Policy To Encourage Trial Disclosure Programs; Information Collection, 64389-64394 [2013-25580]

Agencies

• BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 209 (Tuesday, October 29, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 64389-64394]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-25580]



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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 209 / Tuesday, October 29, 2013 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 64389]]



BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION

12 CFR Chapter X

[Docket No. CFPB-2012-0046]


Policy To Encourage Trial Disclosure Programs; Information 
Collection

AGENCY: Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.

ACTION: Notice of policy.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) is 
issuing its Policy to Encourage Trial Disclosure Programs (Policy), 
which is intended to carry out the Bureau's authority under of the 
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 
(Dodd-Frank Act).

DATES: The Policy is effective on October 29, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the 
Policy, contact Will Wade-Gery, Division of Research, Markets and 
Regulations, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, at (202) 435-7700.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Overview

    In subsection 1032(e) of the Dodd-Frank Act, 12 U.S.C. 5532(e), 
Congress gave the Bureau authority to provide certain legal protections 
to companies to conduct trial disclosure programs. This authority can 
be used to help further the Bureau's statutory objective, stated in 
subsection 1021(b)(5) of the Act, to ``facilitate access and 
innovation'' in the ``markets for consumer financial products and 
services.''
    In line with this authority, the Bureau is publishing the Policy 
that is laid out in full in the final section of this Notice. Under its 
terms, if the Bureau approves a specific trial, then, for the duration 
of an agreed testing period, the Bureau will deem a testing company's 
disclosure, to the extent that it is used in accordance with the terms 
and conditions approved by the Bureau, to be in compliance with, or 
hold it exempt from, applicable federal disclosure requirements. The 
Bureau believes that there may be significant opportunities to enhance 
consumer protection by facilitating innovation in financial products 
and services and enabling companies to research informative, cost-
effective disclosures. The Bureau also recognizes that in-market 
testing, involving companies and consumers in real world situations, 
may offer particularly valuable information with which to improve 
disclosure rules and model forms.

II. Overview of Public Comments

    On December 17, 2012, the Bureau published a notice inviting the 
general public and other Federal agencies to comment on any aspect of 
its proposed Policy to Encourage Trial Disclosure Programs (the 
Proposed Policy).\1\ The Bureau received eighteen formal comments on 
the Proposed Policy. Industry trade associations and other industry 
groups submitted nine comment letters. Financial services providers 
submitted three comment letters. There were three comment letters from 
consumer groups. Individuals also submitted a further three comments.
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    \1\ 77 FR 74625 (Dec. 17, 2012).
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    All commenters supported the stated goals of the Proposed Policy. 
Most comments asked for clarification or further detailing around 
specific parts of the Proposed Policy. Some urged changes to the 
Proposed Policy either to create more incentives for the regulated 
community to participate in trial disclosure programs or to provide for 
additional consumer protections in approved tests. One comment opposed 
implementation of the Proposed Policy, at least in its current form; 
this commenter also disputed the Bureau's legal authority for certain 
aspects of the Proposed Policy.

III. Summary of Comments, Bureau Response, and Resulting Policy Changes

    This section provides a summary of the comments received by subject 
matter. It also summarizes the Bureau's assessment of the comments by 
subject matter and, where applicable, describes the resulting changes 
that the Bureau is making in the final Policy. With some specific 
exceptions, the Bureau has not made changes to the substance of the 
Policy. In response to certain comments, however, it has revised the 
Policy to provide additional clarity and elaboration around a number of 
specific points.

