[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 3, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12882-12894]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-06443]


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COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION

17 CFR Part 1

RIN 3038-AE73


Financial Surveillance Examination Program Requirements for Self-
Regulatory Organizations

AGENCY: Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``Commission'' or 
``CFTC'') is amending its regulations governing the minimum standards 
for a self-regulatory organization's (``SRO'') financial surveillance 
examination program of futures commission merchants (``FCMs''). The 
amendments revise the scope of a third-party expert's evaluation of the 
SRO's financial surveillance program to cover only the examination 
standards used by SRO staff in conducting FCM examinations. The 
amendments also extend the minimum timeframes from three years to five 
years between when an SRO must engage a third-party expert to evaluate 
its FCM examination standards for consistency with applicable auditing 
standards. The amendments should reduce the costs associated with the 
operation of a financial surveillance program, while also providing 
effective third-party evaluation of the FCM examination standards.

DATES: This rule is effective May 3, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew B. Kulkin, Director, 202-418-
5213, [email protected]; Thomas Smith, Deputy Director, 202-418-5495, 
[email protected]; Joshua Beale, Associate Director, 202-418-5446, 
[email protected]; Jennifer Bauer, Special Counsel, 202-418-5472, 
[email protected]; or, Mark Bretscher, Special Counsel, 312-596-0592, 
[email protected], Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary 
Oversight, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Three Lafayette 
Centre, 1155 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20581.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

A. Statutory and Regulatory Background of SRO Oversight of FCMs

    FCMs perform critical functions to facilitate the efficient 
operation of Commission-regulated exchange-traded derivatives 
markets.\1\ In addition to

[[Page 12883]]

trading for their own accounts and carrying the accounts of their 
affiliates, FCMs are market intermediaries, standing between customers 
trading futures and swaps transactions on one side and designated 
contract markets (``DCMs''), swap execution facilities, and derivatives 
clearing organizations (``DCOs'') on the other side. As market 
intermediaries, FCMs carry customer accounts and hold customer funds to 
margin futures and cleared swap transactions. Additionally, FCMs 
fulfill daily settlement obligations on behalf of customers by posting 
sufficient funds to DCOs to support their customers' futures and swap 
positions, including paying mark-to-market losses associated with such 
positions. FCMs also are essential to the efficient operation of 
Commission-regulated markets in that they guarantee each customer's 
financial performance for futures and swap positions to DCOs by 
agreeing to use their own financial resources to cover any shortfall 
resulting from a customer default.\2\
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    \1\ An FCM is generally defined in CFTC Regulation 1.3 as (1) an 
entity that is engaged in soliciting or accepting orders for the 
purchase or sale of any commodity for future delivery or a swap and, 
in connection with the solicitation and acceptance of such orders, 
accepts money, securities or property (or extends credit in lieu 
thereof) to margin, guarantee or secure futures or swaps 
transactions, or (2) an entity registered as an FCM.
    Commission regulations referred to herein are found at 17 CFR 
chapter I, and are accessible on the Commission's website, http://www.cftc.gov.
    \2\ Regulation 39.16(c)(2)(vi).
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    The Commodity Exchange Act (``Act'') \3\ recognizes the functions 
performed by FCMs and authorizes the Commission to adopt regulations to 
help ensure that they maintain the necessary financial resources to 
properly perform such functions.\4\ Consistent with this statutory 
objective, the Commission has adopted regulations requiring FCMs to 
maintain a minimum level of regulatory capital,\5\ to segregate 
customer funds from their own funds in specially designated customer 
accounts,\6\ and to maintain appropriate risk management programs to 
monitor and manage the risks associated with their activities as 
FCMs.\7\ The Commission also has imposed periodic financial reporting 
requirements on FCMs, which allows Commission staff to monitor their 
financial condition and compliance with regulatory obligations. The 
financial reporting requirements include daily statements demonstrating 
compliance with the segregation of customer funds requirements,\8\ 
monthly unaudited and annual audited financial statements,\9\ and 
regulatory notices upon the occurrence of specified events including 
failing to meet minimum capital requirements, failing to comply with 
segregation requirements, and failing to maintain current books and 
records.\10\
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    \3\ 7 U.S.C. 1 et seq.
    \4\ Section 4f(b) of the Act authorizes the Commission to adopt 
regulations imposing minimum capital and financial reporting 
requirements on FCMs to help ensure that they maintain adequate 
financial resources to meet their obligations.
    \5\ Regulation 1.17.
    \6\ Regulations 1.20, 22.2, and 30.7 impose segregation 
requirements for customer accounts containing futures positions, 
swap positions, and foreign futures positions, respectively.
    \7\ Regulation 1.11.
    \8\ Regulations 1.32, 22.2 and 30.7 require FCMs to prepare and 
submit to the Commission daily segregation computations and 
schedules for customer futures, cleared swaps and foreign futures 
accounts, respectively.
    \9\ Regulation 1.10.
    \10\ Regulation 1.12.
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    The Act also establishes a regulatory oversight structure that 
imposes an obligation on DCMs and registered futures associations 
(``RFAs''),\11\ as SROs,\12\ to perform frontline regulatory oversight 
of market intermediaries, including FCMs.\13\ To further the objective 
of effective self-regulation of market participants and market 
professionals, the Act and Commission regulations require RFAs and DCMs 
to adopt financial and related reporting requirements for member FCMs, 
and to periodically examine FCMs for compliance with such requirements. 
In this regard, section 17(p) of the Act requires an RFA to establish 
and submit for Commission approval rules imposing minimum capital, 
segregation and other financial requirements applicable to its members 
for which such requirements are imposed by the Commission.\14\ Section 
17(p) further provides that the RFA must implement a program to audit 
and enforce compliance by its members with the RFA's minimum financial 
requirements.\15\
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    \11\ The National Futures Association (``NFA'') is the only 
registered RFA. NFA's financial requirements for FCMs are available 
at its website, http://www.nfa.futures.org.
    \12\ An SRO is defined in Regulation 1.52 to include a contract 
market (as defined in Regulation 1.3) or an RFA under section 17 of 
the Act. The term ``SRO'' as defined in Regulation 1.52(a)(2), 
however, does not include a swap execution facility (as defined in 
Regulation 1.3).
    \13\ Section 3(b) of the Act provides in relevant part that it 
is the purpose of the Act to serve the public interest through a 
system of effective self-regulation of market participants and 
market professionals under the oversight of the Commission.
    \14\ Section 17(p)(2) of the Act.
    \15\ Id.
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    With respect to DCMs, section 5(d)(11)(B) of the Act and Regulation 
38.600 require, in relevant part, each DCM to implement rules to ensure 
the financial integrity of any member FCM and the protection of 
customer funds.\16\ DCMs also are required to monitor an FCM member's 
compliance with the DCM's minimum financial requirements by reviewing 
financial information filed with the DCM and by conducting periodic 
examinations of the FCM.\17\
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    \16\ See also, Regulation 38.602 which provides that a DCM must 
provide for the financial integrity of its transactions by 
establishing and maintaining appropriate minimum financial standards 
for its members and non-intermediated market participants, and 
Regulation 38.603 which requires a DCM to have rules concerning the 
protection of customer funds.
    \17\ See Regulations 38.600 through 38.605.
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    In recognition of SROs as frontline regulators and the importance 
of FCM oversight, the Commission adopted Regulation 1.52 which 
establishes minimum standards that all SRO programs must satisfy in 
conducting FCM financial oversight. Regulation 1.52 requires each SRO 
(including NFA) to adopt rules prescribing minimum financial and 
related reporting requirements for member FCMs that are the same as, or 
more stringent than, the requirements imposed by the Commission.\18\ 
Regulation 1.52 also requires each SRO to maintain a financial 
surveillance oversight program that includes detailed examinations of 
member FCMs' books and records to assess their compliance with SRO and 
Commission minimum financial and related reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.\19\
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    \18\ Regulation 1.52(b)(1).
    \19\ Regulation 1.52(c)(1)(iv).
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    Regulation 1.52 also permits two or more SROs to file a plan with 
the Commission to delegate primary, but not exclusive, responsibility 
to monitor and to examine the financial condition of an FCM that is a 
member of two or more SROs to a designated self-regulatory organization 
(``DSRO'').\20\ The participating SROs form a Joint Audit Committee 
(``JAC'') and submit a Joint Audit Program to the Commission, which may 
approve such plan after providing an opportunity for public notice and 
comment.\21\
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    \20\ Regulation 1.52(d)(1).
    \21\ Regulation 1.52(j).
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    The delegation of an FCM that is a member of two or more SROs to a 
DSRO under a Joint Audit Program allows for a more efficient use of SRO 
resources, while also reducing burdens that otherwise would be imposed 
on an FCM from duplicative supervision, including periodic on-site 
examinations from multiple SROs. All SROs currently are members of a 
single JAC and operate

[[Page 12884]]

pursuant to one Joint Audit Program approved by the Commission.\22\
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    \22\ The current JAC Joint Audit Program assigns each FCM to 
either the CME Group (``CME'') or NFA as the FCM's DSRO. 
Accordingly, only the CME and NFA currently engage in routine, 
periodic on-site examinations of FCMs pursuant to the JAC agreement.
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B. Current Requirements of Commission Regulation 1.52

