Surety Companies Doing Business With the United States, 14592-14600 [2011-6277]

Agencies

• Fiscal Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 52 (Thursday, March 17, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14592-14600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6277]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Fiscal Service

31 CFR Part 223

RIN 1510-AB27


Surety Companies Doing Business With the United States

AGENCY: Financial Management Service, Fiscal Service, Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking with request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Treasury, Financial Management Service 
(Treasury), administers the Federal corporate surety program. Treasury 
issues certificates of authority to qualified sureties to underwrite 
and reinsure Federal bond obligations. We are proposing to amend our 
regulation to clarify the circumstances when an agency bond-approving 
official can decline to accept a bond underwritten by a Treasury-
certified surety. We are

[[Page 14593]]

also proposing to amend the procedures to be used by Treasury in 
adjudicating any complaint received from an agency requesting that a 
surety's certificate be revoked for failure to satisfy an 
administratively final bond obligation due the agency.

DATES: Comments on the proposed rule must be received by May 16, 2011.

ADDRESSES: The Financial Management Service participates in the U.S. 
government's eRulemaking Initiative by publishing rulemaking 
information on https://www.regulations.gov. Regulations.gov offers the 
public the ability to comment on, search, and view publicly available 
rulemaking materials, including comments received on rules.
    Comments on this rule, identified by docket FISCAL-FMS-2010-0001, 
should only be submitted using the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions on the Web site for submitting comments.
     Mail: Rose Miller, Manager, Surety Bond Branch, Financial 
Management Service, 3700 East-West Highway, Room 6F01, Hyattsville, MD 
20782.
    The fax and e-mail methods of submitting comments on rules to FMS 
have been retired.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
(``Financial Management Service'') and docket number FISCAL-FMS-2010-
0001 for this rulemaking. In general, comments will be published on 
Regulations.gov without change, including any business or personal 
information provided. Comments received, including attachments and 
other supporting materials, are part of the public record and subject 
to public disclosure. Do not enclose any information in your comment or 
supporting materials that you consider confidential or inappropriate 
for public disclosure.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rose Miller, Manager, Surety Bond 
Branch, Financial Management Service, at (202) 874-6850 or 
rose.miller@fms.treas.gov, or James J. Regan, Senior Counsel, Financial 
Management Service, at (202) 874-6680 or james.regan@fms.treas.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Treasury is responsible for administering the corporate Federal 
surety bond program under the authority of 31 U.S.C. 9304-9308 and 31 
CFR part 223 (part 223). Congress delegated to Treasury the discretion 
to issue a certificate if Treasury decides the surety's articles of 
incorporation authorize it to engage in the business of surety, the 
corporation has the requisite paid-up capital, cash, or equivalent 
assets, and the corporation is able to carry out its contracts. 
Treasury evaluates the qualifications of sureties to write Federal 
bonds and issues certificates of authority to those sureties that meet 
the specified corporate and financial standards. Treasury publishes the 
list of certified sureties in Department Circular 570 which is 
available online at https://www.fms.treas.gov/c570. Federal bond-
approving officials consult and rely on this list whenever a corporate 
surety bond is presented to an agency because bonds underwritten by 
Treasury-certified sureties satisfy bonding requirements, provided such 
bonds are accepted by agency bond-approving officials.
    Treasury finds it necessary to clarify the circumstances under 
which a Federal agency bond-approving official can decline to accept a 
bond underwritten by a Treasury-certified surety. Federal agencies have 
sometimes continued to accept bonds from a certified surety, even when 
the surety owes the agency an administratively final bond obligation, 
believing that Treasury certification mandates such acceptance in all 
cases. This is not the case.
    The proposed rule would clarify that Treasury certification does 
not insulate a surety from the requirement to satisfy administratively 
final bond obligations in order to ensure that its bonds will be 
accepted by agencies in all cases. Specifically, under the proposed 
rule, an agency bond-approving official would have the discretion to 
decline to accept bonds underwritten by a Treasury-certified surety for 
cause, such as when the surety owes the agency an unpaid or unsatisfied 
bond obligation that is administratively final under agency procedures. 
This discretion is not without limit. Before declining to accept bonds 
from a Treasury-certified surety, an agency must provide the surety 
advance written notice stating: (i) The intention of the agency to 
decline bonds underwritten by the surety, (ii) the reasons for or cause 
of the proposed non-acceptance of such bonds, (iii) the opportunity for 
the surety to rebut the stated reasons or cause, and (iv) the surety's 
opportunity to cure the stated reasons or cause. Under the proposed 
rule, the agency may decline the bonds underwritten by the certified 
surety if, after consideration of any submission by the surety, the 
agency issues a written determination that the bonds should be 
declined. The agency is required to articulate standards for exercising 
its discretion to decline bonds from Treasury-certified sureties in an 
agency rule or regulation prior to declining any bonds in specific 
cases.
    The proposed rule is consistent with the general and permanent 
surety laws that were enacted by Congress and later codified, without 
substantive change, as 31 U.S.C. 9304(b). The surety statutory 
framework is derived from public laws enacted in 1894 and 1910. The Act 
of August 13, 1894, 28 Stat. 279, as amended by The Act of March 23, 
1910, 36 Stat. 241, provided that a bond underwritten by a Treasury-
certified surety satisfied bonding requirements ``Provided, That such 
recognizance, stipulation, bond, or undertaking be approved by the head 
of department, court, judge, officer, board, or body executive, 
legislative, or judicial required to approve or accept the same.'' This 
proviso conditioned acceptance of a bond on the approval by an agency. 
This language was first codified in 1925 as 6 U.S.C. 6, and codified 
again in 1982 as 31 U.S.C. 9304(b), without substantive change. See, 
e.g., The Code of the Laws of the United States of America, December 7, 
1925, Preface Statement (The codification is the official restatement 
of the general and permanent laws of the United States, and under the 
codification ``No new law is enacted and no law repealed''); Public Law 
97-258 (1982), 96 Stat. 877, 1047 (Codification enacted ``without 
substantive change'').
    Federal courts have affirmed that Section 9304(b), and its 
predecessor derivations, afford agency bond-approving officials 
discretion to decline the acceptance of a bond underwritten by a 
Treasury-certified surety, consistent with the due process standards 
articulated in the proposed rule. See Concord Casualty & Surety Co. v. 
United States, 69 F.2d 78, 81 (2d Cir. 1934)(The bond-approval 
official's approval of a bond underwritten by a Treasury-certified 
surety ``is not mandatory'' but calls for the exercise of wise 
discretion); American Druggists Ins. Co. v. Bogart, 707 F.2d 1229, 1233 
(11th Cir. 1983)(``The surety's approval by the Secretary of the 
Treasury * * * does not preclude the district court from exercising its 
discretion to approve only those [bail] bonds which it feels confident 
will result in the defendant's presence at trial'' and ``Section 
9304(b) impliedly authorizes this discretion in its provision that 
`each surety bond shall be approved by the official of the Government 
required to approve or accept the bond.' '').
    The proposed text is also consistent with 31 U.S.C. 9305(d)(3) 
which authorizes Treasury to require

