Charitable Donation Accounts, 34792-34794 [2023-11556]
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34792
Proposed Rules
Federal Register
Vol. 88, No. 104
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains notices to the public of the proposed
issuance of rules and regulations. The
purpose of these notices is to give interested
persons an opportunity to participate in the
rule making prior to the adoption of the final
rules.
NATIONAL CREDIT UNION
ADMINISTRATION
12 CFR Part 721
[NCUA–2023–0043]
RIN 3133–AF56
Charitable Donation Accounts
National Credit Union
Administration (NCUA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
The NCUA Board (Board) is
proposing to amend the charitable
donation accounts (CDA) section of the
NCUA’s incidental powers regulation.
Specifically, the Board is proposing to
add ‘‘war veterans’ organizations’’
(‘‘veterans’ organizations’’), as defined
under section 501(c)(19) of the Internal
Revenue Code, to the definition of a
‘‘qualified charity’’ that a federal credit
union may contribute to using a CDA.
The Board is also asking if there are
other groups, entities, or organizations
the Board should consider adding to the
definition of a ‘‘qualified charity’’ to
inform potential future rulemaking in
this area.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before July 31, 2023.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written
comments, identified by RIN 3133–
AF56, 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
on Docket NCUA–2023–0043.
• Mail: Address to Melane ConyersAusbrooks, Secretary of the Board,
National Credit Union Administration,
1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, Virginia
22314–3428.
• Hand Delivery or Courier: Same as
mail address.
Public Inspection: You may view all
public comments on the Federal
eRulemaking Portal at https://
www.regulations.gov, as submitted,
except for those we cannot post for
technical reasons. The NCUA will not
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SUMMARY:
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edit or remove any identifying or
contact information from the public
comments submitted. If you are unable
to access public comments on the
internet, you may contact the NCUA for
alternative access by calling (703) 518–
6540 or emailing OGCMail@ncua.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Policy: Rick Mayfield, Senior Capital
Markets Specialist, Office of
Examination and Insurance; Heather
Murphy, Consumer Compliance Policy
and Outreach Officer, Office of
Consumer Financial Protection. Legal:
Justin M. Anderson, Senior Staff
Attorney, Office of General Counsel,
1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA
22314–3428. Rick Mayfield can be
reached at (703) 518–1179; Heather
Murphy can be reached at (703) 664–
3102; and Justin Anderson can be
reached at (703) 518–6540.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
A. History of the Current Rule
The Board approved the current CDA
rule at its December 2013 meeting
(current CDA rule or 2013 final rule).1
This rule permitted federal credit
unions to fund a CDA, which may hold
investments that are otherwise
impermissible for federal credit unions,
for use as a charitable contribution or
donation under their incidental powers
authority. The rule defined a CDA as a
hybrid charitable and investment
vehicle that a federal credit union may
fund to provide charitable contributions
and donations to a qualified charity.
The rule further defined ‘‘qualified
charity’’ 2 as a charitable organization or
other non-profit entity recognized as
exempt from taxation under section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.3
As noted in the 2013 proposed version
of the current CDA rule (2013 proposed
rule), ‘‘[t]he exempt purposes set forth
in section 501(c)(3) are charitable,
religious, educational, scientific,
literary, testing for public safety,
fostering national or international
amateur sports competition, and
preventing cruelty to children or
animals.’’ The 2013 proposed rule
further explained that the Board used
the word ‘‘charitable’’ in its generally
accepted legal sense and enumerated
1 78
FR 76728 (Dec. 19, 2013).
CFR 721.3(b)(2).
3 26 U.S.C. 503(c)(19).
what the term encompassed, which
‘‘includes relief of the poor, the
distressed, or the underprivileged;
advancement of religion; advancement
of education or science; erecting or
maintaining public buildings,
monuments, or works; lessening the
burdens of government; lessening
neighborhood tensions; eliminating
prejudice and discrimination; defending
human and civil rights secured by law;
and combating community deterioration
and juvenile delinquency.’’ 4
B. Scope of ‘‘Qualified Charity’’
As noted in the preceding section, the
2013 final rule permitted the use of
CDAs as an incidental power for federal
credit unions. As CDAs can be funded
with investments that are impermissible
for federal credit unions, the Board
limited the scope of organizations that
could be considered a ‘‘qualified
charity’’ for purposes of the CDA rule.
