Self-Regulatory Organizations; Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Provide Dealers and Municipal Advisors Additional Time To Comply With Certain Obligations for a Temporary Period of Time and Temporarily Suspend Late Fees on Payments Owed to the MSRB, 23088-23092 [2020-08696]
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 80 / Friday, April 24, 2020 / Notices
investors and the public interest.’’ 24
The Commission believes that several of
the proposed rule changes are not
consistent with the CAT NMS Plan or
exemptive relief that has been granted
as of the date of this Order.
IV. Commission’s Solicitation of
Comments
The Commission requests that
interested persons provide written
submissions of their views, data, and
arguments with respect to the issues
identified above, as well as any other
concerns they may have with the
proposal. In particular, the Commission
invites the written views of interested
persons concerning whether the
proposal is consistent with Section
6(b)(5) 25 or any other provision of the
Act, or the rules and regulations
thereunder. Although there do not
appear to be any issues relevant to
approval or disapproval that would be
facilitated by an oral presentation of
views, data, and arguments, the
Commission will consider, pursuant to
Rule 19b-4 under the Act,26 any request
for an opportunity to make an oral
presentation.27
Interested persons are invited to
submit written data, views, and
arguments regarding whether the
proposal should be approved or
disapproved by May 15, 2020. Any
person who wishes to file a rebuttal to
any other person’s submission must file
that rebuttal by May 29, 2020.
Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to rule-comments@
sec.gov. Please include File Numbers
SR–NYSEAMER–2020–03 on the subject
line.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–NYSEAMER–2020–03. This
file number should be included on the
subject line if email is used. To help the
Commission process and review your
comments more efficiently, please use
only one method. The Commission will
post all comments on the Commission’s
internet website (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
submission, all subsequent
amendments, all written statements
with respect to the proposed rule
change that are filed with the
Commission, and all written
communications relating to the
proposed rule change between the
Commission and any person, other than
those that may be withheld from the
public in accordance with the
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
available for website viewing and
printing in the Commission’s Public
Reference Room, 100 F Street NE,
Washington, DC 20549 on official
business days between the hours of
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the
filing also will be available for
inspection and copying at the principal
office of the Exchange. All comments
received will be posted without change.
Persons submitting comments are
cautioned that we do not redact or edit
personal identifying information from
comment submissions. You should
submit only information that you wish
to make available publicly. All
submissions should refer to File
Number SR–NYSEAMER–2020–03 and
should be submitted on or before May
15, 2020. Rebuttal comments should be
submitted by May 29, 2020.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.28
J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020–08700 Filed 4–23–20; 8:45 am]
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Secretary, Securities and Exchange
Commission, 100 F Street NE,
Washington, DC 20549–1090.
U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
26 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
27 Section 19(b)(2) of the Exchange Act, as
amended by the Securities Act Amendments of
1975, Public Law 94–29 (June 4, 1975), grants the
Commission flexibility to determine what type of
proceeding—either oral or notice and opportunity
for written comments—is appropriate for
consideration of a particular proposal by a selfregulatory organization. See Securities Act
Amendments of 1975, Senate Comm. on Banking,
Housing & Urban Affairs, S. Rep. No. 75, 94th
Cong., 1st Sess. 30 (1975).
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
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[Release No. 34–88694; File No. SR–MSRB–
2020–01]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
Municipal Securities Rulemaking
Board; Notice of Filing and Immediate
Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule
Change To Provide Dealers and
Municipal Advisors Additional Time To
Comply With Certain Obligations for a
Temporary Period of Time and
Temporarily Suspend Late Fees on
Payments Owed to the MSRB
April 20, 2020.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’
or ‘‘Exchange Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4
thereunder,2 notice is hereby given that
on April 13, 2020 the Municipal
Securities Rulemaking Board (‘‘MSRB’’)
filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘SEC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’)
the proposed rule change as described
in Items I and II below, which Items
have been prepared by the MSRB. The
Commission is publishing this notice to
solicit comments on the proposed rule
change from interested persons.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The MSRB filed with the Commission
a proposed rule change to provide
dealers and municipal advisors
additional time to comply with certain
obligations for a temporary period of
time and temporarily suspend late fees
on payments owed to the MSRB (the
‘‘proposed rule change’’). The MSRB has
designated the proposed rule change as
constituting a ‘‘non-controversial’’ rule
change under paragraph (f)(6) of Rule
19b–4 under the Act,3 which renders
the proposal effective upon receipt of
this filing by the Commission.
The text of the proposed rule change
is available on the MSRB’s website at
www.msrb.org/Rules-andInterpretations/SEC-Filings/2020Filings.aspx, at the MSRB’s principal
office, and at the Commission’s Public
Reference Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
In its filing with the Commission, the
MSRB included statements concerning
the purpose of and basis for the
proposed rule change and discussed any
24 15
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COMMISSION
1 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
CFR 240.19b–4.
3 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).
2 17
28 17
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comments it received on the proposed
rule change. The text of these statements
may be examined at the places specified
in Item IV below. The MSRB has
prepared summaries, set forth in
Sections A, B, and C below, of the most
significant aspects of such statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
The MSRB is closely monitoring the
impact of the coronavirus disease
(COVID–19) pandemic on municipal
market participants, including brokers,
dealers, municipal securities dealers
(‘‘dealers’’), municipal advisors, issuers
and investors. The MSRB recognizes
that dealers and municipal advisors
(collectively, ‘‘regulated entities’’) are
experiencing operational challenges
with a vast number of individuals
working from home, coupled with
unprecedented conditions in the
municipal market due to the COVID–19
pandemic.4 In an effort to provide
regulated entities an opportunity to
better manage and allocate resources
during these exigent circumstances, the
MSRB is proposing to (i) suspend late
fees owed for the period of March 1,
2020 through July 31, 2020; (ii) modify
the date by which compliance
obligations must be completed under
certain MSRB rules for a temporary
period; and (iii) extend the compliance
date of rule changes that have yet to be
implemented.5
The MSRB will continue monitoring
the impact of the COVID–19 pandemic
and work in close coordination with
other financial regulators and
governmental authorities.