[[Page 14594]]

additional security in circumstances when the surety is no longer 
sufficient. Specifically, Treasury believes the discretion afforded to 
agency bond-approving officials under the proposed text is appropriate 
because a surety that has not paid an administratively final bond 
obligation to an agency, even after due process has been afforded, is 
no longer providing sufficient security vis-[agrave]-vis the agency.
    The proposed rule is necessary to better facilitate the prompt 
resolution of bond disputes between Federal agencies and sureties. 
Under the current rule, the status of Treasury certification has had 
the unintended consequence of inhibiting the proper adherence to agency 
administrative processes in bond dispute matters. In practice, this has 
negatively impacted the ability to resolve administratively final bond 
obligation disputes at the agency level. In a limited number of cases, 
sureties appear to have simply ignored agency final decisions for 
extended periods of time. While these cases are anomalous and rare, 
they represent an unwelcome burden on the Treasury and the public fisc 
because the administratively final bond obligations at issue were not 
paid, or resolved, promptly.
    Thus, the proposed rule would clarify that agencies have two 
options when experiencing surety performance and collection problems. 
First, an agency owed an administratively final bond obligation by a 
certified surety has the discretion to decline acceptance of additional 
bonds underwritten by such surety, provided the due process standards 
articulated in the rule are satisfied. Second, an agency owed an 
administratively final bond obligation by a certified surety can submit 
a complaint to Treasury requesting that the surety's certificate be 
revoked.
    With regard to this second option, the proposed rule would clarify 
the procedures and standard of review that will be used by Treasury to 
adjudicate any complaint submitted by an agency to Treasury requesting 
that a surety's certificate be revoked for failure to satisfy an 
administratively final bond obligation. Under the proposed rule, 
Treasury will not conduct a de novo review of the administratively 
final agency determination that a bond obligation is past due because 
substantive agency bond obligation determinations are based, in large 
part, on the interpretation and application of laws that the agency, 
rather than Treasury, has been tasked by Congress with administering. 
Treasury will not substitute its judgment for that of the agency in 
determining whether a bond obligation is owed under agency authorities. 
Rather, in considering whether the surety's certificate should be 
revoked, Treasury will review whether the agency's administratively 
final decision (that the surety owes a past-due bond obligation) was 
reasonable, based on a consideration of relevant factors, and did not 
involve a clear error of judgment.
    To the extent that a surety requests Treasury to conduct an 
informal hearing before reaching its decision on whether the surety's 
certificate should be revoked, the proposed rule clarifies that the 
formal adjudication standards under the Administrative Procedures Act, 
5 U.S.C. 554, 556, and 557, do not apply to the conduct of such an 
informal hearing. This is appropriate because Treasury's surety 
statutes, 31 U.S.C. 9304-9308, do not require a formal adjudication to 
be determined on the record after an opportunity for a hearing. See, 
e.g., 5 U.S.C. 554(a)(formal adjudication procedures only apply in 
cases ``required by statute to be determined on the record after an 
opportunity for an agency hearing''). Moreover, a surety's property 
interest in its certificate is narrow. American Druggists Ins. Co. v. 
Bogart, 707 F.2d 1229, 1235 (11th Cir. 1983)(``The scope of the 
surety's protected interest arising from the federal regulatory scheme 
is indeed narrow.''). Given this narrow interest, the opportunity for a 
surety to request an informal hearing under the standards articulated 
in the proposed rule is consistent with due process requirements that 
the surety be given an opportunity to be heard ``at a meaningful time 
and in a meaningful manner.'' See, e.g., Matthews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 
319, 333 (1976)(Fundamental due process satisfied if the individual is 
given an opportunity to be heard ``at a meaningful time and in a 
meaningful manner'').
    In addition, Treasury is proposing to make certain technical 
amendments to part 223 to update statutory citations and to provide 
current Treasury point of contact information.

II. Section-by-Section Analysis

Section 223.1

    We are proposing to amend Sec.  223.1 by stating, in plain 
language, that part 223 governs the issuance and revocation of 
certificates of authority of surety companies to do business with the 
United States as sureties on, or reinsurers of, Federal surety bond 
obligations, and the acceptance of such obligations. The proposed rule 
deletes archaic language and clarifies that the U.S. Department of the 
Treasury, Financial Management Service (Treasury), acts on behalf of 
the Secretary of the Treasury in performing these duties.

Section 223.2

    We are proposing to amend Sec.  223.2 to clarify that applications 
for certificates of authority should be submitted to Treasury at the 
location, and in the manner, specified online at https://www.fms.treas.gov/c570, as amended from time to time.

