[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 234 (Thursday, December 6, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68930-68932]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-23594]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-56865; File No. SR-NSCC-2007-06]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; National Securities Clearing 
Corporation; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change To Modify the 
Hearing Procedures Afforded to Members and Applicants for Membership 
and Harmonize Them With Similar Rules of Its Affiliates

November 29, 2007.
    Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that 
on April 30, 2007, the National Securities Clearing Corporation 
(``NSCC'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission'') the proposed rule change described in Items I, II, and 
III below, which items have been prepared primarily by NSCC. The 
Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the 
proposed rule change from interested parties.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The proposed rule change seeks (1) to modify NSCC's rules regarding 
hearing procedures afforded to members and applicants for membership 
and (2) where practicable or beneficial, to harmonize them with similar 
rules of NSCC's affiliates, The Depository Trust Company (``DTC'') and 
the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation (``FICC'').

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

    In its filing with the Commission, NSCC 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. NSCC has prepared summaries, set forth in sections (A), 
(B), and (C) below, of the most significant aspects of these 
statements.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The Commission has modified the text of the summaries 
prepared by NSCC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

(1) Minor Rule Violation Plan
    In 1984, the Commission adopted amendments to Rule 19d-1(c) under 
the Act \4\ that allow self-regulatory organizations to adopt with 
Commission approval plans for the disposition of minor violations of 
rules.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ 17 CFR 240.19d-1(c).
    \5\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 21013 (June 1, 1984), 49 
FR 23828 (June 8, 1984) [File No. S7-983A].
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Currently under NSCC's rules, a member or applicant subject to 
disciplinary action has a right to a hearing before a panel comprised 
of members of NSCC's Credit and Market Risk Management Committee 
regardless of the severity of the action for which the member or 
applicant is being disciplined.\6\ Because some rule violations are not 
sufficiently serious to merit Board review, NSCC is proposing to adopt 
a Minor Rule Violation Plan within the meaning of Rule 19d-1(c)(2) of 
the Act for those rule violations NSCC deems minor. Consistent with 
Rule 19d-1(c)(2) of the Act, NSCC would designate those rule violations 
for which a fine may be assessed in an amount not to exceed $5,000 as 
minor rule violations. If a member were to dispute a fine imposed by 
NSCC by filing a written request for hearing and a written statement, 
NSCC management would have the authority to waive the fine. NSCC 
management would notify the Board of Directors (or a Committee 
authorized by the Board of Directors) of its determination to waive the 
fine and would provide the reasons for the

[[Page 68931]]

