[House Report 118-92]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


118th Congress    }                                    {       Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session      }                                    {       118-92

======================================================================



 
               ACCREDITED INVESTOR DEFINITION REVIEW ACT

                                _______
                                

  June 5, 2023.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. McHenry, from the Committee on Financial Services, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 1579]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Financial Services, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 1579) to amend the Securities Act of 1933 and 
the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act 
with respect to the definition of accredited investor, and for 
other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably 
thereon with an amendment and recommends that the bill as 
amended do pass.
    The amendment is as follows:
  Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``Accredited Investor Definition Review 
Act''.

SEC. 2. CERTIFICATIONS, DESIGNATIONS, AND CREDENTIALS UNDER THE 
                    DEFINITION OF ACCREDITED INVESTOR.

  Section 2(a)(15) of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77b(a)(15)) 
is amended--
          (1) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as subparagraphs 
        (A) and (B), respectively;
          (2) in subparagraph (A), as so redesignated, by striking 
        ``adviser; or'' and inserting ``adviser;'';
          (3) in subparagraph (B), as so redesignated, by striking the 
        period at the end and inserting ``; or''; and
          (4) by adding at the end the following:
                  ``(C) an individual holding such certifications, 
                designations, or credentials as the Commission 
                determines necessary or appropriate in the public 
                interest or for the protection of investors, where such 
                list of certifications, designations, or credentials 
                shall be no less broad than those certifications, 
                designations, or credentials described in the 
                amendments made to section 230.501 of title 17, Code of 
                Federal Regulations, by the final rule of the 
                Commission titled `Accredited Investor Definition' (85 
                Fed. Reg. 64234; published October 9, 2020).''.

SEC. 3. PERIODIC REVIEW OF CERTIFICATIONS, DESIGNATIONS, AND 
                    CREDENTIALS.

  Section 413(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer 
Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 77b note) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
          ``(3) Periodic review of certifications, designations, and 
        credentials.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the 
        enactment of this paragraph and not less frequently than once 
        every 5 years thereafter, the Commission shall--
                  ``(A) review the list of certifications, 
                designations, and credentials accepted with respect to 
                meeting the requirements of the definition of 
                `accredited investor' under section 2(a)(15) of the 
                Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77b(a)(15)) and rules 
                issued pursuant to such section;
                  ``(B) add such certifications, designations, and 
                credentials to such list as the Commission determines 
                are substantially similar in measuring the financial 
                sophistication, knowledge, and experience in financial 
                matters of an individual to the certifications, 
                designations, and credentials included on such list at 
                the time of such review; and
                  ``(C) adjust or modify such list as the Commission 
                determines necessary or appropriate in the public 
                interest or for the protection of investors.''.

                          Purpose and Summary

    Introduced on March 14, 2023, by Representative Bill 
Huizenga, H.R. 1579, the Accredited Investor Definition Review 
Act, would require the SEC to review the list of 
certifications, designations, and credentials for individuals 
to qualify as an accredited investor and add additional 
certifications, designations, and credentials that the SEC 
determines are substantially similar. This bill would require 
the SEC to repeat this process every five years after the 
initial assessment.

                  Background and Need for Legislation

    To qualify as an accredited investor, an individual must 
have an annual income of at least $200,000 (or $300,000 with a 
spouse) for each of the previous two years or a net worth of 
over $1 million (either alone or with a spouse). In August 
2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted 
amendments to expand the accredited investor definition to 
include individuals with certain professional certifications or 
credentials from accredited educational institutions. By 
requiring the SEC to regularly review the list of 
certifications, designations, and credentials for qualifying as 
an accredited investor--and add additional qualifying 
pathways--H.R. 1579 will empower those sophisticated-but-not-
wealthy investors to qualify as accredited investors. This bill 
will ensure that investments in high-growth private companies 
are not reserved for only the elite, wealthy investors who 
currently make up most accredited investors.

                                Hearing

    The Subcommittee on Capital Markets of the Committee on 
Financial Services held a hearing examining matters relating to 
H.R. 1579 on February 8, 2023.

                        Committee Consideration

    The Committee on Financial Services met in open session on 
April 26, 2023, and ordered H.R. 1579 to be reported favorably 
to the House as amended by a recorded vote of 41 ayes to 2 nays 
(Record vote no. FC-35), a quorum being present. Before the 
question was called to order the bill favorably reported, the 
Committee adopted an amendment in the nature of a substitute 
offered by Mr. Huizenga by voice vote.

