Public Unit and Nonmember Shares, 25018-25022 [2019-11296]

Download as PDF 25018 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 104 / Thursday, May 30, 2019 / Proposed Rules § 75.4 Interstate movement of equine infectious anemia reactors. CANADA [Amended] (a) * * * Reactor. Any horse, ass, mule, pony or zebra which is subjected to an official test in accordance with the regulations in § 71.22 of this subchapter and found positive. * * * * * PART 80—JOHNE’S DISEASE IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS 8. The authority citation for part 80 continues to read as follows: ■ Done in Washington, DC, this 24th day of May 2019. Kevin Shea, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2019–11278 Filed 5–29–19; 8:45 am] FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: BILLING CODE 3410–34–P Benjamin M. Litchfield, Staff Attorney, Office of General Counsel, 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, or by telephone at (703) 518–6540. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 14. The undesignated center heading ‘‘CANADA’’ immediately preceding § 93.315 is amended by redesignating footnote 16 as footnote 14. ■ CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE WEST INDIES [Amended] 15. The undesignated center heading ‘‘CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE WEST INDIES’’ immediately preceding § 93.319 is amended by redesignating footnote 17 as footnote 15. ■ MEXICO [Amended] Authority: 7 U.S.C. 8301–8317; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4. 9. In § 80.1, the definition of Official Johne’s disease test is revised to read as follows: ■ § 80.1 Comments on Public Unit and Nonmember Shares Proposed Rule’’ in the email subject line. • Fax: (703) 518–6319. Use the subject line described above for email. • Mail: Address to Gerard Poliquin, Secretary of the Board, National Credit Union Administration, 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314– 3428. • Hand Delivery/Courier: Same as mail address. Public inspection: All public comments are available on the agency’s website at https://www.ncua.gov/ RegulationsOpinionsLaws/comments as submitted, except as may not be possible for technical reasons. Public comments will not be edited to remove any identifying or contact information. Paper copies of comments may be inspected in NCUA’s law library, at 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, by appointment weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. To make an appointment, call (703) 518– 6540 or send an email to OGCMail@ ncua.gov. Definitions. 16. The undesignated center heading ‘‘MEXICO’’ immediately preceding § 93.321 is amended by redesignating footnote 18 as footnote 16. ■ § 93.324 [Amended] 17. Section 93.324 is amended by redesignating footnote 19 as footnote 17. ■ * * * * * Official Johne’s disease test. An organism detection test approved by the Administrator and conducted in a laboratory approved by the Administrator.1 * * * * * PART 93—IMPORTATION OF CERTAIN ANIMALS, BIRDS, FISH, AND POULTRY, AND CERTAIN ANIMAL, BIRD, AND POULTRY PRODUCTS; REQUIREMENTS FOR MEANS OF CONVEYANCE AND SHIPPING CONTAINERS 10. The authority citation for part 93 continues to read as follows: NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION 12 CFR Parts 701 and 741 RIN 3313–AF00 ■ Public Unit and Nonmember Shares Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1622 and 8301–8317; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4. § 93.301 [Amended] 11. Section 93.301 is amended as follows: ■ a. In paragraphs (e)(2)(iii) and (e)(5)(i), by removing the words ‘‘paragraph (i) of this section’’ and adding the words ‘‘§ 71.22 of this chapter’’ in their place; and ■ b. By removing and reserving paragraph (i). ■ § 93.303 [Amended] 12. Section 93.303 is amended by redesignating footnote 12 as footnote 10. ■ § 93.308 [Amended] 13. Section 93.308 is amended by redesignating footnotes 13, 14, and 15 as footnotes 11, 12, and 13, respectively. jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with PROPOSALS ■ 1The list of approved laboratories is available on the internet at https://www.nahln.org or upon request from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, National Veterinary Services Laboratories, P.O. Box 844, Ames, IA 50010–0844. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:34 May 29, 2019 Jkt 247001 National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). ACTION: Proposed rule. AGENCY: The NCUA Board (Board) is proposing to amend the NCUA’s public unit and nonmember share rule to allow Federal credit unions (FCU) to receive public unit and nonmember shares up to 50 percent of the credit union’s paidin and unimpaired capital and surplus less any public unit and nonmember shares. SUMMARY: Comments must be received by July 29, 2019. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods (Please send comments by one method only): • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • NCUA website: https:// www.ncua.gov/ RegulationsOpinionsLaws/proposed_ regs/proposed_regs.html. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • Email: Address to regcomments@ ncua.gov. Include ‘‘[Your name] DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 I. Background II. Legal Authority III. Summary of the Proposed Rule IV. Section-by-Section Analysis V. Regulatory Procedures I. Background Section 107(6) of the Federal Credit Union Act (FCU Act) permits an FCU to receive payment on shares from nonmembers under certain circumstances.1 An FCU may receive payment on shares from nonmember credit unions.2 An FCU may also receive payment on shares from nonmember public units and their political subdivisions.3 The term ‘‘public unit’’ generally refers to ‘‘the United States, any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Panama Canal Zone, any territory or possession of the United States, any county, municipality, or political subdivision thereof, or any Indian tribe as defined in section 3(c) of the Indian Financing Act of 1974.’’ 4 Moreover, an FCU that predominantly serves low-income members may 1 12 U.S.C. 1757(6). 2 Id. 3 Id. 4 12 CFR 745.1(c). E:\FR\FM\30MYP1.SGM 30MYP1 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 104 / Thursday, May 30, 2019 / Proposed Rules receive payment on shares from any source regardless of membership.5 Section 701.34 of the NCUA’s regulations defines a ‘‘low-income member’’ as, among other things, a member ‘‘whose family income is 80 [percent] or less than the median family income for the metropolitan area where [the member] live[s] or [the] national metropolitan area, whichever is greater.’’ 6 Alternatively, a ‘‘low-income member’’ is a member ‘‘who earn[s] 80 [percent] or less than the total median earnings for individuals for the metropolitan area where [the member] live[s] or [the] national metropolitan area, whichever is greater.’’ 7 Section 701.32 of the NCUA’s regulations limits the total amount of nonmember shares that an FCU may have to 20 percent of the credit union’s total shares, or $3 million, whichever is greater, unless the shares are U.S. Treasury accounts or matching funds accounts required by the NCUA’s Community Development Revolving Loan Fund Program.8 This limit also applies to public unit shares regardless of whether the public unit is a member of the credit union. The Board imposed this 20 percent limitation on both member public unit and nonmember shares because of the asset/liability management problems related to public unit and nonmember shares that arose at certain FCUs, which resulted in material losses for the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF).9 Regulatory Reform Agenda Consistent with the spirit of Executive Order 13777, entitled ‘‘Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda,’’ 10 the Board established a Regulatory Reform Task Force (Task Force) to identify NCUA regulations that the agency should repeal, replace, or modify. The Task Force performed an exhaustive review and submitted its first report to the Board in June 2017. In August 2017, the Board published the substance of the Task Force’s first report in the Federal Register for public comment.11 After the close of the public comment period, the Board published the Task Force’s second and final report in the Federal Register in December 2018.12 5 12 6 12 U.S.C. 1757(6). CFR 701.34(a)(2). jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with PROPOSALS 7 Id. 8 12 CFR 701.32(b), (c). Nonmember and Public Unit Accounts, 53 FR 50918 (Dec. 19, 1988). 10 See Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda, E.O. 13777, 82 FR 12285 (Mar. 1, 2017). 11 See Regulatory Reform Agenda, 82 FR 39702 (Aug. 22, 2017). 