant with any law, regulation,
or cooperative agreement relating to the program.
``(5) Compensation.--
``(A) Salaries.--The salary of an employee of SCORE
may not exceed the equivalent of the maximum rate of
pay allowable for an individual in the career Senior
Executive Service employed at the Administration.
``(B) Performance awards.--SCORE may spend up to 5
percent of the aggregate salaries of employees of SCORE
on individual performance awards to employees of SCORE,
to be disbursed before the last day of the fiscal year,
if not later than 60 days before such disbursement
SCORE submits to the Administrator a report on the
number and amount of such awards to be disbursed.
``(6) Whistleblower protection requirements.--SCORE shall--
``(A) annually update all manuals or other
documents applicable to employees and volunteers of
SCORE or the program carried out by SCORE to include
requirements relating to reporting procedures and
protectors for whistleblowers; and
``(B) conduct an annual training for employees and
volunteers of SCORE or the program carried out by SCORE
on the requirements described in paragraph (1) and
encourage the use of a hotline established by the
Office of the Inspector General of the Small Business
Administration to submit whistleblower reports.
``(7) Published materials.--SCORE shall ensure all
published materials include written acknowledgment of
Administration support of the SCORE program if such materials
are paid for in whole or in part by Federal funds.
``(8) Privacy requirements.--
``(A) In general.--Neither the Administrator nor
SCORE may disclose the name, address, email address, or
telephone number of any individual or small business
concern receiving assistance from SCORE without the
consent of such individual or small business concern,
unless--
``(i) the Administrator is ordered to make
such a disclosure by a court in any civil or
criminal enforcement action initiated by a
Federal or State agency; or
``(ii) the Administrator considers such a
disclosure to be necessary for the purpose of
conducting a financial audit of the program
carried out by SCORE, but such disclosure shall
be limited to the information necessary for the
audit.
``(B) Administrator use of information.--This
paragraph shall not--
``(i) restrict the access of the
Administrator to activity data of the program
carried out by SCORE; or
``(ii) prevent the Administrator from using
client information of the program to conduct
client surveys.
``(C) Standards.--
``(i) In general.--The Administrator shall,
by rule and after the opportunity for notice
and comment, establish standards for--
``(I) disclosures with respect to
financial audits described under
subparagraph (A)(ii); and
``(II) conducting client surveys,
including standards for oversight of
the surveys and for dissemination and
use of client information.
``(ii) Maximum privacy protection.--The
standards issued under this subparagraph shall,
to the extent practicable, provide for the
maximum amount of privacy protection.
``(iii) Payment terms.--
``(I) Form of payments.--The
cooperative agreement described in
paragraph (2) shall provide for
payments of Federal funds to SCORE to
carry out the program authorized by
subsection (b)(1)(B) in lump sum or
installments, and in advance or by way
of reimbursement.
``(II) Timing.--Not later than 30
days after the date on which amounts
are made available under an
appropriations Act (including a joint
resolution making continuing
appropriations) to carry out the
program for a fiscal year, the
Administrator shall--
``(aa) issue to SCORE a
notice of award obligating such
amounts under the cooperative
agreement; and
``(bb) begin disbursement
of such amounts to SCORE.
``(9) Annual report.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this subsection, and annually
thereafter, 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 on the performance and effectiveness of the program
carried out by SCORE. Such report may be included as part of
another report submitted to such Committees by the
Administrator and shall include--
``(A) the total number and the number of unique
clients counseled or trained under the program;
``(B) the number of hours of counseling provided
under the program;
``(C) the number of local workshops provided under
the program;
``(D) the number of clients attending online and
local workshops provided under the program;
``(E) to the extent practicable, the demographics
of program clients and volunteers, which shall include
the gender, race, and age of each such client or
volunteer;
``(F) with respect to businesses assisted under the
program, the cost to create a job, the cost to create a
business, and return on investment;
``(G) to the extent practicable, the number of
referrals of program clients to other resources and
programs of the Administration;
``(H) to the extent practicable, the number of
program clients receiving financial assistance,
including the type and dollar amount, under loan
programs of the Administration;
``(I) the results of program client surveys,
including a summary of any comments received from such
clients;
``(J) the number of new businesses started up by
program clients;
``(K) the number of such new businesses realizing
revenue growth;
``(L) to the extent practicable, the number of jobs
created with assistance from the program;
``(M) the total cost of the program;
``(N) any recommendations of the Administrator to
improve the program; and
``(O) to the extent practicable, an explanation of
how the program has been integrated with--
``(i) small business development centers;
``(ii) women's business centers (described
under section 29);
``(iii) Veteran Business Outreach Centers
(described under section 32);
``(iv) other offices of the Administration;
and
``(v) other public and private entities
engaging in entrepreneurial and small business
development.''.
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE SCORE PROGRAM.
Section 20 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 note) is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(i) SCORE.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the
Administrator $17,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 and 2028 to
carry out the program authorized by section 8(b)(1)(B).''.