                            Committee Votes

    Clause 2(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires the Committee to list the record votes 
on the order to report legislation and amendments thereto. H.R. 
1579 was ordered reported favorably to the House as amended by 
a recorded vote of 41 ayes to 2 nays (Record vote no. FC-35), a 
quorum being present.

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]


                      Committee Oversight Findings

    Pursuant to clause 3(c) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the findings and recommendations of 
the Committee based on oversight activities under clause 
2(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, 
are incorporated in the descriptive portions of this report.

                    Performance Goals and Objectives

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the goal of H.R. 1579 is empower 
sophisticated-but-not-wealthy investors to qualify as 
accredited investors by requiring the SEC to review the list of 
certifications, designations, and credentials for individuals 
to qualify as an accredited investor and add additional 
certifications, designations, and credentials that the SEC 
determines are substantially similar.

   New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives, the Committee adopts as its 
own the estimate of new budget authority, entitlement 
authority, or tax expenditures or revenues contained in the 
cost estimate prepared by the Director of the Congressional 
Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1973.

                 Congressional Budget Office Estimates

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the following is the cost estimate 
provided by the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 
402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974:

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]


    H.R. 1579 would expand the definition of an accredited 
investor under the Securities Act of 1933 to include 
individuals with certifications, designations, or credentials 
that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) determines 
are in the public interest. The bill would require the SEC to 
establish and review a list of accepted certifications, 
designations, and credentials once every five years and make 
amendments when necessary. Under current law, accredited 
investors are defined as people or entities with sufficient 
financial sophistication and resources to sustain the risk of 
loss, including banks, broker-dealers, and investment 
companies. Accredited investors may participate in investment 
opportunities not available to nonaccredited investors, such as 
purchasing securities that are exempt from registration with 
the SEC.
    Using information about the cost of similar provisions, CBO 
estimates that implementing H.R. 1579 would cost less than 
$500,000. Because the SEC is authorized to collect fees each 
year to offset its annual appropriation, CBO expects that the 
net effect on discretionary spending over the 2023-2028 period 
would be negligible, assuming appropriation actions consistent 
with that authority.
    If the SEC increases fees to offset the costs associated 
with implementing the bill, H.R. 1579 would increase the cost 
of an existing mandate on private entities required to pay 
those assessments. CBO estimates that the incremental cost of 
that mandate would be small and fall below the annual threshold 
established in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) for 
private-sector mandates ($198 million in 2023, adjusted 
annually for inflation).
    H.R. 1579 contains no intergovernmental mandates as defined 
in UMRA.
    The CBO staff contacts for this estimate are David Hughes 
(for federal costs) and Rachel Austin (for mandates). The 
estimate was reviewed by Theresa Gullo, Director of Budget 
Analysis.

                                         Phillip L. Swagel,
                             Director, Congressional Budget Office.

                       Federal Mandates Statement

    This information is provided in accordance with section 423 
of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995.
    Per the estimate from CBO, H.R. 1579 could increase the 
cost of an existing mandate on private entities if the SEC 
increased costs to implement the bill. However, this increase 
would still fall below the annual threshold for private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
    The Committee has determined that the bill does not impose 
a Federal intergovernmental mandate on State, local, or tribal 
governments.

                      Advisory Committee Statement

    No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this 
legislation.

                  Applicability to Legislative Branch

    The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.

                         Earmark Identification

    With respect to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee has carefully reviewed 
the provisions of the bill and states that the provisions of 
the bill do not contain any congressional earmarks, limited tax 
benefits, or limited tariff benefits within the meaning of the 
rule.

                    Duplication of Federal Programs

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives, the Committee states that no 
provision of the bill establishes or reauthorizes a program of 
the Federal Government known to be duplicative of another 
Federal program, including any program that was included in a 
report to Congress pursuant to section 21 of the Public Law 
111-139 or the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance.

             Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation


Section 1. Short title

    This section cites H.R. 1579 as the ``Accredited Investor 
Definition Review Act''.

Section 2. Definition of accredited investor

    This section amends the definition of an accredited 
investor to include individuals that have certifications, 
designations, or credentials as the SEC determines necessary or 
appropriate.