    Regulation 1.52 requires each SRO or JAC to establish and operate a 
supervisory program that includes written policies and procedures 
concerning the examination of its member registrants (including FCMs). 
The purpose of the supervisory program is to assess whether each member 
registrant is in compliance with applicable SRO and Commission 
regulations governing net capital and related financial requirements, 
the obligations to segregate customer funds, risk management 
requirements, financial reporting requirements, recordkeeping 
requirements, and sales practices and other compliance 
requirements.\23\ The supervisory program is required to address an 
SRO's or JAC's staffing levels and independence, ongoing surveillance 
of member registrants, procedures for identifying and monitoring high-
risk firms, on-site examinations of registrants, and documentation of 
surveillance activities.\24\
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    \23\ Regulation 1.52(c)(1) for an SRO and Regulation 
1.52(d)(2)(ii)(A)-(B) for a JAC.
    \24\ Regulation 1.52(c)(1) for an SRO and Regulation 
1.52(d)(2)(ii)(A)-(B) for a JAC.
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    The supervisory program as it relates to FCMs also is required to, 
at a minimum, incorporate FCM examination standards addressing: (1) The 
ethics of an examiner; (2) The independence of an examiner; (3) The 
supervision, review, and quality control of an examiner's work product; 
(4) The evidence and documentation to be reviewed and retained in 
connection with an examination; (5) The examination planning process; 
(6) Materiality assessment; (7) Quality control procedures to ensure 
that the examinations maintain the level of quality expected; (8) 
Communications between an examiner and the regulatory oversight 
committee, or the functional equivalent of the regulatory oversight 
committee, of the SRO of which the FCM is a member; (9) Communications 
between an examiner and an FCM's audit committee of the board of 
directors or similar governing body; (10) Analytical review procedures; 
(11) Record retention; and (12) Required items for inclusion in the 
examination report, such as repeat violations, material items, and high 
risk issues.\25\ All aspects of an SRO's supervisory program, including 
the FCM examination standards, must conform to auditing standards 
issued by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (``PCAOB'') as 
such standards would apply in the conduct of a non-financial statement 
audit.\26\
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    \25\ Regulation 1.52(c)(2)(iii) for an SRO and Regulation 
1.52(d)(2)(ii)(G) for a JAC.
    \26\ Regulation 1.52(c)(2)(ii) for an SRO and Regulation 
1.52(d)(2)(ii)(F) for a JAC. The PCAOB is a nonprofit corporation 
established by Congress to oversee the audits of public companies in 
order to protect investors and the public interest by promoting 
informative, accurate, and independent audit reports. The PCAOB also 
oversees the audits of brokers and dealers registered with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission (``SEC''). The PCAOB, however, is 
not vested with the authority to oversee the audits of FCMs.
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    Regulation 1.52 also requires an SRO or JAC to engage an 
``examinations expert'' to evaluate its supervisory program prior to 
its initial use, and to evaluate the SRO's or JAC's application of the 
supervisory program at least once every three years after its initial 
use.\27\ For each evaluation, the SRO or JAC is required to obtain a 
written report from the examinations expert on its findings and 
recommendations. The written report is required to be issued under the 
consulting services standards of the American Institute of Certified 
Public Accountants (``AICPA''). The written report must include: (1) A 
statement that the examinations expert has evaluated the supervisory 
program (including its design to detect material weaknesses in an FCM's 
system of internal controls), including any comments and 
recommendations regarding such evaluation; (2) A statement that the 
examinations expert has evaluated the application of the supervisory 
program by the SRO, including any comments and recommendations in 
connection with such evaluation; and (3) A discussion containing 
recommendations of any new or best practices as prescribed by industry 
sources, including the AICPA and PCAOB.\28\
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    \27\ Regulation 1.52(c)(2)(iv) for an SRO and Regulation 
1.52(d)(2)(ii)(I) for a JAC. An ``examinations expert'' is defined 
in Regulation 1.52(a) as a nationally recognized accounting and 
auditing firm with substantial expertise in the audits of futures 
commission merchants, risk assessment and internal control reviews, 
and is an accounting and auditing firm that is acceptable to the 
Commission.
    \28\ Regulation 1.52(c)(2)(iv)(A) for an SRO and Regulation 
1.52(d)(2)(ii)(I)(1)-(4) for a JAC.
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    An SRO or JAC is required to provide the written report, including 
responses to any findings, comments, or recommendations made by the 
examinations expert, to the Commission within 30 days of receipt of the 
report. The SRO or JAC must commence applying the revised supervisory 
program, incorporating the examinations expert's findings, comments, 
and recommendations, once the Commission has advised the SRO or JAC, by 
written notice, that the Commission has no questions or comments on the 
written report.

C. Commission Initiative To Simplify and Modernize Regulations

    Commission staff initiated an agency-wide internal review of CFTC 
regulations and practices in March 2017 to identify areas that could be 
simplified, to make them less burdensome and costly for market 
participants.\29\ The Commission subsequently published in the Federal 
Register on May 9, 2017, a Request for Information soliciting 
suggestions from the public regarding how the Commission's existing 
rules, regulations, or practices could be applied in a simpler, less 
burdensome, and costly manner (i.e., ``Project KISS'').\30\
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    \29\ See Remarks of Acting Chairman J. Christopher Giancarlo 
before the 42nd Annual International Futures Industry Conference in 
Boca Raton, FL, dated March 15, 2017. The remarks are available at 
the Commission's website: https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/SpeechesTestimony/opagiancarlo-20.
    \30\ Project KISS, 82 FR 21494 (May 9, 2017); amended on May 24, 
2017, 82 FR 23765 (May 24, 2017). The Federal Register Request for 
Information and the suggestion letters filed by the public are 
available at the Commission's website: https://comments.cftc.gov/KISS/KissInitiative.aspx.
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    The CME submitted suggestions on a variety of rules, regulations, 
and practices, including Regulation 1.52, in response to the 
Commission's Request for Information.\31\ The CME expressed its view 
that the requirement in Regulation 1.52 for an SRO or JAC to engage an 
examinations expert at least once every three years does not provide 
any meaningful regulatory benefit.\32\ The CME noted that under the 
current regulatory framework, Commission staff provides effective 
oversight of SRO and JAC FCM examination programs through the conduct 
of its rule enforcement reviews.\33\ The CME further noted that it 
revises its FCM examination programs to incorporate any regulatory 
changes adopted by the Commission or SROs, and provides the actual FCM 
examination programs, with the revisions, to Commission staff for

[[Page 12885]]

review at least once each year.\34\ Accordingly, the CME suggested that 
the Commission eliminate the requirement for an SRO or JAC to engage an 
examinations expert once every three years to evaluate the SRO's or 
JAC's supervisory program.\35\
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    \31\ Letter from Kathleen Cronin, Senior Managing Director, 
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, CME Group, dated September 
29, 2017 (``CME Project KISS Letter''), pp. 13-14. The CME Project 
KISS Letter is available at the Commission's website: https://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/ViewComment.aspx?id=61395.
    \32\ Id.
    \33\ Id.
    \34\ Id.
    \35\ Id.
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II. Proposed Amendments and Comments

A. The Proposal

    On July 3, 2018, the Commission published for public comment a 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (``Proposal'') \36\ to amend Regulation 
1.52 to revise the scope and frequency of an examinations expert's 
evaluation of an SRO's or JAC's supervisory program, and to address 
certain non-substantive revisions to provide greater clarity and 
organization to the Regulation. The Proposal was initiated in response 
to both comments received from the Project Kiss initiative and 
knowledge gained through Commission staff's firsthand experience with 
the JAC's implementation of its initial FCM supervisory program 
pursuant to Regulation 1.52.\37\
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    \36\ Financial Surveillance Examination Program Requirements for 
Self-Regulatory Organizations, 83 FR 31078 (July 3, 2018).
    \37\ Commission staff gained first-hand experience with the 
supervisory programs as staff participated in several meetings with 
the JAC (via the CME and NFA as the JAC's representatives) and its 
examinations expert to address issues and questions arising during 
the drafting of the initial FCM examination standards and 
examination programs. This interaction culminated with Commission 
staff approving the initial FCM examination standards and programs 
pursuant to delegated authority from the Commission in 2015. The 
examination standards and programs are now fully implemented and are 
used in each JAC examination of an FCM.
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    In addition to requesting comment on proposed amendments to 
Regulation 1.52, the Commission also solicited comments on the impact 
of the Proposal on small entities, the Commission's cost-benefit 
considerations, and any anticompetitive effects of the Proposal. The 
comment period closed on September 4, 2018.
    The Commission received comment letters from the JAC, NFA and CME 
concerning the Proposal.\38\ The JAC, NFA and CME were supportive of 
the Commission's proposed amendments to revise the scope of the 
examinations expert's evaluation of the SRO or JAC supervisory program 
and to revise the minimum timeframes between when an SRO or JAC must 
engage an examinations expert to evaluate the SRO's or JAC's FCM 
examination standards for consistency with auditing standards issued by 
the PCAOB. The comments are discussed below.
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    \38\ The JAC comment letter was submitted by Debra K. Kokal, 
Executive Director, Financial and Regulatory Surveillance, CME 
Group, and Chairman of the Joint Audit Committee (``JAC Comment 
Letter''). The NFA comment letter was submitted by Carol A. Wooding, 
Vice President and General Counsel, National Futures Association 
(``NFA Comment Letter''). The CME comment letter was submitted by 
Sunil Cutinho, President, CME Clearing (``CME Comment Letter''). The 
comment file also includes submissions from United States Sharable 
and from Eric Alan Dela Pena, both of which did not include any 
discussion of the Proposal. All five submissions are available in 
the comment file on the Commission's website: http://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/CommentList.aspx?id=2891.
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1. Scope of the Examinations Expert's Evaluation of a Supervisory 
Program