12 See Regulatory Reform Agenda, 83 FR 65926 (Dec. 21, 2018). 9 See VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:34 May 29, 2019 Jkt 247001 The Task Force’s final report recommends that the Board increase the public unit and nonmember share limit in § 701.32 of the NCUA’s regulations.13 The Task Force stated that public unit and nonmember shares are the functional equivalent of borrowings and, therefore, should be subject to the borrowing limit for FCUs set out in the FCU Act. Section 107(9) of the FCU Act permits an FCU to borrow from any source up to 50 percent of the credit union’s paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus subject to such rules and regulations as the Board may prescribe.14 However, this limitation does not apply to discounts or sales of eligible obligations to any Federal intermediate credit bank or loans from the Central Liquidity Facility.15 The proposed rule implements the essence of the Task Force’s recommendation. II. Legal Authority The Board has issued this proposed rule pursuant to its authority under the FCU Act. Under the FCU Act, the NCUA is the chartering and supervisory authority for FCUs and the Federal supervisory authority for FICUs.16 The FCU Act grants the NCUA a broad mandate to issue regulations governing both FCUs and all FICUs. Section 120 of the FCU Act is a general grant of regulatory authority and authorizes the Board to prescribe rules and regulations for the administration of the FCU Act.17 Section 207 of the FCU Act is a specific grant of authority over share insurance coverage, conservatorships, and liquidations.18 Section 209 of the FCU Act is a plenary grant of regulatory authority to the Board to issue rules and regulations necessary or appropriate to carry out its role as share insurer for all FICUs.19 Accordingly, the FCU Act grants the Board broad rulemaking authority to ensure that the credit union industry and the NCUSIF remain safe and sound. III. Summary of the Proposed Rule The proposed rule amends § 701.32 of the NCUA’s regulations to allow an FCU to receive payment on shares from public unit and nonmember shares up to 50 percent of the credit union’s paidin and unimpaired capital and surplus less any public unit and nonmember shares from public units and nonmembers without requesting a 13 12 CFR 701.32. U.S.C. 1757(9). 15 Id. For rules governing loans from the Central Liquidity Facility see 12 CFR 725. 16 12 U.S.C. 1752–1775. 17 12 U.S.C. 1766(a). 18 12 U.S.C. 1787(b)(1). 19 12 U.S.C. 1789(a)(11). 14 12 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 25019 waiver from the appropriate regional director. As discussed below, the proposed rule does not allow a waiver process for an FCU to exceed this 50 percent limit as a matter of safety and soundness. The proposed rule also requires an FCU to develop and maintain a written plan if its public unit and nonmember shares, taken together with borrowings, exceed 70 percent of paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus. Finally, the proposed rule makes conforming amendments to § 741.204, which applies to all FICUs, to reflect the changes to § 701.32. IV. Section-by-Section Analysis Section 701.32(b)—Limitations Current § 701.32(b) limits the amount of public unit and nonmember shares that an FCU may have to 20 percent of total shares, or $3 million dollars, whichever is greater, and sets forth procedures that an FCU must follow if it wishes to receive from the appropriate regional director a waiver to accept additional public unit or nonmember shares. Before accepting any public unit or nonmember shares in excess of 20 percent of total shares, the credit union’s board of directors ‘‘must adopt a specific written plan concerning the intended use of these shares and forward a copy of the plan to the [r]egional [d]irector.’’ 20 The plan must include a ‘‘statement of the credit union’s needs, sources and intended uses of public unit and nonmember shares.’’ 21 The plan must also make provision for ‘‘matching maturities of public unit and nonmember shares with corresponding assets’’ and ‘‘adequate income spread between public unit and nonmember shares and corresponding assets.’’ 22 If there is any mismatch between maturities of public unit and nonmember shares with corresponding assets, the credit union must justify the mismatch.23 In addition to the written plan adopted by the FCU’s board of directors, the FCU also must submit a written request for a waiver of the 20 percent limit to the appropriate regional director.24 The waiver request must include: (1) The new level of public unit and nonmember shares requested (either as a dollar amount or a percentage of total shares); (2) the current plan adopted by the FCU’s board of directors regarding the use of new public unit and nonmember shares; (3) a copy of the 20 12 CFR 701.32(b)(2). CFR 701.32(b)(2)(i). 22 12 CFR 701.32(b)(2)(ii) and (iii). 23 12 CFR 701.32(b)(2)(ii). 24 12 CFR 701.32(b)(3). 21 12 E:\FR\FM\30MYP1.SGM 30MYP1 25020 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 104 / Thursday, May 30, 2019 / Proposed Rules FCU’s latest financial statements; and (4) a copy of the FCU’s loan and investment policies.25 If the FCU’s financial condition and management are sound, and the credit union’s plan for the funds is reasonable, § 701.32 establishes a presumption in favor of granting a waiver.26 The regional director will typically grant a waiver for a two-year period unless the regional director believes that a lesser time is appropriate.27 Upon expiration of the waiver, the NCUSIF will continue to insure public unit and nonmember shares currently held in the FCU within applicable limits.28 However, an FCU may not accept any new public unit or nonmember shares or rollover existing public unit or nonmember share certificates in excess of the 20 percent of total shares limit.29 The 20 percent total shares limit and the procedures set out in § 701.32(b) do not apply to treasury tax and loan (TT&L) remittance accounts, TT&L note accounts, U.S. Treasury general accounts, and U.S. Treasury time deposit-open accounts, which are all subject to the requirements of § 701.37 of the NCUA’s regulations.30 Section 701.32 also does not apply to matching fund accounts required by the NCUA’s Community Development Revolving Loan Program unless the credit union has already repaid the loan granted under that program that required matching funds.31 Aggregate Limit on Public Unit and Nonmember Shares The proposed rule simplifies the current regulatory framework in § 701.32(b). In establishing the 20 percent of total shares limit in current § 701.32(b), the Board relied heavily on industry practices in 1988.32 The credit union industry has undergone significant changes in the intervening 31 years since this limit was adopted, including credit unions’ growing need for additional sources of funding to serve their members. To respond to these changes, the proposed rule increases the current 20 percent of total shares limit to 50 percent of paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus less any public unit and nonmember shares. 25 12 jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with PROPOSALS 26 12 CFR 701.32(b)(3)(i) through (iv). CFR 701.32(b)(4). 27 Id. 28 12 CFR 701.32(b)(6). See 12 CFR 745 on share insurance limits. 29 Id. 30 12 CFR 701.32(c). See 12 CFR 701.37. 31 Id. For information on the Community Development Revolving Loan Program, see 12 CFR 705. 32 53 FR 50918, 50919 (Dec. 19, 1988). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:34 May 29, 2019 Jkt 247001 The change in standard from ‘‘total shares’’ to ‘‘paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus less any public unit and nonmember shares’’ provides credit unions with greater ability to accept public unit and nonmember deposits because undivided earnings are included in the measurement of a credit union’s paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus. The proposed rule does not include public unit and nonmember shares in the calculation of its unimpaired capital and surplus for purposes of this 50 percent limit. This restriction provides a meaningful limit on the ability of a credit union to increase its leverage indefinitely, which could pose a clear risk to credit unions and the NCUSIF. The Board believes that this balanced approach provides an FCU with greater flexibility to determine an appropriate funding structure to support ongoing credit union operations in a prudent manner. While the Board recognizes that public unit and nonmember shares are unique in some respects, particularly with respect to their sensitivity to interest rate fluctuations,33 these shares are in many other respects the functional equivalent of other types of short-term borrowings. Accordingly, the Board believes that allowing an FCU to receive public unit and nonmember shares up to 50 percent of paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus, less any public unit and nonmember shares, similar to the borrowing limit set out in Section 107(9) of the FCU Act, is a preferable approach to the current 20 percent of total shares limit set out in § 701.32(b). The Board also believes that the proposed 50 percent of paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus less any public unit and nonmember shares regulatory limit is sufficiently high that an alternative $3 million dollar limit will be unnecessary. However, the Board is aware that some small FCUs, particularly lowincome credit unions that rely on large volumes of nonmember shares as a necessary source of funding or newly chartered credit unions, may be adversely impacted by the elimination of the $3 million dollar limit. Consequently, the Board seeks specific comments on whether it should retain the $3 million dollar limit or provide a special exemption for small low-income credit unions that demonstrate a need for large volumes of nonmember shares above the 50 percent paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus limit and for newly chartered credit unions. The Board is actively considering these alternatives and may adopt one of these 33 Id. PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 approaches based on the persuasiveness of the comments. Because an FCU may currently borrow up to 50 percent of paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus under Section 107(9) of the FCU Act, the Board believes that providing credit unions with the proposed ability to accept a comparable amount of public unit and nonmember shares will not present an undue risk to credit unions or the NCUSIF. The Board recognizes that in some instances public unit and nonmember shares can be a more stable and cost-effective source of funding than borrowing. Additionally, public unit and nonmember shares have other benefits for credit unions and their communities, such as developing or enhancing an FCU’s relationship with political subdivisions, public units, or in the case of low-income designated credit unions, other charitable or economic development organizations. However, the Board notes that an FCU should continue to manage its balance sheet in a prudent manner. The NCUA will continue to review an FCU’s business model and asset-liability management to ensure the credit union is operating in a safe and sound manner. Unsafe or unsound funding sources or utilization of funds in an unsafe and unsound manner may affect an FCU’s CAMEL and risk ratings even if the credit union is within the aggregate 50 percent limit. Waiver From the Appropriate Regional Director The proposed rule also eliminates the procedures that an FCU must follow to obtain a waiver from its appropriate regional director. Although the Board seeks to provide FCUs with greater flexibility, it also believes that the NCUA should not allow an FCU to have public unit and nonmember shares in excess of 50 percent of paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus less any public unit and nonmember shares. Allowing an FCU to exceed this limit could lead to safety and soundness concerns and unnecessary risk for the NCUSIF. As a result, the proposed rule does not establish a procedure for an FCU to request a waiver of the proposed aggregate 50 percent limit. Requirement To Maintain a Plan Regarding Use of Funds Furthermore, the proposed rule modifies key safeguards in current § 701.32(b) designed to ensure that an FCU’s board of directors conducts adequate due diligence before receiving payment on a significant amount of public unit and nonmember shares. Under the proposed rule, an FCU must E:\FR\FM\30MYP1.SGM 30MYP1 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 104 / Thursday, May 30, 2019 / Proposed Rules develop and maintain for review by NCUA examiners a specific plan regarding the intended use of any borrowings, public unit, or nonmember shares that, taken together, exceed 70 percent of the credit union’s paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus. The proposed rule does not require FCUs to submit the plans to the NCUA for prior approval. This approach provides an FCU with significant flexibility to adopt a prudent funding structure without the regulatory burden of developing a plan regarding the intended use of those funds unless the credit union borrows a significant amount of funds or accepts a significant number of public unit and nonmember shares. Requiring a plan for material levels of external funding sources is prudent due diligence and the Board expects FCUs that accept elevated levels of public unit and nonmember shares to document how the credit union will use those funds consistent with prudent risk management principles. Even though the Board expects that most FCUs will not need to develop a specific plan regarding the use of external funds under the proposed rule, it still believes that an FCU should continue to manage its balance sheet in a prudent manner. As noted above, the NCUA will continue to review an FCU’s business model and asset-liability management to ensure the FCU is operating in a safe and sound manner. Unsafe or unsound funding sources or utilization of funds in an unsafe and unsound manner may affect a credit union’s CAMEL and risk ratings and could result in regulatory action. V. Regulatory Procedures jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with PROPOSALS Regulatory Flexibility Act The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) 34 requires the NCUA to prepare an analysis to describe any significant economic impact a regulation may have on a substantial number of small entities (primarily those under $100 million in assets).35 This rule will provide a limited number of FCUs receiving public unit and nonmember share with additional flexibility. Accordingly, the Board believes that the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small credit unions. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required. Paperwork Reduction Act The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) applies to rulemakings in which an agency by rule creates a new paperwork burden on regulated entities 34 5 35 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq. U.S.C. 603(a). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:34 May 29, 2019 Jkt 247001 or modifies an existing burden. For purposes of the PRA, a paperwork burden may take the form of a reporting, disclosure, or recordkeeping requirement, each referred to as an information collection. The NCUA may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. This rule will amend § 701.32 to eliminate the wavier requirements for those seeking an exemption to the current 20 percent limit of the total amount of nonmember shares that an FCU may issue; due to the proposed increased limit of 50 percent, with no exceptions to this limit. This will eliminate the existing burden to submit a waiver. Under the proposed rule, a credit union must develop a specific plan regarding the intended use of any borrowings, public unit, or nonmember shares that, taken together, exceed 70 percent of the credit union’s paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus. The increased limit of public unit and nonmember shares could potentially see an increase in the number of respondents required to develop a plan from 20 to 50 FICUs at an estimated burden of 2 hours to comply annually, per respondent. These program changes would revise the information collection requirement under currently approved OMB number 3133–0114, as follows: Title of Information Collection: Payments on Shares by Public Units and Nonmembers, 12 CFR 701.32. OMB Control Number: 3133–0114. Estimated Number of Respondents: 50. Estimated Annual Frequency of Response: 1. Estimated Total Annual Reponses: 50. Estimated Hours per Response: 2. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 100. Affected Public: Private Sector: Notfor-profit institutions. The NCUA invites comments on: (a) Whether the collections of information are necessary for the proper performance of the agency’s functions, including whether the information has practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the estimates of the burden of the information collections, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collections on respondents, including through the use of automated collection PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 25021 techniques or other forms of information technology; and (e) estimates of capital or start-up costs and costs of operation, maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information. All comments are a matter of public record. Comments regarding the information collection requirements of this rule should be sent to (1) Dawn Wolfgang, NCUA PRA Clearance Officer, National Credit Union Administration, 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, or Fax No. 703–519–8572, or Email at PRAcomments@ncua.gov and the (2) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for NCUA, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, or email at OIRA_Submission,@ OMB.EOP.gov. Executive Order 13132 Executive Order 13132 encourages independent regulatory agencies to consider the impact of their actions on state and local interests.36 The NCUA, an independent regulatory agency, as defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(5), voluntarily complies with the executive order to adhere to fundamental federalism principles. The proposed rule will not have substantial direct effects on the states, on the relationship between the national government and the states, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. The Board has therefore determined that this proposed rule does not constitute a policy that has federalism implications for purposes of the executive order. Assessment of Federal Regulations and Policies on Families The NCUA has determined that this proposed rule will not affect family well-being within the meaning of Section 654 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 1999, Public Law 105–277, 112 Stat. 2681 (1998). List of Subjects 12 CFR Part 701 Credit unions, Nonmember accounts, Public units. 12 CFR Part 741 Bank deposit insurance, Credit unions, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. 36 64 E:\FR\FM\30MYP1.SGM FR 43255 (Aug. 4, 1999). 30MYP1 25022 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 104 / Thursday, May 30, 2019 / Proposed Rules By the National Credit Union Administration Board on May 23, 2019. Gerard S. Poliquin, Secretary of the Board. provided it has the authority to accept such accounts. * * * * * [FR Doc. 2019–11296 Filed 5–29–19; 8:45 am] For the reasons stated above, NCUA proposes to amend 12 CFR parts 701 and 741 as follows: BILLING CODE 7535–01–P DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY PART 701—ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION OF FEDERAL CREDIT UNIONS Coast Guard 1. The authority for part 701 continues to read as follows: 33 CFR Part 165 ■ Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1752(5), 1755, 1756, 1757, 1758, 1759, 1761a, 1761b, 1766, 1767, 1782, 1784, 1785, 1786, 1787, 1788, 1789. Section 701.6 is also authorized by 15 U.S.C. 3717. Section 701.31 is also authorized by 15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 1981 and 3601– 3610. Section 701.35 is also authorized by 42 U.S.C. 4311–4312. 2. Revise § 701.32(b) to read as follows: ■ RIN 1625–AA00 Safety Zone; Fireworks Display, Delaware River, Philadelphia, PA Coast Guard, DHS. Notice of proposed rulemaking. AGENCY: ACTION: The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone on the waters of the Delaware River near Pleasant Hill Park in Philadelphia, PA, from 9:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. on July 4, 2019, during the One River Alliance Fireworks Display. The safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of participant vessels, spectators, and the boating public during the event. This regulation would prohibit persons and non-participant vessels from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Delaware Bay or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking. DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast Guard on or before June 10, 2019. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG– 2019–0338 using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https:// www.regulations.gov. See the ‘‘Public Participation and Request for Comments’’ portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for further instructions on submitting comments. SUMMARY: § 701.32 Payment on shares by public units and nonmembers. * * * * * (b) Limitations—(1) Aggregate limit on public unit and nonmember shares. Except as permitted under paragraph (c) of this section, a Federal credit union may not accept public unit and nonmember shares in excess of 50 percent of the difference of paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus and any public unit and nonmember shares, as measured at the time of acceptance of each public unit or nonmember share. (2) Required due diligence. Before accepting public unit or nonmember shares that, taken together with any borrowings, exceed 70 percent of paidin and unimpaired capital and surplus, the board of directors must adopt a specific written plan concerning the intended use of these funds that is consistent with prudent risk management principles. * * * * * PART 741—REQUIREMENTS FOR INSURANCE 3. The authority for part 741 continues to read as follows: ■ § 741.204 Maximum public unit and nonmember accounts, and low-income designation. If you have questions about this proposed rulemaking, call or email Petty Officer Thomas Welker, U.S. Coast Guard, Sector Delaware Bay, Waterways Management Division, Coast Guard; telephone (215) 271–4814, email Thomas.j.welker@uscg.mil. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: * I. Table of Abbreviations FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1757, 1766(a), 1781– 1790, and 1790d; 31 U.S.C. 3717. 4. Revise § 741.204(a) to read as follows: ■ jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with PROPOSALS [Docket Number USCG–2019–0338] * * * * (a) Adhere to the requirements of § 701.32 of this chapter regarding public unit and nonmember accounts, VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:34 May 29, 2019 Jkt 247001 CFR Code of Federal Regulations COTP Captain of the Port DHS Department of Homeland Security PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 FR Federal Register NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking § Section U.S.C. United States Code II. Background, Purpose, and Legal Basis On April 19, 2019, Pyrotechnico Fireworks notified the Coast Guard that it will be conducting a firework display near Pleasant Hill Park in Philadelphia, PA, from 9:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. on July 4, 2019. The display will be launched from a barge in the Delaware River. Hazards from firework displays include accidental discharge of fireworks, dangerous projectiles, and falling hot embers or other debris. The Captain of the Port Delaware Bay (COTP) has determined that this temporary safety zone is necessary to provide safety during the fireworks display, and to ensure protection of participants, spectators and other boaters. The purpose of this rulemaking is to ensure the safety of vessels and the navigable waters. The Coast Guard proposes this rulemaking under authority in 46 U.S.C 70034 (previously 33 U.S.C. 1231). III. Discussion of Proposed Rule The COTP proposes to establish a temporary safety zone on the waters of the Delaware River near Pleasant Hill Park in Philadelphia, PA, during a fireworks display scheduled to take place between 9:15 p.m. and 10 p.m. on July 4, 2019. The fireworks will be set off from a barge in the river, which will be anchored at approximate position latitude 40°02′22.54″ N longitude 074°59′22.03″ W. The safety zone would extend 200 yards around the barge. No person or vessel will be permitted to enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the safety zone without obtaining permission from the COTP Delaware Bay or a designated representative. If the COTP Delaware Bay or a designated representative grants authorization to enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the safety zone, all persons and vessels receiving such authorization must comply with the instructions of the COTP Delaware Bay or a designated representative. The Coast Guard will provide public notice of the safety zone by Local Notice to Mariners and Broadcast Notice to Mariners. The regulatory text we are proposing appears at the end of this document. IV. Regulatory Analyses We developed this proposed rule after considering numerous statutes and Executive orders related to rulemaking. Below we summarize our analyses E:\FR\FM\30MYP1.SGM 30MYP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 104 (Thursday, May 30, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 25018-25022]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-11296]