Section 3. Periodic review of certifications, designations, and 
        credentials

    This section amends the Dodd-Frank Act to require the SEC 
to review the list of certifications, designations, and 
credentials to qualify as an accredited investor within 18 
months and every five years thereafter. This section also 
directs the SEC to add such certificates, designations, and 
credentials to the list that the SEC determines are 
substantially similar to the ones included on the list at the 
time of review and to adjust the list if the SEC deems it 
necessary in the public interest or for the protection of 
investors.

         Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

    In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown below, as prepared by the 
Office of Legislative Counsel.

         Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

  In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italics, and existing law in which no 
change is proposed is shown in roman):

                         SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

TITLE I--

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                              definitions

  Sec. 2. (a) Definitions.--When used in this title, unless the 
context otherwise requires--
          (1) The term ``security'' means any note, stock, 
        treasury stock, security future, security-based swap, 
        bond, debenture, evidence of indebtedness, certificate 
        of interest or participation in any profit-sharing 
        agreement, collateral-trust certificate, 
        preorganization certificate or subscription, 
        transferable share, investment contract, voting-trust 
        certificate, certificate of deposit for a security, 
        fractional undivided interest in oil, gas, or other 
        mineral rights, any put, call, straddle, option, or 
        privilege on any security, certificate of deposit, or 
        group or index of securities (including any interest 
        therein or based on the value thereof), or any put, 
        call, straddle, option, or privilege entered into on a 
        national securities exchange relating to foreign 
        currency, or, in general, any interest or instrument 
        commonly known as a ``security'', or any certificate of 
        interest or participation in, temporary or interim 
        certificate for, receipt for, guarantee of, or warrant 
        or right to subscribe to or purchase, any of the 
        foregoing.
          (2) The term ``person'' means an individual, a 
        corporation, a partnership, an association, a joint-
        stock company, a trust, any unincorporated 
        organization, or a government or political subdivision 
        thereof. As used in this paragraph the term ``trust'' 
        shall include only a trust where the interest or 
        interests of the beneficiary or beneficiaries are 
        evidenced by a security.
          (3) The term ``sale'' or ``sell'' shall include every 
        contract of sale or disposition of a security or 
        interest in a security, for value. The term ``offer to 
        sell'', ``offer for sale'', or ``offer'' shall include 
        every attempt or offer to dispose of, or solicitation 
        of an offer to buy, a security or interest in a 
        security, for value. The terms defined in this 
        paragraph and the term ``offer to buy'' as used in 
        subsection (c) of section 5 shall not include 
        preliminary negotiations or agreements between an 
        issuer (or any person directly or indirectly 
        controlling or controlled by an issuer, or under direct 
        or indirect common control with an issuer) and any 
        underwriter or among underwriters who are or are to be 
        in privity of contract with an issuer (or any person 
        directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by an 
        issuer, or under direct or indirect common control with 
        an issuer). Any security given or delivered with, or as 
        a bonus on account of, any purchase of securities or 
        any other thing, shall be conclusively presumed to 
        constitute a part of the subject of such purchase and 
        to have been offered and sold for value. The issue or 
        transfer of a right or privilege, when originally 
        issued or transferred with a security, giving the 
        holder of such security the right to convert such 
        security into another security of the same issuer or of 
        another person, or giving a right to subscribe to 
        another security of the same issuer or of another 
        person, which right cannot be exercised until some 
        future date, shall not be deemed to be an offer or sale 
        of such other security; but the issue or transfer of 
        such other security upon the exercise of such right of 
        conversion or subscription shall be deemed a sale of 
        such other security. Any offer or sale of a security 
        futures product by or on behalf of the issuer of the 
        securities underlying the security futures product, an 
        affiliate of the issuer, or an underwriter, shall 
        constitute a contract for sale of, sale of, offer for 
        sale, or offer to sell the underlying securities. Any 
        offer or sale of a security-based swap by or on behalf 
        of the issuer of the securities upon which such 
        security-based swap is based or is referenced, an 
        affiliate of the issuer, or an underwriter, shall 
        constitute a contract for sale of, sale of, offer for 
        sale, or offer to sell such securities. The publication 
        or distribution by a broker or dealer of a research 
        report about an emerging growth company that is the 
        subject of a proposed public offering of the common 
        equity securities of such emerging growth company 
        pursuant to a registration statement that the issuer 
        proposes to file, or has filed, or that is effective 
        shall be deemed for purposes of paragraph (10) of this 
        subsection and section 5(c) not to constitute an offer 
        for sale or offer to sell a security, even if the 
        broker or dealer is participating or will participate 
        in the registered offering of the securities of the 