    Regulation 1.52 requires an SRO or JAC to engage an examinations 
expert to evaluate its supervisory program prior to its initial use and 
at least once every three years thereafter.\39\ The examinations 
expert's evaluation is required to address the SRO's or JAC's 
application of its supervisory program, including the sufficiency of 
the supervisory program's risk-based approach and internal controls 
testing (including its design to detect material weaknesses in an FCM's 
internal control environment). The examinations expert is further 
required to evaluate whether the SRO's or JAC's FCM examination 
standards are consistent with auditing standards issued by the PCAOB as 
such standards would be applicable to a non-financial statement audit.
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    \39\ Paragraphs (c)(2)(vi) and (c)(2)(iv) of Regulation 1.52, 
respectively, contain the requirement for an SRO to engage an 
examinations expert prior to the initial implementation of its 
supervisory program and at least once every three years thereafter. 
Paragraphs (d)(2)(ii)(H) and (I) of Regulation 1.52, respectively, 
contain the requirement for a JAC to engage an examinations expert 
prior to the initial implementation of its supervisory program and 
at least once every three years thereafter.
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    Regulation 1.52 also requires an SRO or JAC to obtain from the 
examinations expert for each evaluation a written report on findings 
and recommendations issued under AICPA consulting services standards. 
The report is required to include a statement that the examinations 
expert has evaluated the supervisory program, including the sufficiency 
of its risk-based approach and internal controls testing. The report 
also is required to include a statement that the examinations expert 
has evaluated the SRO's or JAC's application of the supervisory 
program.
    The Commission proposed to amend Regulations 1.52(c)(2)(iv) and 
(d)(2)(ii)(I) to remove from the scope of the examinations expert's 
evaluation the SRO's or JAC's application of its respective supervisory 
program during periodic reviews and the analysis of the sufficiency of 
the supervisory program's risk-based approach, internal controls 
testing, and design to detect material weaknesses in internal controls 
during both the initial assessment of the SRO's or JAC's supervisory 
program and during subsequent periodic evaluations. Therefore, the 
Proposal limits the scope of the examinations expert's evaluation 
during both initial and subsequent periodic evaluations to an 
assessment of whether the SRO's and JAC's FCM examination standards are 
consistent with PCAOB audit standards as such standards would be 
applicable to a non-financial statement audit.
    The CME, NFA and JAC each expressed strong support to revise the 
scope of the examinations expert's evaluation and written report during 
both the initial review and subsequent periodic reviews, to encompass 
only whether the FCM examination standards are consistent with 
applicable PCAOB auditing standards as such standards would be applied 
in a non-financial statement audit.\40\ The CME and JAC each stated 
that with respect to the periodic evaluations, requiring the 
examinations expert to focus on any new or amended PCAOB auditing 
standards issued since the examinations expert's prior evaluation may 
enhance an SRO's or JAC's supervisory program.\41\ NFA also stated that 
an examinations expert has expertise with respect to reviewing PCAOB 
auditing standards and can provide meaningful input to an SRO or JAC 
supervisory program regarding the consistency of the FCM examination 
standards with the PCAOB audit standards.\42\
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    \40\ CME Comment Letter, p. 1; NFA Comment Letter, p. 2; JAC 
Comment Letter, p. 1.
    \41\ CME Comment Letter, p. 1; JAC Comment Letter, p. 1.
    \42\ NFA Comment Letter, p. 2.
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    Each of the commenters also stated, however, that an evaluation of 
the application of an SRO's or JAC's supervisory program was best 
performed by Commission staff. The JAC stated its belief that 
Commission staff has subject matter expertise and is best suited to 
evaluate, comment upon, and make recommendations regarding enhancements 
to the JAC's supervisory program and to assess its application against 
the Commission's own regulatory requirements.\43\ NFA also stated that 
it agreed with the Commission's statement in the Proposal that 
Commission staff has the expertise in the application of CFTC 
regulations to operations of FCMs, and that Commission staff is 
appropriately situated to assess whether an SRO or

[[Page 12886]]

JAC is accurately and properly applying Commission requirements to FCMs 
in the execution of the examination programs.\44\ NFA further stated 
that it believes that the rule enforcement reviews currently performed 
by Commission staff of the NFA's financial surveillance program are 
similar in nature to the examinations expert's review required by 
Regulation 1.52 and provide effective and meaningful oversight of the 
NFA's application of its FCM supervisory program.\45\ The CME stated 
that it agreed with the reasoning set forth in the Proposal revising 
the scope of the examinations expert's evaluation, and noted that the 
proposed amendment strikes the proper balance between reliance on the 
Commission's expertise in its oversight of an SRO's examination program 
and the expertise of an examinations expert in evaluating the 
consistency of the FCM examination standards with PCAOB audit 
standards.\46\
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    \43\ JAC Comment Letter, p. 1.
    \44\ NFA Comment Letter, p. 2.
    \45\ Id.
    \46\ CME Comment Letter, p. 1.
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2. Frequency of the Examinations Expert's Evaluation of an SRO's or 
JAC's Supervisory Program
    Regulation 1.52 currently requires an SRO or JAC to engage an 
examinations expert to evaluate its respective supervisory program 
prior to the initial implementation of the program, and at least once 
every three years thereafter.\47\ The Commission proposed to amend the 
timeframes for an SRO or JAC to engage an examinations expert to 
conduct periodic evaluations subsequent to the initial 
implementation.\48\ Specifically, the Commission proposed to amend 
Regulation 1.52 to require an SRO or JAC to review any new or amended 
auditing standards as such standards are issued by the PCAOB, and to 
revise its FCM examination standards promptly to reflect any changes 
that are applicable in the context of the SRO's or JAC's examination of 
FCMs.\49\ The Proposal also requires the SRO or JAC to engage an 
examinations expert to evaluate any material revisions that the SRO or 
JAC makes to the examination standards to conform such standards with 
the new or amended PCAOB auditing standards. In addition, the Proposal 
requires the SRO or JAC to engage an examinations expert to evaluate 
the FCM examination standards in light of new or amended PCAOB auditing 
standards if such engagement is directed by the CFTC Director of the 
Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight (``DSIO'').\50\ The 
Commission further proposed to limit the maximum amount of time between 
an examinations expert's evaluation of an SRO's or JAC's FCM 
examination standards to no more than five years.\51\
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    \47\ Regulations 1.52(c)(2)(iv) and (d)(2)(ii)(I) for an SRO and 
JAC, respectively.
    \48\ The Commission did not propose to amend the requirement 
that an SRO or JAC engage an examinations expert to evaluate its FCM 
examination standards at the initial implementation of its 
supervisory program.
    \49\ Proposed Regulation 1.52(c)(2)(iii)(B) for SROs and 
Regulation 1.52(d)(2)(ii)(G)(2) for JACs.
    \50\ Proposed Regulation 1.52(c)(2)(iii)(B) for SROs and 
Regulation 1.52(d)(2)(ii)(G)(2) for JACs.
    \51\ Proposed Regulation 1.52(c)(2)(iii)(A) for SROs and 
Proposed Regulation 1.52(d)(2)(ii)(G)(1) for JACs.
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    At the conclusion of each review, the Proposal requires an SRO or 
JAC to obtain from the examinations expert a written report on findings 
and recommendations issued under the AICPA consulting services 
standards.\52\ The SRO or JAC must provide a copy of the report to the 
DSIO Director, along with any written responses to any of the findings 
and recommendations in the report, within 30 days of the SRO's or JAC's 
receipt of the report. The SRO or JAC must commence applying the 
revised FCM examination standards upon receipt of a written notice from 
DSIO staff that it has no questions or comments on the revised FCM 
examination standards or the written report.
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    \52\ Proposed Regulation 1.52(c)(2)(iii)(C) for SROs and 
Proposed Regulation 1.52(d)(2)(ii)(G)(3) for JACs.
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    The CME, NFA, and JAC supported the proposed amendments to extend 
the maximum timeframe for an SRO or JAC to engage an examinations 
expert from three to five years.\53\ The JAC and CME, however, 
requested that the Commission consider a maximum ten-year timeframe 
between examinations expert's reviews given the infrequency with which 
the PCAOB issues new or revised auditing standards, particularly 
auditing standards that apply in the context of a non-financial 
statement audit.\54\ In support of their respective requests, the JAC 
and CME represented that the SEC has only approved two amendments to 
PCAOB auditing standards since the Commission adopted the FCM 
examination standards requirement in 2015, and neither of the two 
amendments have an impact on FCM examination standards for non-
financial statement audits.\55\
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    \53\ CME Comment Letter, pp. 1-2; NFA Comment Letter, p. 3; JAC 
Comment Letter, p. 1.
    \54\ JAC Comment Letter, p. 1; CME Comment Letter, p. 2.
    \55\ JAC Comment Letter, p. 1; CME Comment Letter, p. 2. NFA 
also stated that the SEC has approved only two amendments to PCAOB 
audit standards since 2015 and both of the amendments do not apply 
to FCM examination standards. NFA Comment Letter, p. 3. Section 
107(b) of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 generally requires the SEC 
to approve PCAOB rules prior to their implementation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The JAC, CME and NFA further expressed views that a longer maximum 
timeframe between required evaluations by an examinations expert was 
warranted given that the Proposal requires an SRO or JAC to review any 
new or amended audit standards issued by the PCAOB, to promptly make 
any necessary revisions to the FCM examinations standards resulting 
from such new or amended auditing standards, and to engage an 
examinations expert to evaluate material revisions made to the FCM 
examination standards.\56\ The JAC, CME and NFA further stated that a 
regulatory provision providing for a maximum five-year timeframe 
between reviews by an examinations expert is not necessary as the 
Proposal authorizes the DSIO Director to require an SRO or JAC to 
engage an examinations expert at any time.\57\ The JAC, CME and NFA 
also requested that if the Commission were to adopt a final rule that 
includes a requirement for an SRO or JAC to engage an examinations 
expert no less frequently than once every five years that the 
Commission also consider amending the Regulation to authorize the 
Director of DSIO to grant a waiver or otherwise provide relief from the 
requirement under appropriate circumstances, including situations where 
there are no new or revised auditing standards issued by the PCAOB 
during the five-year period since the prior examinations expert's 
review.\58\
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    \56\ JAC Comment Letter, p. 2; CME Comment Letter, p. 2.; NFA 
Comment Letter, p. 3. NFA further stated that it envisions that the 
only situation in which it would have to engage an examinations 
expert once every five years is if there are no changes to the PCAOB 
standards during the previous five years that impact the FCM 
examination standards. The NFA believes that such a requirement is 
unduly burdensome and costly. NFA Comment Letter, pp. 3-4.
    \57\ JAC Comment Letter, p. 2; CME Comment Letter, p. 2; NFA 
Comment Letter, pp. 3-4.
    \58\ JAC Comment Letter, p. 2; CME Comment Letter, p. 2; NFA 
Comment Letter, pp. 3-4. The JAC and CME also requested that the 
Commission continue to monitor the adoption of auditing standards by 
the PCAOB and consider eliminating the requirement for an 
examinations expert to perform evaluations in a future rulemaking.
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    Commenters also requested that the Commission confirm or clarify 
several aspects of the Proposal or existing Regulation 1.52. The JAC 
and CME requested that the Commission confirm that the proposed maximum 
five-year timeframe between an examinations expert's evaluation of the 
FCM examination standards is reset whenever an SRO or JAC engages an

