S. 1428Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Small Business Cyber Training Act of 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 4:50 PM UTC

The Small Business Cyber Training Act of 2017 would add a new cyber‑strategy training requirement to the Small Business Act. It directs the Small Business Administration (SBA) to certify counselors at lead Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) so they can help small businesses plan for and defend against cyber threats. The law also provides limited funding to cover certification costs and requires the program to be in place within six months of enactment.

Key Provisions

The SBA must create (or use an existing) certification program that trains SBDC counselors to provide cyber‑planning assistance to small businesses.
Each lead SBDC must have at least five counselors, or 10 % of its staff—whichever is smaller—certified in cyber assistance.
The SBA may reimburse lead SBDCs for certification expenses, but total reimbursements cannot exceed $350,000 in any fiscal year.
The certification program must be implemented within 180 days after the law takes effect.

Legislative Activity

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5 earlier actions

SenateCommittee Latest Action

Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-300.

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

April 25, 2018

View full timeline

SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

June 26, 2017

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

June 26, 2017

SenateCommittee

Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

August 2, 2017

SenateCommittee

Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Reported by Senator Risch without amendment. Without written report.

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

August 2, 2017

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 199.

August 2, 2017

SenateCommittee

Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-300.

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

April 25, 2018

Bill Text

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Reported to SenateIssued August 2, 2017

Calendar No. 199

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1428

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 26, 2017

Mr. Risch (for himself, Mr. Peters, Mr. Kennedy, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Markey, and Mr. Coons) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

August 2, 2017

Reported by Mr. Risch, without amendment

A BILL

To amend section 21 of the Small Business Act to require cyber certification for small business development center counselors, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Small Business Cyber Training Act of 2017.

Duties of small business development center counselors

(a)

Cyber training

Section 21 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(o)

Cyber strategy training for small business development centers

(1)

Definitions

In this subsection—

(A)

the term cyber strategy means resources and tactics to assist in planning for cybersecurity and defending against cyber risks and attacks; and

(B)

the term lead small business development center means a small business development center that has received a grant from the Administration.

(2)

Certification program

The Administrator shall establish a cyber counseling program, or designate an existing program, under which the Administrator may certify the employees of lead small business development centers in providing cyber planning assistance to small business concerns.

(3)

Number of certified employees

The Administrator shall ensure that the number of employees of each lead small business development center who are certified in providing cyber assistance is not less than the lesser of—

(A)

5; or

(B)

10 percent of the total number of employees of the lead small business development center.

(4)

Cyber strategy

In carrying out paragraph (2), the Administrator, to the extent practicable, shall consider any cyber strategy methods included in the Small Business Development Center Cyber Strategy developed under section 1841(a)(3)(B) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114–328).

(5)

Reimbursement for certification

(A)

In general

Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Administrator shall reimburse a lead small business development center for costs relating to the certification of an employee of the lead small business center in providing cyber planning assistance under the program established under paragraph (2).

(B)

Limitation

The total amount reimbursed by the Administrator under subparagraph (A) may not exceed $350,000 in any fiscal year.

(b)

Implementation

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration shall implement paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of section 21(o) of the Small Business Act, as added by subsection (a).

August 2, 2017

Reported without amendment