A. Legal Authority

    As noted in the Proposed Policy, Section 1032(e) of the Dodd-Frank 
Act gives the Bureau authority to permit trial programs that are 
designed to ``improve upon'' existing disclosures. One consumer group 
contended that the Proposed Policy exceeds the Bureau's legal authority 
in two respects: (1) By not requiring trial disclosure programs to meet 
the criteria for model forms prescribed by the Bureau under Section 
5532(b) of the Act, 12 U.S.C. 5532(b); and (2) by potentially 
permitting trial disclosure programs that are designed to test cost 
savings alone. The Bureau believes both contentions lack legal merit.
    Section 5532(b)(1) authorizes the Bureau to issue model forms that 
``may be used at the option of a covered person.'' Section 5532(b)(2) 
sets forth three ``minimum'' features such model forms must possess. 
These provisions do not limit the trial disclosures that the Bureau may 
approve under Section 5532(e). In that provision, Congress gave the 
Bureau authority to permit testing of disclosures that violate 
disclosure requirements imposed directly on covered persons by the 
Bureau. There is no textual or other reason to think that Congress 
intended the Bureau's authority under Section 5532(e) to be 
circumscribed by Section 5532(b).
    Indeed, adding the Section 5532(b)(2) criteria to the Policy 
arguably would frustrate Congress' purposes in enacting Section 
5532(e). Thus, a proposal to change a delivery mechanism, as opposed to 
the content of the disclosure, would not track against the criteria for 
a model form. Yet there is nothing in Section 1032(e) to suggest that 
Congress intended to exclude changed delivery mechanisms from the list 
of potential improvements. As a matter of policy, however, to the 
extent a proposal includes revised disclosures, the Bureau believes 
those should meet the stated 1032(b)(2) criteria of plain language, 
clear format and design, and

[[Page 64390]]

succinctness. The Policy has been revised to make that point.
    The Bureau also sees no legal or policy reason to eliminate cost-
effectiveness as a sufficient criterion for an ``improved'' disclosure. 
In the Bureau's view, a trial disclosure that is intended to maintain 
the same level of consumer understanding but in a more cost effective 
manner counts as an improved disclosure. Under the Policy, however, the 
Bureau will not approve any trial disclosure that it believes will 
weaken consumer understanding of valuable information that is the focus 
of a regulatory obligation. That outcome is not one that the Policy is 
intended to enable, and the Bureau has revised the Policy to make that 
clear.

B. Approval Process

    Most comments concerned the approval process for trial disclosure 
programs. Comments focused on the areas identified below.
1. Cost-Sharing
    Several trade associations and financial services companies 
questioned whether, in light of the costs involved in designing and 
implementing trial disclosure programs, companies will have sufficient 
incentive to use the Policy. For the most part, however, these 
commenters did not urge more streamlined application or participation 
procedures. Instead, they requested a clear indication from the Bureau 
that several covered persons--potentially facilitated by a trade 
organization--may properly spread the costs of participation among 
themselves, thereby improving the incentive to participate. Some trade 
associations noted that absent such collaboration, industry 
participants would lack the resources to conduct a trial program.
    The Bureau would welcome collaboration and cost-sharing, and it has 
clarified the final Policy to this effect. To help ensure adequate 
protection for consumers, however, the Bureau must know the identity of 
each specific in-market tester before approving that entity's 
participation. As a result, the Bureau will not give final approval to 
any proposed trial disclosure unless the entities involved are 
specifically identified. At the same time, however, the Bureau sees no 
reason why a single trial disclosure program may not properly be 
proposed and implemented by more than one covered person. In fact, as 
both industry and consumer commenters noted, multi-party tests may 
offer more robust and reliable results. By the same token, the Policy 
should not be read to prevent a trade association--or indeed any other 
entity, including non-profit groups or third-party vendors--from 
helping to facilitate cost-spreading.
    In addition, the Policy does not rule out the possibility of the 
Bureau conditionally approving a particular disclosure for testing 
without at that point requiring the specific identity of all 
participants. In this kind of staggered approval arrangement, there 
would be a follow-on process for specific testers to secure approval to 
use the disclosure. But even if the Bureau were to stage approval in 
this manner, the Policy would still not permit a particular tester to 
claim the benefit of a waiver unless the Bureau ultimately approves it 
by name as a test participant.
2. Development Costs
    Citing the costs of developing a proposal and implementing a trial 
disclosure program, several commenters urged the Bureau to permit 
covered persons to contact the Bureau to discuss a proposal before they 
submit complete applications. This initial contact could help companies 
avoid the costs of developing proposals that are unlikely to meet with 
the Bureau's approval, whether because of the merits of the proposal or 
because the Bureau is close to approving a duplicative proposal. The 
Policy is not intended to limit this kind of initial contact. The 
present Policy is one component part of the Bureau's Project Catalyst 
initiative, which invites companies to bring innovation-related 
concerns to the Bureau's attention at ProjectCatalyst@cfpb.gov. 
Disclosure innovators, therefore, may use that point of contact to 
request a preliminary discussion of a potential trial disclosure 
proposal.
3. Iterative Testing
    Several commenters, including industry and consumer group 
commenters, suggested that the Policy accommodate iterative testing of 
disclosures. The Bureau acknowledges that in some cases, iterative 
testing, using relatively small test populations, may help refine and 
improve disclosure concepts. Instead of a single, larger test, of a 
preset disclosure, this kind of approach involves a sequence of smaller 
tests that enable ongoing improvements to a test disclosure concept. 
Both forms of testing may serve well in different contexts, and the 
Bureau intends for the Policy to support both approaches.
    In cases where iterative testing is appropriate, therefore, the 
Bureau will follow a staggered approach to waiver approval. At an 
initial stage, an iterative proposal should follow all the normal terms 
of the Policy, with the exception that it may not include all forms of 
the disclosure to be tested, to the extent that these are unknown at 
the point of initial submission. Any such proposal should explain why 
iterative testing is the more effective means of proceeding with 
respect to the particular disclosure. If the Bureau approves the 
program, an initial waiver will then cover the first test disclosure, 
and the Bureau will commit in the Terms and Conditions document 
governing that waiver to consider later iterations of the test 
disclosure for follow-on waivers on a defined fast-track basis. The 
Policy thereby enables iterative testing, where it is appropriate, 
while also ensuring that each tested disclosure is specifically 
authorized.
4. Additional Safeguards
Notice and Comment
    Several consumer groups asked that the Policy require that all 
proposed disclosures be subject to full notice and comment. In 
contrast, a financial service provider cautioned that such a procedure 
would dissuade companies from proposing trial disclosure programs 
because it would add considerable time and expense to the process. In 
the Bureau's assessment, requiring notice and comment for each proposed 
disclosure would conflict with Congress's instruction to issue 
standards and procedures ``designed to encourage covered persons to 
conduct trial disclosure programs.'' (12 U.S.C. 5532(e)(2).) The Bureau 
believes that it is highly unlikely that covered persons would be 
willing to subject proposals to full notice and comment, not least 
because of the extended time period involved. In addition, a test 
disclosure does not represent a proposed Bureau rule. Test results 
could help the Bureau to put forward proposed rule changes, but full 
notice and comment would then apply at that point.
Other Safeguards
    Consumer groups also proposed that tests be approved only when 
there is no statutory liability associated with the disclosure process. 
In addition, they proposed that no in-market tests proceed until after 
``lab-based'' qualitative testing of each proposed disclosure.
    The Bureau does not agree that tests should be limited to 
disclosures for which non-compliance carries no statutory liability. 
Section 1032(e) authorizes the Bureau to apply a time-limited safe 
harbor with respect to disclosure requirements under ``a rule or an 
enumerated consumer law.'' \2\ It does not limit this authority to 
statutes