[[Page 12887]]

examinations expert.\59\ The JAC and CME also noted that the regulation 
requires that all aspects of the supervisory program must conform to 
auditing standards issued by the PCAOB as such standards would be 
applicable to a non-financial audit. The JAC and CME requested 
confirmation that when auditing standards of the PCAOB are referenced 
in Regulation 1.52, it is the standards that would be applicable to a 
non-financial statement audit.\60\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \59\ JAC Comment Letter, p. 2; CME Comment Letter, p. 3.
    \60\ JAC Comment Letter, p. 2; CME Comment Letter, p. 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Technical Amendments to Regulation 1.52
    The Proposal includes several technical amendments to Regulation 
1.52 to eliminate redundancies and to simplify the intent of the 
Regulation. Specifically, the Commission proposed to consolidate the 
examination standards required to be included in an SRO supervisory 
program that are currently listed in paragraphs (c)(2)(ii) and (iii) 
into a single revised paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of Regulation 1.52. The 
Commission further proposed to amend paragraphs (d)(2)(ii)(F) and 
(d)(2)(ii)(G) of Regulation 1.52, which sets forth the examination 
standards required of a JAC supervisory program, to be consistent with, 
and to incorporate by cross-reference, the SRO examination standards 
contained in revised paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of Regulation 1.52. The 
Commission did not receive any comments on the proposed amendments to 
paragraphs (c)(2)(ii), (d)(2)(ii)(F)-(G) of Regulation 1.52.

III. Final Rules

    The Commission has considered the comments received and is adopting 
the amendments to Regulation 1.52 as proposed, with minor changes 
discussed below.

A. Scope of the Examinations Expert's Evaluation of a Supervisory 
Program

    Amended Regulation 1.52 revises the scope of the examinations 
expert's initial and ongoing evaluations of an SRO's or JAC's 
supervisory program to encompass only an evaluation of whether the 
supervisory program's FCM examination standards are consistent with 
auditing standards issued by the PCAOB as such auditing standards would 
be applied to a non-financial statement audit. Accordingly, amended 
Regulation 1.52 will not require an SRO or JAC to engage an 
examinations expert to evaluate the sufficiency of the supervisory 
program's risk-based approach or internal controls testing, including 
the program's design to detect material weaknesses in an FCM's internal 
control environment. Amended Regulation 1.52 also will not require an 
SRO or JAC to engage an examinations expert to evaluate the SRO's or 
JAC's application of the supervisory program.
    Amended Regulation 1.52 continues to require an SRO or JAC to 
obtain from the examinations expert a written report on findings and 
recommendations issued under AICPA consulting services standards as 
part of both the initial and periodic, ongoing evaluations of the SRO's 
or JAC's supervisory program. Consistent with the amendments to the 
scope of the examinations expert's evaluation, the written report is 
required to address the consistency of the supervisory program's FCM 
examination standards with auditing standards issued by the PCAOB, as 
such standards would be applied in a non-financial statement audit. The 
written report is no longer required to include statements regarding 
the examinations expert's evaluation of the sufficiency of the 
supervisory program's risk-based approach and internal control testing. 
The written report also is no longer required to include an analysis of 
the supervisory program's design to detect material weaknesses in an 
FCM's internal control environment. The written report also is required 
to be provided to the Director of DSIO.\61\
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    \61\ As stated in the Proposal, DSIO will provide the written 
report to the Commission on an informational basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As noted in the Proposal, the Commission initially adopted the 
requirement for an examinations expert to evaluate an SRO's or JAC's 
application of its supervisory program, including ongoing assessments 
of the sufficiency of the SRO's or JAC's internal controls testing, to 
address concerns that a third-party assessment was necessary due to 
limited Commission resources and expertise to perform a comparable 
periodic evaluation. Commission staff subsequently worked closely with 
both the CME and NFA in the development of their initial supervisory 
programs and has determined that it has sufficient resources and 
expertise to effectively oversee the application of SRO and JAC 
supervisory programs. In this regard, Commission staff ultimately 
approved the JAC's initial supervisory program in 2015, including the 
supervisory program's FCM examination standards and detailed 
examination programs. Commission staff also has performed routine 
scheduled oversight reviews of both the CME's and NFA's application of 
their respective supervisory programs since their initial approvals in 
2015, including their internal controls testing at member FCMs. 
Commission staff also routinely reviews the JAC examination programs to 
assess their sufficiency in examining FCMs' compliance with Commission 
and SRO financial, reporting, and general operational requirements, as 
well as their sufficiency in assessing the effectiveness of the 
internal controls at an FCM. Therefore, although the size of the 
relevant staff has remained relatively constant since 2015, the 
Commission believes that it has the appropriate expertise to provide 
the level of supervision necessary to assess an SRO's or JAC's 
application of its respective supervisory program.

B. Frequency of the Examinations Expert's Evaluation of an SRO's or 
JAC's Supervisory Program

    The Commission is amending Regulation 1.52 to adopt a risk-based 
approach to determine the required frequency of an examinations 
expert's evaluation of an SRO's or JAC's supervisory program. Amended 
Regulation 1.52 requires an SRO or JAC to review new or amended 
auditing standards as such standards are issued by the PCAOB, and to 
revise its FCM examination standards promptly to reflect any changes 
that are applicable in the context of the SRO's or JAC's examination of 
FCMs. The final amendments also require the SRO or JAC to engage an 
examinations expert to evaluate any material revisions that the SRO or 
JAC makes to the examination standards to conform such standards with 
the new or amended PCAOB auditing standards. In addition, the final 
amendments require the SRO or JAC to engage an examinations expert to 
evaluate the FCM examination standards in light of new or amended PCAOB 
auditing standards whenever such engagement is directed by the Director 
of DSIO. The Commission also is amending Regulation 1.52 to revise from 
three to five years the maximum period of time that an SRO or JAC may 
operate its supervisory program without engaging an examinations expert 
to evaluate its FCM examination standards for consistency with PCAOB 
auditing standards as such standards would apply to a non-financial 
statement audit.
    As noted in the Proposal, the Commission believes that the 
examinations expert's evaluation provides an important oversight 
mechanism whereby an independent third-party that has expertise in the 
application of PCAOB auditing standards can assess an SRO's or JAC's 
FCM examination standards for