Section 223.3

    Section 223.3(a) establishes the requirements that must be met by 
an applicant company in order to be issued a certificate of authority 
by Treasury. Proposed Sec.  223.3(a) restates such requirements in 
plain language. In addition, the proposed regulation clarifies that any 
certificate issued by Treasury is expressly subject to the continuing 
compliance by the surety with all statutory requirements and the other 
conditions referenced in this part.

Section 223.4

    Section 223.4 provides that no company will be issued a certificate 
of authority by Treasury unless it maintains on deposit with the 
insurance commissioner of the State in which it is incorporated, or 
other specified State official, legal investments having a current 
market value of not less than $100,000, for the protection of 
claimants, including the surety's policyholders in the United States. 
Proposed Sec.  223.4 would add a sentence requiring a company to submit 
to Treasury with its initial application for a certificate of 
authority, and annually thereafter, a written statement signed by the 
State official attesting to the current market value of the deposit 
(not less than $100,000) and that the legal investments remain on 
deposit with the State.

Section 223.8

    Section 223.8 requires Treasury-certified sureties to file annual 
and quarterly financial reports to Treasury for review. Proposed Sec.  
223.8(a) updates the specified Treasury official to whom these reports 
should be submitted.

Section 223.9

    Section 223.9 establishes the criteria by which Treasury values the 
assets and liabilities of a company for certificate of authority 
purposes. Section 223.9 provides that Treasury will allow credit for 
reinsurance in all classes of risk if the reinsuring company holds a 
certificate of authority from Treasury, or has been recognized as an 
admitted reinsurer by Treasury. Proposed Sec.  223.9 clarifies that 
this credit for reinsurance

[[Page 14595]]

will be allowed only if the reinsurer is in continuing compliance with 
all certificate of authority requirements.

Section 223.11

    Section 223.11(b) provides that a surety can underwrite a Federal 
bond in excess of its underwriting limitation if the excess amount is 
reinsured by a company holding a certificate of authority issued by 
Treasury, provided the specified reinsurance requirements are met. 
Proposed Sec.  223.11(b) clarifies that the requisite reinsurance bond 
forms are available on the General Services Administration Web site at 
https://www.gsa.gov.

Section 223.12

    Section 223.12 establishes the application requirements and 
standards for a company to be recognized by Treasury as an admitted 
reinsurer (except on excess risks running to the United States) for 
surety companies doing business with the United States. When a 
Treasury-certified surety cedes non-Federal risks to an admitted 
reinsurer, Treasury will credit the surety for the ceded reinsurance 
when valuing its assets and liabilities, provided applicable 
requirements are met. Proposed Sec.  223.12 updates the specified 
Treasury official to whom applications and reports pertaining to 
admitted reinsurer status should be submitted.

Section 223.16

    Proposed Sec.  223.16, List of certificate holding companies, adds 
a new fourth sentence to this subpart providing: ``Bonds underwritten 
by certified companies on the Department Circular No. 570 list may be 
presented to an agency bond-approving official for acceptance.'' 
Proposed Sec.  223.16 adds a final sentence to this subpart providing: 
``Selection of a particular qualified company from among all companies 
holding certificates of authority is discretionary with the principal 
required to furnish the bond, but the acceptance of a bond by an agency 
bond-approving official is subject to Sec.  223.17.''
    This proposed text clarifies that Treasury-certified sureties have 
the opportunity to present their bonds to an agency bond-approving 
official for acceptance, but that the actual acceptance of a bond by an 
agency bond-approving official is subject to proposed Sec.  223.17.

Section 223.17

    Proposed Sec.  223.17, Acceptance and non-acceptance of bonds, 
clarifies that every surety holding a Treasury-issued certificate of 
authority has the opportunity to present its bonds to an agency bond-
approving official for acceptance, and that such bond-approving 
official may accept such proffered bonds in all cases. It also 
clarifies, however, that an agency bond-approving official has the 
discretion to decline bonds underwritten by a Treasury-certified surety 
for cause, provided the specified due process protections are 
satisfied. The agency is required to articulate standards for 
exercising its discretion not to accept bonds from Treasury-certified 
sureties in an agency rule or regulation prior to declining any bonds 
in specific cases. Existing agency rules or regulations that 
substantially comply with, or that are consistent with, the requirement 
to articulate standards in advance meet the requirements of this 
paragraph.
    Under proposed Sec.  223.17, for cause is primarily defined to mean 
that a surety has not paid or satisfied an administratively final bond 
obligation due the agency. The articulation of this primary definition 
is not intended to preclude an agency from articulating additional 
``for cause'' reasons, provided such reasons are defined in an agency 
rule or regulation in advance, and such additional reasons are 
otherwise consistent with an agency's own authorities. See, e.g., 27 
CFR 25.101 (Existing Treasury Tax and Trade Bureau (TTTB) regulation 
authorizing rejection of a bond for substantive reason consistent with 
that agency's mission; under Sec.  25.101, TTTB can disapprove a bond 
if the surety has been convicted of any fraudulent noncompliance with 
any provision of law of the United States related to internal revenue 
or customs taxation of distilled spirits, wines, or beer).
    The authority of an agency to decline the acceptance of bonds ``for 
cause'' under this proposed paragraph would not apply when the for 
cause basis, e.g., the obligation of the surety to satisfy 
administratively final bond obligations owed the agency, has been 
stayed or enjoined by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Section 223.18

    Proposed Sec.  223.18, Revocation, clarifies that revocation of a 
surety's certificate of authority by Treasury can occur in two ways. 
First, Treasury can initiate a revocation proceeding on its own 
initiative under proposed Sec.  223.19, Treasury initiated revocation 
proceedings, when it has reason to believe that a surety is not 
complying with 31 U.S.C. 9304-9308 and/or the regulations under part 
223. Second, Treasury can initiate a revocation proceeding under 
proposed Sec.  223.20, Revocation proceedings initiated by Treasury 
upon receipt of an agency complaint, upon receipt of a complaint from 
an agency that a surety has not satisfied an administratively final 
bond obligation.

