[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 27 (Thursday, February 9, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6798-6799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-1785]


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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 30b2-1; SEC File No. 270-213; OMB Control No. 3235-0220.

    Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 [44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.], the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (the ``Commission'') is soliciting comments on the 
collection of information summarized below. The Commission plans to 
submit this existing collection of information to the Office of 
Management and Budget (``OMB'') for extension and approval.
    Rule 30b2-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 [17 CFR 
270.30b2-1] requires the filing of four copies of every periodic or 
interim report transmitted by or on behalf of any registered investment 
company to its stockholders.\1\ This requirement ensures that the 
Commission has information in its files to perform its regulatory 
functions and to apprise investors of the operational and financial 
condition of registered investment companies.\2\
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    \1\ Most filings are made via the Commission's electronic filing 
system; therefore, paper filings under Rule 30b2-1 occur only in 
exceptional circumstances. Electronic filing eliminates the need for 
multiple copies of filings.
    \2\ Annual and periodic reports to the Commission become part of 
its public files and, therefore, are available for use by 
prospective investors and stockholders.

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[[Page 6799]]

    Registered management investment companies are required to send 
reports to stockholders at least twice annually. In addition, under the 
recently adopted amendments to rule 30b2-1, each registered investment 
company is required to file with the Commission new form N-CSR, 
certifying the financial statements.\3\ The annual burden of filing the 
reports is included in the burden estimate for Form N-CSR; however, we 
are requesting one burden hour remain in inventory for administrative 
purposes.
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    \3\ See Release No. 34-47262, IC-25914, Jan. 27, 2003 (68 FR 
5384 [Feb. 3, 2003]). (Amending rule 30b2-1(a) under the Investment 
Company Act; adopting Form N-CSR). In addition, the Commission 
amended new rule 30a-2 to require both Forms N-CSR and N-SAR to 
include the certification required by section 302 of the Sarbanes-
Oxley Act. No certified shareholder report on Form N-CSR is required 
with respect to a report to shareholders that is not required under 
rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act [17 CFR 270.30e-1], 
e.g., voluntary quarterly reports. These reports to shareholders 
continue to be filed with the Commission as they were prior to the 
2003 amendments. Rule 30b2-1(b) [17 CFR 270.30b2-1(b)].
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    The burden estimate for rule 30b2-1 is made solely for the purposes 
of the Act and is not derived from a comprehensive or even 
representative survey or study of the costs of Commission rules and 
forms.
    Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the agency, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of 
the burden 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: January 26, 2006.
Nancy M. Morris,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-1785 Filed 2-8-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P