[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 6, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-8192]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 6, 1994]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-33842; File No. SR-NASD-94-16]

 

Self-Regulatory Organizations; Filing and Immediate Effectiveness 
of Proposed Rule Change by National Association of Securities Dealers, 
Inc. Relating to Arbitration Surcharge on Members

March 31, 1994.
    Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''), 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1), notice is hereby given that on March 
22, 1994, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. 
(``NASD'' or ``Association'') filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (``SEC'' or ``Commission''), and amended on March 31, 
1994\1\ the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III 
below, which Items have been prepared by the NASD. The NASD has 
designated this proposal as one establishing or changing a fee under 
section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act, which renders the rule effective 
upon the Commission's receipt of this filing. The Commission is 
publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change, 
as amended, from interested persons.
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    \1\See Letter from Suzanne E. Rothwell, Associate General 
Counsel, NASD, to Ethan Corey, Staff Attorney, Over-the-Counter 
Branch, SEC, dated March 31, 1994.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The NASD is proposing to amend section 45 of the Code of 
Arbitration Procedure to clarify that the member surcharge of $200 is 
not subject to reimbursement under Subsections 43(c) and 44(c) of the 
Code. Below is the text of the proposed rule change. Proposed new 
language is italicized.

PART III. UNIFORM CODE OF ARBITRATION

* * * * *

Member Surcharge

Sec. 45.
    (a) Each member who is named as a party to an arbitration 
proceeding, whether in a Claim, Counterclaim, Crossclaim or Third-Party 
claim, shall be assessed a $200 non-refundable surcharge when the 
Arbitration Department perfects service of the claim naming the member 
on any party to the proceeding. For each associated person who is 
named, the surcharge shall be assessed against the member or members 
which employed the associated person at the time of the events which 
gave rise to the dispute, claim or controversy. No member shall be 
assessed more than a single surcharge in any arbitration proceeding. 
The surcharge shall not be subject to reimbursement under Subsections 
43(c) or 44(c) of the Code.
    (b) For the purposes of this Section, service is perfected when the 
Director of Arbitration properly serves the Respondents to such 
proceeding under Subsection 25(a) of the Code.
* * * * *

II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, the NASD included statements 
concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and 
discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The 
text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in 
Item IV below. The NASD has prepared summaries, set forth in sections 
(A), (B), and (C) below, of the most significant aspects of such 
statements.

(A) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    On February 25, 1994, the NASD filed SR-NASD-94-11 adopting section 
45 to the Code of Arbitration Procedure (``Code'') to impose a $200 
non-refundable surcharge on any member named as a party to an 
arbitration proceeding. The last line of section 45(a) stated that the 
surcharge would not be subject to reimbursement under Subsection 43(c) 
of the Code, which references customer disputes.\3\
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    \3\See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 33731 (March 8, 
1994), 59 FR 11817 (March 14, 1994).
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    Subsequently, the NASD determined that it had inadvertently omitted 
reference in the last sentence of new section 45(a) to Subsection 
44(c), which provision relates to industry and clearing controversies. 
The NASD is, therefore, proposing to amend Subsection 45(a) to the Code 
of Arbitration Procedure to clarify that the member surcharge is not 
subject to reimbursement under Subsections 43(c) and 44(c) of the Code. 
Thus, the provision of Subsection 45(a) that the member surcharge is 
not subject to reimbursement shall apply in cases involving customer 
disputes as well as industry and clearing controversies.
    The NASD believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with 
the provisions of section 15A(b)(5) of the Act,\4\ which require that 
the rules of the Association provide for the equitable allocation of 
reasonable dues, fees and other charges among members in that the 
proposed rule clarifies that the member surcharge will be assessed 
equitably on each member who is named and for whom service is perfected 
in an arbitration proceeding.
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    \4\15 U.S.C. 78o-3.
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(B) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The NASD does not believe that the proposed rule change will result 
in any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in 
furtherance of the purposes of the Act, as amended.

(C) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the 
Proposed Rule Change Received from Members, Participants, or Others

    Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 
Commission Action

    The foregoing rule change has become effective upon filing pursuant 
to section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act and subparagraph (e) of rule 19b-
4 thereunder in that it constitutes a due, fee or other charge.
    At any time within 60 days of the filing of a rule change pursuant 
to section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act, the Commission may summarily 
abrogate the rule change if it appears to the Commission that such 
action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the 
protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of 
the Act.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning the foregoing. Persons making written submissions 
should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and 
Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549. 
Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written 
statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with 
the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed 
rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those 
that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions 
of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for inspection and copying in the 
Commission's Public Reference Room. Copies of such filing will also be 
available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the 
NASD. All submissions should refer to the file number in the caption 
above and should be submitted by April 27, 1994.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority, 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-8192 Filed 4-5-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-M