[[Page 64391]]

(or rules) that impose no liability. In addition, while statutory 
liability may well indicate that a disclosure is intended to prevent 
severe consumer harm, as the commenters reasonably contend, that does 
not argue against testing for disclosure improvement. The more 
important the role of disclosure in preventing harm, the more important 
it is to improve disclosures as much as possible. If 1032(e) were used 
only where disclosure does not matter to consumer welfare, its purpose 
would go unrealized.
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    \2\ 12 U.S.C. 5532(e)(2); see also n.17 infra.
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    The Bureau agrees with commenters that qualitative testing will 
often be a useful means of showing that a disclosure is worth testing. 
That is not a compelling reason, however, to make qualitative testing 
an absolute requirement for test approval. The approval process calls 
for reasonable grounds to expect the revised disclosures to represent 
an improvement. In many cases, those grounds will consist--at least in 
part--of qualitative test results. But that need not always be the 
case. Other grounds could certainly supply a sufficient basis for 
expecting improved outcomes. Similar disclosures may have been used and 
shown to be effective for related consumer financial products, or prior 
research may offer reasonable grounds to believe the revised disclosure 
will be an improvement.
5. Guidance on Bureau Disclosure Priorities
    Some commenters asked the Bureau to identity priority areas for 
potential tests. The Bureau does not rule out taking this step at some 
point in the future. In considering ways to improve disclosure policy, 
the Bureau may in the future identify one or more areas as particularly 
appropriate for testing.

