With this rule, SBA revises a portion of its regulations governing Administrative Claims under the Tort Claims Act. Previously, a claim had to be presented to the SBA District Counsel for the SBA District Office in the same State as the claim. The SBA District Counsel had the authority to deny a tort claim of $5,000 or less or to recommend any other action to the SBA General Counsel. This final rule provides the same authority to Disaster Area Counsel when the claim is based on the acts or omissions of employees of SBA's Disaster Assistance Program. It also vests authority to approve or deny a tort claim of $25,000 or less with SBA's Associate General Counsel for Litigation, rather than the General Counsel.