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Temporary Suspension of Late Fees
The MSRB assesses late fees under
MSRB Rule A–11, on assessments for
municipal advisor professionals, and
MSRB Rule A–12, on registration. The
MSRB is proposing to suspend the
assessment of such late fees on overdue
balances that may be owed to the MSRB
for a temporary period. Specifically, the
proposed rule change would
temporarily suspend, for the period of
March 1, 2020 through July 31, 2020,
the late fees assessed under:
• MSRB Rule A–11(b), for the annual
municipal advisor professional fees
owed by each municipal advisor
4 Wall Street Journal: How the Muni Market
Became the Epicenter of the Liquidity Crisis (April
2, 2020) https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-themuni-market-became-the-epicenter-of-the-liquiditycrisis-11585823404
5 See 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).
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17:03 Apr 23, 2020
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pursuant to Rule A–11(a) for each
person associated with the municipal
advisor who is qualified as a municipal
advisor representative pursuant to Rule
A–11(a);
• MSRB Rule A–12(d), for the:
• Initial registration fee owed by each
dealer and municipal advisor pursuant
to Rule A–12(b);
• Annual registration fee owed by
each dealer and municipal advisor
pursuant to Rule A–12(c);
• Any underwriting assessments
owed by each dealer, pursuant to MSRB
Rule A–13(a), for municipal securities
purchased from an issuer by or through
a dealer as part of a primary offering; 6
• Any underwriting assessment for a
primary offering of municipal fund
securities owed, pursuant to Rule A–
13(b), by each underwriter of a primary
offering of a plan, as the terms
‘‘underwriter’’ and ‘‘plan’’ are defined
under Rule G–45(d)(xiv) and Rule G–
45(d)(ix), respectively;
• Any transaction assessment owed
by each dealer for certain inter-dealer
municipal securities sales pursuant to
Rule A–13(d)(i); and
• Any technology assessment owed
by each dealer for certain sales to
customers pursuant to Rule A–13(d)(ii).
Late fees are generally assessed during
the last week of the month on
outstanding balances subject to late fees
per applicable Rule at that point in time.
In this instance, beginning on August 1,
2020, outstanding balances will be
subject to late fees as specified by MSRB
Rule A–11(b) and MSRB Rule A–12(d),
respectively. During the last week of
August, outstanding balances subject to
late fees under those Rules will be
assessed such fees in accordance with
those Rules. Late fees will not be
assessed retroactively for the period of
March 1, 2020 through July 31, 2020.
Extension of Time To Complete Certain
Supervisory Functions
The MSRB is proposing to provide
dealers additional time to complete
certain annual supervisory functions
under MSRB Rule G–27, on supervision.
Specifically, the following supervisory
obligations shall be deemed to have
been timely completed for calendar year
2020, provided that such supervisory
obligations are completed on or before
March 31, 2021:
6 Rule A–13, on underwriting and transaction
assessments for brokers, dealers, and municipal
securities dealers, section A–13(a) provides that the
underwriting assessment does not apply to a
primary offering of securities if all such securities
in the primary offering are commercial paper as
defined in MSRB Rule G–32(d) or constitute
municipal fund securities. An underwriting
assessment for a primary offering of municipal fund
securities is addressed under Rule A–13(b).
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23089
• An inspection of an office of
municipal supervisory jurisdiction,
branch office or non-branch location
pursuant to Rule G–27(d)(i)(A), (B) and
(C), as applicable, recognizing that,
consistent with Rule G–27 (g)(ii)(A)(7),
a temporary location established in
response to the implementation of a
business continuity plan is not deemed
an office for purposes of complying
inspection obligations;
• The annual compliance interview
or meeting pursuant to Rule G–
27(b)(vii); and
• The submission of a report from the
designated principal(s) to the firm’s
senior management detailing the review
of the firm’s supervisory controls
pursuant to Rule G–27(f)(i).
Similarly, the MSRB is also proposing
to provide municipal advisors until
March 31, 2021 to complete the annual
certification for calendar year 2020
required pursuant to MSRB Rule G–44,
on supervisory and compliance
obligations of municipal advisors.
Pursuant to Rule G–44(d), the chief
executive officer(s) (or equivalent
officer(s)) of a municipal advisor must
annually certify in writing that the
municipal advisor has in place
processes to establish, maintain, review,
test and modify written compliance
policies and written supervisory
procedures reasonably designed to
achieve compliance with applicable
rules.7
Extension of Previously Announced
Compliance Dates
On January 31, 2020, the MSRB
announced a compliance date of
November 30, 2020 for the amended and
restated guidance regarding the fair
dealing obligations underwriters owe to
issuers of municipal securities under
MSRB Rule G–17, on conduct of
municipal securities and municipal
advisory activities (the ‘‘Revised
Interpretive Notice’’).8 The MSRB is
proposing to extend the compliance
date until March 31, 2021; underwriting
relationships commenced by dealers on
or after the revised compliance date will
be subject to the Revised Interpretive
Notice.9
7 As provided in Rule G–44(d), this requirement
shall not apply to municipal advisors that are
subject to a substantially similar certification
requirement of the Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority (FINRA) with respect to all applicable
rules.
8 MSRB Notice 2020–03 (Jan 31, 2020)
announcing the effective date for the Revised
Interpretive Notice, which the SEC had approved
on November 6, 2019. See Release No. 34–87478
(Nov. 6, 2019), 84 FR 61660 (Nov. 13, 2019) (File
No. SR–MSRB–2019–10).