SEC. 4. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Strategic Plan and Report on the Future Role of SCORE.--
(1) Strategic plan.--SCORE shall carry out a study on the
future role of program carried out by SCORE and develop a
strategic plan for how the program will meet the needs of small
business concerns during the 5-year period beginning on the
date of the enactment of this Act, with specific objectives for
the first, third, and fifth years of such 5-year period.
(2) Report.--Not later than the end of the 6-month period
beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, SCORE shall
submit to the Committee on Small Business of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Small Business and
Entrepreneurship of the Senate a report containing--
(A) all findings and determination made in carrying
out the study required under paragraph (1);
(B) the strategic plan developed under paragraph
(1); and
(C) an explanation of how SCORE plans to achieve
the strategic plan, assuming both stagnant and
increased funding levels.
(b) Administrator Report on Leased Space.--Not later than 1 year
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the
Small Business Administration shall submit to the Committee on Small
Business of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Small
Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate a report containing an
assessment of the cost of leased space that is donated to SCORE.
(c) Online Component Report.--Not later than 3 months after the
last day of the first full fiscal year following the date of the
enactment of this Act, SCORE shall submit to the Committee on Small
Business of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Small
Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate a report on the
effectiveness of the online counseling services required under
paragraph (3) of section 8(c) of the Small Business Act, as added by
section 2 of this Act, including a description of--
(1) how SCORE determines electronic mentoring and webinar
needs, develops training for electronic mentoring, establishes
webinar criteria curricula, and evaluates webinar and
electronic mentoring results;
(2) the internal controls that are used and a summary of
the topics covered by the webinars; and
(3) performance metrics, including the number of small
business concerns counseled by, the number of small business
concerns created by, the number of jobs created and retained
by, and the funding amounts directed towards such online
counseling services.
SEC. 5. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
(a) Small Business Act.--The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et
seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 7 (15 U.S.C. 636)--
(A) in subsection (b)(12)(A), by striking ``the
Service Corps of Retired Executives'' and inserting
``SCORE''; and
(B) in subsection (m)(3)(A)(i)(VIII), by striking
``Service Corps of Retired Executives'' and inserting
``SCORE''; and
(2) in section 22 (15 U.S.C. 649), by striking ``the
Service Corps of Retired Executives'' each place it appears and
inserting ``SCORE''.
(b) Other Laws.--
(1) Consolidated farm and rural development act.--Section
302(b)(4)(viii) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act (7 U.S.C. 1922(b)(4)(viii)) is amended by striking ``a
Service Corps of Retired Executives program'' and inserting
``SCORE''.
(2) Small business reauthorization act of 1997.--Section
707 of the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997 (15
U.S.C. 631 note) is amended by striking ``Service Corps of
Retired Executives (SCORE) program'' and inserting ``program
carried out by SCORE (as defined in section 8(c)(1) of the
Small Business Act)''.
(3) Veterans entrepreneurship and small business
development act of 1999.--Section 301 of the Veterans
Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999 (15
U.S.C. 657b note) is amended by striking ``the Service Core of
Retired Executives described in section 8(b)(1)(B) of the Small
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)(B)) and in this section
referred to as `SCORE')'' and inserting ``SCORE (as defined in
section 8(c)(1) of the Small Business Act)''.
(4) Military reservist and veteran small business
reauthorization and opportunity act of 2008.--Section 3(5) of
the Military Reservist and Veteran Small Business
Reauthorization and Opportunity Act of 2008 (15 U.S.C. 636
note) is amended by striking ``means the Service Corps of
Retired Executives'' and inserting ``means SCORE''.
(5) Children's health insurance program reauthorization act
of 2009.--Section 621 of the Children's Health Insurance
Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (15 U.S.C. 657p) is
amended--
(A) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (4)
and inserting the following:
``(4) the term `SCORE program' means the program carried
out by SCORE (as defined in section 8(c)(1) of the Small
Business Act);''; and
(B) in subsection (b)(4)(A)(iv), by striking ``the
Service Corps of Retired Executives'' and inserting
``SCORE''.
(6) CARES act.--Section 1103(c)(1)(B) of the CARES Act (15
U.S.C. 9002(c)(1)(B)) is amended by striking ``members of the
Service Corps of Retired Executives'' and inserting
``counselors from SCORE''.
(7) American rescue plan act of 2021.--Section
5004(a)(7)(C) of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (15
U.S.C. 9013(a)(7)(C)) is amended by striking ``chapter of the
Service Corps of Retired Executives (as defined in section
8(b)(1)(B) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
637(b)(1)(B)))'' and inserting ``chapter of SCORE (as described
in section 8(c) of the Small Business Act)''.
(8) Energy policy and conservation act.--Section
337(d)(2)(A) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42
U.S.C. 6307(d)(2)(A)) is amended by striking ``the Service
Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)'' and inserting ``SCORE''.
SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administration; administrator.--The terms
``Administration'' and ``Administrator'' mean, respectively,
the Small Business Administration and the Administrator
thereof.
(2) SCORE.--The term ``SCORE'' has the meaning given in
section 8(c)(1) of the Small Business Act, as added by section
2 of this Act.
(3) Small business concern.--The term ``small business
concern'' has the meaning given under section 3 of the Small
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632).
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