C. Legal Protection

1. Waiver Scope
    Several trade associations and industry participants asked the 
Bureau to clarify the scope of the safe harbor that will be provided to 
approved participants. In particular, they asked whether the waivers 
would shield participants from (i) private litigation by consumers and 
(ii) enforcement or other proceedings by other regulators.
    The Bureau recognizes that Section 1032(e) will not provide the 
incentive to test new disclosures that Congress intended unless the 
scope of any approved waivers is clear. Entities that the Bureau 
approves for a waiver--so long as their conduct accords with the terms 
of approval--should not face private liability exposure for violating 
those provisions of a federal disclosure statute or rule that the 
Bureau identifies as being within the scope of the waiver. Because such 
a waiver deems the trial disclosure to be in compliance with or exempt 
it from the provisions identified by the Bureau, there is no basis 
under those provisions for a private suit based on the company's use of 
the disclosure. The same rationale applies to other federal and state 
regulators even if they have enforcement or supervisory authority as to 
the ``enumerated consumer laws'' for which the Bureau has rulemaking 
authority. When a Bureau-issued waiver is in effect, there can be no 
predicate for an enforcement or supervisory action by such a regulator 
that is both based on statutory or regulatory provisions that are 
within the scope of the waiver and against a company with an approved 
program in compliance with the terms of the wavier.
    It is true that certain other federal regulators may, in certain 
circumstances, issue rules that overlap with the Bureau's rules. (See, 
e.g., 12 U.S.C. 5581(b)(5))(D).) When considering a waiver, therefore, 
the Bureau will confer, as appropriate, with other federal regulators. 
Similarly, although the Bureau lacks authority to waive state 
disclosure requirements, the Bureau will endeavor to work with state 
regulators, as appropriate, to secure their support for a particular 
trial disclosure program. The Bureau also encourages participants to 
confer with other federal and state regulators where a proposed 
disclosure implicates requirements administered by such regulators. In 
addition, submissions may properly indicate whether other regulators 
have indicated support or opposition to the proposal.
2. Affirmative Bureau Statements
    Finally, several commenters asked the Bureau to state that 
disclosures approved under the Policy are not deceptive. The Bureau 
does not intend to approve test disclosures that it considers 
deceptive. As a result, the Bureau anticipates being able to make this 
kind of statement when it publishes notice of a waiver. In either case, 
however, the Bureau's determination would be provisional. Unless and 
until otherwise indicated, the Bureau's statement or waiver would apply 
only to disclosures that an approved party made under the terms of that 
particular approved trial disclosure program.
3. Waiver Revocation
    The Proposed Policy specified that if the Bureau decides to revoke 
or partially revoke a waiver for failure to follow the waiver's terms, 
it: (i) Will do so in writing, specifying the reason or reasons for its 
action; and (ii) may offer an opportunity to correct any such failure 
before revoking a waiver. Several commenters found these procedural 
protections insufficient and requested that they be enhanced in various 
ways.
    The Bureau acknowledges that entities may reasonably request some 
opportunity to dispute grounds for a potential revocation. Before 
determining to issue a revocation, therefore, the Bureau will notify 
the company of its grounds for its potential revocation, and permit the 
company an opportunity to respond, consistent with the terms of this 
Policy. The Policy has been clarified to this effect.

D. Public Disclosure

    Commenters raised two public disclosure concerns.
1. Consumer Awareness of Tests
    Citing protocols for conducting research on human subjects, 
consumer groups urged that consumers be given the chance to opt out of 
test participation. They also requested that test disclosures be 
clearly identified as such. One industry submission suggested that the 
Bureau inform consumers after the fact of their participation in a 
test.
    The Bureau does not agree that standard practice argues for 
requiring consumer consent in this context. In-market testing of 
consumer behavior and reactions to new products or new ways of 
delivering services is a constant of modern life. Companies routinely 
carry out such tests using their customer base, without consumer 
consent or awareness. The fact that companies must share test results 
with the Bureau does not compel a different outcome here. As the 
statute makes clear, 1032(e) tests are still conducted by covered 
persons.
    Furthermore, there is very good reason not to identify test 
disclosures at the time of delivery. As one commenter observed, 
disclosures only work to the extent consumers read them. A critical 
test of any disclosure's effectiveness, therefore, is whether consumers 
decide to read it in any given case. As a result, if consumers are told 
that a disclosure is for a test, it will no longer be possible to test 
for the most basic and controlling component of disclosure 
effectiveness. Moreover, requiring such disclosure would be in tension 
with Congress's recognition in section 1032 that public disclosure of 
programs may appropriately be limited in order to

[[Page 64392]]

encourage the conduct of ``effective'' tests.\3\
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    \3\ 12 U.S.C. 5532(e)(3).
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    The Bureau has considered requiring companies to alert consumers 
that they are in a test population--regardless of whether the consumers 
are in a control group or in the group to receive a test disclosure.\4\ 
This type of notification, potentially supplemented by an opt-out 
option, would create equivalency between the two groups. At the same 
time, however, it would prevent effective testing in many cases. All 
consumers would be alerted to the fact of disclosure testing, and their 
conduct upon receiving disclosures would likely change as a result. In 
the Bureau's assessment, the benefit of this direct notice, weighed 
against the cost of preventing effective testing and associated 
disclosure improvements, does not warrant a categorical rule requiring 
direct disclosure of testing to test populations. To the extent that 
companies can find ways to provide notice or an opt-out option that do 
not risk the effectiveness of potential tests, however, the Bureau 
encourages them to do so.
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    \4\ Indirect notice that consumers may receive a test disclosure 
will already be provided by the Bureau's Web site publication of 
approved test disclosures.
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2. Disclosure of Test Results
    Several consumer groups urged that all test results be made public. 
After careful consideration, the Bureau has decided not to revise the 
Proposed Policy to this effect. Congress has directed that public 
disclosure be limited as necessary to encourage covered persons to 
conduct effective tests. (See 12 U.S.C. 5532(e)(3).) In the Bureau's 
assessment, requiring testing companies to commit, a priori, to 
complete public disclosure of test results may unproductively 
discourage valuable potential programs that stand to benefit consumers. 
Some of the information provided to the Bureau may comprise trade 
secrets or other confidential business information. Testing companies 
will ultimately need to permit public use of test results if those 
results are to enable regulatory change. An incentive to public 
disclosure, therefore, is built into the structure of the program. 
Particularly against that background, additional categorical rules 
could reduce the incentive to propose potentially valuable trial 
disclosure programs. In addition, the absence of a categorical rule 
does not preclude the Bureau from seeking a particular level of 
disclosure in connection with any particular proposal.

E. Other Considerations

    Commenters also requested clarification on a number of discrete 
issues.
1. Delivery Form
    The Bureau confirms that disclosure improvements may properly 
consist of revised forms of delivery, not simply changes to the content 
of disclosures. This was already covered at footnote 7 of the Proposed 
Policy. It is now reflected in the eligibility criteria listed in 
Section A of the final Policy.
2. Electronic Submission
    Submissions for approval can be made via electronic means. 
Submitters can use the Project Catalyst email address. The Policy has 
been revised accordingly.
3. Bureau Monitoring of Consumer Harm
    Several consumer groups requested that the Bureau monitor tests for 
potential harm to consumers. The Proposed Policy already called for 
proposals to include plans to mitigate any harm identified. To further 
address the concern raised, however, the Bureau has amended the 
eligibility criteria to include both an identification of any risks of 
consumer harm that may be associated with the proposed program and a 
description of how the program mitigates any such risks.

IV. Final Policy

    The text of the final Policy is as follows.
    Consumers need timely and understandable information to make the 
financial decisions that they believe are best for themselves and their 
families. Much federal consumer protection law, therefore, rests on the 
assumption that accurate and effective disclosures will help Americans 
understand the costs, benefits, and risks of different consumer 
financial products and services. In Section 1032 of the Dodd-Frank Wall 
Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act), Congress 
gave the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) authority to 
develop rules to ensure that consumers receive such disclosures, as 
well as model forms to help companies comply with those rules.\5\
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    \5\ See 12 U.S.C. 5532(a)-(d).
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    In subsection 1032(e) of the Dodd-Frank Act, Congress also gave the 
Bureau authority to approve ``trial disclosure programs.'' \6\ This 
authority can be used to help further the Bureau's statutory objective, 
stated in subsection 1021(b)(5) of the Dodd-Frank Act, to ``facilitate 
access and innovation'' in the ``markets for consumer financial 
products and services.'' In particular, Congress empowered the Bureau 
to provide a legal ``safe harbor'' to companies testing revised 
disclosures. For disclosure trials it approves, therefore, the Bureau 
will, for a defined period, ``deem'' a participating company ``to be in 
compliance with,'' or ``exempt'' from identified federal disclosure 
requirements.\7\ The Bureau believes that there may be significant 
opportunities to enhance consumer protection by facilitating innovation 
in financial products and services through enabling responsible 
companies to research informative, cost-effective disclosures in test 
programs. We also recognize that ``in-market'' testing, involving 
companies and consumers in real world situations, may offer 
particularly valuable information with which to improve disclosure 
rules and model forms.
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    \6\ 12 U.S.C. 5532(e).
    \7\ 12 U.S.C. 5532(e)(2). For convenience, this statutory 
authority to deem companies in compliance with or to exempt them 
from disclosure requirements--in each case for a limited period of 
time--is hereinafter referred to as the authority to issue 
``waivers'' for approved programs.
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    Accordingly, the Bureau is issuing its Policy on trial disclosure 
programs.\8\ Our intent is for the Policy to encourage banks, thrifts, 
credit unions, and other financial services companies to innovate by 
proposing and conducting such programs, consistent with the protections 
for consumers that are described in this Policy.\9\ The information 
that companies generate by such programs may then help the Bureau to 
establish more effective disclosure rules and practices.\10\
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    \8\ The Bureau may permit a covered person or covered persons to 
conduct a trial disclosure program ``subject to specified standards 
and procedures.'' 12 U.S.C. 5532(e)(1).
    \9\ The Policy is not intended to nor should it be construed to: 
(1) Restrict or limit in any way the CFPB's discretion in exercising 
its authorities; (2) constitute an interpretation of law; or (3) 
create or confer upon any covered person (including one who is the 
subject of CFPB supervisory, investigation or enforcement activity) 
or consumer, any substantive or procedural rights or defenses that 
are enforceable in any manner. Of course, if the Bureau approves a 
waiver in connection with a trial disclosure program, the terms of 
its approval will specify certain legal rights granted to the 
recipient or recipients of the waiver with respect to that program. 
Those rights, however, are based on the approval notice, and not on 
the present policy guidance.
    \10\ The Policy should not be viewed as substituting for the 
normal process of rulemaking. In the event that information learned 
from trial disclosure programs triggers or otherwise informs follow-
on rulemaking, the Bureau would follow the standard rulemaking 
process, which affords the public the opportunity of submitting 
comments on a proposed regulation.
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    The policy has four sections:

[[Page 64393]]

     Section A describes which proposed programs will be 
considered eligible for a temporary waiver;
     Section B lists factors the Bureau will consider in 
deciding which eligible programs to approve for such a waiver;
     Section C describes the Bureau's procedures for issuing 
waivers; and
     Section D describes how we will disclose information about 
these programs.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not 
conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a 
collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control 
number. The information that should be submitted to demonstrate 
eligibility, as described further in Section A below, has been deemed 
to be a collection of information for these purposes. The OMB control 
number for this collection is 3170-0039. It expires on 09/30/2016. The 
time required to complete this information collection is estimated to 
average between 2 and 10 hours per response, including the time for 
reviewing any instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering 
and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. The obligation to respond to this collection 
of information is required to obtain a benefit to the extent that the 
information is to establish eligibility for a temporary waiver, as 
described in this policy. Comments regarding this collection of 
information, including the estimated response time, suggestions for 
improving the usefulness of the information, or suggestions for 
reducing the burden to respond to this collection should be submitted 
to Bureau at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Attention: PRA 
Office), 1700 G Street NW., Washington, DC 20552, or by email to CFPB_Public_PRA@cfpb.gov.
A. Eligibility
    To be considered eligible for a waiver, a proposal should:
    1. Identify the testing company or companies; \11\
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    \11\ The Bureau will accept proposals that involve testing by 
more than one company. Each testing company must be approved by name 
and must be a signatory to specific waiver terms, as described 
further in Section C below. Although not every testing company need 
be identified in an initial application, no company can test subject 
to a waiver unless and until it has obtained--and become a signatory 
to--specific Bureau approval to test a given disclosure. The Bureau 
will not provide that approval unless it is satisfied, in its sole 
discretion, that a company has met all eligibility requirements for 
approval and should be approved for the applicable testing program 
under the terms of this Policy.
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    2. Describe the new disclosures or delivery methods that are to be 
tested; \12\
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    \12\ So long as otherwise consistent with the minimum 
eligibility standards, a proposal could include modifications to an 
existing model form or other disclosures, changed delivery 
mechanisms, replacement of a model form or existing disclosure 
requirements with new disclosure or forms, and/or the elimination of 
select disclosure requirements. All proposals should include a copy 
of the trial disclosures to be tested, a description of what they 
would replace, and a clear statement of how they would be provided 
to consumers. When proposals consist of revised disclosure content--
as opposed to revised or streamlined delivery mechanisms--that 
content should be in plain language, reflect a clear format and 
design, and be succinct.
     If a proposal is for iterative testing, it should include 
copies of all forms of the disclosure that are known at the time of 
initial submission. It should explain why iterative testing is the 
more effective means of proceeding with respect to the particular 
disclosure concept. In addition, it should include a proposal for a 
streamlined approval process for different iterations of the 
disclosure. Again, no disclosure can be subject to a waiver under 
Section 1032(e) unless the specific tester has been approved to test 
that specific disclosure.
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    3. Describe how these changes are expected to improve upon existing 
disclosures,\13\ particularly with respect to consumer use, consumer 
understanding, and/or cost-effectiveness; \14\
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    \13\ The relevant existing disclosures are those made in 
accordance with disclosure rules issued either under the authority 
of Section 1032 or to implement an enumerated statute. See 12 U.S.C. 
5532(e)(1).
    \14\ Trial disclosures should be ``designed to improve upon'' 
existing disclosures. 12 U.S.C. 5532(e)(1). Intended improvements 
may go to consumer use and understanding of the relevant product or 
service and/or to the cost-effectiveness of disclosures. The Bureau 
anticipates approving trial disclosure programs that are intended to 
improve both consumer use and understanding, and cost-effectiveness. 
Although the Bureau considers cost-effectiveness an appropriate 
metric of disclosure improvement, it will not approve a trial 
disclosure that it believes will weaken consumer understanding of 
valuable information that is the focus of a regulatory obligation, 
no matter the cost savings obtained.
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    4. Provide a reasonable basis for expecting these improvements, and 
metrics for testing whether such improvements are realized;
    5. Identify the duration of the test and the size, location, and 
nature of the consumer population involved in the test, and explain why 
that duration and scope are reasonably necessary for sound testing;
    6. Identify any risks of consumer harm that may be associated with 
the proposed program, describe how the program mitigates such risks, 
and explain the testing procedures that will be used to assess for 
potential consumer harm during the course of the test;
    7. Identify with particularity which provisions of current rules or 
enumerated consumer laws are to be temporarily waived in connection 
with the trial disclosure program; \15\
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    \15\ Under subsection 1032(e)(2), the Bureau has authority to 
waive ``a requirement of a rule or an enumerated consumer law,'' as 
that term is defined in the Dodd-Frank Act. See 12 U.S.C. 5481(12). 
As used in subsection 1032(e)(2), the term ``rule'' includes: (i) 
Rules implementing an enumerated consumer law; and (ii) rules 
implementing the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010, 
including rules promulgated by the Bureau under its authority to 
prevent unfair, abusive, or deceptive acts or practices, or to 
enable full, accurate and effective disclosure.
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    8. Identify any third-party vendors to be used in connection with 
the proposed program and describe their proposed role;
    9. Contain a commitment to and schedule for sharing test result 
data \16\ with the Bureau;
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    \16\ The proposal should commit to sharing test result data with 
the Bureau within a reasonable period following the end of the 
program. In addition, it should contain either (1) a commitment to 
sharing with the Bureau interim data on test results during the 
course of the program, or (2) an explanation for why such interim 
data cannot reasonably be provided.
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    10. Acknowledge that the Bureau may revoke any approved waiver if 
the program violates the terms and conditions under which the Bureau 
approves the program; and
    11. Explain how the testing company will address disclosure 
requirements for the test population at the conclusion of the test 
period.
    All proposals should be submitted via email to 
ProjectCatalyst@cfpb.gov.\17\ Submitted proposals may be withdrawn at 
any time.
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    \17\ The email subject line should begin ``Trial Disclosure 
Program.'' The present Policy is one component part of the Bureau's 
Project Catalyst initiative, which invites companies to bring 
innovation-related concerns to the Bureau's attention at 
ProjectCatalyst@cfpb.gov. Disclosure innovators may use the same 
Project Catalyst point of contact to request a preliminary 
discussion of a potential trial disclosure proposal. There are no 
formal submission requirements to request such a preliminary 
discussion.
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B. Approval of Proposals for Waivers
    To decide whether to approve a proposed program for a waiver,\18\ 
the Bureau will consider a variety of factors, including:
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    \18\ The decision whether to approve a proposed program for a 
waiver will be within the Bureau's sole discretion. The Bureau will 
review reasonable requests to reconsider its position on programs 
for which it has not approved a waiver.
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    1. The extent to which the program may help the Bureau develop 
disclosure rules or policies that better enable consumers to understand 
the costs, benefits, and risks associated with consumer financial 
products or services;
    2. The extent to which the program may help the Bureau develop more 
cost-effective disclosure rules or policies;

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    3. The extent to which the program anticipates, controls for, and 
mitigates risks to consumers; \19\
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    \19\ This includes the extent to which a proposal contains 
reasonable contingency plans for addressing unanticipated consumer 
harms that arise during the duration of the test.
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    4. The strength and record of the company's compliance management 
system relative to the size, nature, and complexity of the company's 
consumer business;
    5. How effectively and efficiently the program will test for 
potential improvements to consumer understanding and/or the cost-
effectiveness of disclosures, and how narrowly the program is tailored 
to the testing objectives;
    6. The extent to which existing data or other evidence indicate 
that the proposed changes will realize the intended improvements; and
    7. The extent to which the company intends to permit public 
disclosure of test results.
    In reviewing and approving applications, the Bureau will also take 
into consideration the scope and nature of programs currently underway 
as well as the Bureau's available resources.
C. Waiver Procedures for Approved Programs
    When the Bureau approves a waiver, it will provide the company or 
companies that receive the waiver with the specific terms and 
conditions of its approval.\20\ Waivers will require companies to 
certify, and document or otherwise demonstrate to the Bureau, their 
compliance with these approved terms and conditions. If a company does 
not follow the terms and conditions of the waiver, the Bureau may 
revoke the waiver in whole or in part.\21\
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    \20\ If the Bureau determines not to approve a proposed trial 
program, it will inform the company of its determination.
    \21\ Before determining to issue a revocation, the Bureau will 
notify the affected company (or companies) of the grounds for 
revocation, and permit an opportunity to respond. If the Bureau 
nonetheless determines that the company failed to follow the terms 
of the waiver, it may offer an opportunity to correct any such 
failure before revoking the waiver. If the Bureau revokes or 
partially revokes a waiver for failure to follow the waiver's terms, 
it will do so in writing and it will specify the reason or reasons 
for its action.
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    Waiver terms and conditions will be in writing in an integrated 
document entitled ``1032(e) Trial Disclosure Waiver: Terms and 
Conditions.'' This document will be signed by the Director of the 
Bureau or by his or her designee, and by an officer of each company 
approved for a waiver in connection with the program.
    In addition, the document will:
    1. Identify the company or companies that are receiving a waiver;
    2. Specify the new disclosure(s) or delivery methods to be used by 
that company or companies under the terms of the waiver;
    3. Specify the rules and statutory provisions that the Bureau will 
waive during the test period for the testing company or companies;
    4. Specify the temporary duration of the waiver;
    5. Describe and delineate the test population(s); and
    6. Specify any other conditions on the effectiveness of the waiver, 
such as the terms of testing, data sharing, certification of compliance 
with the terms of the waiver, and/or public disclosure.
D. Bureau Disclosure of Information Regarding Trial Programs
    The Bureau will publish notice on its Web site of any trial 
disclosure program that it approves for a waiver. The notice will: (i) 
Identify the company or companies conducting the trial disclosure 
program; (ii) summarize the changed disclosures to be used, their 
intended purpose, and the duration of their intended use; (iii) 
summarize the scope of the waiver and the Bureau's reasons for granting 
it; and (iv) state that the waiver only applies to the testing company 
or companies in accordance with the approved terms of use.
    Public disclosure of any other information regarding trial programs 
is governed by the Bureau's Rule on Disclosure of Records and 
Information.\22\ For example, the rule requires the Bureau to make 
available records requested by the public unless they are subject to a 
FOIA exemption or exclusion.\23\ To the extent the Bureau wishes to 
disclose information regarding trial programs, the terms of such 
disclosure will be included in the 1032(e) Trial Disclosure Waiver: 
Terms and Conditions document. Consistent with applicable law and its 
own rules, the Bureau will not seek to disclose any test data that 
would conflict with consumers' privacy interests.
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    \22\ See 12 CFR 1070 et seq.
    \23\ See 12 CFR 1070.14.

    Dated: October 23, 2013.
Christopher D'Angelo,
Chief of Staff, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.
[FR Doc. 2013-25580 Filed 10-28-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-AM-P