The 2013 final rule required that a
‘‘qualified charity’’ be a section
501(c)(3) entity as defined by the
Internal Revenue Code. These
organizations are non-profit and
organized and operated exclusively for
charitable purposes. Because CDAs can
be funded with impermissible
investments, the Board believes it is
necessary to keep in place distinct
limits on groups that are beneficiaries of
a CDA. As such, any group the Board
would consider adding as a ‘‘qualified
charity’’ must be both a non-profit and
be organized for a charitable purpose.
II. Proposed Changes
A. Veterans’ Organizations as a
Qualified Charity
While section 501(c)(3) entities are, by
title and definition, charitable
organizations, the Board recognizes that
there may be other non-profit, charitable
entities outside of section 501(c)(3) that
could be included as a ‘‘qualified
charity’’ as defined in the current CDA
rule to fulfill the rule’s purpose. Still,
because the current CDA rule permits
federal credit unions to purchase
investments that would otherwise be
impermissible, it is necessary to limit
the use of CDA funds to making
charitable contributions or donations to
organizations that are both non-profit
and charitable in nature. For purposes
of this proposal, the Board is focusing
2 12
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4 78
FR 57539 (Sept. 19, 2013).
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 104 / Wednesday, May 31, 2023 / Proposed Rules
on ‘‘veterans’ organizations’’ as defined
by section 501(c)(19) of the Internal
Revenue Code. The Board has been
made aware that some federal credit
unions want to donate to veterans’
organizations through CDAs. Under
section 501(c)(19), a ‘‘veterans’
organization’’ must meet the following
requirements:
• It must be organized in the United
States or any of its possessions;
• At least 75 percent of its members
must be past or present members of the
United States Armed Forces;
• At least 97.5 percent of its members
must be:
Æ present or former members of the
United States Armed Forces,
Æ cadets (including only students in
college or university ROTC programs or
at Armed Services academies), or
Æ spouses, widows, widowers,
ancestors, or lineal descendants of
individuals referred to in the first or
second bullet;
• It must be operated exclusively for
one or more of the following purposes:
Æ to promote the social welfare of the
community (e.g., to promote the
common good and general welfare of the
people of the community);
Æ to assist disabled and needy war
veterans and members of the United
States Armed Forces and their
dependents—and the widows and
orphans of deceased veterans;
Æ to provide entertainment, care, and
assistance to hospitalized veterans or
members of the United States Armed
Forces;
Æ to carry on programs to perpetuate
the memory of deceased veterans and
members of the United States Armed
Forces and comfort their survivors;
Æ to conduct programs for religious,
charitable, scientific, literary or
educational purposes;
Æ to sponsor or participate in
activities of a patriotic nature;
Æ to provide insurance benefits for
members or their dependents; or
Æ to provide social and recreational
activities for members.
• No part of its net earnings may
inure to the benefit of any private
shareholder or individual.
An organization may also be exempt
under section 501(c)(19) as an auxiliary
unit or society of a veterans’ post or
organization if it meets the following
requirements:
• It is affiliated with, and organized
in accordance with the bylaws and
regulations of, a veterans’ post or
organization described above;
• At least 75 percent of its members
are veterans, spouses of veterans, or
related to a veteran within two degrees
of consanguinity (i.e., grandparent,
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Jkt 259001
brother, sister, grandchild represent the
most distant allowable relationships);
• All members are either members of
a veterans’ post or organizations
described above, or spouses of a
member of such post or organization, or
are related to a member of such post or
organization within two degrees of
consanguinity;
• No part of its net earning inures to
the benefit of any private shareholder or
individual.
