S. 771Senate116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Small Business Cyber Training Act of 2019

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Updated April 14, 2026 at 2:59 AM UTC

The Small Business Cyber Training Act of 2019 amends the Small Business Act to require that counselors at federally‑funded Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) receive training and certification in cyber‑security planning. The law directs the SBA Administrator to set up (or adopt) a certification program, ensure a minimum number of certified staff at each lead SBDC, and provide limited reimbursement for certification costs. The goal is to improve cyber‑risk guidance available to small businesses.

Key Provisions

Defines “cyber strategy” as resources and tactics for planning and defending against cyber risks, and defines “lead small business development center” as an SBDC that receives a federal grant.
Requires the SBA Administrator to create or adopt a cyber counseling certification program for SBDC employees who assist small businesses with cyber planning.
Mandates that each lead SBDC have at least the lesser of 5 certified employees or 10 % of its total staff certified in cyber planning assistance.
Allows the Administrator to consider cyber‑strategy methods from the National Defense Authorization Act when designing the program.
Provides reimbursement to lead SBDCs for certification costs, capped at $350,000 per fiscal year, subject to appropriations.
Requires the Administrator to put the new certification requirements into effect within 180 days of the law’s enactment.

Legislative Activity

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5 earlier actions

SenateCalendars Latest Action

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 51.

April 1, 2019

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

March 13, 2019

SenateIntro Referral

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

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

March 13, 2019

SenateCommittee

Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 116-47.

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

March 13, 2019

SenateCommittee

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

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

March 27, 2019

SenateCommittee

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

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

April 1, 2019

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 51.

April 1, 2019

Bill Text

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Reported to SenateIssued April 1, 2019

Calendar No. 51

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 771

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 13, 2019

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

April 1, 2019

Reported by Mr. Rubio, 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 2019.

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 certification program, or designate a substantially similar existing program, to 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 planning 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).

April 1, 2019

Reported without amendment