[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 97 (Tuesday, May 19, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 29845-29847]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-10649]


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

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

13 CFR Part 120

[Docket Number SBA-2020-0026]
RIN 3245-AH41


Business Loan Program Temporary Changes; Paycheck Protection 
Program--Requirements--Extension of Limited Safe Harbor With Respect to 
Certification Concerning Need for PPP Loan Request

AGENCY: U.S. Small Business Administration.

ACTION: Interim final rule.

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

SUMMARY: On April 24, 2020, the U.S. Small Business Administration 
(SBA) posted an interim final rule relating to promissory notes, 
authorizations, affiliation, and eligibility in connection with the 
implementation of a temporary new program, titled the ``Paycheck 
Protection Program.'' The Paycheck Protection Program was established 
under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act 
or the Act). This interim final rule revises the interim final rule 
posted on April 24, 2020, by extending the date by which certain 
Paycheck Protection Program borrowers may repay their loans from May 7, 
2020 to May 14, 2020, in order to avail themselves of a safe harbor 
with respect to a certification required by the Act, and makes other 
conforming changes. This interim final rule supplements SBA's 
implementation of the Act and requests public comment.

DATES: 
    Effective date: This rule is effective May 19, 2020.
    Applicability date: This interim final rule applies to borrowers 
who applied for loans under the Paycheck Protection Program.
    Comment date: Comments must be received on or before June 18, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by number SBA-2020-0026 
through the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments. SBA will post all 
comments on www.regulations.gov. If you wish to submit confidential 
business information (CBI) as defined in the User Notice at 
www.regulations.gov, please send an email to [email protected]. Highlight 
the information that you consider to be CBI and explain why you believe 
SBA should hold this information as confidential. SBA will review the 
information and make the final determination whether it will publish 
the information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A Call Center Representative at 833-
572-0502, or the local SBA Field Office; the list of offices can be 
found at https://www.sba.gov/tools/local-assistance/districtoffices.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background Information

    On March 13, 2020, President Trump declared the ongoing Coronavirus 
Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic of sufficient severity and magnitude 
to warrant an emergency declaration for all States, territories, and 
the District of Columbia. With the COVID-19 emergency, many small 
businesses nationwide are experiencing economic hardship as a direct 
result of the Federal, State, tribal, and local public health measures 
that are being taken to minimize the public's exposure to the virus. 
These measures, some of which are government-mandated, are being 
implemented nationwide and include the closures of restaurants, bars, 
and

[[Page 29846]]

gyms. In addition, based on the advice of public health officials, 
other measures, such as keeping a safe distance from others or even 
stay-at-home orders, are being implemented, resulting in a dramatic 
decrease in economic activity as the public avoids malls, retail 
stores, and other businesses.
    On March 27, 2020, the President signed the Coronavirus Aid, 
Relief, and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act or the Act) (Pub. L. 
116-136) to provide emergency assistance and health care response for 
individuals, families, and businesses affected by the coronavirus 
pandemic. The Small Business Administration (SBA) received funding and 
authority through the Act to modify existing loan programs and 
establish a new loan program to assist small businesses nationwide 
adversely impacted by the COVID-19 emergency. Section 1102 of the Act 
temporarily permits SBA to guarantee 100 percent of 7(a) loans under a 
new program titled the ``Paycheck Protection Program.'' Section 1106 of 
the Act provides for forgiveness of up to the full principal amount of 
qualifying loans guaranteed under the Paycheck Protection Program. On 
April 24, 2020, the President signed the Paycheck Protection Program 
and Health Care Enhancement Act (Pub. L. 116-139), which provided 
additional funding and authority for the PPP.