Finally, an organization may be
exempt under section 501(c)(19) as a
trust or foundation for a veterans’ post
or organization if it meets the following
requirements:
• It is valid under local law and, if
organized for charitable purposes, has a
dissolution provision described in
section 1.501(c)(3)–1(b)(4) of the Income
Tax Regulations;
• The corpus or income cannot be
diverted or used other than to fund a
veterans’ post or organization for
charitable purposes or as an insurance
set-aside;
• The trust income is not
unreasonably accumulated, and a
substantial portion of the income is
distributed to such veteran post or
organization, or for exclusively
religious, charitable, scientific, literary,
educational or prevention of cruelty to
children or animal purposes;
• It is organized exclusively for one
or more of those purposes enumerated
above for which a veterans’ post or
organization itself may be organized.5
The Board believes that the attributes
listed above of section 501(c)(19)
organizations are aligned with the
purposes of the current CDA rule. As
such, the Board is proposing to add
‘‘veterans’ organizations’’ meeting the
criteria of section 501(c)(19) to the
definition of a ‘‘qualified charity.’’
B. Questions on Other Organizations
The Board believes section 501(c) of
the Internal Revenue Code is a good
starting point for determining whether
there may be other types of
organizations that could be included in
the definition of a ‘‘qualified charity’’ in
the current CDA rule. While all section
501(c) organizations are non-profits, not
all of them are charitable in nature. The
Board has reviewed the list of
organizations in section 501(c) and
believes that several of them may be
considered charitable in nature. The
Board, however, is requesting feedback
from stakeholders on whether any of
these organizations should be
considered as qualified charities in
future rulemakings. In addition, the
Board is requesting feedback on any
other organizations the Board should
consider for this purpose that are not
enumerated in section 501(c). The
Board, therefore, is posing the following
questions and instructions to
stakeholders and interested parties for
use in any future amendments the Board
may make to the current CDA rule.
1. Should the Board consider adding
additional groups, organizations, or
entities to the definition of a ‘‘qualified
charity?’’
2. If yes, which other groups,
organizations, or entities should the
Board consider? Note, commenters are
not limited only to those entities listed
in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue
Code.
3. For any suggested group,
organization, or entity, please describe
how it is non-profit, organized for a
charitable purpose, and how it
otherwise meets the purposes of the
current CDA rule.
III. Regulatory Procedures
A. Paperwork Reduction Act
The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(PRA) applies to rulemaking in which
an agency creates a new or amends
existing information collection
requirements.6 For purposes of the PRA,
an information collection requirement
may take the form of a reporting,
recordkeeping, or a third-party
disclosure requirement. The NCUA may
not conduct or sponsor, and the
respondent is not required to respond to
an information collection, unless it
displays a valid Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) control number.
OMB has approved the current
information collection requirements and
assigned them control number 3133–
0133. This rule proposes to add a new
entity to the definition of a ‘‘qualified
charity.’’ NCUA does not anticipate an
increase in the recordkeeping
requirement associated with CDAs.
B. Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act 7
requires the NCUA to prepare an
analysis to describe any significant
economic impact a regulation may have
on a substantial number of small entities
(defined as credit unions with under
$100 million in assets).8 This proposed
rule merely adds an additional category
of permissible entities to which a
federal credit union may donate through
6 44
5 26
U.S.C. 503(c)(19); 26 CFR 1–501(c)(19)–1. See
https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/other-nonprofits/veterans-organizations.
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34793
U.S.C. 3507(d); 5 CFR part 1320.
U.S.C. 601 et seq.
8 Id. at 603(a); NCUA Interpretive Ruling and
Policy Statement 15–2.
75
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34794
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 104 / Wednesday, May 31, 2023 / Proposed Rules
a CDA. Currently, there are 145 federal
credit unions utilizing CDAs. The
NCUA estimates that a small number of
federal credit unions would utilize the
authority granted in this rule. In
addition, as the rule merely adds
another category of permissible entities
a federal credit union may donate to
through a CDA, the NCUA does not find
that this rule would impose a cost or
burden on any federal credit unions. As
such, this rule will not have a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
C. Executive Order 13132
Executive Order 13132 encourages
independent regulatory agencies to
consider the impact of their actions on
state and local interests. 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.