9 As stated in the Revised Interpretive Notice, an
underwriting relationship is deemed to commence
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 80 / Friday, April 24, 2020 / Notices
On December 20, 2019, the MSRB
announced a compliance date of
November 30, 2020 for amendments to
Form G–32.10 These amendments to
Form G–32 are designed to collect new
data elements from underwriters related
to primary offerings of municipal
securities through the MSRB’s
Electronic Municipal Market Access
Dataport system, the majority of which
is data underwriters are presently
required to input into the Depository
Trust Company’s New Issue Information
Dissemination Service. The MSRB is
proposing to extend the compliance
date until March 31, 2021.11
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Extension of Time To Complete Certain
Professional Qualification Standards
FINRA, as appointed by the
Commission, provides test
administration services to the MSRB for
the delivery of MSRB-owned
professional qualification
examinations.12 FINRA uses
Prometric 13 as its single vendor for the
delivery of the professional qualification
examinations that FINRA is charged
with administering, including MSRBowned professional qualification
examinations. In March 2020, Prometric
announced that, due to the COVID–19
pandemic, it was temporarily closing all
of its test center locations in the United
States and Canada through April 15,
2020.14 While, at this time, Prometric
has not announced a deviation from its
planned resumption of operations
effective April 16, 2020, there is no
certainty as to when Prometric will
resume operation of its testing centers.
Moreover, there is no certainty as to
when individuals would be able to visit
at the time the obligation to deliver the first
disclosure is triggered (i.e., the earliest stages of an
underwriter’s relationship with an issuer with
respect to an issue, such as in a response to a
request for proposal or in promotional materials
provided to an issuer).
10 MSRB Notice 2019–21 (Dec 20, 2019)
announcing the effective date for amendments to
Form G–32, which the SEC had approved on June
27, 2019. See Release No. 34–86219 (June 27, 2019),
84 FR 31961 (July 3, 2019) (File No. SR–MSRB–
2019–07).
11 Consistent with its prior pronouncement, the
MSRB will make the amended Form G–32 available
in advance of the revised compliance date so that
dealers can operationalize processes for compliance
with the amended form.
12 See, e.g., Release No. 34–75714 (Aug. 17, 2015)
(Designation of the Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority to Administer Professional Qualification
Tests for Associated Persons of Registered
Municipal Advisors).
13 Prometric is a leading provider of technologyenabled testing and assessment solutions to many
of the world’s most recognized licensing and
certification organizations, academic institutions,
and government agencies. See https://
www.prometric.com.
14 See https://www.prometric.com/corona-virusupdate.
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19:49 Apr 23, 2020
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any open testing centers due to stay-athome orders that may be in place.
For those reasons, the MSRB is
proposing to provide additional time to
allow firms and individuals to fulfill
certain professional qualification
standards established under MSRB Rule
G–3, on professional qualification
requirements, consistent with MSRB
Rule G–2, on standards of professional
qualification as follows:
• The date by which an individual
functioning in the capacity as a
principal before passing the applicable
MSRB-owned principal qualification
examination pursuant to Rule G–
3(b)(ii)(D),G–3(b)(iv)(B)(4) and G–
3(c)(ii)(D), as applicable, would be
extended 120 days from the time the
MSRB announces that Prometric has
resumed access to its testing centers; 15
• The date by which an individual
has to complete their Regulatory
Element component of continuing
education training, as required pursuant
to Rule G–3(i)(i)(A)(1), would be
extended 120 days from the time the
MSRB announces that Prometric has
resumed access to its testing centers; 16
• The date by which certain
individuals are required to become
qualified with the Municipal Advisor
Principal Qualification Examination
(Series 54) would be extended until
March 31, 2021. On October 11, 2019,
the MSRB announced that a municipal
advisor principal, 17 as defined under
Rule G–3(e), would have a one-year
grace period, sunsetting on November
12, 2020, to pass the Series 54.18 The
MSRB is proposing to extend the grace
period until March 31, 2021. As a result,
individuals qualified with the
Municipal Advisor Representative
Qualification Examination (Series 50)
will be able to continue to engage in
15 The MSRB will publish a notice on its website
announcing when Prometric resumes operations in
its testing centers so regulated entities are on notice
of when the 120-day period begins to toll.
16 This extension is only for purposes of
compliance with MSRB Rule G–3(i)(i)(A)(1) and is
not intended to provide relief to individuals who
may need to complete the Regulatory Element
component of continuing education pursuant to the
rules of another regulatory authority.
17 The term ‘‘municipal advisor principal’’ means
a natural person associated with a municipal
advisor who is directly engaged in the management,
direction or supervision of the municipal advisory
activities of the municipal advisor and its
associated persons. To become qualified as a
municipal advisor principal a person must, as a prerequisite, take and pass the Municipal Advisor
Representative Qualification Examination; and take
and pass the Municipal Advisor Principal
Qualification Examination.
18 MSRB Notice 2019–18 (October 21, 2019)
announcing the launch of the Series 54 exam,
which the SEC had approved on November 20,
2018. See Release No. 34–84630 (Nov. 20, 2018), 80
FR 60927 (Nov. 27, 2018) (File No. SR–MSRB–
2018–07).
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principal-level activities without
passing the Series 54 until March 31,
2021; and
• The annual needs analysis and the
delivery of continuing education
pursuant to Rule G–3(i)(i)(B) and G–
3(i)(ii), as applicable, shall be deemed to
have been timely completed for
calendar year 2020, provided that the
needs analysis and the delivery of
continuing education are completed on
or before March 31, 2021.
2. Statutory Basis
The MSRB believes that the proposed
rule change is consistent with Section
15B(b)(2)(C) of the Act,19 which
provides that the MSRB’s rules shall:
be designed to prevent fraudulent and
manipulative acts and practices, to promote
just and equitable principles of trade, to
foster cooperation and coordination with
persons engaged in regulating, clearing,
settling, processing information with respect
to, and facilitating transactions in municipal
securities and municipal financial products,
to remove impediments to and perfect the
mechanism of a free and open market in
municipal securities and municipal financial
products, and, in general, to protect
investors, municipal entities, obligated
persons, and the public interest.