II. Comments and Immediate Effective Date

    This interim final rule is effective without advance notice and 
public comment because section 1114 of the Act authorizes SBA to issue 
regulations to implement Title I of the Act without regard to notice 
requirements. In addition, SBA has determined that there is good cause 
for dispensing with advance public notice and comment on the ground 
that it would be contrary to the public interest. Specifically, SBA, in 
consultation with the Department of the Treasury, intends to issue 
additional guidance with regard to the safe harbor and extending the 
safe harbor deadline from May 7 to May 14 will afford Paycheck 
Protection Program borrowers time to review the forthcoming SBA 
guidance and decide whether to avail themselves of the safe harbor. SBA 
previously announced this intended extension in nonbinding guidance 
published on May 5, 2020. Advance notice and public comment would 
defeat the purpose of this interim final rule given the timeline for 
the existing safe harbor and short-term, temporary nature of this 
program. These same reasons provide good cause for SBA to dispense with 
the 30-day delayed effective date provided in the Administrative 
Procedure Act.
    Although this interim final rule is effective immediately, comments 
are solicited from interested members of the public on all aspects of 
the interim final rule, including section III below. These comments 
must be submitted on or before June 18, 2020. SBA will consider these 
comments and the need for making any revisions as a result of these 
comments.

III. Paycheck Protection Program Requirements for Extension of Safe 
Harbor With Respect to Certification Concerning Need for PPP Loan 
Request

    The CARES Act was enacted to provide immediate assistance to 
individuals, families, and organizations affected by the COVID-19 
emergency. Among the provisions contained in the CARES Act are 
provisions authorizing SBA to temporarily guarantee loans under the 
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Loans under the PPP are 100 percent 
guaranteed by SBA, and the full principal amount of the loans and any 
accrued interest may qualify for loan forgiveness. The Act requires 
each applicant applying for a PPP loan to certify ``that the 
uncertainty of current economic conditions makes necessary the loan 
request to support the ongoing obligations'' of the applicant. On April 
24, 2020, SBA posted on its website an interim final rule (the Fourth 
PPP Interim Final Rule), which also was published in the Federal 
Register on April 28, 2020 (85 FR 23450), to provide relief to PPP 
borrowers who applied for and received PPP loans based on a 
misunderstanding or misapplication of the required certification 
standard. The Fourth PPP Interim Final Rule provides that any borrower 
that applied for a PPP loan and repays the loan in full by May 7, 2020, 
will be deemed by SBA to have made the required certification in good 
faith. SBA, in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, will 
issue additional guidance before May 14, 2020 concerning how SBA will 
review the required certification to help PPP borrowers evaluate 
whether they may have misunderstood or misapplied the statutory 
certification standard.\1\ Based on this upcoming guidance, SBA, in 
consultation with the Department of the Treasury, determined that it is 
necessary and appropriate to extend the safe harbor deadline for 
repaying PPP loans from May 7, 2020 to May 14, 2020.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ This guidance is available at https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2020-05/Paycheck-Protection-Program-Frequently-Asked-Questions_05%2013%2020_2.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Limited Safe Harbor With Respect to Certification Concerning Need for 
PPP Loan Request

    Consistent with section 1102 of the CARES Act, the Borrower 
Application Form requires PPP applicants to certify that ``[c]urrent 
economic uncertainty makes this loan request necessary to support the 
ongoing operations of the Applicant.'' Any borrower that applied for a 
PPP loan and repays the loan in full by May 14, 2020 will be deemed by 
SBA to have made the required certification in good faith. The 
Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary, determined that this 
safe harbor is necessary and appropriate to ensure that borrowers 
promptly repay PPP loan funds that the borrower obtained based on a 
misunderstanding or misapplication of the required certification 
standard.
    The extension of the safe harbor requires a corresponding date 
change to the interim final rule that SBA posted on its website on 
April 28, 2020, which was published in the Federal Register on May 4, 
2020 (85 FR 26321), regarding PPP loan disbursements. Specifically, 
Part III.1.b. provides that Lenders must electronically upload SBA Form 
1502 information within 20 calendar days after a PPP loan is approved 
or, for loans approved before the availability of the updated SBA Form 
1502 reporting process, by May 18, 2020. 85 FR 26321, 26323. Because of 
the extension of the safe harbor deadline, SBA is extending the 
deadline for the submission of the initial SBA Form 1502 from May 18, 
2020 to May 22, 2020.

