Grants to qualified investor advocacy clinics

Section 4(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78d(g)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(9)

Grants to qualified investor advocacy clinics

(A)

Grant authority

The Commission, acting through the Investor Advocate, may make grants, on a competitive basis, to qualified investor advocacy clinics in accordance with this paragraph.(B)

Applications

To be eligible for a grant under subparagraph (A), a qualified investor advocacy clinic shall submit to the Commission an application at such time, in such form, and containing such information as the Commission may require, including information with respect to—(i)the number of investors in the geographical area served by the clinic;(ii)other similar entities serving the same population;(iii)the quality of the program offered by the clinic, including—(I)the qualifications of the administrators and qualified representatives of the clinic; and(II)the record of the clinic, if any, in providing legal and educational services to investors with low dollar value claims in arbitrations and mediations; and(iv)funding sources available to the clinic, including—(I)amounts received from other grants and contributions; and(II)the endowment and resources of any institution sponsoring the clinic.(C)

Grant uses

A qualified investor advocacy clinic awarded a grant under subparagraph (A) may only use grant funds for the development, expansion, or continuation of the qualified investor advocacy clinic.(D)

Detail of executive agency employees

Upon the request of the Commission, the head of any Federal agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of that Federal agency to the Commission to assist it in carrying out its functions under this section. The detail of any such personnel shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.(E)

Transparency

A qualified investor advocacy clinic awarded a grant under subparagraph (A) shall submit to the Commission a detailed accounting of the use of grant funds at such time, in such form, and containing such information as the Commission may require.(F)

Limitations

(i)

Aggregate limitation

The aggregate amount of grants made under subparagraph (A) during a fiscal year may not exceed $5,000,000 (as such amount is annually adjusted by the Investor Advocate to reflect the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor).(ii)

Single clinic limitation

In making grants under subparagraph (A), the Commission may not award, during a fiscal year, more than $150,000 (as such amount is annually adjusted to reflect the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor) to any single qualified investor advocacy clinic.(iii)

Federal share

The Federal share of the cost of activities carried out using grant funds made available under subparagraph (A) may not exceed 50 percent.(iv)

Multi-year grants

(I)

In general

In making grants under subparagraph (A), the Commission may award multi-year grants.(II)

Limitation

Multi-year grants awarded under this clause may not be made for a period exceeding three years.(G)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this paragraph.(H)

Definitions

In this paragraph:(i)

Qualified investor advocacy clinic

The term qualified investor advocacy clinic means an entity—(I)that provides or will provide free representation to investors with claims of less than $100,000 (as such amount is annually adjusted by the Investor Advocate to reflect the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor) in securities arbitrations and mediations before a registered national securities association (with exceptions to the requirements of this subclause authorized to be made by the Investor Advocate on a case-by-case basis); and(II)that is or will be sponsored, offered, or run by—(aa)a clinical program at or partnering with an American Bar Association accredited law school; or(bb)an organization described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such Code.(ii)

Qualified representative

The term qualified representative means any individual authorized to represent investors before a registered national securities association.