waiver. The Board or Committee could in its discretion decide to 
reinstate any fine waived by NSCC management. If NSCC management were 
not to waive the fine, the member could appeal the decision to a panel 
comprised of NSCC officers (``Minor Rule Violation Panel'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ If the action or proposed action of NSCC as to which the 
hearing relates has been taken or has been proposed to be taken by 
the Credit and Market Risk Management Committee, the members of the 
panel shall be drawn from members of the Executive Committee of 
NSCC's Board of Directors. See Rule 37 (Hearing Procedures), Section 
2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(2) Hearings for All Other Violations and Minor Rule Violation Appeals
    For matters involving (i) an alleged violation of an NSCC rule for 
which a fine in an amount of over $5,000 is assessed, (ii) applicants 
for membership, or (iii) other disciplinary actions to which the Minor 
Rule Violation Plan would not apply or for appeals from a Minor Rule 
Violation Panel decision adverse to a member or applicant, the member 
or applicant would be entitled to a hearing before a panel comprised of 
three individuals of the NSCC Board of Directors (or their designees) 
appointed by the Chairman of the NSCC Board. Decisions of the panel 
would be final; however, the full Board of Directors would retain the 
right to modify any sanction or reverse any decision of the Board panel 
that was adverse to the member or applicant.
    Currently with respect to hearings, a member or applicant is 
afforded the opportunity to be heard and may be represented by counsel 
if desired. A record is kept of the hearing, and at the discretion of 
the Board panel, the associated cost may be charged in whole or part to 
the member or application in the event that the decision is adverse to 
the member or applicant. The member or applicant is advised of the 
Board panel's decision within ten business days after the conclusion of 
the hearing. These procedures would also apply with respect to the 
Minor Rule Violation Plan.
(3) Administrative Changes: Uniformity of Time Frames
    The proposed rule changes seek to implement uniform time periods 
among NSCC, DTC, and FICC governing actions a member or applicant would 
be required to take in order to request a hearing. The deadlines a 
member or applicant must adhere to in order to request a hearing 
currently vary between NSCC, DTC, and FICC. Under the proposed rule 
change, a member or applicant would have five business days, or two 
business days in the case of summary action taken against the member or 
applicant pursuant to Rule 46,\7\ from the date on which NSCC first 
informs it of a sanction or a denial of membership in which to request 
a hearing.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ Examples of a summary action are a suspension of a member or 
restriction of a member's access to services as described in Rule 46 
(``Restrictions on Access to Services'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Within seven business days, or three business days in the case of a 
summary action being taken against the member or applicant, after 
filing a request for a hearing with NSCC, the member or applicant would 
be required to submit to NSCC a clear and concise written statement 
setting forth the action or proposed action of NSCC with respect to 
which the hearing is requested, the basis for objection to such action, 
whether the member or applicant intends to attend the hearing, and 
whether the member or applicant chooses to be represented by counsel at 
the hearing. These proposed time frames would be consistent with time 
frames being proposed by DTC and FICC.
(4) Pending Changes From NSCC Rule Filing SR-NSCC-2006-17
    The current time frame for an applicant or member to request a 
hearing appears in the following rules: Rule 2 (``Members''), Rule 3 
(``Lists to Be Maintained''), Rule 51 (``Fund Member''), Rule 54 
(``Settling Bank Only Members''), Rule 56 (``Insurance Carrier/
Retirement Services Member''), and Rule 60 (``TPA Member'').\8\ Each of 
those rules is pending deletion as part of rule filing SR-NSCC-2006-17. 
Accordingly, in the event that this filing is approved prior to SR-
NSCC-2006-17, the time frame for an applicant or member to request a 
hearing that appears in those rules will be deleted.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ The current time frame for an applicant or member to request 
a hearing also appears in Rule 45 (``Notices''). This proposed rule 
filing would delete that reference also.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(5) Implementation of the Proposed Changes
    The proposed changes would be implemented upon approval of this 
proposed filing by the Commission. Members would be advised of the 
implementation through an NSCC Important Notice.
    NSCC believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the 
requirements of Section 17A of the Act \9\ and the rules and 
regulations thereunder because the adoption of a Minor Rule Violation 
Plan furthers the statutory objective of providing a fair procedure for 
disciplining members and will provide NSCC with the ability to impose 
meaningful sanctions for those rule violations that do not necessarily 
rise to a level meriting a full disciplinary proceeding. Accordingly, 
the proposed rule change promotes the prompt and accurate clearance and 
settlement of securities transactions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(B) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    NSCC does not believe that the proposed rule change will have any 
impact or impose any burden on competition.

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

    Written comments relating to the proposed rule change have not been 
solicited or received. NSCC will notify the Commission of any written 
comments received by NSCC.

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

    Within thirty-five days of the date of publication of this notice 
in the Federal Register or within such longer period: (i) as the 
Commission may designate up to ninety days of such date if it finds 
such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so 
finding or (ii) as to which the self-regulatory organization consents, 
the Commission will:
    (A) By order approve such proposed rule change or
    (B) institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule 
change should be disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule 
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of 
the following methods:

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml) or
     Send an e-mail to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-NSCC-2007-06 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Nancy M. Morris, 
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., 
Washington, DC 20549-1090.

    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NSCC-2007-06. This 
file number should be included on the subject line if e-mail is used. 
To help the Commission process and review your comments more 
efficiently, please use

[[Page 68932]]

only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the 
Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). 
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 Section, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, 
DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 
p.m. Copies of such filings also will be available for inspection and 
copying at the principal office of NSCC and on NSCC's Web site at 
http://www.dtcc.com/downloads/legal/rule_filings/2007/nscc/2007-06.pdf. All comments received will be posted without change; the 
Commission does not edit personal identifying information from 
submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make 
available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-
NSCC-2007-06 and should be submitted on or before December 21, 2007.

    For the Commission by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7-23594 Filed 12-5-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P