110 STAT. 3009 -731 PUBLIC LAW 104-208—SEPT. 30, 1996 15 USC 632 note. (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall be effective with respect to any disaster occurring on or after March 1, 1994. SEC. 105. MICROLOAN DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM. Section 7(m)(7)(B) (15 U.S.C. 636(m)(4)) is amended by adding at the end the following: "If, however, at the beginning of the fourth quarter of a fiscal year the Administration determines that a portion of appropriated microloan funds are unlikely to be awarded during that year, the Administration may make additional funds available to a State in excess of 125 percent of the pro rata share of that State.". SEC. 106. SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER PROGRAM. (a) ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR FOR SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOP- MENT CENTERS.— (1) DUTIES. —Section 21(h) (15 U.S.C. 648(h)) is amended to read as follows: " (h) ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR FOR SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOP- MENT CENTERS. — "(1) APPOINTMENT AND COMPENSATION. —The Administrator shall appoint an Associate Administrator for Small Business Development Centers who shall report to an official who is not more than one level below the Office of the Administrator and who shall serve without regard to the provisions of title 5 governing appointments in the competitive service, and without regard to chapter 51, and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, but at a rate not less than the rate of GS-17 of the General Schedule. " (2) DUTIES. — "(A) IN GENERAL. — The sole responsibility of the Associate Administrator for Small Business Development Centers shall be to administer the small business development center program. Duties of the position shall include recommendfing the annual program budget, reviewing the annual budgets submitted by each applicant, establishing appropriate funding levels therefore, selecting applicants to participate in this program, implementing the provisions of this section, maintaining a clearinghouse to provide for the dissemination and exchange of information between small business development centers and conducting audits of recipients of grants under this section. "(B) CONSULTATION REQUIREMENTS. —In carrying out the duties described in this subsection, the Associate Administrator shall confer with and seek the advice of the Board established by subsection (i) and Administration officials in areas served by the small business development centers; however, the Associate Administrator shall be responsible for the management and administration of the program and shall not be subject to the approval or concurrence of such Administration officials.". (2) REFERENCES TO ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR.—Section 21 (15 U.S.C. 648) is amended— (A) in subsection (c)(7), by striking "Deputy Associate Administrator of the Small Business Development Center program" and inserting "Associate Administrator for Small Business Development Centers"; and
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