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NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION

12 CFR Parts 701 and 741

RIN 3313-AF00


Public Unit and Nonmember Shares

AGENCY: National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The NCUA Board (Board) is proposing to amend the NCUA's public 
unit and nonmember share rule to allow Federal credit unions (FCU) to 
receive public unit and nonmember shares up to 50 percent of the credit 
union's paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus less any public unit 
and nonmember shares.

DATES: Comments must be received by July 29, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods 
(Please send comments by one method only):
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     NCUA website: https://www.ncua.gov/RegulationsOpinionsLaws/proposed_regs/proposed_regs.html. Follow the instructions for 
submitting comments.
     Email: Address to [email protected]. Include ``[Your 
name] Comments on Public Unit and Nonmember Shares Proposed Rule'' in 
the email subject line.
     Fax: (703) 518-6319. Use the subject line described above 
for email.
     Mail: Address to Gerard Poliquin, Secretary of the Board, 
National Credit Union Administration, 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, 
Virginia 22314-3428.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Same as mail address.
    Public inspection: All public comments are available on the 
agency's website at https://www.ncua.gov/RegulationsOpinionsLaws/comments as submitted, except as may not be possible for technical 
reasons. Public comments will not be edited to remove any identifying 
or contact information. Paper copies of comments may be inspected in 
NCUA's law library, at 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, by 
appointment weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. To make an 
appointment, call (703) 518-6540 or send an email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Benjamin M. Litchfield, Staff 
Attorney, Office of General Counsel, 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, 
Virginia 22314, or by telephone at (703) 518-6540.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background
II. Legal Authority
III. Summary of the Proposed Rule
IV. Section-by-Section Analysis
V. Regulatory Procedures

I. Background

    Section 107(6) of the Federal Credit Union Act (FCU Act) permits an 
FCU to receive payment on shares from nonmembers under certain 
circumstances.\1\ An FCU may receive payment on shares from nonmember 
credit unions.\2\ An FCU may also receive payment on shares from 
nonmember public units and their political subdivisions.\3\ The term 
``public unit'' generally refers to ``the United States, any state of 
the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico, the Panama Canal Zone, any territory or possession of the United 
States, any county, municipality, or political subdivision thereof, or 
any Indian tribe as defined in section 3(c) of the Indian Financing Act 
of 1974.'' \4\
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    \1\ 12 U.S.C. 1757(6).
    \2\ Id.
    \3\ Id.
    \4\ 12 CFR 745.1(c).
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    Moreover, an FCU that predominantly serves low-income members may

[[Page 25019]]

receive payment on shares from any source regardless of membership.\5\ 
Section 701.34 of the NCUA's regulations defines a ``low-income 
member'' as, among other things, a member ``whose family income is 80 
[percent] or less than the median family income for the metropolitan 
area where [the member] live[s] or [the] national metropolitan area, 
whichever is greater.'' \6\ Alternatively, a ``low-income member'' is a 
member ``who earn[s] 80 [percent] or less than the total median 
earnings for individuals for the metropolitan area where [the member] 
live[s] or [the] national metropolitan area, whichever is greater.'' 
\7\
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    \5\ 12 U.S.C. 1757(6).
    \6\ 12 CFR 701.34(a)(2).
    \7\ Id.
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    Section 701.32 of the NCUA's regulations limits the total amount of 
nonmember shares that an FCU may have to 20 percent of the credit 
union's total shares, or $3 million, whichever is greater, unless the 
shares are U.S. Treasury accounts or matching funds accounts required 
by the NCUA's Community Development Revolving Loan Fund Program.\8\ 
This limit also applies to public unit shares regardless of whether the 
public unit is a member of the credit union. The Board imposed this 20 
percent limitation on both member public unit and nonmember shares 
because of the asset/liability management problems related to public 
unit and nonmember shares that arose at certain FCUs, which resulted in 
material losses for the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund 
(NCUSIF).\9\
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    \8\ 12 CFR 701.32(b), (c).
    \9\ See Nonmember and Public Unit Accounts, 53 FR 50918 (Dec. 
19, 1988).
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Regulatory Reform Agenda