Section 223.19

    Proposed Sec.  223.19, Treasury initiated revocation proceedings, 
outlines the process by which Treasury initiates proceedings on its own 
accord to revoke a surety's certificate of authority for failure to 
meet the requirements of 31 U.S.C. 9304-9308 and/or part 223. These 
proceedings can be initiated due to a failure to meet financial 
strength requirements or any other requirement.

Section 223.20

    Proposed Sec.  223.20, Revocation proceedings initiated by Treasury 
upon receipt of an agency complaint, specifies the process for an 
agency to submit a complaint to Treasury requesting that a certified 
surety's certificate of authority be revoked for failure to satisfy an 
administratively final bond obligation. Proposed Sec.  223.20 affords 
the surety the opportunity to demonstrate its qualifications to retain 
its certificate, establishes the roles of the Treasury Reviewing 
Official and the Treasury Deciding Official in the adjudicative 
process, and establishes the standard of review to be used by the 
Reviewing and Deciding Officials in reaching a decision.
    The Treasury Reviewing and Deciding Officials will not conduct a de 
novo review of the agency's administratively final determination that a 
bond obligation is past due because substantive agency bond obligation 
determinations are based, in large part, on the interpretation and 
application of laws that the complaining agency, rather than Treasury, 
has been tasked by Congress with administering. The Treasury Reviewing 
and Deciding Officials will not substitute their judgment for that of 
the agency. Rather, in reviewing whether revocation is justified, 
Treasury will consider whether the agency's final decision (that the 
surety owes a past-due bond obligation) was reasonable, based on a 
consideration of relevant factors, and did not involve a clear error of 
judgment.
    As a general rule, proposed Sec.  223.20 anticipates that Treasury 
will adjudicate agency complaints without an informal oral hearing. 
Proposed Sec.  223.20(c) ensures that the surety is afforded a fair 
opportunity to demonstrate, in writing, its qualifications to retain 
its certificate before a decision is reached. Nevertheless, in the 
event a surety

[[Page 14596]]

believes the opportunity to make known its views is inadequate, it may 
request that Treasury convene an informal hearing before reaching a 
decision under the timeframes established in the proposed rule. 
Proposed Sec.  223.20(h) specifies the procedures under which such an 
informal hearing would be conducted.
    In the event that the Treasury Deciding Official sustains the 
agency's complaint and makes a decision that the surety's certificate 
should be revoked, proposed Sec.  223.20 clarifies that a surety will 
be afforded an opportunity to cure the noncompliance to avoid 
decertification, unless its noncompliance is ``willful.'' Proposed 
Sec.  223.20(g) articulates the scope and application of the willful 
exception to the cure opportunity.

Section 223.21

    Proposed Sec.  223.21, Reinstatement, provides that a surety whose 
certificate of authority has been revoked, or not renewed, by Treasury 
can apply for reissuance of a certificate of authority after one year. 
Among other things, such a surety must demonstrate as a condition of 
reinstatement that the basis for the non-renewal or revocation of its 
certificate has been eliminated. Under proposed Sec.  223.21 the 
determination of whether the basis for the non-renewal or revocation 
has been eliminated or effectively cured will be made by Treasury in 
its discretion.

                  Derivation Chart for Revised Part 223
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            Old section                          New section
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                      --                               223.17
                  223.17                               223.18
                      --                               223.19
                  223.18                               223.20
                  223.19                               223.20
                  223.20                               223.20
                  223.21                               223.21
                  223.22                               223.22
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III. Procedural Analyses

Request for Comment on Plain Language

    Executive Order 12866 requires each agency in the Executive branch 
to write regulations that are simple and easy to understand. We invite 
comment on how to make the proposed rule clearer. For example, you may 
wish to discuss: (1) Whether we have organized the material to suit 
your needs; (2) whether the requirements of the rules are clear; or (3) 
whether there is something else we could do to make these rules easier 
to understand.

Regulatory Planning and Review

    The proposed rule does not meet the criteria for a ``significant 
regulatory action'' as defined in Executive Order 12866. Therefore, the 
regulatory review procedures contained therein do not apply.

Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis

    It is hereby certified that the proposed rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
Treasury-certified sureties already have an existing obligation to make 
payment on bond obligations to ensure acceptance of their bonds by 
agency bond-approving officials under 31 U.S.C. 9304(b). The proposed 
rule merely codifies this existing obligation in the regulation and 
clarifies that Federal agencies can decline to accept bonds 
underwritten by Treasury-certified sureties in limited circumstances, 
primarily when the surety owes the agency an administratively final 
bond obligation. In addition, Treasury-certified sureties have an 
existing obligation to make payment on bond obligations or be subject 
to Treasury certificate revocation proceedings. The proposed rule 
merely clarifies the procedures and standard of review that will be 
used by Treasury in adjudicating revocation complaints submitted by 
agencies. Payment disputes involving Treasury-certified sureties are 
anomalous and rare. The proposed rule will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Accordingly, 
a regulatory flexibility analysis under the Regulatory Flexibility Act 
(5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) is not required.

Unfunded Mandates Act of 1995

    Section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. 
1532 (Unfunded Mandates Act), requires that the agency prepare a 
budgetary impact statement before promulgating any rule likely to 
result in a Federal mandate that may result in the expenditure by 
State, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the 
private sector, of $100 million or more in any one year. If a budgetary 
impact statement is required, section 205 of the Unfunded Mandates Act 
also requires the agency to identify and consider a reasonable number 
of regulatory alternatives before promulgating the rule. We have 
determined that the proposed rule will not result in expenditures by 
State, local, and tribal governments, or by the private sector, of $100 
million or more in any one year. Accordingly, we have not prepared a 
budgetary impact statement or specifically addressed any regulatory 
alternatives.

