[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 85 (Friday, May 2, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25162-25163]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-10143]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange 
Commission, Office of Investor Education and Advocacy, Washington, DC 
20549.

Extension:
    Rule 17Ab2-1, Form CA-1, SEC File No. 270-203, OMB Control No. 
3235-0195.

    Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (``PRA'') (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (``Commission'') is soliciting comments on the collection of 
information provided for Rule 17Ab2-1 (17 CFR 240.17Ab2-1) and Form CA-
1: Registration of Clearing Agencies (17 CFR 249b.200) under the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Exchange Act'') (15 U.S.C. 78a et 
seq.). The Commission plans to submit this existing collection of 
information to the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') for 
extension and approval.
    Rule 17Ab2-1 and Form CA-1 require clearing agencies to register 
with the Commission and to meet certain requirements with regard to, 
among other things, the clearing agency's organization, capacities, and 
rules. The information is collected from the clearing agency upon the 
initial application for registration on Form CA-1. Thereafter, 
information is collected by amendment to the initial Form CA-1 when 
material changes in circumstances necessitate modification of the 
information previously provided to the Commission.
    The Commission uses the information disclosed on Form CA-1 to (i) 
determine whether an applicant meets the standards for registration set 
forth in Section 17A of the Exchange Act, (ii) enforce compliance with 
the Exchange Act's registration requirement, and (iii) provide 
information about specific registered clearing agencies for compliance 
and investigatory purposes. Without Rule 17Ab2-1, the Commission could 
not perform these duties as statutorily required.
    The Commission staff estimates that each initial Form CA-1 requires 
approximately 130 hours to complete and submit for approval. This 
burden is composed primarily of a one-time reporting burden that 
reflects the applicant's staff time (i.e. internal labor costs) to 
prepare and submit the Form to the Commission. Hours required for 
amendments to Form CA-1 that must be submitted to the Commission in 
connection with material changes to the initial CA-1 can vary, 
depending upon the nature and extent of the amendment. Since the 
Commission only receives an average of one submission per year, the 
aggregate annual burden associated with

[[Page 25163]]

compliance with Rule 17Ab2-1 and Form CA-1 is 130 hours. The main cost 
to respondents is associated with generating, maintaining, and 
providing the information sought by Form CA-1. The external costs 
associated with such activities include fees charged by outside lawyers 
and accountants to assist the registrant collect and prepare the 
information sought by the form (though such consultations are not 
required by the Commission) and are estimated to be approximately 
$19,029. The rule and form do not involve the collection of 
confidential information.
    Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Commission, including whether the information 
shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's 
estimates of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) 
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be 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.
    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.
    Please direct your written comments to: Thomas Bayer, Director/
Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Remi 
Pavlik-Simon, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549, or send an email 
to: [email protected].

    Dated: April 29, 2014.
Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-10143 Filed 5-1-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P