[[Page 12888]]

consistency with such PCAOB auditing standards. The Commission further 
believes that the FCM examination standards should be reviewed and 
revised promptly whenever the PCAOB issues new or amended auditing 
standards, and an SRO or JAC should engage an examinations expert to 
review any material revisions made to the FCM examination standards 
instead of waiting for the next scheduled review under a three-year 
cycle. The provision providing the Director of DSIO with the authority 
to direct an SRO or JAC to engage an examinations expert to evaluate 
its FCM examination standards for consistency with PCAOB audit 
standards is intended to ensure that an independent third-party 
assessment is performed whenever material revisions are made to the FCM 
examination standards. Accordingly, the third-party assessment may be 
initiated either by the SRO/JAC or by the DSIO Director, if necessary. 
Lastly, the amended regulation provides that an SRO or JAC must engage 
an examinations expert to evaluate its FCM examination standards if it 
has not engaged an examinations expert to perform such an evaluation 
within the last five years.
    The Commission considered the comments received in adopting the 
final amendments. The Commission does not believe that it is 
appropriate at this time to extend the maximum timeframe between 
examinations expert's evaluations to once every 10 years as suggested 
by the JAC and CME. Nor does the Commission believe that the provision 
granting the Director of DSIO the authority to direct an SRO or JAC to 
engage an examinations expert supports the elimination of a maximum 
five-year timeframe from the regulation as suggested by the JAC, CME 
and NFA.
    The requirement that an SRO or JAC engage an examinations expert is 
a new requirement that was adopted in 2013. While the NFA and CME have 
engaged an examinations expert to assist them with the development of 
their initial supervisory programs, including assisting them with 
developing FCM examinations standards that are consistent with 
applicable PCAOB auditing standards, neither the NFA nor CME has gone 
through the process of engaging an examinations expert to perform an 
evaluation subsequent to the initial approval. As noted above, both the 
Commission and commenters recognize the benefits that an examinations 
expert may provide by evaluating the FCM examination standards. The 
Commission believes that a maximum five-year period of time between 
evaluations provides a more appropriate balance between the costs of 
engaging the examinations expert and the benefit provided by the 
independent evaluation of the FCM examination standards than a 10-year 
timeframe.
    The Commission also acknowledges the infrequent nature by which the 
PCAOB issues new or amended auditing standards, and the Commission 
recognizes that the PCAOB has not issued new or amended auditing 
standards that are applicable to an SRO or JAC examination of an FCM 
since the NFA and CME supervisory programs were initially adopted. The 
Commission believes, however, that existing regulations provide an 
appropriate mechanism for an SRO or JAC to seek regulatory relief from 
the requirement to engage an examinations expert in situations where 
the PCAOB has been relatively inactive in issuing new or amended 
auditing standards during the previous five-year period. In such 
situations, an SRO or JAC may seek regulatory relief, including 
requesting a no-action position from Commission staff pursuant to 
Regulation 140.99.\62\
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    \62\ The availability of regulatory relief under Regulation 
140.99 also negates the need for Regulation 1.52 to include a 
provision providing the Director of DSIO the authority to issue 
waivers from requirement for an SRO or JAC to engage an examinations 
expert.
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    As noted above, the Commission is adopting the amendments to 
Regulations 1.52(c)(2)(iii) and 1.52(d)(2)(G) setting forth a 
requirement that an SRO and JAC, respectively, engage an examinations 
expert at least once every five years as proposed. The Commission also 
is setting the starting date of the five-year period to coincide with 
the effective date of the final amendments to Regulation 1.52. In 
addition, the Commission confirms that the five-year timeframe is 
restarted whenever an SRO or JAC engages an examinations expert to 
evaluate its FCM examination standards.\63\ The restart date for the 
running of the five-year period shall be the date on which DSIO staff 
provides written notice to an SRO pursuant to Regulation 
1.52(c)(2)(iii)(C) or a JAC pursuant to Regulation 1.52(d)(2)(ii)(G)(3) 
that DSIO staff has no further comments or questions on the revised 
examination standards.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \63\ The scope of the examinations expert's review shall ensure 
that each FCM examination standards is assessed for consistency with 
new or revised PCAOB auditing standards issued since the most recent 
review.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

C. Technical Amendments to Regulation 1.52

    The proposed technical amendments consolidate in Regulation 
1.52(c)(2)(ii) the FCM examination standards required to be included in 
an SRO supervisory program that are currently listed in paragraphs 
(c)(2)(ii) and (iii) of Regulation 1.52. The technical amendments also 
revise paragraphs (d)(2)(ii)(F) and (d)(2)(ii)(G) of Regulation 1.52, 
which sets forth the FCM examination standards required of a JAC 
supervisory program, to be consistent with, and to incorporate by 
cross-reference, the SRO examination standards contained in amended 
paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of Regulation 1.52.
    The Commission did not receive any comments regarding the proposed 
technical amendments. The Commission is adopting the technical 
amendments as proposed.

D. Additional Comments

    The Commission also received several comments that addressed issues 
in addition to the scope and frequency of the examinations expert's 
evaluation of FCM examination standards. The CME and JAC noted in their 
respective comment letters that current Regulation 
1.52(d)(2)(iii)(B)(6) provides that JAC members must consider issuing 
``risk alerts'' to both FCMs and DSRO examiners on an as needed basis 
as issues arise.\64\ The CME and JAC stated that the requirement to 
consider issuing risk alerts to DSRO staff examiners is not necessary 
and requested that the requirement be eliminated.\65\
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    \64\ CME Comment Letter, p. 2; JAC Comment Letter, p. 3.
    \65\ CME Comment Letter, p. 3; JAC Comment Letter, p. 2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The CME and JAC also commented that Regulation 1.52(d)(2)(ii)(E) 
requires a JAC supervisory program to, among other requirements, 
``address all areas of risk to which an FCM can reasonably be foreseen 
to be subject to.'' \66\ The CME and JAC stated that this provision is 
vague and overly broad, and further noted that such requirements are 
addressed in Regulation 1.11, which imposes an enterprise risk 
management requirement on FCMs. The CME and JAC requested that 
Regulation 1.52 be amended to remove the requirement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \66\ CME Comment Letter, p. 3; JAC Comment Letter, pp. 2-3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, the CME noted that Regulation 1.52(k) requires an SRO 
to provide the Commission with notice when an FCM, a registered retail 
foreign exchange dealer, or a registered introducing broker ceases to 
be a member in good standing of the SRO.\67\ The CME stated that CME 
members include both clearing members, which are subject to the 
supervisory procedures specified in Regulation 1.52, and ``corporate 
members'', which may include FCMs, retail foreign exchange dealers, and 
introducing brokers that are

[[Page 12889]]

not clearing members and are subject to NFA as their DSRO. The CME 
requested that Regulation 1.52(k) be amended to clarify that NFA is 
responsible for providing the notice on the status of such corporate 
members not being in good standing of the SRO.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \67\ CME Comment Letter, p. 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Each of the comments above are beyond the scope of the Commission's 
Proposal and the Commission has determined not to amend Regulation 1.52 
to address these issues at this time. The Commission, however, 
understands that with respect to Regulation 1.52(k), that DSRO 
responsibilities are allocated amongst SROs pursuant to the Joint Audit 
Plan, and Regulation 1.52 does not prohibit NFA from being the DSRO of 
FCMs, retail foreign exchange dealers, or introducing brokers that are 
corporate members of an SRO that may be a designated contract market. 
Accordingly, the CME is not obligated to file a notice with the 
Commission under Regulation 1.52(k) if an FCM, retail foreign exchange 
dealer, or introducing broker solely terminated its corporate 
membership in the CME. The Commission would expect, however, that if an 
SRO is aware of a regulatory issue with a corporate member that may 
indicate that the corporate member is not complying with Commission or 
SRO regulations, that the SRO would communicate such concerns to the 
appropriate DSRO for further review consistent with the terms and 
intent of the Joint Audit Plan and Regulation 1.52.

IV. Related Matters

A. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (``RFA'') \68\ requires Federal 
agencies, in promulgating regulations, to consider the impact of those 
regulations on small entities. The Commission has previously 
established certain definitions of ``small entities'' to be used by the 
Commission in evaluating the impact of its rules on small entities in 
accordance with the RFA.\69\ The proposed regulations would affect 
designated contract markets.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \68\ 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.
    \69\ 47 FR 18618 (Apr. 30, 1982).
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    The Commission has previously determined that designated contract 
markets are not small entities for purposes of the RFA, and, thus, the 
requirements of the RFA do not apply to designated contract 
markets.\70\ Accordingly, the Chairman, on behalf of the Commission, 
certifies pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that the proposed regulations 
would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \70\ Id. at 18619.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Paperwork Reduction Act

    As the Commission stated in the Proposal, this rulemaking does not 
impose any new recordkeeping or information collection requirements, or 
other collections of information that require approval of the Office of 
Management and Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act (``PRA''). All 
recordkeeping or information collection requirements relevant to the 
subject of this rulemaking, or discussed herein, already exist under 
current law. The title for this collection of information is Core 
Principles & Other Requirements for DCMs, OMB control number 3038-0052. 
The Commission invited public comment on the accuracy of its estimate 
that no additional recordkeeping or information collection requirements 
or changes to existing collection requirements would result from the 
Proposed Amendment. The Commission did not receive any comments that 
addressed whether additional recordkeeping or information collection 
requirements or changes to existing collection requirements would 
result from the adoption of the Proposal. Nevertheless, the Commission 
notes that the final rule will reduce the current burden estimate of 
OMB control number 3038-0052. Accordingly, the Commission will, by 
separate action, publish in the Federal Register a notice and request 
for comment on the amended PRA burden associated with the final rule, 
and submit to OMB an information collection request to amend the 
information collection, in accordance with 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A) and 
5 CFR 1320.8(d).
    The collections contained in this rulemaking are mandatory 
collections. In formulating burden estimates for the collections in 
this rulemaking, to avoid double accounting of information collections 
that already have been assigned control numbers by OMB, or are covered 
as burden hours in collections of information pending before OMB, the 
PRA analysis provided in the rulemaking, along with the information 
collection request (``ICR'') with burden estimates that were 
incorporated into the rulemaking by reference and submitted to OMB, 
accounted only burden estimates for collections of information that 
have not previously been submitted to OMB. As such, the final rules do 
not impose any new burden or any new information collection 
requirements in addition to those that already exist.