List of Subjects in 31 CFR Part 223

    Administrative practice and procedure, Surety bonds.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, we propose to amend 31 CFR 
part 223 as set forth below:

PART 223--SURETY COMPANIES DOING BUSINESS WITH THE UNITED STATES

    1. Revise the authority citation for part 223 to read as follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 301; 31 U.S.C. 9304-9308.

    2. Revise Sec.  223.1 to read as follows:


Sec.  223.1  Certificate of authority.

    The regulations in this part will govern the issuance by the 
Secretary of the Treasury, acting through the U.S. Department of the 
Treasury, Financial Management Service (Treasury), of certificates of 
authority to bonding companies to do business with the United States as 
sureties on, or reinsurers of, Federal surety bonds (hereinafter 
``bonds'' or ``obligations'') under the authority of 31 U.S.C. 9304-
9308 and this part, and the acceptance of such obligations. The 
regulations in this part also govern the revocation of certificates.
    3. Revise Sec.  223.2 to read as follows:


Sec.  223.2  Application for certificate of authority.

    Every company wishing to apply for a certificate of authority shall 
submit an application to the Financial Management Service, U.S. 
Department of the Treasury, c/o Surety Bond Branch, to the location, 
and in the manner, specified online at https://www.fms.treas./c570, as 
amended from time to time. In accordance with 31 U.S.C. 9305(a), the 
data will include a copy of the applicant's charter or articles of 
incorporation and a statement, signed and sworn to by its president and 
secretary, showing its assets and liabilities. A fee shall be 
transmitted with the application in accordance with the provisions of 
Sec.  223.22(a)(i).
    4. In Sec.  223.3, revise paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  223.3  Issuance of certificates of authority.

    (a)(1) A company submitting an application to be issued a 
certificate of authority by Treasury to underwrite and reinsure Federal 
surety bonds must include all required data and information, as 
determined by Treasury

[[Page 14597]]

in its discretion, for the application to be complete and ready for 
review. Upon receipt of a complete application, Treasury will evaluate 
the submission to determine whether the applicant company:
    (i) Is duly authorized under its charter or articles of 
incorporation to conduct the business referenced under 31 U.S.C. 
9304(a)(2);
    (ii) Has paid-up capital of at least $250,000 in cash or its 
equivalent;
    (iii) Is solvent and financially and otherwise qualified to conduct 
the business referenced under 31 U.S.C. 9304(a)(2); and
    (iv) Is able and willing to carry out its contracts. In making the 
determination whether a company meets these requirements, Treasury will 
evaluate the application as a whole, the required financial 
statement(s) submitted by the company, the company's charter or 
articles of incorporation, the past history of the company, and any 
further evidence or information that Treasury may require the company 
to submit (at the company's expense).
    (2) If Treasury determines, in its discretion, that the applicant 
company meets all of these requirements, Treasury will issue a 
certificate of authority to the company authorizing it to underwrite 
and reinsure Federal bonds. The certificate of authority will be 
effective for a term that expires on the last day of the next June. All 
such statutory requirements and regulatory requirements under this part 
are continuing obligations, and any certificate is issued expressly 
subject to continuing compliance with such requirements. The 
certificate of authority will be renewed annually on the first day of 
July, provided the company remains qualified under the law, the 
regulations in this part, and other pertinent Treasury requirements, 
and the company submits the fee required under Sec.  223.22 by March 
1st of each year to the address and/or account specified by Treasury.
* * * * *
    5. In Sec.  223.4, add a sentence to the end of the section to read 
as follows:


Sec.  223.4  Deposits.

    * * * The company shall submit to Treasury with its initial 
application for a certificate of authority, and annually thereafter, a 
written statement signed by such State official attesting to the 
current market value of the deposit (not less than $100,000) and that 
the legal investments remain on deposit with the State under the terms 
specified.
    6. In Sec.  223.8, revise paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  223.8  Financial reports.

    (a) Every such company will be required to file with the Assistant 
Commissioner, Management, or incumbent Treasury executive, on or before 
the last day of January of each year, a statement of its financial 
condition made up as of the close of the preceding calendar year upon 
the annual statement blank adopted by the National Association of 
Insurance Commissioners, signed and sworn to by its president and 
secretary. On or before the last days of April, July and October of 
each year, every such company shall file a financial statement with the 
Assistant Commissioner, Management, or incumbent Treasury executive as 
of the last day of the preceding month. A form is prescribed by the 
Treasury for this purpose. The quarterly statement form of the National 
Association of Insurance Commissioners when modified to conform to the 
Treasury's requirements, may be substituted for the Treasury's form. 
The quarterly statement will be signed and sworn to by the company's 
president and secretary or their authorized designees.
* * * * *
    7. In Sec.  223.9, revise the last sentence to read as follows:


Sec.  223.9  Valuation of assets and liabilities.

    * * * Credit will be allowed for reinsurance in all classes of 
risks if the reinsuring company holds a certificate of authority from 
the Secretary of the Treasury, provided such reinsuring company is in 
continuing compliance with all certificate of authority requirements, 
or has been recognized as an admitted reinsurer in accord with Sec.  
223.12.
    8. In Sec.  223.11, revise paragraph (b)(1) to read as follows:


Sec.  223.11  Limitation of risk: Protective methods.

* * * * *
    (b) Reinsurance. (1) In respect to bonds running to the United 
States, liability in excess of the underwriting limitation shall be 
reinsured within 45 days from the date of execution and delivery of the 
bond with one or more companies holding a certificate of authority from 
the Secretary of the Treasury. Such reinsurance shall not be in excess 
of the underwriting limitation of the reinsuring company. Where 
reinsurance is contemplated, Federal agencies may accept a bond from 
the direct writing company in satisfaction of the total bond 
requirement even though it may exceed the direct writing company's 
underwriting limitation. Within the 45 day period, the direct writing 
company shall furnish to the Federal agency any necessary reinsurance 
agreements. However, a Federal agency may, at its discretion, require 
that reinsurance be obtained within a lesser period than 45 days, and 
may require completely executed reinsurance agreements to be provided 
before making a final determination that any bond is acceptable. 
Reinsurance may protect bonds required to be furnished to the United 
States by the Miller Act (40 U.S.C. 3131, as amended) covering 
contracts for the construction, alteration, or repair of any public 
building or public work of the United States, as well as other types of 
Federal bonds. Use of reinsurance or coinsurance to protect such bonds 
is at the discretion of the direct writing company. Reinsurance shall 
be executed on reinsurance agreement forms: Standard Form 273 
(Reinsurance Agreement for a Miller Act Performance Bond), Standard 
Form 274 (Reinsurance Agreement for a Miller Act Payment Bond), and 
Standard Form 275 (Reinsurance Agreement in Favor of the United States 
for other types of Federal bonds). These Standard Forms are available 
on the General Services Administration Web site at https://www.gsa.gov.
* * * * *
    9. In Sec.  223.12, revise paragraph (a) introductory text, 
paragraph (a)(5), paragraph (b) introductory text, and paragraph (c) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  223.12  Recognition as reinsurer.

    (a) Application by U.S. company. Any company organized under the 
laws of the United States or of any State thereof, wishing to apply for 
recognition as an admitted reinsurer (except on excess risks running to 
the United States) of surety companies doing business with the United 
States, shall file the following data with the Assistant Commissioner, 
Management, or incumbent Treasury executive, and shall transmit 
therewith the fee in accordance with the provisions of Sec.  223.22:
* * * * *
    (5) Such other evidence as Treasury may determine is necessary to 
establish that it is solvent and able to meet the continuing obligation 
to carry out its contracts.
    (b) Application by a U.S. branch. A U.S. branch of an alien company 
applying for such recognition shall file the following data with the 
Assistant Commissioner, Management, or incumbent Treasury executive, 
and shall transmit therewith the fee in

[[Page 14598]]

accordance with the provisions of Sec.  223.22:
* * * * *
    (c) Financial reports. Each company recognized as an admitted 
reinsurer shall file with the Assistant Commissioner, Management, or 
incumbent Treasury executive, on or before the first day of March of 
each year its financial statement and such additional evidence as the 
Secretary of the Treasury determines necessary to establish that the 
requirements of this section are being met. A fee shall be transmitted 
with the foregoing data, in accordance with the provisions of Sec.  
223.22.
    10. Revise Sec.  223.16 to read as follows:


Sec.  223.16  List of certificate holding companies.

    A list of qualified companies is published annually as of July 1 in 
Department Circular No. 570, Companies Holding Certificates of 
Authority as Acceptable Sureties on Federal Bonds and as Acceptable 
Reinsuring Companies, with information as to underwriting limitations, 
areas in which listed sureties are licensed to transact surety business 
and other details. If the Secretary of the Treasury shall take any 
exceptions to the annual financial statement submitted by a company, he 
or she shall, before issuing Department Circular 570, give a company 
due notice of such exceptions. Copies of the Circular are available at 
https://www.fms.treas.gov/c570, or from the Assistant Commissioner, 
Management, or incumbent Treasury executive, upon request. Bonds 
underwritten by certified companies on the Department Circular No. 570 
list may be presented to an agency bond-approving official for 
acceptance. Selection of a particular qualified company from among all 
companies holding certificates of authority is discretionary with the 
principal required to furnish the bond, but the acceptance of a bond by 
an agency bond-approving official is subject to Sec.  223.17.
    11. Revise Sec.  223.17 to read as follows:


Sec.  223.17  Acceptance and non-acceptance of bonds.

    (a) Acceptance of bonds. A bond underwritten by a certified company 
on the Sec.  223.16 Department Circular No. 570 list may be presented 
to an agency-bond approving official for acceptance, and such agency 
bond-approving official may accept such bonds.
    (b) Non-acceptance of bonds. (1) An agency bond-approving official 
has the discretion not to accept bond(s) underwritten by a certified 
company on the Sec.  223.16 List of certificate holding companies, 
Department Circular No. 570, for cause, but only if the certified 
surety has been given advance written notice by such agency. The 
advance written notice shall state:
    (i) The intention of the agency to decline bond(s) underwritten by 
the surety;
    (ii) The reasons for or cause of the proposed non-acceptance of 
such bond(s);
    (iii) The opportunity for the surety to rebut the stated reasons or 
cause; and
    (iv) The surety's opportunity to cure the stated reasons or cause.
    (2) The agency may decline to accept bond(s) underwritten by the 
surety if, after consideration of any submission by the surety or 
failure of the surety to respond to the agency notice, the agency 
issues a written determination that the bond(s) should not be accepted, 
consistent with agency standards. The agency shall articulate its 
standards for exercising its discretion not to accept bonds under this 
paragraph in an agency rule or regulation prior to declining any bonds 
in specific cases. ``For cause'' is primarily defined to mean that a 
surety has not paid or satisfied an administratively final bond 
obligation due the agency. The articulation of this primary definition 
is not intended to preclude an agency from articulating additional 
``for cause'' reasons, providing such reasons are defined in an agency 
rule or regulation in advance, and such additional reasons are 
otherwise consistent with an agency's own authorities. Existing agency 
rules or regulations that substantially comply with, or that are 
consistent with, the requirement to articulate standards in advance 
meet the requirements of this paragraph.
    (3) Agencies that decline bonds under this paragraph are encouraged 
to use best efforts to ensure that persons conducting business with the 
agency are aware that bonds underwritten by the particular certified 
surety will not be accepted.
    (4) The authority to decline bonds under this paragraph does not 
apply when the ``for cause'' basis, e.g., the obligation of the surety 
to satisfy administratively final bond obligations, has been stayed or 
enjoined by a court of competent jurisdiction.


