[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 232 (Wednesday, December 2, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77476-77477]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-26589]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange 
Commission, Office of FOIA Services, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 
20549-2736

Extension:
    Rule 17f-2(c), [SEC File No. 270-035, OMB Control No. 3235-0029]

    Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (``PRA'') (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (``Commission'') is soliciting comments on the existing 
collection of information provided for in Rule 17f-2(c) (17 CFR 
240.17f-2(c)), under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a 
et seq.). The Commission plans to submit this existing collection of 
information to the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') for 
extension and approval.
    Rule 17f-2(c) allows persons required to be fingerprinted pursuant 
to Section 17(f)(2) of the Act to submit their fingerprints to the 
Attorney General of the United States or its designee (i.e., the 
Federal Bureau of Investigation (``FBI'')) through a registered 
national securities exchange or a registered national securities 
association (collectively, also known as ``self-regulatory 
organizations'' or ``SROs'') pursuant to a fingerprint plan filed with, 
and declared effective by, the Commission. Fingerprint plans have been 
declared effective for the American, Boston, Chicago, New York, and 
Philadelphia stock exchanges and for the Financial Industry Regulatory 
Authority (``FINRA'') and the Chicago Board Options Exchange. 
Currently, FINRA accounts for the bulk of the fingerprint submissions.
    It is estimated that 3,900 respondents submit approximately 281,804 
sets of fingerprints (consisting of approximately 253,721 electronic 
sets and 28,083 hard copy sets) to SROs on an annual basis. The 
Commission estimates that it would take approximately 15 minutes to 
create and submit each fingerprint card. The total time burden is 
therefore estimated to be approximately 70,451 hours, or approximately 
18 hours per respondent, annually.
    In addition, the SROs charge an estimated $26 fee for processing 
fingerprint cards submitted electronically, resulting in a total annual 
cost to all 3,900 respondents of approximately $6,596,746 or 
approximately $1,691 per respondent per year. The SROs charge an 
estimated $41 fee for processing fingerprint cards submitted in hard 
copy, resulting in a total annual cost to all 3,900 respondents of 
approximately $1,151,403, or approximately $295 per respondent per 
year. The combined

[[Page 77477]]

annual cost to all respondents is thus approximately $7,748,149.
    Because the FBI will not accept fingerprint cards directly from 
submitting organizations, Commission approval of fingerprint plans from 
certain SROs is essential to carry out the Congressional goal to 
fingerprint securities industry personnel. Filing these plans for 
review assures users and their personnel that fingerprint cards will be 
handled responsibly and with due care for confidentiality.
    Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Commission, including whether the information 
shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's 
estimates of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) 
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on respondents, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. 
Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted in 
writing within 60 days of this publication.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information under the PRA unless it 
displays a currently valid OMB control number.
    Please direct your written comments to: David Bottom, Director/
Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o 
Cynthia Roscoe, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549, or send an email 
to: [email protected].

    Dated: November 27, 2020.
J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-26589 Filed 12-1-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P