Additional Information

    SBA may provide further guidance, if needed, through SBA notices 
that will be posted on SBA's website at www.sba.gov. Questions on the 
Paycheck Protection Program may be directed to the Lender Relations 
Specialist in the local SBA Field Office. The local SBA Field Office 
may be found at https://www.sba.gov/tools/local-assistance/districtoffices.
Compliance With Executive Orders 12866, 12988, 13132, 13563, and 13771, 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Ch. 35), and the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612).
Executive Orders 12866, 13563, and 13771
    This interim final rule is economically significant for the 
purposes of Executive Orders 12866 and 13563, and is considered a major 
rule under the Congressional Review Act. SBA, however, is proceeding 
under the emergency provision at Executive Order

[[Page 29847]]

12866 Section 6(a)(3)(D) based on the need to move expeditiously to 
mitigate the current economic conditions arising from the COVID-19 
emergency. This rule's designation under Executive Order 13771 will be 
informed by public comment.
Executive Order 12988
    SBA has drafted this rule, to the extent practicable, in accordance 
with the standards set forth in section 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive 
Order 12988, to minimize litigation, eliminate ambiguity, and reduce 
burden. The rule has no preemptive or retroactive effect.
Executive Order 13132
    SBA has determined that this rule will not have substantial direct 
effects on the States, on the relationship between the National 
Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various layers of government. Therefore, SBA 
has determined that this rule has no federalism implications warranting 
preparation of a federalism assessment.
Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35
    SBA has determined that this rule will not impose new or modify 
existing recordkeeping or reporting requirements under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act.
Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) generally requires that when 
an agency issues a proposed rule, or a final rule pursuant to section 
553(b) of the APA or another law, the agency must prepare a regulatory 
flexibility analysis that meets the requirements of the RFA and publish 
such analysis in the Federal Register. 5 U.S.C. 603, 604. Specifically, 
the RFA normally requires agencies to describe the impact of a 
rulemaking on small entities by providing a regulatory impact analysis. 
Such analysis must address the consideration of regulatory options that 
would lessen the economic effect of the rule on small entities. The RFA 
defines a ``small entity'' as (1) a proprietary firm meeting the size 
standards of the Small Business Administration (SBA); (2) a nonprofit 
organization that is not dominant in its field; or (3) a small 
government jurisdiction with a population of less than 50,000. 5 U.S.C. 
601(3)-(6). Except for such small government jurisdictions, neither 
State nor local governments are ``small entities.'' Similarly, for 
purposes of the RFA, individual persons are not small entities. The 
requirement to conduct a regulatory impact analysis does not apply if 
the head of the agency ``certifies that the rule will not, if 
promulgated, have a significant economic impact on a substantial number 
of small entities.'' 5 U.S.C. 605(b). The agency must, however, publish 
the certification in the Federal Register at the time of publication of 
the rule, ``along with a statement providing the factual basis for such 
certification.'' If the agency head has not waived the requirements for 
a regulatory flexibility analysis in accordance with the RFA's waiver 
provision, and no other RFA exception applies, the agency must prepare 
the regulatory flexibility analysis and publish it in the Federal 
Register at the time of promulgation or, if the rule is promulgated in 
response to an emergency that makes timely compliance impracticable, 
within 180 days of publication of the final rule. 5 U.S.C. 604(a), 
608(b). Rules that are exempt from notice and comment are also exempt 
from the RFA requirements, including conducting a regulatory 
flexibility analysis, when among other things the agency for good cause 
finds that notice and public procedure are impracticable, unnecessary, 
or contrary to the public interest. SBA Office of Advocacy guide: How 
to Comply with the Regulatory Flexibility Act, Ch.1. p.9. Accordingly, 
SBA is not required to conduct a regulatory flexibility analysis.

Jovita Carranza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2020-10649 Filed 5-18-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE P