[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1815 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







104th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 1815

To provide for improved regulation of the securities markets, eliminate 
 excess securities fees, reduce the costs of investing, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 23, 1996

   Mr. Gramm (for himself, Mr. D'Amato, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Bryan, and Ms. 
Moseley-Braun) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
    referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To provide for improved regulation of the securities markets, eliminate 
 excess securities fees, reduce the costs of investing, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Securities 
Investment Promotion Act of 1996''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Severability.
               TITLE I--INVESTMENT ADVISERS INTEGRITY ACT

Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Funding for enhanced enforcement priority.
Sec. 103. Improved supervision through State and Federal cooperation.
Sec. 104. Interstate cooperation.
Sec. 105. Disqualification of convicted felons.
           TITLE II--FACILITATING INVESTMENT IN MUTUAL FUNDS

Sec. 201. Short title.
Sec. 202. Funds of funds.
Sec. 203. Flexible registration of securities.
Sec. 204. Facilitating use of current information in advertising.
Sec. 205. Variable insurance contracts.
Sec. 206. Prohibition on deceptive investment company names.
Sec. 207. Excepted investment companies.
Sec. 208. Performance fees exemptions.
         TITLE III--REDUCING THE COST OF SAVING AND INVESTMENT

Sec. 301. Exemption for economic, business, and industrial development 
                            companies.
Sec. 302. Intrastate closed-end investment company exemption.
Sec. 303. Definition of eligible portfolio company.
Sec. 304. Definition of business development company.
Sec. 305. Acquisition of assets by business development companies.
Sec. 306. Capital structure amendments.
Sec. 307. Filing of written statements.
Sec. 308. Facilitating national securities markets.
Sec. 309. Regulatory flexibility.
Sec. 310. Analysis of economic effects of regulation.
Sec. 311. Privatization of EDGAR.
Sec. 312. Improving coordination of supervision.
Sec. 313. Increased access to foreign business information.
Sec. 314. Short-form registration.
Sec. 315. Church employee pension plans.
Sec. 316. Promoting global preeminence of American securities markets.

SEC. 2. SEVERABILITY.

    If any provision of this Act, an amendment made by this Act, or the 
application of such provision or amendment to any person or 
circumstance is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act, 
the amendments made by this Act, and the application of the provisions 
of such to any person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby.

               TITLE I--INVESTMENT ADVISERS INTEGRITY ACT

SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Investment Advisers Integrity 
Act''.

SEC. 102. FUNDING FOR ENHANCED ENFORCEMENT PRIORITY.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Securities and 
Exchange Commission, for the enforcement of the Investment Advisers Act 
of 1940, not more than $16,000,000 in each of fiscal years 1997 and 
1998.

SEC. 103. IMPROVED SUPERVISION THROUGH STATE AND FEDERAL COOPERATION.

    (a) State and Federal Responsibilities.--The Investment Advisers 
Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-1 et seq.) is amended by inserting after 
section 203 the following new section:

``SEC. 203A. STATE AND FEDERAL RESPONSIBILITIES.

    ``(a) Advisers Subject to State Authorities.--
            ``(1) In general.--No investment adviser that is regulated 
        or required to be regulated as an investment adviser in the 
        State in which it maintains its principal office and place of 
        business shall register under section 203(a), unless the 
        adviser--
                    ``(A) has assets under management of not less than 
                $25,000,000, or such higher amount as the Commission 
                may, by rule, deem appropriate in accordance with the 
                purposes of this title; or
                    ``(B) is an adviser to an investment company 
                registered under title I of this Act, or a company that 
                has elected to be a business development company 
                pursuant to section 54 of title I of this Act.
            ``(2) Definition.--For purposes of this subsection, the 
        term `assets under management' means the securities portfolios 
        with respect to which an investment adviser provides continuous 
        and regular supervisory or management services.
    ``(b) Advisers Subject to Commission Authority.--
            ``(1) In general.--No law of any State or political 
        subdivision thereof requiring the registration, licensing, or 
        qualification as an investment adviser or employee of an 
        investment adviser shall apply to any person--
                    ``(A) that is registered under section 203 as an 
                investment adviser, or that is an employee of such a 
                person; or
                    ``(B) that is not registered under section 203 
                because that person is excepted from the definition of 
                an investment adviser under section 202(a)(11).
            ``(2) Limitation.--Nothing in this subsection shall 
        prohibit the securities commission (or any agency or office 
        performing like functions) of any State from--
                    ``(A) requiring the filing with such commission, 
                agency, or office of any document filed with the 
                Commission by an investment adviser, or any other 
                document, whether or not such document may be required 
                to be filed with the Commission, relating to an 
                employee of an investment adviser solely for notice 
                purposes, together with a consent to service of process 
                and requisite fees; or
                    ``(B) investigating and bringing enforcement 
                actions with respect to fraud or deceit against an 
                investment adviser or person associated with an 
                investment adviser.
    ``(c) Exemptions.--The Commission may, by rule or regulation upon 
its own motion, or by order upon application, exempt any person or 
class of persons from the prohibitions of subsection (a) and permit the 
registration with the Commission of any person or class of persons to 
which the application of subsection (a) would be unfair, a burden on 
interstate commerce, or otherwise inconsistent with the purposes of 
this section.
    ``(d) Filing Depositories.--The Commission may, by rule, require an 
investment adviser--
            ``(1) to file with the Commission any fee, application, 
        report, or notice required by this title or by the rules issued 
        under this title through any entity designated by the 
        Commission for that purpose; and
            ``(2) to pay the reasonable costs associated with such 
        filing.
    ``(e) State Assistance.--Upon request of the securities 
commissioner (or any agency or officer performing like functions) of 
any State, the Commission may provide such training, technical 
assistance, or other reasonable assistance in connection with the 
regulation of investment advisers by the State.''.
    (b) Advisers Not Eligible To Register.--Section 203 of the 
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-3) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c), in the matter immediately following 
        paragraph (2), by inserting ``and that the applicant is not 
        prohibited from registering as an investment adviser under 
        section 203A'' after ``satisfied''; and
            (2) in subsection (h), in the second sentence--
                    (A) by striking ``existence or'' and inserting 
                ``existence,''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``or is prohibited from 
                registering as an investment adviser under section 
                203A,'' after ``adviser,''.
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 203(a) of the Investment 
Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-3(a)) is amended by striking 
``subsection (b)'' and inserting ``subsection (b) and section 203A''.