The proposed rule change is designed
to provide dealers and municipal
advisors additional time to comply with
certain obligations for a temporary
period of time and suspend late fees on
payments owed to the MSRB; it does not
relieve such regulated entities from
compliance with underlying obligations
that directly serve investor protection or
market transparency goals. In a time
when faced with unique challenges
resulting from the COVID–19 pandemic,
the proposed rule change will afford
regulated entities the ability to more
effectively allocate resources to serve
and promote the protection of investors,
municipal entities, obligated persons
and the public interest during these
unprecedented market conditions. In
addition, the proposed rule change will
also alleviate some of the operational
challenges regulated entities may be
experiencing, which will allow them to
more effectively allocate resources to
operations facilitate transactions in
municipal securities and municipal
financial products, to remove
impediments to and perfect the
mechanism of a free and open market in
municipal securities and municipal
financial products.
19 15
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U.S.C. 78o–4(b)(2)(C).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
Section 15B(b)(2)(C) of the Act 20
requires that MSRB rules be designed
not to impose any burden on
competition not necessary or
appropriate in furtherance of the
purposes of the Act. The MSRB does not
believe that the proposed rule change
will impose any burden on competition
not necessary or appropriate in
furtherance of the Act. The goal of the
proposed rule change is to relieve the
burden on regulated entities during the
exigent circumstances of the COVID–19
pandemic. The proposed rule change
will only provide temporary relief for
regulated entities; excluding the
suspension on the assessment of late
fees, regulated entities will still be
required to fulfill their underlying
obligations under MSRB rules.
Additionally, Section 15B(b)(2)(L)(iv)
of the Act, requires that MSRB rules not
impose a regulatory burden on small
municipal advisors that is not necessary
or appropriate in the public interest and
for the protection of investors,
municipal entities, and obligated
persons, provided that there is robust
protection of investors against fraud.21
The MSRB believes that the proposed
rule change is consistent with Section
15B(b)(2)(L)(iv) of the Act in that, while
the proposed rule change will affect all
municipal advisors, including small
municipal advisors, there is no new
regulatory burden that results, and each
municipal advisor continues to be
obligated to meet baseline competence
standards and complete requisite
supervisory functions. Small municipal
advisors typically have fewer associated
persons and, as a result, during the
COVID–19 pandemic their resources
may be more limited. As the proposed
rule change is designed to provide
regulated entities an opportunity to
better manage and allocate resources
during these exigent circumstances, the
proposed rule change may be of greater
benefit to small municipal advisors.
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C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
Written comments were neither
solicited nor received on the proposed
rule change.
20 Id.
21 15
U.S.C. 78o–4(b)(2)(L)(iv).
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III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) 22 of
the Act and Rule 19b–4(f)(6) 23
thereunder, the MSRB has designated
the proposed rule change as one that
effects a change that: (i) Does not
significantly affect the protection of
investors or the public interest; (ii) does
not impose any significant burden on
competition; and (iii) by its terms, does
not become operative for 30 days after
the date of the filing, or such shorter
time as the Commission may designate.
A proposed rule change filed under
Rule 19b–4(f)(6) normally does not
become operative until 30 days after the
date of filing.24 However, Rule 19b–
4(f)(6)(iii) 25 permits the Commission to
designate a shorter time if such action
is consistent with the protection of
investors and the public interest.26 The
MSRB has requested that the
Commission designate the proposed
rule change operative upon filing,27 as
specified in Rule 19b–4(f)(6)(iii),28
which would make the proposed rule
change operative on April 13, 2020.
The MSRB notes that the proposed
rule change does not relieve regulated
entities from compliance with
underlying obligations. Rather, the
proposed rule change provides
regulated entities with additional time
to complete certain compliance
obligations, suspends late fees due to
the MSRB for a temporary period of
time, and extends the compliance date
of MSRB rule changes not yet
implemented. The MSRB believes the
proposed rule change will afford
regulated entities the ability to more
effectively allocate resources to serve
and promote the protection of investors,
municipal entities, obligated persons
and the public interest during
unprecedented market conditions.
Further the MSRB has stated, in light of
the operational challenges and
unprecedented conditions in the
municipal market due to the COVID–19
pandemic, the proposed rule change
would alleviate operational challenges
and facilitate transactions in municipal
22 15
23 17
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).
24 Id.
25 17
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6)(iii).
addition, Rule 19b–4(f)(6)(iii) requires a selfregulatory organization to give the Commission
written notice of its intent to file a proposed rule
change, along with a brief description and text of
such proposed rule change, at least five business
days prior to the date of filing, or such shorter time
as designated by the Commission. The Commission
has designated a shorter time for delivery of such
written notice.
27 See SR–MSRB–2018–10.
28 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6)(iii).
26 In
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23091
securities and municipal financial
products.
The Commission believes that
waiving the 30-day operative delay is
consistent with the protection of
investors and the public interest. The
proposed rule change does not relieve
regulated entities from compliance with
underlying obligations and will allow
regulated entities to more effectively
allocate resources during unprecedented
municipal securities market conditions.
Waiver of the 30-day operative period
will alleviate operational challenges and
facilitate transactions in the municipal
securities market in light of the exigent
circumstances presented by the COVID–
19 pandemic. Accordingly, the
Commission hereby waives the 30-day
operative delay specified in Rule 19b–
4(f)(6)(iii) and designates the proposed
rule change to be operative upon
filing.29
At any time within 60 days of the
filing of the proposed rule change, the
Commission summarily may
temporarily suspend such rule change if
it appears to the Commission that such
action is necessary or appropriate in the
public interest, for the protection of
investors, or otherwise in furtherance of
the purposes of the Act.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to
submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing,
including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act.
Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to rule-comments@
sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
MSRb– 2020–01 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Secretary, Securities and Exchange
Commission, 100 F Street NE,
Washington, DC 20549–1090.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–MSRB–2020–01. This file
number should be included on the
subject line if email is used. To help the
Commission process and review your
comments more efficiently, please use
only one method. The Commission will
post all comments on the Commission’s
internet website (https://www.sec.gov/
29 For the purpose of waiving the 30-day
operative delay for this proposal, the Commission
has considered the proposed rule’s impact on
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See
15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
E:\FR\FM\24APN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 80 / Friday, April 24, 2020 / Notices
rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
submission, all subsequent
amendments, all written statements
with respect to the proposed rule
change that are filed with the
Commission, and all written
communications relating to the
proposed rule change between the
Commission and any person, other than
those that may be withheld from the
public in accordance with the
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
available for website viewing and
printing in the Commission’s Public
Reference Room, 100 F Street NE,
Washington, DC 20549 on official
business days between the hours of
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the
filing also will be available for
inspection and copying at the principal
office of the MSRB. All comments
received will be posted without change.