    Consistent with the spirit of Executive Order 13777, entitled 
``Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda,'' \10\ the Board established 
a Regulatory Reform Task Force (Task Force) to identify NCUA 
regulations that the agency should repeal, replace, or modify. The Task 
Force performed an exhaustive review and submitted its first report to 
the Board in June 2017. In August 2017, the Board published the 
substance of the Task Force's first report in the Federal Register for 
public comment.\11\ After the close of the public comment period, the 
Board published the Task Force's second and final report in the Federal 
Register in December 2018.\12\
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    \10\ See Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda, E.O. 13777, 82 
FR 12285 (Mar. 1, 2017).
    \11\ See Regulatory Reform Agenda, 82 FR 39702 (Aug. 22, 2017).
    \12\ See Regulatory Reform Agenda, 83 FR 65926 (Dec. 21, 2018).
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    The Task Force's final report recommends that the Board increase 
the public unit and nonmember share limit in Sec.  701.32 of the NCUA's 
regulations.\13\ The Task Force stated that public unit and nonmember 
shares are the functional equivalent of borrowings and, therefore, 
should be subject to the borrowing limit for FCUs set out in the FCU 
Act. Section 107(9) of the FCU Act permits an FCU to borrow from any 
source up to 50 percent of the credit union's paid-in and unimpaired 
capital and surplus subject to such rules and regulations as the Board 
may prescribe.\14\ However, this limitation does not apply to discounts 
or sales of eligible obligations to any Federal intermediate credit 
bank or loans from the Central Liquidity Facility.\15\ The proposed 
rule implements the essence of the Task Force's recommendation.
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    \13\ 12 CFR 701.32.
    \14\ 12 U.S.C. 1757(9).
    \15\ Id. For rules governing loans from the Central Liquidity 
Facility see 12 CFR 725.
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II. Legal Authority

    The Board has issued this proposed rule pursuant to its authority 
under the FCU Act. Under the FCU Act, the NCUA is the chartering and 
supervisory authority for FCUs and the Federal supervisory authority 
for FICUs.\16\ The FCU Act grants the NCUA a broad mandate to issue 
regulations governing both FCUs and all FICUs. Section 120 of the FCU 
Act is a general grant of regulatory authority and authorizes the Board 
to prescribe rules and regulations for the administration of the FCU 
Act.\17\ Section 207 of the FCU Act is a specific grant of authority 
over share insurance coverage, conservatorships, and liquidations.\18\ 
Section 209 of the FCU Act is a plenary grant of regulatory authority 
to the Board to issue rules and regulations necessary or appropriate to 
carry out its role as share insurer for all FICUs.\19\ Accordingly, the 
FCU Act grants the Board broad rulemaking authority to ensure that the 
credit union industry and the NCUSIF remain safe and sound.
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    \16\ 12 U.S.C. 1752-1775.
    \17\ 12 U.S.C. 1766(a).
    \18\ 12 U.S.C. 1787(b)(1).
    \19\ 12 U.S.C. 1789(a)(11).
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III. Summary of the Proposed Rule

    The proposed rule amends Sec.  701.32 of the NCUA's regulations to 
allow an FCU to receive payment on shares from public unit and 
nonmember shares up to 50 percent of the credit union's paid-in and 
unimpaired capital and surplus less any public unit and nonmember 
shares from public units and nonmembers without requesting a waiver 
from the appropriate regional director. As discussed below, the 
proposed rule does not allow a waiver process for an FCU to exceed this 
50 percent limit as a matter of safety and soundness. The proposed rule 
also requires an FCU to develop and maintain a written plan if its 
public unit and nonmember shares, taken together with borrowings, 
exceed 70 percent of paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus. 
Finally, the proposed rule makes conforming amendments to Sec.  
741.204, which applies to all FICUs, to reflect the changes to Sec.  
701.32.

IV. Section-by-Section Analysis

Section 701.32(b)--Limitations

    Current Sec.  701.32(b) limits the amount of public unit and 
nonmember shares that an FCU may have to 20 percent of total shares, or 
$3 million dollars, whichever is greater, and sets forth procedures 
that an FCU must follow if it wishes to receive from the appropriate 
regional director a waiver to accept additional public unit or 
nonmember shares.
    Before accepting any public unit or nonmember shares in excess of 
20 percent of total shares, the credit union's board of directors 
``must adopt a specific written plan concerning the intended use of 
these shares and forward a copy of the plan to the [r]egional 
[d]irector.'' \20\ The plan must include a ``statement of the credit 
union's needs, sources and intended uses of public unit and nonmember 
shares.'' \21\ The plan must also make provision for ``matching 
maturities of public unit and nonmember shares with corresponding 
assets'' and ``adequate income spread between public unit and nonmember 
shares and corresponding assets.'' \22\ If there is any mismatch 
between maturities of public unit and nonmember shares with 
corresponding assets, the credit union must justify the mismatch.\23\
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    \20\ 12 CFR 701.32(b)(2).
    \21\ 12 CFR 701.32(b)(2)(i).
    \22\ 12 CFR 701.32(b)(2)(ii) and (iii).
    \23\ 12 CFR 701.32(b)(2)(ii).
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    In addition to the written plan adopted by the FCU's board of 
directors, the FCU also must submit a written request for a waiver of 
the 20 percent limit to the appropriate regional director.\24\ The 
waiver request must include: (1) The new level of public unit and 
nonmember shares requested (either as a dollar amount or a percentage 
of total shares); (2) the current plan adopted by the FCU's board of 
directors regarding the use of new public unit and nonmember shares; 
(3) a copy of the

[[Page 25020]]

FCU's latest financial statements; and (4) a copy of the FCU's loan and 
investment policies.\25\ If the FCU's financial condition and 
management are sound, and the credit union's plan for the funds is 
reasonable, Sec.  701.32 establishes a presumption in favor of granting 
a waiver.\26\
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    \24\ 12 CFR 701.32(b)(3).
    \25\ 12 CFR 701.32(b)(3)(i) through (iv).
    \26\ 12 CFR 701.32(b)(4).
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    The regional director will typically grant a waiver for a two-year 
period unless the regional director believes that a lesser time is 
appropriate.\27\ Upon expiration of the waiver, the NCUSIF will 
continue to insure public unit and nonmember shares currently held in 
the FCU within applicable limits.\28\ However, an FCU may not accept 
any new public unit or nonmember shares or rollover existing public 
unit or nonmember share certificates in excess of the 20 percent of 
total shares limit.\29\
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    \27\ Id.
    \28\ 12 CFR 701.32(b)(6). See 12 CFR 745 on share insurance 
limits.
    \29\ Id.
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    The 20 percent total shares limit and the procedures set out in 
Sec.  701.32(b) do not apply to treasury tax and loan (TT&L) remittance 
accounts, TT&L note accounts, U.S. Treasury general accounts, and U.S. 
Treasury time deposit-open accounts, which are all subject to the 
requirements of Sec.  701.37 of the NCUA's regulations.\30\ Section 
701.32 also does not apply to matching fund accounts required by the 
NCUA's Community Development Revolving Loan Program unless the credit 
union has already repaid the loan granted under that program that 
required matching funds.\31\
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    \30\ 12 CFR 701.32(c). See 12 CFR 701.37.
    \31\ Id. For information on the Community Development Revolving 
Loan Program, see 12 CFR 705.
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Aggregate Limit on Public Unit and Nonmember Shares