SEC. 104. INTERSTATE COOPERATION.

    Section 222 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-
18a) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 222. STATE REGULATION OF INVESTMENT ADVISERS.

    ``(a) Jurisdiction of State Regulators.--Nothing in this title 
shall affect the jurisdiction of the securities commissioner (or any 
agency or officer performing like functions) of any State over any 
security or any person insofar as it does not conflict with the 
provisions of this title or the rules and regulations thereunder.
    ``(b) Dual Compliance Purposes.--No State may enforce any law or 
regulation that would require an investment adviser to maintain any 
books or records in addition to those required under the laws of the 
State in which it maintains its principal place of business, if the 
investment adviser--
            ``(1) is registered or licensed as such in the State in 
        which it maintains its principal place of business; and
            ``(2) is in compliance with the applicable books and 
        records requirements of the State in which it maintains its 
        principle place of business.
    ``(c) Limitation on Capital and Bond Requirements.--No State may 
enforce any law or regulation that would require an investment adviser 
to maintain a higher minimum net capital or to post any bond in 
addition to any that is required under the laws of the State in which 
it maintains its principal place of business, if the investment 
adviser--
            ``(1) is registered or licensed as such in the State in 
        which it maintains its principal place of business; and
            ``(2) is in compliance with the applicable net capital or 
        bonding requirements of the State in which it maintains its 
        principal place of business.''.

SEC. 105. DISQUALIFICATION OF CONVICTED FELONS.

    (a) Amendment.--Section 203(e) of the Investment Advisers Act of 
1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-3(e)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (7) as 
        paragraphs (4) through (8), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(3) has been convicted during the 10-year period 
        preceding the date of filing of any application for 
        registration, or at any time thereafter, of--
                    ``(A) any crime that is punishable by imprisonment 
                for 1 or more years, and that is not described in 
                paragraph (2); or
                    ``(B) a substantially equivalent crime by a foreign 
                court of competent jurisdiction.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 203 of the Investment Advisers 
Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-3) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (e)(6) (as redesignated by subsection (a) 
        of this section), by striking ``this paragraph (5)'' and 
        inserting ``this paragraph'';
            (2) in subsection (f)--
                    (A) by striking ``paragraph (1), (4), (5), or (7)'' 
                and inserting ``paragraph (1), (5), (6), or (8)''; and
                    (B) by striking ``paragraph (3)'' and inserting 
                ``paragraph (4)''; and
            (3) in subsection (i)(1)(D), by striking ``section 
        203(e)(5) of this title'' and inserting ``subsection (e)(6) of 
        this section''.

           TITLE II--FACILITATING INVESTMENT IN MUTUAL FUNDS

SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Investment Company Act Amendments 
of 1996''.

SEC. 202. FUNDS OF FUNDS.

    Section 12(d)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 
80a-12(d)(1)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (E)(iii)--
                    (A) by striking ``in the event such investment 
                company is not a registered investment company,''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``in the event that such 
                investment company is not a registered investment 
                company,'' after ``(bb)'';
            (2) by redesignating subparagraphs (G) and (H) as 
        subparagraphs (H) and (I), respectively;
            (3) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following new 
        subparagraph:
    ``(G) This paragraph does not apply to securities of a registered 
open-end investment company or a registered unit investment trust 
(hereafter in this subparagraph referred to as the `acquired company') 
purchased or otherwise acquired by a registered open-end investment 
company or a registered unit investment trust (hereafter in this 
subparagraph referred to as the `acquiring company') if--
            ``(i) the acquired company and the acquiring company are 
        part of the same group of investment companies;
            ``(ii) the securities of the acquired company, securities 
        of other registered open-end investment companies and 
        registered unit investment trusts that are part of the same 
        group of investment companies, Government securities, and 
        short-term paper are the only investments held by the acquiring 
        company;
            ``(iii)(I) the acquiring company does not pay and is not 
        assessed any charges or fees for distribution-related 
        activities with respect to securities of the acquired company, 
        unless the acquiring company does not charge a sales load or 
        other fees or charges for distribution-related activities; or
            ``(II) any sales loads and other distribution-related fees 
        charged with respect to securities of the acquiring company, 
        when aggregated with any sales load and distribution-related 
        fees paid by the acquiring company with respect to securities 
        of the acquired fund, are not excessive under rules adopted 
pursuant to section 22(b) or section 22(c) of this title by a 
securities association registered under section 15A of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 or the Commission;
            ``(iv) the acquired company has a policy that prohibits it 
        from acquiring any securities of registered open-end investment 
        companies or registered unit investment trusts in reliance on 
        this subparagraph or subparagraph (F); and
            ``(v) such acquisition is not in contravention of such 
        rules and regulations as the Commission may from time to time 
        prescribe with respect to acquisitions in accordance with this 
        subparagraph, as necessary and appropriate for the protection 
        of investors.
For purposes of this subparagraph, the term `group of investment 
companies' means any 2 or more registered investment companies that 
hold themselves out to investors as related companies for purposes of 
investment and investor services.''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
    ``(J) The Commission, by rules and regulations, upon its own 
motion, or by order upon application, may conditionally or 
unconditionally exempt any person, security, or transaction, or any 
class or classes of persons, securities, or transactions from any 
provision of this subsection, if and to the extent that such exemption 
is consistent with the public interest and the protection of 
investors.''.

SEC. 203. FLEXIBLE REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES.

    (a) Amendments to Registration Statements.--Section 24(e) of the 
Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-24(e)) is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2);
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as subsection (e); and
            (3) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated) by striking 
        ``pursuant to this subsection or otherwise''.
    (b) Registration of Indefinite Amount of Securities.--Section 24(f) 
of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-24(f)) is amended 
to read as follows:
    ``(f) Registration of Indefinite Amount of Securities.--
            ``(1) Registration of securities.--Upon the effective date, 
        as provided by section 8 of the Securities Act of 1933, of its 
        registration statement, a face-amount certificate company, 
        open-end management company, or unit investment trust, shall be 
        deemed to have registered an indefinite amount of securities.
            ``(2) Payment of registration fees.--Not later than 90 days 
        after the end of the fiscal year of an entity referred to in 
        paragraph (1), the entity shall pay a registration fee to the 
        Commission, calculated in the manner specified in section 6(b) 
        of the Securities Act of 1933, based on the aggregate sales 
        price for which its securities (including, for purposes of this 
        paragraph, all securities issued pursuant to a dividend 
        reinvestment plan) were sold during the previous fiscal year of 
        the entity, reduced by--
                    ``(A) the aggregate redemption or repurchase price 
                of the securities of the entity during that year; and
                    ``(B) the aggregate redemption or repurchase price 
                of the securities of the entity during any prior fiscal 
                year ending not more than 1 year before the date of 
                enactment of the Investment Company Act Amendments of 
                1996, that were not used previously by the entity to 
                reduce fees payable under this section.
            ``(3) Interest due on late payment.--An entity paying the 
        fee required by this subsection or any portion thereof more 
        than 90 days after the end of the fiscal year of the entity 
        shall pay to the Commission interest on unpaid amounts, 
        compounded daily, at the underpayment rate established by the 
        Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to section 3717 of title 31, 
        United States Code. The payment of interest pursuant to this 
        paragraph shall not preclude the Commission from bringing an 
        action to enforce the requirements of paragraph (2).
            ``(4) Rulemaking authority.--The Commission may adopt rules 
        and regulations to implement this subsection.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
become effective 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 204. FACILITATING USE OF CURRENT INFORMATION IN ADVERTISING.

    Section 24 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-24) 
is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(g) Additional Prospectuses.--In addition to any prospectus 
permitted or required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, 
the Commission shall permit, by rules or regulations deemed necessary 
or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of 
investors, the use of a prospectus for the purposes of section 
5(b)(1) of that Act with respect to securities issued by a registered 
investment company. Such a prospectus, which may include information 
the substance of which is not included in the prospectus specified in 
section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, shall be deemed to be 
permitted by section 10(b) of that Act.''.

SEC. 205. VARIABLE INSURANCE CONTRACTS.

    (a) Unit Investment Trust Treatment.--Section 26 of the Investment 
Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-26) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new subsection:
    ``(e) Exemption.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subsection (a) does not apply to any 
        registered separate account funding variable insurance 
        contracts, or to the sponsoring insurance company and principal 
        underwriter of such account.
            ``(2) Limitation on sales.--It shall be unlawful for any 
        registered separate account funding variable insurance 
        contracts, or for the sponsoring insurance company of such 
        account, to sell any such contract, unless--
                    ``(A) the fees and charges deducted under the 
                contract, in the aggregate, are reasonable in relation 
                to the services rendered, the expenses expected to be 
                incurred, and the risks assumed by the insurance 
                company, and the insurance company so represents in the 
                registration statement for the contract; and
                    ``(B) the insurance company--
                            ``(i) complies with all other applicable 
                        provisions of this section, as if it were a 
                        trustee or custodian of the registered separate 
                        account;
                            ``(ii) files with the insurance regulatory 
                        authority of a State or territory of the United 
                        States or of the District of Columbia in which 
                        is located the principal place of business of 
                        the insurance company, an annual statement of 
                        its financial condition, which most recent 
                        statement indicates that the insurance company 
                        has a combined capital and surplus, if a stock 
                        company, or an unassigned surplus, if a mutual 
                        company, of not less than $1,000,000, or such 
                        other amount as the Commission may from time to 
                        time prescribe by rule, as necessary or 
                        appropriate in the public interest or for the 
                        protection of investors; and
                            ``(iii) together with its registered 
                        separate accounts, is supervised and examined 
                        periodically by the insurance authority of such 
                        State, territory, or the District of Columbia.
            ``(3) Fees and charges.--For purposes of paragraph (2), the 
        fees and charges deducted under the contract shall include all 
        fees and charges imposed for any purpose and in any manner.
            ``(4) Regulatory authority.--The Commission may issue such 
        rules and regulations to carry out paragraph (2)(A) as it 
        determines are necessary or appropriate in the public interest 
        or for the protection of investors.''.
    (b) Periodic Payment Plan Treatment.--Section 27 of the Investment 
Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-27) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new subsection:
    ``(i)(1) This section shall not apply to any registered separate 
account funding variable insurance contracts, or to the sponsoring 
insurance company and principal underwriter of such account, except as 
provided in paragraph (2).
    ``(2) It shall be unlawful for any registered separate account 
funding variable insurance contracts, or for the sponsoring insurance 
company of such account, to sell any such contract unless--
            ``(A) such contract is a redeemable security; and
            ``(B) the insurance company complies with section 26(e) and 
        any rules or regulations adopted by the Commission 
        thereunder.''.

SEC. 206. PROHIBITION ON DECEPTIVE INVESTMENT COMPANY NAMES.

    Section 35(d) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-
34(d)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(d) It shall be unlawful for any registered investment company to 
adopt as a part of the name or title of such company, or of any 
securities of which it is the issuer, any word or words that are 
materially deceptive or misleading. The Commission is authorized, by 
rule, regulation, or order, to define such names or titles as are 
materially deceptive or misleading.''.