C. Cost Benefit Considerations

1. Introduction
    Section 15(a) of the Act requires the CFTC to consider the costs 
and benefits of its actions before promulgating a regulation under the 
Act or issuing certain orders.\71\ Section 15(a) of the Act further 
specifies that the costs and benefits shall be evaluated in light of 
five broad areas of market and public concern: (1) Protection of market 
participants and the public; (2) efficiency, competitiveness, and 
financial integrity of futures markets; (3) price discovery; (4) sound 
risk management practices; and (5) other public interest 
considerations. The CFTC considers the costs and benefits resulting 
from its discretionary determinations with respect to the section 15(a) 
factors below.
    Where reasonably feasible, the CFTC endeavors to estimate 
quantifiable costs and benefits. Where quantification is not feasible, 
the CFTC identifies and describes costs and benefits qualitatively.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \71\ 7 U.S.C. 19(a).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The commentators to the CFTC's Proposal gave no negative comments 
on the costs and benefits associated with the rule amendments. Indeed, 
commentators were supportive of the CFTC's Proposal, in part due to 
reduced costs and reduced complexity that the rule changes would 
introduce.
2. Economic Baseline
    The CFTC's economic baseline for the rule amendment analysis is the 
requirements of Regulation 1.52 that currently exist prior to taking 
into account the final amendments. Specifically, current Regulation 
1.52 requires an SRO or a JAC to engage an examinations expert to 
evaluate its supervisory program prior to its initial use, and to 
evaluate the SRO's application of the supervisory program at least once 
every three years after its initial use.
    The Commission's rulemaking will not alter the requirement for an 
SRO or JAC to engage an examinations expert to evaluate its supervisory 
program prior to the initial use of the supervisory program. The 
Commission, however, is eliminating the requirement that the 
examinations expert must review the SRO's or JAC's ongoing application 
of its supervisory program during periodic reviews and the analysis of 
the supervisory program's design to detect material weaknesses in 
internal controls during both periodic reviews and the initial review 
prior to the program's initial use as such requirement is not

[[Page 12890]]

necessary due to Commission staff performing comparable reviews on a 
routine, periodic basis as discussed below. The Commission also is 
revising the frequency of when an SRO or a JAC must engage an 
examinations expert, as discussed below.
    The Commission's elimination of the requirement that an 
examinations expert evaluate an SRO's or a JAC's application of its 
supervisory program and the program's design to detect material 
weaknesses in internal controls will reduce costs related to conducting 
such review. However, the rulemaking will not substantially reduce the 
benefits obtained from an evaluation of the SRO's and JAC's supervisory 
program, including internal controls, as such reviews are performed by 
Commission staff on a routine basis. Commission staff evaluates the 
SRO's or JAC's execution of its supervisory program, including 
performing detailed reviews of SRO and JAC examination work papers, to 
assess the adequacy of the scope of the work performed by SRO and JAC 
staff members and to determine whether the conclusions reached by SRO 
and JAC staff members are supported by the work performed. Commission 
staff also reviews at least annually all SRO and JAC examination 
programs for conducting examinations of FCMs to assess the completeness 
of such programs and to determine that such programs properly reflect 
any regulatory updates, including rule amendments, adopted since the 
Commission staff's previous review of the examination programs. Reviews 
of execution and completeness of supervisory programs for FCMs occur no 
less frequently than annually. Furthermore, Commission staff has a 
particular expertise in assessing and reviewing whether registrants are 
in compliance with Commission regulatory requirements that makes a 
third-party review redundant.
    The final amendments will continue to require that an examinations 
expert review the FCM examination standards contained in the 
supervisory program for consistency with PCAOB auditing standards as 
such standards apply to a non-financial statement audit. The Commission 
recognizes that examinations experts have a particular expertise in the 
application of PCAOB auditing standards and can effectively evaluate 
whether SRO and JAC FCM examination standards are consistent with such 
auditing standards. The Commission, however, is revising the timeframe 
for such reviews. Currently, Regulation 1.52 requires an SRO or JAC to 
engage an examinations expert at least once every three years to 
perform such a review. The Commission is amending Regulation 1.52 to 
require an SRO or JAC to engage an examinations expert whenever the 
PCAOB issues new or revised auditing standards that are material to the 
SRO's or JAC's examination of member FCMs.
    The examinations expert's review, however, is limited to only the 
new or revised PCAOB auditing standards that have been issued since the 
most recent prior review that are applicable to the SRO's or JAC's 
examination of FCMs. Accordingly, the examinations expert will not have 
to review all of the SRO's or JAC's FCM examination standards for 
consistency with PCAOB audit standards. The amendments further require 
an SRO or JAC to engage an examinations expert at least once every five 
years even if the SRO or JAC determines that the PCAOB did not issue 
new or revised auditing standards during the previous five-year period 
that are material to its examinations of member FCMs. Based on past 
experience, the Commission anticipates that the adoption of new or 
revised auditing standards that are material to examination standards 
applicable to FCMs will be infrequent and, therefore, the triggering of 
an examinations expert review will also likely be an infrequent 
event.\72\ Finally, the amendments provide that an SRO or JAC must 
engage an examinations expert if directed to by the Director of the 
Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight.\73\
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    \72\ Since 2016 PCAOB has adopted and the SEC has approved 
approximately two new standards, neither of which had a significant 
impact on the examination standards applicable to FCMs. See PCAOB 
website available at: https://pcaobus.org/Standards/Pages/Current_Activities_Related_to_Standards.aspx.
    \73\ For example, in circumstances where an SRO or JAC has not 
engaged an examinations expert yet DSIO staff believes a material 
change to PCAOB auditing standards warrants such engagement.
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    The amendments to Regulation 1.52 are intended to streamline the 
process under which examinations experts conduct their reviews and the 
time period between those reviews. The Commission believes that these 
amendments will make conducting the reviews more efficient and less 
costly, while also continuing to provide the benefit the Commission and 
public obtain from an independent assessment that SROs and JACs use 
appropriate FCM examinations standard in the conduct of the oversight 
of their member FCMs, which perform critical functions in both the 
operation of the futures markets and in the protection of customer 
funds.
    The Commission does not anticipate that there will be any 
significant increase in costs associated with the amendments. By 
narrowing the intended scope of examination reviews from an evaluation 
of the supervisory program to an assessment of the examinations 
standards for conformity with auditing standards established by the 
PCAOB as they apply to FCM examinations, the Commission is purposely 
limiting the scope of the examinations expert's review. The Commission 
anticipates that this limitation, coupled with extending the time 
period between examinations experts' reviews, will reduce costs 
associated with engaging and hiring an examinations expert.\74\ 
Nonetheless, the Commission believes that these amendments are 
appropriately calibrated to ensure the integrity of the SRO and JAC 
supervisory programs and continued oversight over the minimum financial 
requirements at FCMs. As noted, Commission staff reviews no less 
frequently than annually all SRO and JAC examination programs and 
reviews on a routine and periodic basis the SRO' and JAC's application 
of their supervisory programs. The Commission anticipates that its 
staff will continue to perform such reviews as part of its routine 
oversight of SROs and JACs. These Commission staff reviews will 
continue to provide the benefits that have been associated with the 
examinations experts' reviews.
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    \74\ In 2013, the Commission found that it was not feasible to 
quantify any costs associated with utilizing an examinations expert, 
largely because several nationally recognized accounting firms 
expressed their reluctance to provide such information. See, 
Enhancing Protections Afforded Customers and Customer Funds Held by 
Futures Commission Merchants and Derivatives Clearing Organizations, 
78 FR, 68506, 68605 (Nov. 14, 2013). While it is also not feasible 
to quantify such costs for the use of an examinations expert under 
the final amendments, such costs are likely much less than the costs 
under the existing rule.
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3. CEA Section 15(a) Factors
a. Protection of Market Participants and the Public
    The Commission believes that these amendments maintain the current 
level of protections of market participants and the public provided by 
the current regulation. The amendments continue to protect market 
participants and the public by ensuring that there is sufficient 
oversight over the minimum financial requirements at FCMs. As noted, 
the Commission believes that Commission staff is well-equipped to 
provide reviews that will no longer be provided by outside examinations 
experts and Commission staff intends to continue to conduct such 
reviews.