Sec. Sec.  223.18 through 223.20  [Removed]

    12. Remove Sec. Sec.  223.18, 223.19, and 223.20.


Sec.  223.17  [Redesignated as Sec.  223.18]

    13. Redesignate Sec.  223.17 as Sec.  223.18.
    14. Revise newly redesignated Sec.  223.18 to read as follows:


Sec.  223.18  Revocation.

    (a) A certified surety's certificate of authority granting the 
surety the opportunity to present its bonds for approval to an agency 
bond-approving official, i.e., the surety's listing on Department 
Circular 570, can be revoked by Treasury in two ways:
    (1) Treasury, of its own accord, under Sec.  223.19, may initiate 
revocation proceedings against the surety when it has reason to believe 
that a company is not complying with 31 U.S.C. 9304-9308 and/or the 
regulations under this part, or
    (2) Treasury, under Sec.  223.20, may initiate revocation 
proceedings against the surety upon receipt of a complaint from an 
agency that the surety has not paid or satisfied an administratively 
final bond obligation due the agency.
    (b) A revocation of a surety's certificate of authority under Sec.  
223.19 or Sec.  223.20 precludes the surety from underwriting or 
reinsuring additional bonds for any agency, and therefore revokes the 
surety's opportunity to have its bonds presented to any agency bond-
approving official for acceptance.
    15. Add new Sec.  223.19 to read as follows:


Sec.  223.19  Treasury initiated revocation proceedings.

    Whenever Treasury has reason to believe that a surety is not 
complying with the requirements of 31 U.S.C. 9304-9308 and/or the 
regulations in this part, including but not limited to a failure to 
satisfy corporate and financial standards, Treasury shall:
    (a) Notify the company of the facts or conduct which indicate such 
failure, and provide opportunity to the company to respond, and
    (b) Revoke a company's certificate of authority with advice to it 
if:
    (1) The company does not respond satisfactorily to its notification 
of noncompliance, or
    (2) The company, provided an opportunity to demonstrate or achieve 
compliance, fails to do so.
    16. Add new Sec.  223.20 to read as follows:


Sec.  223.20  Revocation proceedings initiated by Treasury upon receipt 
of an agency complaint.

    (a) Agency Complaint. If an agency determines that a surety has not 
promptly made full payment or fully satisfied an administratively final 
bond obligation naming the agency as obligee, the head of the agency, 
or his or her designee, may submit a complaint to the Assistant 
Commissioner, Management, or incumbent Treasury executive, requesting 
that the surety's certificate of

[[Page 14599]]

authority be revoked for nonperformance of administratively final bond 
obligations. Under such complaint, the agency shall certify that:
    (1) The agency has made a determination, in accordance with 
applicable agency procedures and standards, that a surety owes on a 
bond obligation naming the agency as obligee;
    (2) The agency has submitted a written demand on behalf of the 
agency to the surety requesting payment or satisfaction on the bond 
obligation;
    (3) The surety was afforded the opportunity to request 
administrative review within the agency of the determination that the 
bond obligation was due, and the agency made a final administrative 
determination that the bond obligation was due after the completion of 
such administrative review, or the time period for the surety to 
request administrative review within the agency has expired, i.e., the 
bond obligation is administratively final;
    (4) The agency provided the surety the opportunity to enter into a 
written agreement to satisfy the obligation;
    (5) The surety has not made full payment or fully satisfied the 
obligation, and the obligation is past due; and
    (6) The surety's obligation to make payment or satisfy the 
obligation has not been stayed or enjoined by a court of competent 
jurisdiction conducting judicial review of such obligation.
    (b) Documentation of Complaint. The agency shall include in its 
complaint a copy of the bond, written notice of the bond claim, 
pertinent administrative agency decisions supporting the final agency 
determination that a bond obligation is due, a copy of a written demand 
letter supporting the determination that payment of the bond obligation 
is past due, and documentation indicating the surety was afforded the 
opportunity to enter into a written agreement to satisfy the bond 
obligation.
    (c) Notice to Surety. On receipt of a complaint meeting the 
requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, Treasury will 
notify the surety that its certificate of authority to write additional 
bonds for any agency will be revoked in the absence of a satisfactory 
explanation. The notice will require the surety to submit a written 
explanatory response to Treasury within 20 business days. The notice 
will advise the surety of the facts and conduct referenced in the 
complaint. The notice will afford the company the opportunity to 
demonstrate its qualifications to retain its certificate of authority.
    (d) Reviewing Official and Deciding Official. The Assistant 
Commissioner, Management, or incumbent Treasury executive, will appoint 
a Reviewing Official to conduct a paper review of the Federal agency 
complaint referenced in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, and the 
surety response referenced in paragraph (c) of this section, to 
determine whether revocation of the surety's certificate of authority 
is warranted. The Reviewing Official is authorized to require the 
submission of additional documentation from the complaining agency and 
the surety, to ensure appropriate consideration of relevant factual or 
legal issues. Upon completion of such review, the Reviewing Official 
shall prepare a written Recommendation Memorandum addressed to the 
Assistant Commissioner, Management, or incumbent Treasury executive, 
setting forth findings and a recommended disposition. The Assistant 
Commissioner, Management, or incumbent Treasury executive with 
executive oversight of the Treasury surety program, will be the 
Deciding Official who will make the final decision whether the surety's 
certificate of authority to write and reinsure bonds should be revoked 
based on the administrative record. For these purposes, the 
administrative record consists of the agency complaint referenced in 
paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, the surety response referenced 
in paragraph (c) of this section, any other documentation submitted to, 
or considered by, the Reviewing Official, and the Reviewing Official's 
Recommendation Memorandum.
    (e) Final Decision. (1) If the Deciding Official's final decision 
is that revocation is not warranted, the surety and the agency will be 
notified of the basis of this decision and the complaint against the 
surety will be dismissed.
    (2) If the Deciding Official's final decision is that the surety's 
certificate of authority shall be revoked, the Deciding Official will 
notify the surety and the agency of the revocation decision and the 
basis for such decision. Except as provided in paragraph (g) of this 
section, the notice will afford the surety an opportunity to 
demonstrate or achieve compliance, i.e., cure its noncompliance, by 
satisfying the bond obligations forming the basis of the final decision 
within 20 business days. If the surety cures its noncompliance within 
20 business days, the complaint against the surety will be deemed moot 
and the surety will retain its certificate of authority to write 
Federal bonds. If the surety does not cure its noncompliance within 20 
business days, the surety's certificate of authority shall be revoked 
by Treasury without further notice.
    (f) Standard of Review. (1) In reviewing whether the revocation of 
the surety's certificate of authority is warranted under this section, 
the Reviewing Official and the Deciding Official will determine whether 
the agency's administratively final decision that the surety owes a 
past-due bond obligation:
    (i) Was reasonable;
    (ii) Was based on a consideration of relevant factors; and
    (iii) Did not involve a clear error of judgment.
    (2) The Reviewing Official and the Deciding Official will not 
conduct a de novo review of the agency determination, and will not 
substitute their judgment for that of the agency.
    (g) Consideration of Willful Conduct. The surety is not entitled to 
an opportunity to demonstrate or achieve compliance, i.e., cure its 
noncompliance, if its conduct in failing to carry out its contracts is 
willful. For purposes of this regulation, ``willful'' means a careless 
or reckless disregard of a known legal obligation to satisfy a past due 
bond obligation. In considering whether a surety's conduct is willful, 
the Deciding Official may consider whether:
    (1) An agency has filed a prior complaint with Treasury requesting 
that the surety's certificate be revoked for a substantially similar 
past-due bond obligation;
    (2) The surety asserted substantially similar defenses to such bond 
obligation;
    (3) Such defenses were considered by the agency under pertinent 
authorities and dismissed;
    (4) Treasury made a final decision that revocation of the surety's 
certificate was justified; and
    (5) Other pertinent factors.
    (h) Informal Hearing. (1) If a surety that is the subject of a 
paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section complaint believes the 
opportunity to make known its views, as provided for under Sec.  
paragraph (c) of this section, is inadequate, it may, within 20 
business days of the date of the notice required by paragraph (c), 
request, in writing, that an informal hearing be convened.
    (2) As soon as possible after a written request for an informal 
hearing is received, the Reviewing Official shall convene an informal 
hearing, at such time and place as he or she deems appropriate, for the 
purpose of determining whether the surety's certificate of authority 
should be revoked.
    (3) The surety shall be advised, in writing, of the time and place 
of the informal hearing and shall be directed