SEC. 207. EXCEPTED INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

    (a) Amendments.--Section 3(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 
(15 U.S.C. 80a-3(c)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting after the first sentence 
        the following: ``Such issuer shall be deemed to be an 
        investment company for purposes of the limitations set forth in 
subparagraphs (A)(i) and (B)(i) of section 12(d)(1) governing the 
purchase or other acquisition by such issuer of any security issued by 
any registered investment company and the sale of any security issued 
by any registered open-end investment company to any such issuer.'';
            (2) in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by inserting after ``issuer,'' the first place 
                that term appears, the following: ``and is or, but for 
                the exception provided for in this paragraph or 
                paragraph (7), would be an investment company,''; and
                    (B) by striking ``unless, as of'' and all that 
                follows through the end of the subparagraph and 
                inserting a period; and
            (3) by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the following:
            ``(7)(A) Any issuer, the outstanding securities of which 
        are owned exclusively by persons who, at the time of 
        acquisition of such securities, are qualified purchasers, and 
        which is not making and does not at that time propose to make a 
        public offering of such securities. Securities that are owned 
        by persons who received the securities from a qualified 
        purchaser as a gift or bequest, or in a case in which the 
        transfer was caused by legal separation, divorce, death, or 
        other involuntary event, shall be deemed to be owned by a 
        qualified purchaser, subject to such rules, regulations, and 
        orders as the Commission may prescribe as necessary or 
        appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of 
        investors.
            ``(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), an issuer is within 
        the exception provided by this paragraph if--
                    ``(i) in addition to qualified purchasers, 
                outstanding securities of that issuer are beneficially 
                owned by not more than 100 persons who are not 
                qualified purchasers, if--
                            ``(I) such persons acquired such securities 
                        on or before April 30, 1996; and
                            ``(II) at the time such securities were 
                        acquired by such persons, the issuer was 
                        excepted by paragraph (1); and
                    ``(ii) prior to availing itself of the exception 
                provided by this paragraph--
                            ``(I) such issuer has disclosed to each 
                        beneficial owner that future investors will be 
                        limited to qualified purchasers, and that 
                        ownership in such issuer is no longer limited 
                        to not more than 100 persons; and
                            ``(II) concurrently with or after such 
                        disclosure, such issuer has provided each 
                        beneficial owner with a reasonable opportunity 
                        to redeem any part or all of their interests in 
                        the issuer, notwithstanding any agreement to 
                        the contrary between such issuer and persons, 
                        for their proportionate share of the issuer's 
                        net assets.
            ``(C) Each person that elects to redeem under subparagraph 
        (B)(ii)(II) shall receive an amount in cash equal to that 
        person's proportionate share of the issuer's net assets, unless 
        the issuer elects to provide such person with the option of 
        receiving, and such person agrees to receive, all or a portion 
        of such person's share in assets of the issuer. If the issuer 
        elects to provide such persons with such an opportunity, 
        disclosure concerning such opportunity shall be made in the 
        disclosure required by subparagraph (B)(ii)(I).
            ``(D) An issuer that is excepted under this paragraph shall 
        nonetheless be deemed to be an investment company for purposes 
        of the limitations set forth in subparagraphs (A)(i) and (B)(i) 
        of section 12(d)(1) relating to the purchase or other 
        acquisition by such issuer of any security issued by any 
        registered investment company and the sale of any security 
        issued by any registered open-end investment company to any 
        such issuer.
            ``(E) For purposes of determining compliance with this 
        paragraph and paragraph (1), an issuer that is otherwise 
        excepted under this paragraph and an issuer that is otherwise 
        excepted under paragraph (1) shall not be treated by the 
        Commission as being a single issuer for purposes of determining 
        whether the outstanding securities of the issuer excepted under 
        paragraph (1) are beneficially owned by not more than 100 
        persons or whether the outstanding securities of the issuer 
        excepted under this paragraph are owned by persons that are not 
        qualified purchasers. Nothing in this subparagraph shall be 
        construed to establish that a person is a bona fide qualified 
        purchaser for purposes of this paragraph or a bona fide 
        beneficial owner for purposes of paragraph (1).''.
    (b) Definition of Qualified Purchaser.--Section 2(a) of the 
Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-2(a)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(51)(A) `Qualified purchaser' means--
                    ``(i) any natural person who owns at least 
                $5,000,000 in investments, as defined by the 
                Commission;
                    ``(ii) any company that owns not less than 
                $5,000,000 in investments and that is owned directly or 
                indirectly by or for 2 or more natural persons who are 
                related as siblings or spouse (including former 
                spouses), or direct lineal descendants by birth, 
                marriage, or adoption, spouses of such persons, the 
                estates of such persons, or foundations, charitable 
                organizations, or trusts established by or for the 
                benefit of such persons;
                    ``(iii) any trust that is not covered by 
                subparagraph (B) and that was not formed for the 
                specific purpose of acquiring the securities offered, 
                as to which the trustee or other person authorized to 
                make decisions with respect to the trust, and each 
                settlor or other person who has contributed assets to 
                the trust, is a person described in clause (i), (ii), 
                or (iv);
                    ``(iv) any person, acting for its own account or 
                the accounts of other qualified purchasers, who in the 
                aggregate owns and invests on a discretionary basis, 
                not less than $25,000,000 in investments; or
                    ``(v) any person that the Commission, by rule or 
                regulation, has determined does not need the 
                protections of this title, after consideration of 
                factors such as--
                            ``(I) a high degree of financial 
                        sophistication, including extensive knowledge 
                        of and experience in financial matters;
                            ``(II) a substantial amount of assets owned 
                        or under management;
                            ``(III) relationship with an issuer; or
                            ``(IV) such other factors as the Commission 
                        may determine to be consistent with the 
                        purposes of this paragraph.
            ``(B) The Commission may adopt such rules and regulations 
        applicable to the persons and trusts specified in clauses (i) 
        through (v) of subparagraph (A) as it determines are necessary 
        or appropriate in the public interest and for the protection of 
        investors.
            ``(C) The term `qualified purchaser' does not include a 
        company that, but for the exceptions provided for in paragraph 
        (1) or (7) of section 3(c), would be an investment company 
        (hereafter in this paragraph referred to as an `excepted 
        investment company'), unless all beneficial owners of its 
        outstanding securities (other than short-term paper), 
        determined in accordance with section 3(c)(1)(A), that acquired 
        such securities on or before April 30, 1996 (hereafter in this 
        paragraph referred to as `pre-amendment beneficial owners'), 
        and all pre-amendment beneficial owners of the outstanding 
        securities (other than short-term paper) of any excepted 
        investment company that, directly or indirectly, owns any 
        outstanding securities of such excepted investment company, 
        have consented to its treatment as a qualified purchaser.''.
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 3(a) of the Investment Company 
Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3(a)) is amended in the matter immediately 
following paragraph (3)--
            (1) by inserting ``(i)'' after ``of the owner''; and
            (2) by inserting before the period the following: ``, and 
        (ii) which are not relying on the exception from the definition 
        of investment company in paragraph (1) or (7) of subsection 
        (c)''.
    (d) Rulemaking Required.--
            (1) Implementation of section 3(c)(1)(b).--Not later than 1 
        year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission 
        shall prescribe rules to implement the requirements of section 
        3(c)(1)(B) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 
        80a-3(c)(1)(B)).
            (2) Identification of investments.--Not later than 180 days 
        after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall 
        prescribe rules defining or otherwise identifying 
        ``investments'' for the purposes of section 2(a)(51) of the 
        Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended by this Act.
            (3) Employee exception.--Not later than 1 year after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall prescribe 
        rules pursuant to its authority under section 6 of the 
        Investment Company Act of 1940 to permit the ownership by 
        knowledgeable employees of an issuer of the securities or an 
        affiliated person without loss of the exception of the issuer 
        under paragraph (1) or (7) of section 3(c) of that Act from 
        treatment as an investment company under that Act.
    (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
become effective on the earlier of--
            (1) 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act; or
            (2) the date on which the rulemaking required under 
        subsection (d)(2) is completed.