This proposed rule would 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 proposed rule
would affect only federal credit unions.
Federally insured, state-chartered credit
unions derive their investment and
incidental powers authority from state
law, and the NCUA’s regulations do not
determine the permissibility of such
investments or activities. The NCUA 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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D. Assessment of Federal Regulations
and Policies on Families
Credit unions.
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16:10 May 30, 2023
Jkt 259001
For the reasons discussed in the
preamble, the NCUA Board proposes to
amend 12 CFR part 721, as follows:
PART 721—INCIDENTAL POWERS
1. The authority citation for part 721
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1757(17), 1766 and
1789.
2. Revise § 721.3(b)(2)(vii)(B) to read
as follows:
■
§ 721.3 What categories of activities are
preapproved as incidental powers
necessary or requisite to carry on a credit
union’s business?
*
*
*
*
*
(b) * * *
(2) * * *
(vii) * * *
(B) Qualified charity is a charitable
organization or other non-profit entity
recognized as exempt from taxation
under sections 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) of
the Internal Revenue Code.
*
*
*
*
*
[FR Doc. 2023–11556 Filed 5–30–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7535–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA–2023–1052; Project
Identifier MCAI–2023–00260–T]
RIN 2120–AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier,
Inc., Airplanes
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking
(NPRM).
AGENCY:
The NCUA has determined that this
proposed rule would 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). The proposed rule could
increase charitable donations by federal
credit unions to organizations that
provide benefits or services to veterans’
households, but the Board believes that
the connection would not be direct and
is uncertain. However, the Board
welcomes comments on this issue to
further inform its analysis of this matter.
List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 721
By the NCUA Board on May 25, 2023.
Melane Conyers-Ausbrooks,
Secretary of the Board.
The FAA proposes to adopt a
new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Bombardier, Inc., Model CL–
600–1A11 (600), CL–600–2A12 (601),
and CL–600–2B16 (601–3A, 601–3R,
and 604 Variants) airplanes. This
proposed AD was prompted by an
uncommanded flap extension
accompanied by a flaps fail caution
message during climb. This proposed
AD requires initial and repetitive
operational tests of the flap control
system. The FAA is proposing this AD
to address the unsafe condition on these
products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments
on this proposed AD by July 17, 2023.
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
You may send comments,
using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following
methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
regulations.gov. Follow the instructions
for submitting comments.
• Fax: 202–493–2251.
• Mail: U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M–
30, West Building Ground Floor, Room
W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
Washington, DC 20590.
• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail
address above between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.
AD Docket: You may examine the AD
docket at regulations.gov under Docket
No. FAA–2023–1052; or in person at
Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays. The AD docket
contains this NPRM, the mandatory
continuing airworthiness information
(MCAI), any comments received, and
other information. The street address for
Docket Operations is listed above.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
• For service information identified
in this NPRM, contact Bombardier
Business Aircraft Customer Response
Center, 400 Coˆte-Vertu Road West,
Dorval, Que´bec H4S 1Y9, Canada;
telephone 514–855–2999; email ac.yul@
aero.bombardier.com; website
bombardier.com.
• You may view this service
information at the FAA, Airworthiness
Products Section, Operational Safety
Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des
Moines, WA. For information on the
availability of this material at the FAA,
call 206–231–3195.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Chirayu Gupta, Aerospace Engineer,
Mechanical Systems and Administrative
Services Section, FAA, New York ACO
Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite
410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone
516–228–7300; email 9-avs-nyaco-cos@
faa.gov.
ADDRESSES:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any
written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send
your comments to an address listed
under ADDRESSES. Include ‘‘Docket No.
