[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 236 (Friday, December 9, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73314-73315]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-7115]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange 
Commission, Office of Filings and Information Services, Washington, DC 
20549.

Extension: Rule 31a-1; SEC File No. 270-173; OMB Control No. 3235-
0178.

    Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 [44 U.S.C. 3501-3520], the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission'') is soliciting comments on the collections of 
information summarized below. The Commission plans to submit these 
existing collections of information to the Office of Management and 
Budget (``OMB'') for extension.
    Rule 31a-1 [17 CFR 270.31a-1] under the Investment Company Act of 
1940 (the ``Act'') is entitled ``Records to be maintained by registered 
investment companies, certain majority-owned subsidiaries thereof, and 
other persons having transactions with registered investment 
companies.'' Rule 31a-1 requires registered investment companies 
(``funds''), and every underwriter, broker, dealer, or investment 
adviser that is a majority-owned subsidiary of a fund, to maintain and 
keep current accounts, books, and other documents which constitute the 
record forming the basis for financial

[[Page 73315]]

statements required to be filed pursuant to section 30 of the Act [15 
U.S.C. 80a-29] and of the auditor's certificates relating thereto. The 
rule lists specific records to be maintained by funds. The rule also 
requires certain underwriters, brokers, dealers, depositors, and 
investment advisers to maintain the records that they are required to 
maintain under federal securities laws.
    There are approximately 4300 investment companies registered with 
the Commission, all of which are required to comply with rule 31a-1. 
For purposes of determining the burden imposed by rule 31a-1, the 
Commission staff estimates that each fund is divided into approximately 
four series, on average, and that each series is required to comply 
with the recordkeeping requirements of rule 31a-1. Based on 
conversations with fund representatives, it is estimated that rule 31a-
1 imposes an average burden of approximately 1500 hours annually per 
series for a total of 6000 annual hours per fund. The estimated total 
annual burden for all 4300 funds subject to the rule therefore is 
approximately 25,800,000 hours. Based on conversations with fund 
representatives, however, the Commission staff estimates that even 
absent the requirements of rule 31a-1, 90 percent of the records 
created pursuant to the rule are the type that generally would be 
created as a matter of normal business custom and to prepare financial 
statements.
    The estimate of average burden hours is made solely for the 
purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act, and is not derived from a 
comprehensive or even a representative survey or study. An agency may 
not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a 
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB 
control number.
    Written comments are requested on: (a) Whether the collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Commission, including whether the information has practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's estimate of the burden[s] 
of the collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology. Consideration will be given to 
comments and suggestions submitted in writing within 60 days of this 
publication.
    Please direct your written comments to R. Corey Booth, Director/
Chief Information Officer, Office of Information Technology, Securities 
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549.

    Dated: November 30, 2005.
Jonathan G. Katz,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5-7115 Filed 12-8-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P