SEC. 208. PERFORMANCE FEES EXEMPTIONS.

    Section 205 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-
5) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``or'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; or''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(4) apply to an investment advisory contract with a 
        company excepted from the definition of an investment company 
        under section 3(c)(7) of title I of this Act.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(e) The Commission, by rule or regulation, upon its own motion, 
or by order upon application, may conditionally or unconditionally 
exempt any person or transaction, or any class or classes of persons or 
transactions, from subsection (a)(1), if and to the extent that the 
exemption relates to an investment advisory contract with--
            ``(1) any person that the Commission determines does not 
        need the protections of subsection (a)(1), on the basis of such 
        factors as financial sophistication, net worth, knowledge and 
        experience in financial matters, amount of assets under 
        management, relationship with a registered investment adviser, 
        and such other factors as the Commission determines are 
        consistent with this section; or
            ``(2) a person who is not a resident of the United 
        States.''.

         TITLE III--REDUCING THE COST OF SAVING AND INVESTMENT

SEC. 301. EXEMPTION FOR ECONOMIC, BUSINESS, AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT 
              COMPANIES.

    Section 6(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-
6(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(5)(A) Any company that is not engaged in the business of 
        issuing redeemable securities, the operations of which are 
        subject to regulation by the State in which the company is 
        organized under a statute governing entities that provide 
        financial or managerial assistance to enterprises doing 
        business, or proposing to do business, in that State if--
                    ``(i) the organizational documents of the company 
                state that the activities of the company are limited to 
                the promotion of economic, business, or industrial 
                development in the State through the provision of 
                financial or managerial assistance to enterprises doing 
                business, or proposing to do business, in that State, 
                and such other activities that are incidental or 
                necessary to carry out that purpose;
                    ``(ii) immediately following each sale of the 
                securities of the company by the company or any 
                underwriter for the company, not less than 80 percent 
                of the securities of the company being offered in such 
                sale, on a class-by-class basis, are held by persons 
                who reside or who have a substantial business presence 
                in that State;
                    ``(iii) the securities of the company are sold, or 
                proposed to be sold, by the company or by any 
                underwriter for the company, solely to accredited 
                investors, as that term is defined in section 2(15) of 
                the Securities Act of 1933, or to such other persons 
                that the Commission, as necessary or appropriate in the 
                public interest and consistent with the protection of 
                investors, may permit by rule, regulation, or order; 
                and
                    ``(iv) the company does not purchase any security 
                issued by an investment company or by any company that 
                would be an investment company except for the 
                exclusions from the definition of the term ``investment 
                company'' under paragraph (1) or (7) of section 3(c), 
                other than--
                            ``(I) any debt security that is rated 
                        investment grade by not less than 1 nationally 
                        recognized statistical rating organization; or
                            ``(II) any security issued by a registered 
                        open-end investment company that is required by 
                        its investment policies to invest not less than 
                        65 percent of its total assets in securities 
                        described in subclause (I) or securities that 
                        are determined by such registered open-end 
                        investment company to be comparable in quality 
                        to securities described in subclause (I).
            ``(B) Notwithstanding the exemption provided by this 
        paragraph, section 9 (and, to the extent necessary to enforce 
        section 9, sections 38 through 51) shall apply to a company 
described in this paragraph as if the company were an investment 
company registered under this title.
            ``(C) Any company proposing to rely on the exemption 
        provided by this paragraph shall file with the Commission a 
        notification stating that the company intends to do so, in such 
        form and manner as the Commission may prescribe by rule.
            ``(D) Any company meeting the requirements of this 
        paragraph may rely on the exemption provided by this paragraph 
        upon filing with the Commission the notification required by 
        subparagraph (C), until such time as the Commission determines 
        by order that such reliance is not in the public interest or is 
        not consistent with the protection of investors.
            ``(E) The exemption provided by this paragraph may be 
        subject to such additional terms and conditions as the 
        Commission may by rule, regulation, or order determine are 
        necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the 
        protection of investors.''.

SEC. 302. INTRASTATE CLOSED-END INVESTMENT COMPANY EXEMPTION.

    Section 6(d)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 
80a-6(d)(1)) is amended by striking ``$100,000'' and inserting 
``$10,000,000, or such other amount as the Commission may set by rule, 
regulation, or order''.

SEC. 303. DEFINITION OF ELIGIBLE PORTFOLIO COMPANY.

    Section 2(a)(46)(C) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 
U.S.C. 80a-2(a)(46)(C)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (ii), by striking ``or'' at the end;
            (2) by redesignating clause (iii) as clause (iv); and
            (3) by inserting after clause (ii) the following:
                            ``(iii) it has total assets of not more 
                        than $4,000,000, and capital and surplus 
                        (shareholders' equity less retained earnings) 
                        of not more than $2,000,000, except that the 
                        Commission may adjust such amounts by rule, 
                        regulation, or order to reflect changes in 1 or 
                        more generally accepted indices or other 
                        indicators for small businesses; or''.

SEC. 304. DEFINITION OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY.

    Section 2(a)(48)(B) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 
U.S.C. 80a-2(a)(48)(B)) is amended by inserting before the semicolon at 
the end the following: ``, and provided further that a business 
development company need not make available significant managerial 
assistance with respect to any company described in section 
2(a)(46)(C)(iii), or with respect to any other company that meets such 
criteria as the Commission may by rule, regulation, or order permit, as 
consistent with the public interest, the protection of investors, and 
the purposes fairly intended by the policy and provisions of this 
title''.

SEC. 305. ACQUISITION OF ASSETS BY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COMPANIES.

    Section 55(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 
U.S.C. 80a-54(a)(1)(A)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``or from any person'' and inserting ``from 
        any person''; and
            (2) by inserting before the semicolon ``, or from any other 
        person, subject to such rules and regulations as the Commission 
        may prescribe as necessary or appropriate in the public 
        interest or for the protection of investors''.