FAA–2023–1052; Project Identifier
MCAI–2023–00260–T’’ at the beginning
of your comments. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of
the proposal, explain the reason for any
recommended change, and include
supporting data. The FAA will consider
all comments received by the closing
E:\FR\FM\31MYP1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 104 (Wednesday, May 31, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34792-34794]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11556]
========================================================================
Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 104 / Wednesday, May 31, 2023 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 34792]]
NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION
12 CFR Part 721
[NCUA-2023-0043]
RIN 3133-AF56
Charitable Donation Accounts
AGENCY: National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The NCUA Board (Board) is proposing to amend the charitable
donation accounts (CDA) section of the NCUA's incidental powers
regulation. Specifically, the Board is proposing to add ``war veterans'
organizations'' (``veterans' organizations''), as defined under section
501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code, to the definition of a
``qualified charity'' that a federal credit union may contribute to
using a CDA. The Board is also asking if there are other groups,
entities, or organizations the Board should consider adding to the
definition of a ``qualified charity'' to inform potential future
rulemaking in this area.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 31, 2023.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments, identified by RIN 3133-
AF56, 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 on Docket NCUA-2023-
0043.
Mail: Address to Melane Conyers-Ausbrooks, Secretary of
the Board, National Credit Union Administration, 1775 Duke Street,
Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3428.
Hand Delivery or Courier: Same as mail address.
Public Inspection: You may view all public comments on the Federal
eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov, as submitted, except
for those we cannot post for technical reasons. The NCUA will not edit
or remove any identifying or contact information from the public
comments submitted. If you are unable to access public comments on the
internet, you may contact the NCUA for alternative access by calling
(703) 518-6540 or emailing [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Policy: Rick Mayfield, Senior Capital
Markets Specialist, Office of Examination and Insurance; Heather
Murphy, Consumer Compliance Policy and Outreach Officer, Office of
Consumer Financial Protection. Legal: Justin M. Anderson, Senior Staff
Attorney, Office of General Counsel, 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA
22314-3428. Rick Mayfield can be reached at (703) 518-1179; Heather
Murphy can be reached at (703) 664-3102; and Justin Anderson can be
reached at (703) 518-6540.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
A. History of the Current Rule
The Board approved the current CDA rule at its December 2013
meeting (current CDA rule or 2013 final rule).\1\ This rule permitted
federal credit unions to fund a CDA, which may hold investments that
are otherwise impermissible for federal credit unions, for use as a
charitable contribution or donation under their incidental powers
authority. The rule defined a CDA as a hybrid charitable and investment
vehicle that a federal credit union may fund to provide charitable
contributions and donations to a qualified charity. The rule further
defined ``qualified charity'' \2\ as a charitable organization or other
non-profit entity recognized as exempt from taxation under section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.\3\ As noted in the 2013
proposed version of the current CDA rule (2013 proposed rule), ``[t]he
exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3) are charitable,
religious, educational, scientific, literary, testing for public
safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition,
and preventing cruelty to children or animals.'' The 2013 proposed rule
further explained that the Board used the word ``charitable'' in its
generally accepted legal sense and enumerated what the term
encompassed, which ``includes relief of the poor, the distressed, or
the underprivileged; advancement of religion; advancement of education
or science; erecting or maintaining public buildings, monuments, or
works; lessening the burdens of government; lessening neighborhood
tensions; eliminating prejudice and discrimination; defending human and
civil rights secured by law; and combating community deterioration and
juvenile delinquency.'' \4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 78 FR 76728 (Dec. 19, 2013).
\2\ 12 CFR 721.3(b)(2).
\3\ 26 U.S.C. 503(c)(19).
\4\ 78 FR 57539 (Sept. 19, 2013).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
B. Scope of ``Qualified Charity''
As noted in the preceding section, the 2013 final rule permitted
the use of CDAs as an incidental power for federal credit unions. As
CDAs can be funded with investments that are impermissible for federal
credit unions, the Board limited the scope of organizations that could
be considered a ``qualified charity'' for purposes of the CDA rule. The
2013 final rule required that a ``qualified charity'' be a section
501(c)(3) entity as defined by the Internal Revenue Code. These
organizations are non-profit and organized and operated exclusively for
charitable purposes. Because CDAs can be funded with impermissible
investments, the Board believes it is necessary to keep in place
distinct limits on groups that are beneficiaries of a CDA. As such, any
group the Board would consider adding as a ``qualified charity'' must
be both a non-profit and be organized for a charitable purpose.