[[Page 12891]]

b. Efficiency, Competitiveness, and Financial Integrity of Markets
    The Commission believes that Regulation 1.52 as amended will 
continue to help ensure that FCMs can meet their financial and 
operational obligations to both customers and DCOs, which, along with 
the Commission's ongoing reviews, will continue to foster the 
efficiency and financial integrity of markets. The Commission has not 
identified any effect of Regulation 1.52 on the competitiveness of 
derivatives markets.
c. Price Discovery
    The Commission has not identified any material effect of the 
amendments on the price discovery process in futures and swap markets.
d. Sound Risk Management Practices
    The Commission believes that Regulation 1.52 as amended, along with 
the Commission's ongoing reviews, will continue to help ensure that 
FCMs can meet their financial and operational obligations to both 
customers and DCOs, which should continue to foster sound risk 
management practices.
e. Other Public Interest Considerations
    The Commission has not identified any additional public interest 
considerations associated with the amendments.
f. Consideration of Alternatives
    The Commission considered several alternative approaches that were 
specified in the comments. In this regard, the Commission considered 
the CME's suggestion to fully eliminate the requirement that a third-
party examinations expert perform periodic evaluations and assessments 
of an SRO's program to oversee its member FCMs' compliance with 
financial and related reporting requirements.\75\ The Commission has 
elected to maintain the requirement for a third-party examinations 
expert. The Commission, however, has further decided to eliminate the 
requirement that the examinations expert periodically review the SRO's 
or JAC's ongoing application of its supervisory program as Commission 
staff routinely perform such reviews. The Commission further elected to 
maintain the examinations expert's required reviews of an FCM's 
examinations standards at a modified interval. As noted previously, 
FCMs perform significant market functions, including holding customer 
funds and guaranteeing customers' financial performance to DCOs. The 
effective operation of these functions is necessary for the efficient 
operation of the futures markets. The Commission believes that the SRO 
or JAC examination program is a critical component of the overall 
process for determining an FCM's compliance with regulatory 
requirements and the FCM's ability to fulfill its financial 
obligations. The Commission further believes that examinations experts 
have a particular expertise in PCAOB auditing standards and can 
effectively and efficiently evaluate whether SRO or JAC FCM examination 
standards are consistent with such PCAOB auditing standards, which will 
help ensure that the SRO and JAC examinations satisfy industry 
standards for effective FCM audits.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \75\ CME Comment Letter, p. 2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission also considered the CME's and JAC's suggestion that 
an SRO or JAC should be required to engage an examinations expert at 
least once every ten years as opposed to the Commission's proposal of 
once every five years.\76\ The Commission further considered the NFA's 
request that the Commission consider whether a set time period between 
reviews is even necessary given that the Director of DSIO is authorized 
to direct an SRO or JAC to engage an examinations expert at any 
time.\77\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \76\ CME Comment Letter, p. 2; JAC Comment Letter, p. 1.
    \77\ NFA Comment Letter, p. 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As noted immediately above, the Commission believes that there are 
significant benefits to customers, market participants, clearing 
organizations, and the futures industry in general from SRO or JAC 
supervisory programs that assess FCMs' compliance with SRO and CFTC 
regulatory requirements. Such SRO and JAC reviews help ensure that FCMs 
have the operational and financial capacity to meet their obligations 
as market intermediaries, which is necessary for efficient markets. The 
Commission further believes that such reviews should be performed at 
least once every five years (and also when there are material and 
relevant changes in PCAOB auditing standards) as required by the 
amendments. While, as noted, Commission staff is well-equipped to 
review the ongoing application of SRO and JAC supervisory programs and 
intends to continue to do so at least annually, the Commission believes 
that examinations experts are best equipped to perform evaluations of 
examination standards for conformity with auditing standards 
established by the PCAOB as they apply to non-financial statement 
audits.
    The Commission believes that a ten-year time period between 
examinations experts' reviews is not appropriate at the current time 
given that an SRO or JAC has not gone through an examinations expert's 
review since the adoption of the initial requirements in 2013. While 
the Commission recognizes that the final rule authorizes the director 
of DSIO to instruct an SRO or JAC to engage an examinations expert any 
time the PCAOB issues new or amended auditing standards, the Commission 
believes that it should gain further experience with the operation of 
the rule and develop a more thorough understanding of both the costs 
and benefits associated with the examinations experts review before 
considering amending the rule to expand the maximum period of time 
between such reviews from five to ten years. The Commission further 
notes that in the event that there are no changes in PCAOB auditing 
standards that would materially impact FCM examination standards, SROs 
and JACs may use existing processes for seeking regulatory relief under 
Regulation 140.99 if they believe such relief is warranted based upon 
the facts and circumstances.
    The Commission also considered maintaining the current rule, but 
the Commission anticipates that the amendments will significantly 
reduce costs to SROs and JACs without materially impacting benefits.

D. Anti-Trust Considerations

    Section 15(b) of the CEA requires the Commission to take into 
consideration the public interest to be protected by the antitrust laws 
and endeavor to take the least anticompetitive means of achieving the 
purposes of the CEA, in issuing any order or adopting any Commission 
rule or regulation.\78\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \78\ 7 U.S.C. 19(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission believes that the public interest to be protected by 
the antitrust laws is generally to protect competition. The Commission 
has considered the amendments to Regulation 1.52 and comments received 
to determine whether it is anticompetitive and has identified no 
anticompetitive effects.
    Because the Commission has determined that the amendments to 
Regulation 1.52 are not anticompetitive and have no anticompetitive 
effects, the Commission has not identified any less anticompetitive 
means of achieving the purposes of the CEA.

List of Subjects in 17 CFR Part 1

    Brokers, Commodity futures, Consumer protection, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.


[[Page 12892]]


    For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Commodity Futures 
Trading Commission amends 17 CFR part 1 as follows:

PART 1--GENERAL REGULATIONS UNDER THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT

0
1. The authority citation for part 1 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1a, 2, 5, 6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f, 6g, 6h, 
6i, 6k, 6l, 6m, 6n, 6o, 6p, 6r, 6s, 7, 7a-1, 7a-2, 7b, 7b-3, 8, 9, 
10a, 12, 12a, 12c, 13a, 13a-1, 16, 16a, 19, 21, 23, and 24 (2012).

0
2. Amend Sec.  1.52 as follows:
0
a. Revise paragraphs (c)(2)(ii) through (v);
0
b. Remove paragraphs (c)(2)(vi) and (vii);
0
c. Revise paragraphs (d)(2)(ii)(F) through (I);
0
d. Remove paragraphs (d)(2)(ii)(J) and (K); and
0
e. Revise paragraph (d)(2)(iii).
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  1.52   Self-regulatory organization adoption and surveillance of 
minimum financial requirements.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (ii) The supervisory program must, at a minimum, have examination 
standards addressing the following:
    (A) The ethics of an examiner;
    (B) The independence of an examiner;
    (C) The supervision, review, and quality control of an examiner's 
work product;
    (D) The evidence and documentation to be reviewed and retained in 
connection with an examination;
    (E) The sampling size and techniques used in an examination;
    (F) The examination risk assessment process;
    (G) The examination planning process;
    (H) Materiality assessment;
    (I) Quality control procedures to ensure that the examinations 
maintain the level of quality expected;
    (J) Communications between an examiner and the regulatory oversight 
committee, or the functional equivalent of the regulatory oversight 
committee, of the self-regulatory organization of which the futures 
commission merchant is a member;
    (K) Communications between an examiner and a futures commission 
merchant's audit committee of the board of directors or other similar 
governing body;
    (L) Analytical review procedures;
    (M) Record retention; and
    (N) Required items for inclusion in the examination report, such as 
repeat violations, material items, and high risk issues. The 
examination report is intended solely for the information and use of 
the self-regulatory organizations and the Commission, and is not 
intended to be and should not be used by any other person or entity.
    (iii)(A) Prior to the initial implementation of the supervisory 
program, a self-regulatory organization must engage an examinations 
expert to evaluate the examination standards for consistency with 
auditing standards issued by the Public Company Accounting Oversight 
Board as such auditing standards are applicable in the context of the 
self-regulatory organization's examination of its futures commission 
merchant members. At least once every five years after the initial 
implementation of the supervisory program, a self-regulatory 
organization must engage an examinations expert to evaluate the 
examination standards for consistency with any new or amended auditing 
standards issued by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board since 
the previous review performed by the examinations expert. At the 
conclusion of each evaluation, a self-regulatory organization must 
obtain a written report from the examinations expert in accordance with 
paragraph (c)(2)(iii)(C) of this section.
    (B) Notwithstanding paragraph (c)(2)(iii)(A) of this section, a 
self-regulatory organization must review any new or amended auditing 
standards issued by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, and 
must revise its examination standards promptly to reflect any changes 
in such auditing standards that are applicable in the context of the 
self-regulatory organization's examination of its futures commission 
merchant members. A self-regulatory organization must engage an 
examinations expert to evaluate any material revisions that the self-
regulatory organization makes to the examination standards to conform 
such standards with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board's 
auditing standards, or if directed to engage an examinations expert by 
the Director of the Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight. 
At the conclusion of each review, a self-regulatory organization must 
obtain a written report from the examinations expert in accordance with 
paragraph (c)(2)(iii)(C) of this section.
    (C) At the conclusion of the examinations expert's engagement 
pursuant to paragraph (c)(2)(iii)(A) or (B) of this section, the self-
regulatory organization must obtain from the examinations expert a 
written report on findings and recommendations issued under the 
consulting services standards of the American Institute of Certified 
Public Accountants. The self-regulatory organization must provide the 
Director of the Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight with 
a copy of the examinations expert's written report, and the self-
regulatory organization's written responses to any of the examinations 
expert's findings and recommendations, within thirty days of the 
receipt thereof. Upon resolution of any questions or comments raised by 
the Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight, and upon 
written notice from the Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary 
Oversight that it has no further comments or questions on the 
examinations standards as amended (by reason of the examinations 
expert's proposals, consideration of the Division of Swap Dealer and 
Intermediary Oversight's questions or comments, or otherwise), the 
self-regulatory organization shall commence applying such examinations 
standards for examining its registered futures commission merchant 
members for all examinations conducted with an ``as of'' date later 
than the date of the Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary's written 
notification.
    (iv) The supervisory program must require the self-regulatory 
organization to report to its risk and/or audit committee of the board 
of directors, or a functional equivalent committee, with timely reports 
of the activities and findings of the supervisory program to assist the 
risk and/or audit committee of the board of directors, or a functional 
equivalent committee, to fulfill its responsibility of overseeing the 
examination function.
    (v) The examinations expert's written report, the self-regulatory 
organization's response, if any, as well as any information concerning 
the supervisory program is confidential.
    (d) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (F) The Joint Audit Program must include examination standards 
addressing the items listed in paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this section.
    (G)(1) Prior to the initial implementation of the Joint Audit 
Program, the Joint Audit Committee must engage an examinations expert 
to evaluate the examination standards for consistency with auditing 
standards issued by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board as 
such auditing standards are applicable in the context of the Joint 
Audit Committee's