    The proposed rule simplifies the current regulatory framework in 
Sec.  701.32(b). In establishing the 20 percent of total shares limit 
in current Sec.  701.32(b), the Board relied heavily on industry 
practices in 1988.\32\ The credit union industry has undergone 
significant changes in the intervening 31 years since this limit was 
adopted, including credit unions' growing need for additional sources 
of funding to serve their members. To respond to these changes, the 
proposed rule increases the current 20 percent of total shares limit to 
50 percent of paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus less any 
public unit and nonmember shares.
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    \32\ 53 FR 50918, 50919 (Dec. 19, 1988).
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    The change in standard from ``total shares'' to ``paid-in and 
unimpaired capital and surplus less any public unit and nonmember 
shares'' provides credit unions with greater ability to accept public 
unit and nonmember deposits because undivided earnings are included in 
the measurement of a credit union's paid-in and unimpaired capital and 
surplus. The proposed rule does not include public unit and nonmember 
shares in the calculation of its unimpaired capital and surplus for 
purposes of this 50 percent limit. This restriction provides a 
meaningful limit on the ability of a credit union to increase its 
leverage indefinitely, which could pose a clear risk to credit unions 
and the NCUSIF. The Board believes that this balanced approach provides 
an FCU with greater flexibility to determine an appropriate funding 
structure to support ongoing credit union operations in a prudent 
manner.
    While the Board recognizes that public unit and nonmember shares 
are unique in some respects, particularly with respect to their 
sensitivity to interest rate fluctuations,\33\ these shares are in many 
other respects the functional equivalent of other types of short-term 
borrowings. Accordingly, the Board believes that allowing an FCU to 
receive public unit and nonmember shares up to 50 percent of paid-in 
and unimpaired capital and surplus, less any public unit and nonmember 
shares, similar to the borrowing limit set out in Section 107(9) of the 
FCU Act, is a preferable approach to the current 20 percent of total 
shares limit set out in Sec.  701.32(b). The Board also believes that 
the proposed 50 percent of paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus 
less any public unit and nonmember shares regulatory limit is 
sufficiently high that an alternative $3 million dollar limit will be 
unnecessary.
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    \33\ Id.
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    However, the Board is aware that some small FCUs, particularly low-
income credit unions that rely on large volumes of nonmember shares as 
a necessary source of funding or newly chartered credit unions, may be 
adversely impacted by the elimination of the $3 million dollar limit. 
Consequently, the Board seeks specific comments on whether it should 
retain the $3 million dollar limit or provide a special exemption for 
small low-income credit unions that demonstrate a need for large 
volumes of nonmember shares above the 50 percent paid-in and unimpaired 
capital and surplus limit and for newly chartered credit unions. The 
Board is actively considering these alternatives and may adopt one of 
these approaches based on the persuasiveness of the comments.
    Because an FCU may currently borrow up to 50 percent of paid-in and 
unimpaired capital and surplus under Section 107(9) of the FCU Act, the 
Board believes that providing credit unions with the proposed ability 
to accept a comparable amount of public unit and nonmember shares will 
not present an undue risk to credit unions or the NCUSIF. The Board 
recognizes that in some instances public unit and nonmember shares can 
be a more stable and cost-effective source of funding than borrowing. 
Additionally, public unit and nonmember shares have other benefits for 
credit unions and their communities, such as developing or enhancing an 
FCU's relationship with political subdivisions, public units, or in the 
case of low-income designated credit unions, other charitable or 
economic development organizations.
    However, the Board notes that an FCU should continue to manage its 
balance sheet in a prudent manner. The NCUA will continue to review an 
FCU's business model and asset-liability management to ensure the 
credit union is operating in a safe and sound manner. Unsafe or unsound 
funding sources or utilization of funds in an unsafe and unsound manner 
may affect an FCU's CAMEL and risk ratings even if the credit union is 
within the aggregate 50 percent limit.

Waiver From the Appropriate Regional Director

    The proposed rule also eliminates the procedures that an FCU must 
follow to obtain a waiver from its appropriate regional director. 
Although the Board seeks to provide FCUs with greater flexibility, it 
also believes that the NCUA should not allow an FCU to have public unit 
and nonmember shares in excess of 50 percent of paid-in and unimpaired 
capital and surplus less any public unit and nonmember shares. Allowing 
an FCU to exceed this limit could lead to safety and soundness concerns 
and unnecessary risk for the NCUSIF. As a result, the proposed rule 
does not establish a procedure for an FCU to request a waiver of the 
proposed aggregate 50 percent limit.

Requirement To Maintain a Plan Regarding Use of Funds

    Furthermore, the proposed rule modifies key safeguards in current 
Sec.  701.32(b) designed to ensure that an FCU's board of directors 
conducts adequate due diligence before receiving payment on a 
significant amount of public unit and nonmember shares. Under the 
proposed rule, an FCU must

[[Page 25021]]

develop and maintain for review by NCUA examiners a specific plan 
regarding the intended use of any borrowings, public unit, or nonmember 
shares that, taken together, exceed 70 percent of the credit union's 
paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus. The proposed rule does not 
require FCUs to submit the plans to the NCUA for prior approval.
    This approach provides an FCU with significant flexibility to adopt 
a prudent funding structure without the regulatory burden of developing 
a plan regarding the intended use of those funds unless the credit 
union borrows a significant amount of funds or accepts a significant 
number of public unit and nonmember shares. Requiring a plan for 
material levels of external funding sources is prudent due diligence 
and the Board expects FCUs that accept elevated levels of public unit 
and nonmember shares to document how the credit union will use those 
funds consistent with prudent risk management principles.
    Even though the Board expects that most FCUs will not need to 
develop a specific plan regarding the use of external funds under the 
proposed rule, it still believes that an FCU should continue to manage 
its balance sheet in a prudent manner. As noted above, the NCUA will 
continue to review an FCU's business model and asset-liability 
management to ensure the FCU is operating in a safe and sound manner. 
Unsafe or unsound funding sources or utilization of funds in an unsafe 
and unsound manner may affect a credit union's CAMEL and risk ratings 
and could result in regulatory action.