II. Proposed Changes
A. Veterans' Organizations as a Qualified Charity
While section 501(c)(3) entities are, by title and definition,
charitable organizations, the Board recognizes that there may be other
non-profit, charitable entities outside of section 501(c)(3) that could
be included as a ``qualified charity'' as defined in the current CDA
rule to fulfill the rule's purpose. Still, because the current CDA rule
permits federal credit unions to purchase investments that would
otherwise be impermissible, it is necessary to limit the use of CDA
funds to making charitable contributions or donations to organizations
that are both non-profit and charitable in nature. For purposes of this
proposal, the Board is focusing
[[Page 34793]]
on ``veterans' organizations'' as defined by section 501(c)(19) of the
Internal Revenue Code. The Board has been made aware that some federal
credit unions want to donate to veterans' organizations through CDAs.
Under section 501(c)(19), a ``veterans' organization'' must meet the
following requirements:
It must be organized in the United States or any of its
possessions;
At least 75 percent of its members must be past or present
members of the United States Armed Forces;
At least 97.5 percent of its members must be:
[cir] present or former members of the United States Armed Forces,
[cir] cadets (including only students in college or university ROTC
programs or at Armed Services academies), or
[cir] spouses, widows, widowers, ancestors, or lineal descendants
of individuals referred to in the first or second bullet;
It must be operated exclusively for one or more of the
following purposes:
[cir] to promote the social welfare of the community (e.g., to
promote the common good and general welfare of the people of the
community);
[cir] to assist disabled and needy war veterans and members of the
United States Armed Forces and their dependents--and the widows and
orphans of deceased veterans;
[cir] to provide entertainment, care, and assistance to
hospitalized veterans or members of the United States Armed Forces;
[cir] to carry on programs to perpetuate the memory of deceased
veterans and members of the United States Armed Forces and comfort
their survivors;
[cir] to conduct programs for religious, charitable, scientific,
literary or educational purposes;
[cir] to sponsor or participate in activities of a patriotic
nature;
[cir] to provide insurance benefits for members or their
dependents; or
[cir] to provide social and recreational activities for members.
No part of its net earnings may inure to the benefit of
any private shareholder or individual.
An organization may also be exempt under section 501(c)(19) as an
auxiliary unit or society of a veterans' post or organization if it
meets the following requirements:
It is affiliated with, and organized in accordance with
the bylaws and regulations of, a veterans' post or organization
described above;
At least 75 percent of its members are veterans, spouses
of veterans, or related to a veteran within two degrees of
consanguinity (i.e., grandparent, brother, sister, grandchild represent
the most distant allowable relationships);
All members are either members of a veterans' post or
organizations described above, or spouses of a member of such post or
organization, or are related to a member of such post or organization
within two degrees of consanguinity;
No part of its net earning inures to the benefit of any
private shareholder or individual.
Finally, an organization may be exempt under section 501(c)(19) as
a trust or foundation for a veterans' post or organization if it meets
the following requirements:
It is valid under local law and, if organized for
charitable purposes, has a dissolution provision described in section
1.501(c)(3)-1(b)(4) of the Income Tax Regulations;
The corpus or income cannot be diverted or used other than
to fund a veterans' post or organization for charitable purposes or as
an insurance set-aside;
The trust income is not unreasonably accumulated, and a
substantial portion of the income is distributed to such veteran post
or organization, or for exclusively religious, charitable, scientific,
literary, educational or prevention of cruelty to children or animal
purposes;
It is organized exclusively for one or more of those
purposes enumerated above for which a veterans' post or organization
itself may be organized.\5\
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\5\ 26 U.S.C. 503(c)(19); 26 CFR 1-501(c)(19)-1. See https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/other-non-profits/veterans-organizations.
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The Board believes that the attributes listed above of section
501(c)(19) organizations are aligned with the purposes of the current
CDA rule. As such, the Board is proposing to add ``veterans'
organizations'' meeting the criteria of section 501(c)(19) to the
definition of a ``qualified charity.''