[[Page 12893]]

examination of its futures commission merchant members. At least once 
every five years after the initial implementation of the Joint Audit 
Program, the Joint Audit Committee must engage an examinations expert 
to evaluate the examination standards for consistency with any new or 
amended auditing standards issued by the Public Company Accounting 
Oversight Board since the previous review performed by the examinations 
expert. At the conclusion of each review, the Joint Audit Committee 
must obtain a written report from the examinations expert in accordance 
with paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(G)(3) of this section.
    (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(G)(1) of this section, the 
Joint Audit Committee must review any new or amended auditing standards 
issued by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, and must 
revise its examination standards promptly to reflect any changes in 
such auditing standards that are applicable in the context of the Joint 
Audit Committee's examination of its futures commission merchant 
members. The Joint Audit Committee must engage an examinations expert 
to evaluate any material revisions that the Joint Audit Committee makes 
to the examination standards to conform such standards with the Public 
Company Accounting Oversight Board's auditing standards, or if directed 
to engage an examinations expert by the Director of the Division of 
Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight. The Joint Audit Committee must 
obtain a written report from the examinations expert in accordance with 
paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(G)(3) of this section.
    (3) At the conclusion of the examinations expert's engagement 
pursuant to paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(G)(1) or (2) of this section, the 
Joint Audit Committee must obtain from the examinations expert a 
written report on findings and recommendations issued under the 
consulting services standards of the American Institute of Certified 
Public Accountants. The Joint Audit Committee must provide the Director 
of the Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight with a copy 
of the examinations expert's written report, and the Joint Audit 
Committee's written responses to any of the examinations expert's 
findings and recommendations, within thirty days of the receipt 
thereof. Upon resolution of any questions or comments raised by the 
Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight, and upon written 
notice from the Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight that 
it has no further comments or questions on the examinations standards 
as amended (by reason of the examinations expert's proposals, 
consideration of the Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary 
Oversight's questions or comments, or otherwise), the Joint Audit 
Committee shall commence applying such examinations standards for 
examining its registered futures commission merchant members for all 
examinations conducted with an ``as of'' date later than the date of 
the Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary's written notification.
    (H) The Joint Audit Program must require the Joint Audit Committee 
members to report to their respective risk and/or audit committee of 
their respective board of directors, or a functional equivalent 
committee, with timely reports of the activities and findings of the 
Joint Audit Program to assist the risk and/or audit committee of the 
board of directors, or a functional equivalent committee, to fulfill 
its responsibility of overseeing the examination function.
    (I) The examinations expert's written report, the Joint Audit 
Committee's response, if any, as well as any information concerning the 
supervisory program is confidential.
    (iii) Meetings of the Joint Audit Committee. (A) The Joint Audit 
Committee members must meet at least once each year. During such 
meetings, the Joint Audit Committee members shall consider revisions to 
the Joint Audit Program as a result of regulatory changes, revisions to 
the examination standards resulting from new or amended auditing 
standards issued by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or 
the results of an examinations expert's review.
    (B) In addition to the items considered in paragraph (d)(2)(iii)(A) 
of this section, the Joint Audit Committee members must consider the 
following items during the meetings:
    (1) Coordinating and sharing information between the Joint Audit 
Committee members, including issues and industry concerns in connection 
with examinations of futures commission merchants;
    (2) Identifying industry regulatory reporting issues and financial 
and operational internal control issues and modifying the Joint Audit 
Program accordingly;
    (3) Issuing risk alerts for futures commission merchants and/or 
designated self-regulatory organization examiners on an as-needed 
basis;
    (4) Responding to industry issues; and
    (5) Providing industry feedback to Commission proposals.
    (C) Minutes must be taken of all meetings and distributed to all 
members on a timely basis.
    (D) The Director of the Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary 
Oversight must receive timely prior notice of each meeting, have the 
right to attend and participate in each meeting and receive written 
copies of the minutes required pursuant to paragraph (d)(2)(iii)(C) of 
this section, respectively.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 29, 2019, by the Commission.
Robert Sidman,
Deputy Secretary of the Commission.

    Note: The following appendices will not appear in the Code of 
Federal Regulations.

Appendices to Financial Surveillance Examination Program Requirements 
for Self-Regulatory Organizations

Appendix 1--Commission Voting Summary

    On this matter, Chairman Giancarlo and Commissioners Quintenz, 
Behnam, Stump, and Berkovitz voted in the affirmative. No 
Commissioner voted in the negative.

Appendix 2--Statement of Chairman J. Christopher Giancarlo

    This Project KISS final rule regarding financial surveillance 
examination program requirements for self-regulatory organizations 
(SROs) will revise and appropriately limit the scope of a third-
party expert's evaluation of a SRO's financial surveillance program, 
and extend the minimum timeframes from three to five years from when 
a SRO must engage a third-party expert to evaluate its FCM standards 
for consistency with certain auditing standards. All of the comments 
received were in support of this proposal. I also support it because 
it will reduce the burdens and costs for SRO examinations, without 
reducing their effectiveness. It also more appropriately balances 
and recognizes the role and capabilities of the Commission's 
oversight expertise.

Appendix 3--Statement of Commissioner Dan. M. Berkovitz

    I support the targeted amendments to Commission Regulation 1.52 
made in today's final rules regarding third-party expert 
examinations of self-regulatory organization (``SRO'') financial 
surveillance programs. The amendments adopted in these final rules 
are an outgrowth of the Commission's experience with Regulation 1.52 
since 2013, and they maintain the Commission's strong commitment to 
customer protection while modifying certain requirements found to 
provide no incremental regulatory benefit. The Commission's customer 
protection rules are fundamental to safeguarding customer assets, 
promoting the safety and soundness of U.S. derivatives markets, and 
maintaining public confidence in our markets. I strongly support 
these customer protection rules.

[[Page 12894]]

    Regulation 1.52 is part of the Commission's comprehensive 
framework for the protection of customers and customer funds. The 
rules require that SROs, including contract markets and registered 
futures associations, monitor member FCMs' compliance with financial 
and related reporting rules.\1\ In 2013, the Commission 
significantly enhanced its customer protection rules to provide 
customers with greater confidence that their funds are secure and 
that SROs have effective programs for the oversight of member FCMs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Regulation 1.52 also permits two or more SROs to file a plan 
with the Commission for delegating to another SRO certain 
responsibilities related to monitoring and examining FCMs' 
compliance with financial and related reporting requirements. SROs 
participating in such a plan form a Joint Audit Committee (``JAC''), 
and prepare a Joint Audit Plan in accordance with the requirements 
of Regulation 1.52. The amendments to Regulation 1.52 adopted in 
today's final rules also address the JAC's engagement of third-party 
experts, as applicable.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The narrow amendments we are adopting address an SRO's 
engagement of a third-party expert to evaluate its financial 
surveillance program. With experience, the Commission has determined 
that third-party experts are appropriate to assess an SRO's 
implementation of examination standards issued by the Public Company 
Accounting Oversight Board (``PCAOB''). Commission staff is better 
positioned and has the expertise to evaluate an SRO's oversight 
program as measured against the Commission's rules. Commission staff 
routinely conducts such evaluations and provides feedback to SROs.
    The final rules also make additional amendments to Regulation 
1.52 regarding, for example, the frequency with which SROs must 
engage a third-party expert. Changes to relevant PCAOB standards are 
infrequent, and the final rules require an SRO to engage a third-
party expert at least once every five years. As a further safeguard, 
Commission staff retains the authority to direct an SRO to engage a 
third-party expert when relevant changes in PCAOB standards occur.
    I thank the CFTC staff for their work on these final rules and 
for their responsiveness to questions and comments.
[FR Doc. 2019-06443 Filed 4-2-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6351-01-P