SEC. 306. CAPITAL STRUCTURE AMENDMENTS.

    Section 61(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-
60(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``if such business 
        development company'' and all that follows through the end of 
        paragraph (2) and inserting a period;
            (2) in paragraph (3)(A)--
                    (A) by striking ``senior securities representing 
                indebtedness accompanied by'';
                    (B) inserting ``accompanied by securities,'' after 
                ``of such company,''; and
                    (C) in clause (ii), by striking ``senior''; and
            (3) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at 
                the end of clause (iv) and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the 
                following new subparagraph:
                    ``(C) a business development company may issue 
                warrants, options, or rights to subscribe to, convert 
                to, or purchase voting securities not accompanied by 
                securities, if--
                            ``(i) such warrants, options, or rights 
                        satisfy the conditions in clauses (i) and (iii) 
                        of subparagraph (A); and
                            ``(ii) the proposal to issue such warrants, 
                        options, or rights is authorized by the 
                        shareholders or partners of such business 
                        development company, and such issuance is 
                        approved by the required majority (as defined 
in section 57(o)) of the directors of or general partners in such 
company on the basis that such issuance is in the best interests of the 
company and its shareholders or partners.''.

SEC. 307. FILING OF WRITTEN STATEMENTS.

    Section 64(b)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 
80a-63(b)(1)) is amended by inserting ``and capital structure'' after 
``portfolio''.

SEC. 308. FACILITATING NATIONAL SECURITIES MARKETS.

    Section 18 of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77r) is amended 
to read as follows:

``SEC. 18. EXEMPTION FROM STATE CONTROL OF SECURITIES OFFERINGS.

    ``(a) Exemption From State Law for Registered Securities.--Except 
with respect to offerings described in subsection (b) and as otherwise 
specifically provided in this section, no law, rule, regulation, order, 
or other administrative action of any State or Territory of the United 
States, or the District of Columbia, or any political subdivision 
thereof--
            ``(1) requiring, or with respect to, registration or 
        qualification of securities or securities transactions shall 
        directly or indirectly apply to an offering subject to a 
        registration statement filed pursuant to this title;
            ``(2) shall directly or indirectly prohibit, limit, or 
        impose conditions upon the use of any offering document, 
        including any prospectus contained in a registration statement 
        that has been filed with the Commission; or
            ``(3) shall directly or indirectly prohibit, limit, or 
        impose conditions upon the offer or sale of any security 
        registered with the Commission under this title based on the 
        merits of such offering or issuer.
    ``(b) Special Rules for Certain Offerings.--Except with respect to 
a security of an investment company that is registered under the 
Investment Company Act of 1940, the provisions of subsection (a) shall 
not apply to--
            ``(1) an offering--
                    ``(A) by an issuer that is a blank check company, 
                as defined in section 7(b), a partnership, a limited 
                liability company, or a direct participation investment 
                program;
                    ``(B) of penny stock; or
                    ``(C) giving effect to a limited partnership rollup 
                transaction;
            ``(2) an offering of a security, if a person associated 
        with the offering is subject to a statutory disqualification, 
        as defined in section 3(a)(39) of the Securities Exchange Act 
        of 1934 or any substantially equivalent State law; or
            ``(3) an offering of a security that--
                    ``(A) is not listed on the New York Stock Exchange, 
                the American Stock Exchange, or as part of a category 
                of securities on another exchange or trading system, as 
                determined by the Commission consistent with the 
                purposes of this title and the protection of investors;
                    ``(B) is not authorized for trading on the National 
                Market System of the National Association of Securities 
                Dealers Automated Quotation System; or
                    ``(C) will not be listed or authorized for 
                quotation as described in subparagraph (A) or (B) upon 
                completion of the transaction.
    ``(c) Exemption From State Law for Transactions in Securities With 
Qualified Purchasers.--Notwithstanding subsection (b), subsection (a) 
shall apply with respect to offers and sales to qualified purchasers, 
as defined by the Commission.
    ``(d) Preservation of Filing Requirements.--Nothing in this section 
shall prohibit the securities commission (or any agency or office 
performing like functions) of any State or Territory of the United 
States, or the District of Columbia, from requiring the filing of any 
documents filed with the Commission pursuant to this title solely for 
notice purposes, along with a consent to service of process and 
requisite fee, except that no such filing, consent, or fee may be 
required with respect to securities, or transactions relating to 
securities that are of the same class as securities, or are senior to 
such a class, as described in subsection (b)(3). Nothing in this 
section shall prohibit States from enforcing fee requirements in effect 
on May 31, 1996.
    ``(e) Preservation of State Authority.--Nothing in this section 
shall affect the jurisdiction of the securities commission (or any 
agency or office performing like functions) of any State or Territory 
of the United States, or the District of Columbia, pursuant to the laws 
of such State or Territory, with respect to any fraud or broker-dealer 
conduct in connection with securities or securities transactions.''.

SEC. 309. REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY.

    (a) Under the Securities Act of 1933.--Title I of the Securities 
Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77a et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new section:

``SEC. 28. GENERAL EXEMPTIVE AUTHORITY.

    ``The Commission, by rule or regulation, may conditionally or 
unconditionally exempt any person, security, or transaction, or any 
class or classes of persons, securities, or transactions, from any 
provision or provisions of this title or of any rule or regulation 
issued thereunder, to the extent that such exemption is necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest, and is consistent with the 
protection of investors.''.
    (b) Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.--Title I of the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 36. GENERAL EXEMPTIVE AUTHORITY.

    ``Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the 
Commission, by rule, regulation, or order, may conditionally or 
unconditionally exempt any person, security, or transaction, or any 
class or classes of persons, securities, or transactions, from any 
provision or provisions of this title or of any rule or regulation 
issued thereunder, to the extent that such exemption is necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest, and is consistent with the 
protection of investors. The Commission shall, by rule or regulation, 
determine the procedures under which an exemptive order under this 
section shall be granted and may, in its sole discretion, decline to 
entertain any application for an order of exemption under this 
section.''.

SEC. 310. ANALYSIS OF ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF REGULATION.

    (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out the Economic Analysis Program, including 
funding for the Office of Economic Analysis of the Securities and 
Exchange Commission, $6,000,000 for fiscal year 1997, and $6,000,000 
for fiscal year 1998.
    (b) Analysis of Economic Effects of Regulation.--
            (1) In general.--The Chief Economist of the Commission 
        shall prepare a report on each proposed regulation of the 
        Commission. Such report shall be provided to each Commissioner 
        and shall be published in the Federal Register before any such 
        regulation of the Commission may become effective.
            (2) Report contents.--The report required by this 
        subsection shall include--
                    (A) an analysis of the likely effects of the 
                proposed regulation on the economy of the United 
                States, and particularly upon the securities markets 
                and the participants in those markets; and
                    (B) the estimated impact of the proposed regulation 
                upon economic and market behavior, including any impact 
                on market liquidity, the costs of investment, and the 
                financial risks of investment.

SEC. 311. PRIVATIZATION OF EDGAR.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Commission shall submit to the Congress a report on the Electronic 
Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval System consisting of the 
Commission's plan for promoting competition and innovation of the 
system through privatization of all or any part of the system. Such 
plan shall include such recommendations for action as may be necessary 
to implement the plan.

SEC. 312. IMPROVING COORDINATION OF SUPERVISION.

    Section 17 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78q) 
is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(i) Coordination of Examining Authorities.--
            ``(1) Objective.--The Commission and the examining 
        authorities shall promote effective and efficient oversight of 
        the activities of brokers and dealers, avoiding redundancy, 
        while maintaining the highest level of examination and 
        oversight quality.
            ``(2) Elimination of duplication.--The Commission and the 
        examining authorities, through cooperation and coordination of 
        examination and oversight activities, shall eliminate any 
        unnecessary and burdensome duplication in the examination 
        process.
            ``(3) Coordination of examinations.--The Commission and the 
        examining authorities shall share such information, including 
        reports of examinations, customer complaint information, and 
        other nonpublic regulatory information, as appropriate to 
        foster a coordinated approach to regulatory oversight of 
        brokers and dealers that are subject to examination by more 
        than one examining authority.
            ``(4) Examinations for cause.--At any time, any examining 
        authority may conduct an examination for cause of any broker or 
        dealer subject to its jurisdiction.
            ``(5) Confidentiality.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The provisions of section 24 
                shall apply to the sharing of information in accordance 
                with this subsection. The Commission shall take 
                appropriate action under section 24(c) to assure that 
such information is not inappropriately disclosed.
                    ``(B) Appropriate disclosure not prohibited.--
                Nothing in this paragraph shall authorize the 
                Commission or any examining authority to withhold 
                information from the Congress, or prevent the 
                Commission or any examining authority from complying 
                with a request for information from any other Federal 
                department or agency requesting the information for 
                purposes within the scope of its jurisdiction, or 
                complying with an order of a court of the United States 
                in an action brought by the United States or the 
                Commission.
            ``(6) Definition.--For purposes of this subsection, the 
        term `examining authority' means the self-regulatory 
        organizations registered with the Commission under this title 
        (other than registered clearing agencies) with the authority to 
        examine, inspect, and otherwise oversee the activities of a 
        registered broker or dealer.''.

SEC. 313. INCREASED ACCESS TO FOREIGN BUSINESS INFORMATION.

    (a) The Securities Act of 1993.--Section 2(3) of the Securities Act 
of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77b(3)) is amended in the third sentence--
            (1) by striking ``not include preliminary'' and inserting 
        ``not include the following: (A) preliminary''; and
            (2) by inserting before the period ``or (B) solely for 
        purposes of section 5, press conferences held outside of the 
        United States, public meetings with issuer representatives 
        conducted outside of the United States, or press related 
        materials released outside of the United States in which an 
        offshore offering is discussed, irrespective of whether 
        journalists from the United States or journalists for 
        publications (including on-line services) with circulation in 
        the United States attend such press conferences or meetings or 
        receive such press related materials.''.
    (b) The Securities Exchange Act of 1934.--Section 14 of the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78n) is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subsection:
    ``(i) Treatment of Press Related Materials.--
            ``(1) In general.--Any person making a tender offer for, or 
        a request or invitation for tenders of, the securities of a 
        foreign issuer may grant journalists from the United States or 
        journalists for publications (including on-line services) with 
        circulation in the United States access to press conferences 
        outside of the United States, meetings with its representatives 
        conducted outside of the United States, or press related 
        materials released outside of the United States in which an 
        offshore tender offer is discussed, without being deemed to 
        have used the jurisdictional means specified in subsection 
        (d)(1) or becoming subject to any regulations promulgated by 
        the Commission, pursuant to subsection (e) of this section or 
        13(e), or otherwise, that relate to tender offers or requests 
        or invitations for tenders.
            ``(2) Definition.--For purposes of this subsection, the 
        term `foreign issuer' means any corporation or other 
        organization--
                    ``(A) that is incorporated or organized under the 
                laws of any foreign country; or
                    ``(B) the principal place of business of which is 
                located in a foreign country.''.

SEC. 314. SHORT-FORM REGISTRATION.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall amend Form S-3 (17 C.F.R. 
239.13, relating to registration under the Securities Act of 1933, of 
securities of certain issuers offered pursuant to certain types of 
transactions) to allow such form, or its equivalent, to be used for 
primary offerings by a registrant if--
            (1) the outstanding stock of the registrant held by 
        nonaffiliates of the registrant has an adequate aggregate 
        market value as determined by the Commission; and
            (2) such registrant otherwise meets the eligibility 
        requirements for registration using such form, or its 
        equivalent.
    (b) Adjustments.--Any adjustment to the adequate aggregate market 
value threshold referred to in subsection (a)(1)(B) by the Commission 
following the date of enactment of this Act shall apply equally to 
voting and nonvoting common shares and such other securities as the 
Commission shall establish.
    (c) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term ``stock'' 
includes voting and nonvoting common shares, and such other securities 
as the Commission shall establish.

SEC. 315. CHURCH EMPLOYEE PENSION PLANS.

    (a) Amendment to the Investment Company Act of 1940.--Section 3(c) 
of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3(c)) is amended 
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(14) Any church plan described in section 414(e) of the 
        Internal Revenue Code of 1986, if, under any such plan, no part 
        of the assets may be used for, or diverted to, purposes other 
        than the exclusive benefit of plan participants or 
        beneficiaries, or any company or account that is--
                    ``(A) established by a person that is eligible to 
                establish and maintain such a plan under section 414(e) 
                of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and
                    ``(B) substantially all of the activities of which 
                consist of--
                            ``(i) managing or holding assets 
                        contributed to such church plans or other 
                        assets which are permitted to be commingled 
                        with the assets of church plans under the 
                        Internal Revenue Code of 1986; or
                            ``(ii) administering or providing benefits 
                        pursuant to church plans.
    (b) Amendment to the Securities Act of 1933.--Section 3(a) of the 
Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77(a)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following new paragraph:
            ``(13) Any security issued by or any interest or 
        participation in any church plan, company or account that is 
        excluded from the definition of an investment company under 
        section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940.''.
    (c) Amendments to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.--
            (1) Exempted securities.--Section 3(a)(12)(A) of the 
        Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78(c)(12)(A)) is 
        amended--
                    (A) in clause (v), by striking ``and'' at the end;
                    (B) by redesignating clause (vi) as clause (vii); 
                and
                    (C) by inserting after clause (v) the following new 
                clause:
                            ``(vi) any security issued by or any 
                        interest or participation in any church plan, 
                        company, or account that is excluded from the 
                        definition of an investment company under 
                        section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act 
                        of 1940; and''.
            (2) Exemption from broker-dealer provisions.--Section 3 of 
        the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78(c)) is 
        amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(f) Church Plans.--No church plan described in section 414(e) of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, no person or entity eligible to 
establish and maintain such a plan under the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986, no company or account that is excluded from the definition of an 
investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act 
of 1940, and no trustee, director, officer or employee of or volunteer 
for such plan, company, account person, or entity, shall be deemed to 
be a `broker', `dealer', `municipal securities broker', `municipal 
securities dealer', `government securities broker', `government 
securities dealer', `clearing agency', or `transfer agent' for purposes 
of this title--
            ``(1) solely because such plan, company, person, or entity 
        buys, holds, sells, trades in, or transfers securities or acts 
        as an intermediary in making payments in connection with 
        transactions in securities for its own account in its capacity 
        as trustee or administrator of, or otherwise on behalf of, or 
        for the account of, any church plan, company, or account that 
        is excluded from the definition of an investment company under 
        section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940; and
            ``(2) if no such person or entity receives a commission or 
        other transaction-related sales compensation in connection with 
        any activities conducted in reliance on the exemption provided 
        by this subsection.''.
    (d) Amendment to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.--Section 
203(b) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-3(b)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``or'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; or''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(4) any plan described in section 414(d) of the Internal 
        Revenue Code of 1986, any person or entity eligible to 
        establish and maintain such a plan under the Internal Revenue 
        Code of 1986, or any trustee, director, officer, or employee of 
        or volunteer for any such plan or person, if such person or 
        entity provides investment advice exclusively to any plan, 
        person, or entity or any company, account, or fund that is 
        excluded from the definition of an investment company under 
        section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940.''.
    (e) Amendment to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.--Section 
304(a)(4)(A) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. 77ddd(4)(A)) 
is amended by striking ``or (11)'' and inserting ``(11), or (14)''.
    (f) Protection of Church Employee Benefit Plans Under State Law.--
            (1) Registration requirements.--Any security issued by or 
        any interest or participation in any church plan, company, or 
        account that is excluded from the definition of an investment 
        company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 
        1940, and any offer, sale, or purchase thereof, shall be exempt 
        from any law of a State that requires registration or 
        qualification of securities.
            (2) Treatment of church plans.--No church plan described in 
        section 414(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, no person 
        or entity eligible to establish and maintain such a plan under 
        the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, no company or account that 
        is excluded from the definition of an investment company under 
        section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, and no 
        trustee, director, officer, or employee of or volunteer for any 
        such plan, person, entity, company, or account shall be 
        required to qualify, register, or be subject to regulation as 
        an investment company or as a broker, dealer, investment 
        adviser, or agent under the laws of any State solely because 
        such plan, person, entity, company, or account buys, holds, 
        sells, or trades in securities for its own account or in its 
        capacity as a trustee or administrator of or otherwise on 
        behalf of, or for the account of, or provides investment advice 
        to, for, or on behalf of, any such plan, person, or entity or 
        any company or account that is excluded from the definition of 
        an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment 
        Company Act of 1940.
    (g) Further Amendments to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.--
Section 3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(g) Disclosure to Church Plan Participants.--A person that 
maintains a church plan that is excluded from the definition of an 
investment company solely by reason of section 3(c)(14) of the 
Investment Company Act of 1940 shall provide disclosure to plan 
participants, in writing, and not less frequently than annually, and 
for new participants joining such a plan after May 31, 1996, prior to 
joining such plan, that--
            ``(1) the plan, or any company or account maintained to 
        manage or hold plan assets and interests in such plan, company, 
        or account, are not subject to registration, regulation, or 
        reporting under this title, the Securities Act of 1933, the 
        Investment Company Act of 1940 or State securities laws; and
            ``(2) plan participants and beneficiaries therefore will 
        not be afforded the protections of those provisions.''.

SEC. 316. PROMOTING GLOBAL PREEMINENCE OF AMERICAN SECURITIES MARKETS.

    It is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) the United States and foreign securities markets are 
        increasingly becoming international securities markets, as 
        issuers and investors seek the benefits of new capital and 
        secondary market opportunities without regard to national 
        borders;
            (2) as issuers seek to raise capital across national 
        borders, they confront differing accounting requirements in the 
        various regulatory jurisdictions;
            (3) the establishment of a high-quality comprehensive set 
        of generally accepted international accounting standards in 
        cross-border securities offerings would greatly facilitate 
        international financing activities and, most significantly, 
        would enhance the ability of foreign corporations to access and 
        list in United States markets;
            (4) in addition to the efforts made before the date of 
        enactment of this Act by the Commission to respond to the 
        growing internationalization of securities markets, the 
        Commission should enhance its vigorous support for the 
        development of high-quality international accounting standards 
        as soon as practicable; and
            (5) the Commission, in view of its clear authority under 
        law to facilitate the access of foreign corporations to list 
        their stocks in United States markets, should report to the 
        Congress, not later than one year after the date of enactment 
        of this Act on progress in the development of international 
        accounting standards and the outlook for successful completion 
        of a set of international standards that would be acceptable to 
        the Commission for offerings and listings by foreign 
        corporations in United States markets.
                                 <all>