B. Questions on Other Organizations
The Board believes section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code is a
good starting point for determining whether there may be other types of
organizations that could be included in the definition of a ``qualified
charity'' in the current CDA rule. While all section 501(c)
organizations are non-profits, not all of them are charitable in
nature. The Board has reviewed the list of organizations in section
501(c) and believes that several of them may be considered charitable
in nature. The Board, however, is requesting feedback from stakeholders
on whether any of these organizations should be considered as qualified
charities in future rulemakings. In addition, the Board is requesting
feedback on any other organizations the Board should consider for this
purpose that are not enumerated in section 501(c). The Board,
therefore, is posing the following questions and instructions to
stakeholders and interested parties for use in any future amendments
the Board may make to the current CDA rule.
1. Should the Board consider adding additional groups,
organizations, or entities to the definition of a ``qualified
charity?''
2. If yes, which other groups, organizations, or entities should
the Board consider? Note, commenters are not limited only to those
entities listed in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code.
3. For any suggested group, organization, or entity, please
describe how it is non-profit, organized for a charitable purpose, and
how it otherwise meets the purposes of the current CDA rule.
III. Regulatory Procedures
A. Paperwork Reduction Act
The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) applies to rulemaking in
which an agency creates a new or amends existing information collection
requirements.\6\ For purposes of the PRA, an information collection
requirement may take the form of a reporting, recordkeeping, or a
third-party disclosure requirement. The NCUA may not conduct or
sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to an
information collection, unless it displays a valid Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) control number. OMB has approved the current
information collection requirements and assigned them control number
3133-0133. This rule proposes to add a new entity to the definition of
a ``qualified charity.'' NCUA does not anticipate an increase in the
recordkeeping requirement associated with CDAs.
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\6\ 44 U.S.C. 3507(d); 5 CFR part 1320.
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B. Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act \7\ requires the NCUA to prepare an
analysis to describe any significant economic impact a regulation may
have on a substantial number of small entities (defined as credit
unions with under $100 million in assets).\8\ This proposed rule merely
adds an additional category of permissible entities to which a federal
credit union may donate through
[[Page 34794]]
a CDA. Currently, there are 145 federal credit unions utilizing CDAs.
The NCUA estimates that a small number of federal credit unions would
utilize the authority granted in this rule. In addition, as the rule
merely adds another category of permissible entities a federal credit
union may donate to through a CDA, the NCUA does not find that this
rule would impose a cost or burden on any federal credit unions. As
such, this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
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\7\ 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.
\8\ Id. at 603(a); NCUA Interpretive Ruling and Policy Statement
15-2.
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C. Executive Order 13132
Executive Order 13132 encourages independent regulatory agencies to
consider the impact of their actions on state and local interests. 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.
This proposed rule would 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 proposed rule would affect only
federal credit unions. Federally insured, state-chartered credit unions
derive their investment and incidental powers authority from state law,
and the NCUA's regulations do not determine the permissibility of such
investments or activities. The NCUA has therefore determined that this
proposed rule does not constitute a policy that has federalism
implications for purposes of the Executive Order.
D. Assessment of Federal Regulations and Policies on Families
The NCUA has determined that this proposed rule would 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). The proposed rule could increase charitable
donations by federal credit unions to organizations that provide
benefits or services to veterans' households, but the Board believes
that the connection would not be direct and is uncertain. However, the
Board welcomes comments on this issue to further inform its analysis of
this matter.
List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 721
Credit unions.
By the NCUA Board on May 25, 2023.
Melane Conyers-Ausbrooks,
Secretary of the Board.
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the NCUA Board proposes
to amend 12 CFR part 721, as follows:
PART 721--INCIDENTAL POWERS
0
1. The authority citation for part 721 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1757(17), 1766 and 1789.
0
2. Revise Sec. 721.3(b)(2)(vii)(B) to read as follows:
Sec. 721.3 What categories of activities are preapproved as
incidental powers necessary or requisite to carry on a credit union's
business?
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(2) * * *
(vii) * * *
(B) Qualified charity is a charitable organization or other non-
profit entity recognized as exempt from taxation under sections
501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2023-11556 Filed 5-30-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7535-01-P