Persons submitting comments are
cautioned that we do not redact or edit
personal identifying information from
comment submissions. You should
submit only information that you wish
to make available publicly. All
submissions should refer to File
Number SR–MSRB–2020–01 and should
be submitted on or before May 15, 2020.
For the Commission, pursuant to delegated
authority.30
J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020–08696 Filed 4–23–20; 8:45 am]
Exchange. The Commission is
publishing this notice to solicit
comments on the proposed rule change
from interested persons.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange is filing a proposal to
delay implementation of the change to
allow a component of a complex order 3
that legs into the Simple Order Book 4 to
execute at a price that is outside the
NBBO.5
The text of the proposed rule change
is available on the Exchange’s website at
https://www.miaxoptions.com/rulefilings/ at MIAX Options’ principal
office, and at the Commission’s Public
Reference Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
In its filing with the Commission, the
Exchange included statements
concerning the purpose of and basis for
the proposed rule change and discussed
any comments it received on the
proposed rule change. The text of these
statements may be examined at the
places specified in Item IV below. The
Exchange has prepared summaries, set
forth in sections A, B, and C below, of
the most significant aspects of such
statements.
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–88691; File No. SR–MIAX–
2020–07]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Miami
International Securities Exchange,
LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate
Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule
Change To Delay Implementation of an
Amendment to Rule 518, Complex
Orders, To Permit Legging Through
the Simple Market
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
April 20, 2020.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
notice is hereby given that on April 14,
2020, Miami International Securities
Exchange, LLC (‘‘MIAX Options’’ or the
‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission
(‘‘Commission’’) a proposed rule change
as described in Items I and II below,
which Items have been prepared by the
30 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
1 15
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:03 Apr 23, 2020
Jkt 250001
1. Purpose
On October 22, 2019, the Exchange
filed a proposed rule change to amend
subsection (c)(2)(iii) of Exchange Rule
518, Complex Orders, to remove the
3 A ‘‘complex order’’ is any order involving the
concurrent purchase and/or sale of two or more
different options in the same underlying security
(the ‘‘legs’’ or ‘‘components’’ of the complex order),
for the same account, in a ratio that is equal to or
greater than one-to-three (.333) and less than or
equal to three-to-one (3.00) and for the purposes of
executing a particular investment strategy. Minioptions may only be part of a complex order that
includes other mini-options. Only those complex
orders in the classes designated by the Exchange
and communicated to Members via Regulatory
Circular with no more than the applicable number
of legs, as determined by the Exchange on a classby-class basis and communicated to Members via
Regulatory Circular, are eligible for processing. See
Exchange Rule 518(a)(5).
4 The ‘‘Simple Order Book’’ is the Exchange’s
regular electronic book of orders and quotes. See
Exchange Rule 518(a)(15).
5 The term ‘‘NBBO’’ means the national best bid
or offer as calculated by the Exchange based on
market information received by the Exchange from
the appropriate Securities Information Processor
(‘‘SIP’’). See Exchange Rule 518(a)(14).
PO 00000
Frm 00100
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
provision which provides that a
component of a complex order that legs
into the Simple Order Book may not
execute at a price that is outside the
NBBO.6 The proposed rule change
indicated that the Exchange would
announce the implementation date of
the proposed rule change by Regulatory
Circular to be published no later than 90
days following the operative date of the
proposed rule. The implementation date
will be no later than 90 days following
the issuance of the Regulatory Circular.
The Exchange now proposes to further
delay the implementation of this
functionality until the fourth quarter of
2020.
The Exchange proposes this delay in
order to allow the Exchange to reprioritize its software delivery and
release schedule as a result of a shift in
priorities resulting from the impact the
Coronavirus pandemic has had on
Exchange operations. The Exchange will
issue a Regulatory Circular notifying
market participants prior to
implementing this functionality.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that its
proposed rule change is consistent with
Section 6(b) of the Act 7 in general, and
furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5)
of the Act 8 in particular, in that it is
designed to prevent fraudulent and
manipulative acts and practices, to
promote just and equitable principles of
trade, to foster cooperation and
coordination with persons engaged in
regulating, clearing, settling, processing
information with respect to, and
facilitating transactions in, securities, to
remove impediments to and perfect the
mechanisms of a free and open market
and a national market system and, in
general, to protect investors and the
public interest by allowing the
Exchange additional time to implement
the proposed functionality.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that
the proposed rule change will impose
any burden on competition that is not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
of the purposes of the Act. The
Exchange’s proposal to delay the
implementation of the proposed
functionality does not impose an undue
burden on competition. Delaying the
implementation will simply allow the
Exchange additional time to properly
6 See Securities Exchange Release No. 87440
(November 1, 2019), 84 FR 60117 (November 7,
2019) (SR–MIAX–2019–45).
7 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
8 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
E:\FR\FM\24APN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 80 (Friday, April 24, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23088-23092]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-08696]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-88694; File No. SR-MSRB-2020-01]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Municipal Securities Rulemaking
Board; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule
Change To Provide Dealers and Municipal Advisors Additional Time To
Comply With Certain Obligations for a Temporary Period of Time and
Temporarily Suspend Late Fees on Payments Owed to the MSRB
April 20, 2020.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(``Act'' or ``Exchange Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice
is hereby given that on April 13, 2020 the Municipal Securities
Rulemaking Board (``MSRB'') filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (``SEC'' or ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as
described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by
the MSRB. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments
on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
The MSRB filed with the Commission a proposed rule change to
provide dealers and municipal advisors additional time to comply with
certain obligations for a temporary period of time and temporarily
suspend late fees on payments owed to the MSRB (the ``proposed rule
change''). The MSRB has designated the proposed rule change as
constituting a ``non-controversial'' rule change under paragraph (f)(6)
of Rule 19b-4 under the Act,\3\ which renders the proposal effective
upon receipt of this filing by the Commission.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The text of the proposed rule change is available on the MSRB's
website at www.msrb.org/Rules-and-Interpretations/SEC-Filings/2020-Filings.aspx, at the MSRB's principal office, and at the Commission's
Public Reference Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, the MSRB included statements
concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and
discussed any
[[Page 23089]]
comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these
statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below.