[[Page 14600]]

to bring all documents, records and other information as it may find 
necessary and relevant to support its position.
    (4) The surety may be represented by counsel and shall have a fair 
opportunity to present any relevant material and to examine the 
administrative record.
    (5) The complaining agency may be requested by the Reviewing 
Official to send a representative to the hearing to present any 
relevant material, and the agency representative may examine the 
administrative record.
    (6) Formal rules of evidence will not apply at the informal 
hearing.
    (7) The formal adjudication standards under the Administrative 
Procedures Act, 5 U.S.C. 554, 556, 557 do not apply to the informal 
hearing or adjudication process.
    (8) Treasury may promulgate additional procedural guidance 
governing the conduct of informal hearings. This additional procedural 
guidance may be contained in the Annual Letter to Executive Heads of 
Surety Companies referenced in 31 CFR 223.9, the Treasury Financial 
Manual, or other Treasury publication or correspondence.
    (9) Upon completion of the informal hearing, the Reviewing Official 
shall prepare a written Recommendation Memorandum addressed to the 
Assistant Commissioner, Management, or incumbent Treasury executive, 
setting forth findings and a recommended disposition. The Assistant 
Commissioner, Management, or incumbent Treasury executive, will be the 
Deciding Official who will make the final decision whether the surety's 
certificate of authority to write and reinsure Federal bonds should be 
revoked based on the administrative record. For these purposes, the 
administrative record consists of the Federal agency complaint 
referenced in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, the surety 
response referenced in paragraph (c), any other documentation submitted 
to, or considered by, or entered into the administrative record by the 
Reviewing Official, the hearing transcript, and the Reviewing 
Official's Recommendation Memorandum.
    (10) The provisions of paragraphs (e), (f), and (g) of this section 
shall apply to the adjudication of the agency complaint when an 
informal hearing is conducted.
    17. Revise Sec.  223.21 to read as follows:


Sec.  223.21  Reinstatement.

    If, after one year from the date of the expiration or the 
revocation of its certificate of authority under this part, a company 
can demonstrate that the basis for the non-renewal or revocation has 
been eliminated or effectively cured, as determined by Treasury in its 
discretion, and that it can comply with, and does meet, all continuing 
requirements for certification under 31 U.S.C. 9304-9308 and this part, 
the company may submit an application to Treasury for reinstatement or 
reissuance of a certificate of authority, which will be granted without 
prejudice, provided all such requirements are met.
    18. In Sec.  223.22, revise paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  223.22  Fees for services of the Treasury Department.

* * * * *
    (c) Specific fee information may be obtained from the Assistant 
Commissioner, Management, or incumbent Treasury executive, or online at 
https://www.fms.treas.gov/c570. In addition, a notice of the amount of a 
fee referred to in paragraphs (a)(1) through (4) of this section will 
be published in the Federal Register as each change in such fee is 
made.

    Dated: March 11, 2011.
Richard L. Gregg,
Fiscal Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-6277 Filed 3-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P