        issuer. As used in this paragraph, the term ``research 
        report'' means a written, electronic, or oral 
        communication that includes information, opinions, or 
        recommendations with respect to securities of an issuer 
        or an analysis of a security or an issuer, whether or 
        not it provides information reasonably sufficient upon 
        which to base an investment decision.
          (4) The term ``issuer'' means every person who issues 
        or proposes to issue any security; except that with 
        respect to certificates of deposit, voting-trust 
        certificates, or collateral-trust certificates, or with 
        respect to certificates of interest or shares in an 
        unincorporated investment trust not having a board of 
        directors (or persons performing similar functions) or 
        of the fixed, restricted management, or unit type, the 
        term ``issuer'' means the person or persons performing 
        the acts and assuming the duties of depositor or 
        manager pursuant to the provisions of the trust or 
        other agreement or instrument under which such 
        securities are issued; except that in the case of an 
        unincorporated association which provides by its 
        articles for limited liability of any or all of its 
        members, or in the case of a trust, committee, or other 
        legal entity, the trustees or members thereof shall not 
        be individually liable as issuers of any security 
        issued by the association, trust, committee, or other 
        legal entity; except that with respect to equipment-
        trust certificates or like securities, the term 
        ``issuer'' means the person by whom the equipment or 
        property is or is to be used; and except that with 
        respect to fractional undivided interests in oil, gas, 
        or other mineral rights, the term ``issuer'' means the 
        owner of any such right or of any interest in such 
        right (whether whole or fractional) who creates 
        fractional interests therein for the purpose of public 
        offering.
          (5) The term ``Commission'' means the Securities and 
        Exchange Commission.
          (6) The term ``Territory'' means Puerto Rico, the 
        Virgin Islands, and the insular possessions of the 
        United States.
          (7) The term ``interstate commerce'' means trade or 
        commerce in securities or any transportation or 
        communication relating thereto among the several States 
        or between the District of Columbia or any Territory of 
        the United States and any State or other Territory, or 
        between any foreign country and any State, Territory, 
        or the District of Columbia, or within the District of 
        Columbia.
          (8) The term ``registration statement'' means the 
        statement provided for in section 6, and includes any 
        amendment thereto and any report, document, or 
        memorandum filed as part of such statement or 
        incorporated therein by reference.
          (9) The term ``write'' or ``written'' shall include 
        printed, lithographed, or any means of graphic 
        communication.
          (10) The term ``prospectus'' means any prospectus, 
        notice, circular, advertisement, letter, or 
        communication, written or by radio or television, which 
        offers any security for sale or confirms the sale of 
        any security; except that (a) a communication sent or 
        given after the effective date of the registration 
        statement (other than a prospectus permitted under 
        subsection (b) of section 10) shall not be deemed a 
        prospectus if it is proved that prior to or at the same 
        time with such communication a written prospectus 
        meeting the requirements of subsection (a) of section 
        10 at the time of such communication was sent or given 
        to the person to whom the communication was made, and 
        (b) a notice, circular, advertisement, letter, or 
        communication in respect of a security shall not be 
        deemed to be a prospectus if it states from whom a 
        written prospectus meeting the requirements of section 
        10 may be obtained and, in addition, does no more than 
        identify the security, state the price thereof, state 
        by whom orders will be executed, and contain such other 
        information as the Commission, by rules or regulations 
        deemed necessary or appropriate in the public interest 
        and for the protection of investors, and subject to 
        such terms and conditions as may be prescribed therein, 
        may permit.
          (11) The term ``underwriter'' means any person who 
        has purchased from an issuer with a view to, or offers 
        or sells for an issuer in connection with, the 
        distribution of any security, or participates or has a 
        direct or indirect participation in any such 
        undertaking, or participates or has a participation in 
        the direct or indirect underwriting of any such 
        undertaking; but such term shall not include a person 
        whose interest is limited to a commission from an 
        underwriter or dealer not in excess of the usual and 
        customary distributors' or sellers' commission. As used 
        in this paragraph the term ``issuer'' shall include, in 
        addition to an issuer, any person directly or 
        indirectly controlling or controlled by the issuer, or 
        any person under direct or indirect common control with 
        the issuer.
          (12) The term ``dealer'' means any person who engages 
        either for all or part of his time, directly or 
        indirectly, as agent, broker, or principal, in the 
        business of offering, buying, selling, or otherwise 
        dealing or trading in securities issued by another 
        person.
          (13) The term ``insurance company'' means a company 
        which is organized as an insurance company, whose 
        primary and predominant business activity is the 
        writing of insurance or the reinsuring of risks 
        underwritten by insurance companies, and which is 
        subject to supervision by the insurance commissioner, 