The MSRB has prepared summaries, set forth in Sections A, B, and C
below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
The MSRB is closely monitoring the impact of the coronavirus
disease (COVID-19) pandemic on municipal market participants, including
brokers, dealers, municipal securities dealers (``dealers''), municipal
advisors, issuers and investors. The MSRB recognizes that dealers and
municipal advisors (collectively, ``regulated entities'') are
experiencing operational challenges with a vast number of individuals
working from home, coupled with unprecedented conditions in the
municipal market due to the COVID-19 pandemic.\4\ In an effort to
provide regulated entities an opportunity to better manage and allocate
resources during these exigent circumstances, the MSRB is proposing to
(i) suspend late fees owed for the period of March 1, 2020 through July
31, 2020; (ii) modify the date by which compliance obligations must be
completed under certain MSRB rules for a temporary period; and (iii)
extend the compliance date of rule changes that have yet to be
implemented.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ Wall Street Journal: How the Muni Market Became the
Epicenter of the Liquidity Crisis (April 2, 2020) https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-the-muni-market-became-the-epicenter-of-the-liquidity-crisis-11585823404
\5\ See 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The MSRB will continue monitoring the impact of the COVID-19
pandemic and work in close coordination with other financial regulators
and governmental authorities.
Temporary Suspension of Late Fees
The MSRB assesses late fees under MSRB Rule A-11, on assessments
for municipal advisor professionals, and MSRB Rule A-12, on
registration. The MSRB is proposing to suspend the assessment of such
late fees on overdue balances that may be owed to the MSRB for a
temporary period. Specifically, the proposed rule change would
temporarily suspend, for the period of March 1, 2020 through July 31,
2020, the late fees assessed under:
MSRB Rule A-11(b), for the annual municipal advisor
professional fees owed by each municipal advisor pursuant to Rule A-
11(a) for each person associated with the municipal advisor who is
qualified as a municipal advisor representative pursuant to Rule A-
11(a);
MSRB Rule A-12(d), for the:
Initial registration fee owed by each dealer and municipal
advisor pursuant to Rule A-12(b);
Annual registration fee owed by each dealer and municipal
advisor pursuant to Rule A-12(c);
Any underwriting assessments owed by each dealer, pursuant
to MSRB Rule A-13(a), for municipal securities purchased from an issuer
by or through a dealer as part of a primary offering; \6\
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\6\ Rule A-13, on underwriting and transaction assessments for
brokers, dealers, and municipal securities dealers, section A-13(a)
provides that the underwriting assessment does not apply to a
primary offering of securities if all such securities in the primary
offering are commercial paper as defined in MSRB Rule G-32(d) or
constitute municipal fund securities. An underwriting assessment for
a primary offering of municipal fund securities is addressed under
Rule A-13(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Any underwriting assessment for a primary offering of
municipal fund securities owed, pursuant to Rule A-13(b), by each
underwriter of a primary offering of a plan, as the terms
``underwriter'' and ``plan'' are defined under Rule G-45(d)(xiv) and
Rule G-45(d)(ix), respectively;
Any transaction assessment owed by each dealer for certain
inter-dealer municipal securities sales pursuant to Rule A-13(d)(i);
and
Any technology assessment owed by each dealer for certain
sales to customers pursuant to Rule A-13(d)(ii).
Late fees are generally assessed during the last week of the month
on outstanding balances subject to late fees per applicable Rule at
that point in time. In this instance, beginning on August 1, 2020,
outstanding balances will be subject to late fees as specified by MSRB
Rule A-11(b) and MSRB Rule A-12(d), respectively. During the last week
of August, outstanding balances subject to late fees under those Rules
will be assessed such fees in accordance with those Rules. Late fees
will not be assessed retroactively for the period of March 1, 2020
through July 31, 2020.
Extension of Time To Complete Certain Supervisory Functions
The MSRB is proposing to provide dealers additional time to
complete certain annual supervisory functions under MSRB Rule G-27, on
supervision. Specifically, the following supervisory obligations shall
be deemed to have been timely completed for calendar year 2020,
provided that such supervisory obligations are completed on or before
March 31, 2021:
An inspection of an office of municipal supervisory
jurisdiction, branch office or non-branch location pursuant to Rule G-
27(d)(i)(A), (B) and (C), as applicable, recognizing that, consistent
with Rule G-27 (g)(ii)(A)(7), a temporary location established in
response to the implementation of a business continuity plan is not
deemed an office for purposes of complying inspection obligations;
The annual compliance interview or meeting pursuant to
Rule G-27(b)(vii); and
The submission of a report from the designated
principal(s) to the firm's senior management detailing the review of
the firm's supervisory controls pursuant to Rule G-27(f)(i).
Similarly, the MSRB is also proposing to provide municipal advisors
until March 31, 2021 to complete the annual certification for calendar
year 2020 required pursuant to MSRB Rule G-44, on supervisory and
compliance obligations of municipal advisors. Pursuant to Rule G-44(d),
the chief executive officer(s) (or equivalent officer(s)) of a
municipal advisor must annually certify in writing that the municipal
advisor has in place processes to establish, maintain, review, test and
modify written compliance policies and written supervisory procedures
reasonably designed to achieve compliance with applicable rules.\7\
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\7\ As provided in Rule G-44(d), this requirement shall not
apply to municipal advisors that are subject to a substantially
similar certification requirement of the Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority (FINRA) with respect to all applicable rules.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extension of Previously Announced Compliance Dates
On January 31, 2020, the MSRB announced a compliance date of
November 30, 2020 for the amended and restated guidance regarding the
fair dealing obligations underwriters owe to issuers of municipal
securities under MSRB Rule G-17, on conduct of municipal securities and
municipal advisory activities (the ``Revised Interpretive Notice'').\8\
The MSRB is proposing to extend the compliance date until March 31,
2021; underwriting relationships commenced by dealers on or after the
revised compliance date will be subject to the Revised Interpretive
Notice.\9\
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\8\ MSRB Notice 2020-03 (Jan 31, 2020) announcing the effective
date for the Revised Interpretive Notice, which the SEC had approved
on November 6, 2019. See Release No. 34-87478 (Nov. 6, 2019), 84 FR
61660 (Nov. 13, 2019) (File No. SR-MSRB-2019-10).