V. Regulatory Procedures

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) \34\ requires the NCUA to 
prepare an analysis to describe any significant economic impact a 
regulation may have on a substantial number of small entities 
(primarily those under $100 million in assets).\35\ This rule will 
provide a limited number of FCUs receiving public unit and nonmember 
share with additional flexibility. Accordingly, the Board believes that 
the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small credit unions. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility 
analysis is not required.
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    \34\ 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.
    \35\ 5 U.S.C. 603(a).
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Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) applies to rulemakings in 
which an agency by rule creates a new paperwork burden on regulated 
entities or modifies an existing burden. For purposes of the PRA, a 
paperwork burden may take the form of a reporting, disclosure, or 
recordkeeping requirement, each referred to as an information 
collection. The NCUA may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is 
not required to respond to, an information collection unless it 
displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
control number.
    This rule will amend Sec.  701.32 to eliminate the wavier 
requirements for those seeking an exemption to the current 20 percent 
limit of the total amount of nonmember shares that an FCU may issue; 
due to the proposed increased limit of 50 percent, with no exceptions 
to this limit. This will eliminate the existing burden to submit a 
waiver.
    Under the proposed rule, a credit union must develop a specific 
plan regarding the intended use of any borrowings, public unit, or 
nonmember shares that, taken together, exceed 70 percent of the credit 
union's paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus. The increased limit 
of public unit and nonmember shares could potentially see an increase 
in the number of respondents required to develop a plan from 20 to 50 
FICUs at an estimated burden of 2 hours to comply annually, per 
respondent.
    These program changes would revise the information collection 
requirement under currently approved OMB number 3133-0114, as follows:
    Title of Information Collection: Payments on Shares by Public Units 
and Nonmembers, 12 CFR 701.32.
    OMB Control Number: 3133-0114.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 50.
    Estimated Annual Frequency of Response: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Reponses: 50.
    Estimated Hours per Response: 2.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 100.
    Affected Public: Private Sector: Not-for-profit institutions.
    The NCUA invites comments on: (a) Whether the collections of 
information are necessary for the proper performance of the agency's 
functions, including whether the information has practical utility; (b) 
the accuracy of the estimates of the burden of the information 
collections, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
information collections on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology; and (e) estimates of capital or start-up costs and costs of 
operation, maintenance, and purchase of services to provide 
information.
    All comments are a matter of public record. Comments regarding the 
information collection requirements of this rule should be sent to (1) 
Dawn Wolfgang, NCUA PRA Clearance Officer, National Credit Union 
Administration, 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, or Fax 
No. 703-519-8572, or Email at [email protected] and the (2) Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
Attention: Desk Officer for NCUA, New Executive Office Building, Room 
10235, Washington, DC 20503, or email at OIRA_Submission,@OMB.EOP.gov.

Executive Order 13132

    Executive Order 13132 encourages independent regulatory agencies to 
consider the impact of their actions on state and local interests.\36\ 
The NCUA, an independent regulatory agency, as defined in 44 U.S.C. 
3502(5), voluntarily complies with the executive order to adhere to 
fundamental federalism principles. The proposed rule will not have 
substantial direct effects on the states, on the relationship between 
the national government and the states, or on the distribution of power 
and responsibilities among the various levels of government. The Board 
has therefore determined that this proposed rule does not constitute a 
policy that has federalism implications for purposes of the executive 
order.
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    \36\ 64 FR 43255 (Aug. 4, 1999).
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Assessment of Federal Regulations and Policies on Families

    The NCUA has determined that this proposed rule will not affect 
family well-being within the meaning of Section 654 of the Treasury and 
General Government Appropriations Act, 1999, Public Law 105-277, 112 
Stat. 2681 (1998).

List of Subjects

12 CFR Part 701

    Credit unions, Nonmember accounts, Public units.

12 CFR Part 741

    Bank deposit insurance, Credit unions, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.


[[Page 25022]]


    By the National Credit Union Administration Board on May 23, 
2019.
Gerard S. Poliquin,
Secretary of the Board.

    For the reasons stated above, NCUA proposes to amend 12 CFR parts 
701 and 741 as follows:

PART 701--ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION OF FEDERAL CREDIT UNIONS

0
1. The authority for part 701 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1752(5), 1755, 1756, 1757, 1758, 1759, 
1761a, 1761b, 1766, 1767, 1782, 1784, 1785, 1786, 1787, 1788, 1789. 
Section 701.6 is also authorized by 15 U.S.C. 3717. Section 701.31 
is also authorized by 15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 1981 and 
3601-3610. Section 701.35 is also authorized by 42 U.S.C. 4311-4312.

0
2. Revise Sec.  701.32(b) to read as follows:


Sec.  701.32  Payment on shares by public units and nonmembers.

* * * * *
    (b) Limitations--(1) Aggregate limit on public unit and nonmember 
shares. Except as permitted under paragraph (c) of this section, a 
Federal credit union may not accept public unit and nonmember shares in 
excess of 50 percent of the difference of paid-in and unimpaired 
capital and surplus and any public unit and nonmember shares, as 
measured at the time of acceptance of each public unit or nonmember 
share.
    (2) Required due diligence. Before accepting public unit or 
nonmember shares that, taken together with any borrowings, exceed 70 
percent of paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus, the board of 
directors must adopt a specific written plan concerning the intended 
use of these funds that is consistent with prudent risk management 
principles.
* * * * *

PART 741--REQUIREMENTS FOR INSURANCE

0
3. The authority for part 741 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1757, 1766(a), 1781-1790, and 1790d; 31 
U.S.C. 3717.

0
4. Revise Sec.  741.204(a) to read as follows:


Sec.  741.204  Maximum public unit and nonmember accounts, and low-
income designation.

* * * * *
    (a) Adhere to the requirements of Sec.  701.32 of this chapter 
regarding public unit and nonmember accounts, provided it has the 
authority to accept such accounts.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2019-11296 Filed 5-29-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7535-01-P


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