        or a similar official or agency, of a State or 
        territory or the District of Columbia; or any receiver 
        or similar official or any liquidating agent for such 
        company, in his capacity as such.
          (14) The term ``separate account'' means an account 
        established and maintained by an insurance company 
        pursuant to the laws of any State or territory of the 
        United States, the District of Columbia, or of Canada 
        or any province thereof, under which income, gains and 
        losses, whether or not realized, from assets allocated 
        to such account, are, in accordance with the applicable 
        contract, credited to or charged against such account 
        without regard to other income, gains, or losses of the 
        insurance company.
          (15) The term ``accredited investor'' shall mean--
                  [(i)] (A) a bank as defined in section 
                3(a)(2) whether acting in its individual or 
                fiduciary capacity; an insurance company as 
                defined in paragraph (13) of this subsection; 
                an investment company registered under the 
                Investment Company Act of 1940 or a business 
                development company as defined in section 
                2(a)(48) of that Act; a Small Business 
                Investment Company licensed by the Small 
                Business Administration; or an employee benefit 
                plan, including an individual retirement 
                account, which is subject to the provisions of 
                the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 
                1974, if the investment decision is made by a 
                plan fiduciary, as defined in section 3(21) of 
                such Act, which is either a bank, insurance 
                company, or registered investment adviser; [or]
                  [(ii)] (B) any person who, on the basis of 
                such factors as financial sophistication, net 
                worth, knowledge, and experience in financial 
                matters, or amount of assets under management 
                qualifies as an accredited investor under rules 
                and regulations which the Commission shall 
                prescribe[.]; or
                  (C) an individual holding such 
                certifications, designations, or credentials as 
                the Commission determines necessary or 
                appropriate in the public interest or for the 
                protection of investors, where such list of 
                certifications, designations, or credentials 
                shall be no less broad than those 
                certifications, designations, or credentials 
                described in the amendments made to section 
                230.501 of title 17, Code of Federal 
                Regulations, by the final rule of the 
                Commission titled ``Accredited Investor 
                Definition'' (85 Fed. Reg. 64234; published 
                October 9, 2020).
          (16) The terms ``security future'', ``narrow-based 
        security index'', and ``security futures product'' have 
        the same meanings as provided in section 3(a)(55) of 
        the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
          (17) The terms ``swap'' and ``security-based swap'' 
        have the same meanings as in section 1a of the 
        Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1a).
          (18) The terms ``purchase'' or ``sale'' of a 
        security-based swap shall be deemed to mean the 
        execution, termination (prior to its scheduled maturity 
        date), assignment, exchange, or similar transfer or 
        conveyance of, or extinguishing of rights or 
        obligations under, a security-based swap, as the 
        context may require.
          (19) The term ``emerging growth company'' means an 
        issuer that had total annual gross revenues of less 
        than $1,000,000,000 (as such amount is indexed for 
        inflation every 5 years by the Commission to reflect 
        the change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban 
        Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 
        setting the threshold to the nearest 1,000,000) during 
        its most recently completed fiscal year. An issuer that 
        is an emerging growth company as of the first day of 
        that fiscal year shall continue to be deemed an 
        emerging growth company until the earliest of--
                  (A) the last day of the fiscal year of the 
                issuer during which it had total annual gross 
                revenues of $1,000,000,000 (as such amount is 
                indexed for inflation every 5 years by the 
                Commission to reflect the change in the 
                Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers 
                published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 
                setting the threshold to the nearest 1,000,000) 
                or more;
                  (B) the last day of the fiscal year of the 
                issuer following the fifth anniversary of the 
                date of the first sale of common equity 
                securities of the issuer pursuant to an 
                effective registration statement under this 
                title;
                  (C) the date on which such issuer has, during 
                the previous 3-year period, issued more than 
                $1,000,000,000 in non-convertible debt; or
                  (D) the date on which such issuer is deemed 
                to be a ``large accelerated filer'', as defined 
                in section 240.12b-2 of title 17, Code of 
                Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto.
  (b) Consideration of Promotion of Efficiency, Competition, 
and Capital Formation.--Whenever pursuant to this title the 
Commission is engaged in rulemaking and is required to 
consider or determine whether an action is necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest, the Commission shall also 
consider, in addition to the protection of investors, whether 
the action will promote efficiency, competition, and capital 
formation.