\9\ As stated in the Revised Interpretive Notice, an
underwriting relationship is deemed to commence at the time the
obligation to deliver the first disclosure is triggered (i.e., the
earliest stages of an underwriter's relationship with an issuer with
respect to an issue, such as in a response to a request for proposal
or in promotional materials provided to an issuer).
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[[Page 23090]]
On December 20, 2019, the MSRB announced a compliance date of
November 30, 2020 for amendments to Form G-32.\10\ These amendments to
Form G-32 are designed to collect new data elements from underwriters
related to primary offerings of municipal securities through the MSRB's
Electronic Municipal Market Access Dataport system, the majority of
which is data underwriters are presently required to input into the
Depository Trust Company's New Issue Information Dissemination Service.
The MSRB is proposing to extend the compliance date until March 31,
2021.\11\
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\10\ MSRB Notice 2019-21 (Dec 20, 2019) announcing the effective
date for amendments to Form G-32, which the SEC had approved on June
27, 2019. See Release No. 34-86219 (June 27, 2019), 84 FR 31961
(July 3, 2019) (File No. SR-MSRB-2019-07).
\11\ Consistent with its prior pronouncement, the MSRB will make
the amended Form G-32 available in advance of the revised compliance
date so that dealers can operationalize processes for compliance
with the amended form.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extension of Time To Complete Certain Professional Qualification
Standards
FINRA, as appointed by the Commission, provides test administration
services to the MSRB for the delivery of MSRB-owned professional
qualification examinations.\12\ FINRA uses Prometric \13\ as its single
vendor for the delivery of the professional qualification examinations
that FINRA is charged with administering, including MSRB-owned
professional qualification examinations. In March 2020, Prometric
announced that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was temporarily
closing all of its test center locations in the United States and
Canada through April 15, 2020.\14\ While, at this time, Prometric has
not announced a deviation from its planned resumption of operations
effective April 16, 2020, there is no certainty as to when Prometric
will resume operation of its testing centers. Moreover, there is no
certainty as to when individuals would be able to visit any open
testing centers due to stay-at-home orders that may be in place.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\12\ See, e.g., Release No. 34-75714 (Aug. 17, 2015)
(Designation of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority to
Administer Professional Qualification Tests for Associated Persons
of Registered Municipal Advisors).
\13\ Prometric is a leading provider of technology-enabled
testing and assessment solutions to many of the world's most
recognized licensing and certification organizations, academic
institutions, and government agencies. See https://www.prometric.com.
\14\ See https://www.prometric.com/corona-virus-update.
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For those reasons, the MSRB is proposing to provide additional time
to allow firms and individuals to fulfill certain professional
qualification standards established under MSRB Rule G-3, on
professional qualification requirements, consistent with MSRB Rule G-2,
on standards of professional qualification as follows:
The date by which an individual functioning in the
capacity as a principal before passing the applicable MSRB-owned
principal qualification examination pursuant to Rule G-3(b)(ii)(D),G-
3(b)(iv)(B)(4) and G-3(c)(ii)(D), as applicable, would be extended 120
days from the time the MSRB announces that Prometric has resumed access
to its testing centers; \15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\15\ The MSRB will publish a notice on its website announcing
when Prometric resumes operations in its testing centers so
regulated entities are on notice of when the 120-day period begins
to toll.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The date by which an individual has to complete their
Regulatory Element component of continuing education training, as
required pursuant to Rule G-3(i)(i)(A)(1), would be extended 120 days
from the time the MSRB announces that Prometric has resumed access to
its testing centers; \16\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\16\ This extension is only for purposes of compliance with MSRB
Rule G-3(i)(i)(A)(1) and is not intended to provide relief to
individuals who may need to complete the Regulatory Element
component of continuing education pursuant to the rules of another
regulatory authority.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The date by which certain individuals are required to
become qualified with the Municipal Advisor Principal Qualification
Examination (Series 54) would be extended until March 31, 2021. On
October 11, 2019, the MSRB announced that a municipal advisor
principal, \17\ as defined under Rule G-3(e), would have a one-year
grace period, sunsetting on November 12, 2020, to pass the Series
54.\18\ The MSRB is proposing to extend the grace period until March
31, 2021. As a result, individuals qualified with the Municipal Advisor
Representative Qualification Examination (Series 50) will be able to
continue to engage in principal-level activities without passing the
Series 54 until March 31, 2021; and
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\17\ The term ``municipal advisor principal'' means a natural
person associated with a municipal advisor who is directly engaged
in the management, direction or supervision of the municipal
advisory activities of the municipal advisor and its associated
persons. To become qualified as a municipal advisor principal a
person must, as a pre-requisite, take and pass the Municipal Advisor
Representative Qualification Examination; and take and pass the
Municipal Advisor Principal Qualification Examination.
\18\ MSRB Notice 2019-18 (October 21, 2019) announcing the
launch of the Series 54 exam, which the SEC had approved on November
20, 2018. See Release No. 34-84630 (Nov. 20, 2018), 80 FR 60927
(Nov. 27, 2018) (File No. SR-MSRB-2018-07).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The annual needs analysis and the delivery of continuing
education pursuant to Rule G-3(i)(i)(B) and G-3(i)(ii), as applicable,
shall be deemed to have been timely completed for calendar year 2020,
provided that the needs analysis and the delivery of continuing
education are completed on or before March 31, 2021.
2. Statutory Basis
The MSRB believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with
Section 15B(b)(2)(C) of the Act,\19\ which provides that the MSRB's
rules shall:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\19\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-4(b)(2)(C).
be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and
practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to
foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in
regulating, clearing, settling, processing information with respect
to, and facilitating transactions in municipal securities and
municipal financial products, to remove impediments to and perfect
the mechanism of a free and open market in municipal securities and
municipal financial products, and, in general, to protect investors,
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
municipal entities, obligated persons, and the public interest.
The proposed rule change is designed to provide dealers and
municipal advisors additional time to comply with certain obligations
for a temporary period of time and suspend late fees on payments owed
to the MSRB; it does not relieve such regulated entities from
compliance with underlying obligations that directly serve investor
protection or market transparency goals. In a time when faced with
unique challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the proposed
rule change will afford regulated entities the ability to more
effectively allocate resources to serve and promote the protection of
investors, municipal entities, obligated persons and the public
interest during these unprecedented market conditions. In addition, the
proposed rule change will also alleviate some of the operational
challenges regulated entities may be experiencing, which will allow
them to more effectively allocate resources to operations facilitate
transactions in municipal securities and municipal financial products,
to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open
market in municipal securities and municipal financial products.
[[Page 23091]]
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
Section 15B(b)(2)(C) of the Act \20\ requires that MSRB rules be
designed not to impose any burden on competition not necessary or
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The MSRB does
not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on
competition not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the Act. The
goal of the proposed rule change is to relieve the burden on regulated
entities during the exigent circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. The
proposed rule change will only provide temporary relief for regulated
entities; excluding the suspension on the assessment of late fees,
regulated entities will still be required to fulfill their underlying
obligations under MSRB rules.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\20\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additionally, Section 15B(b)(2)(L)(iv) of the Act, requires that
MSRB rules not impose a regulatory burden on small municipal advisors
that is not necessary or appropriate in the public interest and for the
protection of investors, municipal entities, and obligated persons,
provided that there is robust protection of investors against
fraud.\21\ The MSRB believes that the proposed rule change is
consistent with Section 15B(b)(2)(L)(iv) of the Act in that, while the
proposed rule change will affect all municipal advisors, including
small municipal advisors, there is no new regulatory burden that
results, and each municipal advisor continues to be obligated to meet
baseline competence standards and complete requisite supervisory
functions. Small municipal advisors typically have fewer associated
persons and, as a result, during the COVID-19 pandemic their resources
may be more limited. As the proposed rule change is designed to provide
regulated entities an opportunity to better manage and allocate
resources during these exigent circumstances, the proposed rule change
may be of greater benefit to small municipal advisors.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\21\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-4(b)(2)(L)(iv).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
Written comments were neither solicited nor received on the
proposed rule change.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) \22\ of the Act and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6) \23\ thereunder, the MSRB has designated the proposed rule
change as one that effects a change that: (i) Does not significantly
affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) does
not impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) by its
terms, does not become operative for 30 days after the date of the
filing, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate. A
proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) normally does not
become operative until 30 days after the date of filing.\24\ However,
Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) \25\ permits the Commission to designate a
shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of
investors and the public interest.\26\ The MSRB has requested that the
Commission designate the proposed rule change operative upon
filing,\27\ as specified in Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii),\28\ which would make
the proposed rule change operative on April 13, 2020.
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\22\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
\23\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
\24\ Id.
\25\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
\26\ In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) requires a self-
regulatory organization to give the Commission written notice of its
intent to file a proposed rule change, along with a brief
description and text of such proposed rule change, at least five
business days prior to the date of filing, or such shorter time as
designated by the Commission. The Commission has designated a
shorter time for delivery of such written notice.
\27\ See SR-MSRB-2018-10.
\28\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The MSRB notes that the proposed rule change does not relieve
regulated entities from compliance with underlying obligations. Rather,
the proposed rule change provides regulated entities with additional
time to complete certain compliance obligations, suspends late fees due
to the MSRB for a temporary period of time, and extends the compliance
date of MSRB rule changes not yet implemented. The MSRB believes the
proposed rule change will afford regulated entities the ability to more
effectively allocate resources to serve and promote the protection of
investors, municipal entities, obligated persons and the public
interest during unprecedented market conditions. Further the MSRB has
stated, in light of the operational challenges and unprecedented
conditions in the municipal market due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the
proposed rule change would alleviate operational challenges and
facilitate transactions in municipal securities and municipal financial
products.
The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is
consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest.
The proposed rule change does not relieve regulated entities from
compliance with underlying obligations and will allow regulated
entities to more effectively allocate resources during unprecedented
municipal securities market conditions. Waiver of the 30-day operative
period will alleviate operational challenges and facilitate
transactions in the municipal securities market in light of the exigent
circumstances presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, the
Commission hereby waives the 30-day operative delay specified in Rule
19b-4(f)(6)(iii) and designates the proposed rule change to be
operative upon filing.\29\
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\29\ For the purpose of waiving the 30-day operative delay for
this proposal, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's
impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15
U.S.C. 78c(f).
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At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
Electronic Comments
Use the Commission's internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
Send an email to [email protected]. Please
include File Number SR-MSRb- 2020-01 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-MSRB-2020-01. This file
number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help
the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently,
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on
the Commission's internet website (https://www.sec.gov/
[[Page 23092]]
rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments,
all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that
are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating
to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person,
other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance
with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for website
viewing and printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F
Street NE, Washington, DC 20549 on official business days between the
hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be
available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the
MSRB. All comments received will be posted without change. Persons
submitting comments are cautioned that we do not redact or edit
personal identifying information from comment submissions. You should
submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All
submissions should refer to File Number SR-MSRB-2020-01 and should be
submitted on or before May 15, 2020.
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\30\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
For the Commission, pursuant to delegated authority.\30\
J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-08696 Filed 4-23-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P