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                              ----------                              


       DODD-FRANK WALL STREET REFORM AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT



           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
TITLE IV--REGULATION OF ADVISERS TO HEDGE FUNDS AND OTHERS

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 413. ADJUSTING THE ACCREDITED INVESTOR STANDARD.

  (a) In General.--The Commission shall adjust any net worth 
standard for an accredited investor, as set forth in the rules 
of the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, so that the 
individual net worth of any natural person, or joint net worth 
with the spouse of that person, at the time of purchase, is 
more than $1,000,000 (as such amount is adjusted periodically 
by rule of the Commission), excluding the value of the primary 
residence of such natural person, except that during the 4-year 
period that begins on the date of enactment of this Act, any 
net worth standard shall be $1,000,000, excluding the value of 
the primary residence of such natural person.
  (b) Review and Adjustment.--
          (1) Initial review and adjustment.--
                  (A) Initial review.--The Commission may 
                undertake a review of the definition of the 
                term ``accredited investor'', as such term 
                applies to natural persons, to determine 
                whether the requirements of the definition, 
                excluding the requirement relating to the net 
                worth standard described in subsection (a), 
                should be adjusted or modified for the 
                protection of investors, in the public 
                interest, and in light of the economy.
                  (B) Adjustment or modification.--Upon 
                completion of a review under subparagraph (A), 
                the Commission may, by notice and comment 
                rulemaking, make such adjustments to the 
                definition of the term ``accredited investor'', 
                excluding adjusting or modifying the 
                requirement relating to the net worth standard 
                described in subsection (a), as such term 
                applies to natural persons, as the Commission 
                may deem appropriate for the protection of 
                investors, in the public interest, and in light 
                of the economy.
          (2) Subsequent reviews and adjustment.--
                  (A) Subsequent reviews.--Not earlier than 4 
                years after the date of enactment of this Act, 
                and not less frequently than once every 4 years 
                thereafter, the Commission shall undertake a 
                review of the definition, in its entirety, of 
                the term ``accredited investor'', as defined in 
                section 230.215 of title 17, Code of Federal 
                Regulations, or any successor thereto, as such 
                term applies to natural persons, to determine 
                whether the requirements of the definition 
                should be adjusted or modified for the 
                protection of investors, in the public 
                interest, and in light of the economy.
                  (B) Adjustment or modification.--Upon 
                completion of a review under subparagraph (A), 
                the Commission may, by notice and comment 
                rulemaking, make such adjustments to the 
                definition of the term ``accredited investor'', 
                as defined in section 230.215 of title 17, Code 
                of Federal Regulations, or any successor 
                thereto, as such term applies to natural 
                persons, as the Commission may deem appropriate 
                for the protection of investors, in the public 
                interest, and in light of the economy.
          (3) Periodic review of certifications, designations, 
        and credentials.--Not later than 18 months after the 
        date of the enactment of this paragraph and not less 
        frequently than once every 5 years thereafter, the 
        Commission shall--
                  (A) review the list of certifications, 
                designations, and credentials accepted with 
                respect to meeting the requirements of the 
                definition of ``accredited investor'' under 
                section 2(a)(15) of the Securities Act of 1933 
                (15 U.S.C. 77b(a)(15)) and rules issued 
                pursuant to such section;
                  (B) add such certifications, designations, 
                and credentials to such list as the Commission 
                determines are substantially similar in 
                measuring the financial sophistication, 
                knowledge, and experience in financial matters 
                of an individual to the certifications, 
                designations, and credentials included on such 
                list at the time of such review; and
                  (C) adjust or modify such list as the 
                Commission determines necessary or appropriate 
                in the public interest or for the protection of 
                investors.

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