Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Extension: Implementing the Whistleblower Provisions of Section 21F of the Securities, 18684-18685 [2024-05380]

Download as PDF 18684 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 51 / Thursday, March 14, 2024 / Notices The Postal Service gives notice of filing a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission to add a domestic shipping services contract to the list of Negotiated Service Agreements in the Mail Classification Schedule’s Competitive Products List. SUMMARY: Date of required notice: March 14, 2024. DATES: POSTAL SERVICE Product Change—Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, and USPS Ground Advantage® Negotiated Service Agreement Postal ServiceTM. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Postal Service gives notice of filing a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission to add a domestic shipping services contract to the list of Negotiated Service Agreements in the Mail Classification Schedule’s Competitive Products List. DATES: Date of required notice: March 14, 2024. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sean C. Robinson, 202–268–8405. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States Postal Service® hereby gives notice that, pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3642 and 3632(b)(3), on March 8, 2024, it filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission a USPS Request to Add Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail & USPS Ground Advantage® Contract 50 to Competitive Product List. Documents are available at www.prc.gov, Docket Nos. MC2024–203, CP2024–209. SUMMARY: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sean Robinson, 202–268–8405. The United States Postal Service® hereby gives notice that, pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3642 and 3632(b)(3), on March 8, 2024, it filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission a USPS Request to Add Priority Mail & USPS Ground Advantage® Contract 198 to Competitive Product List. Documents are available at www.prc.gov, Docket Nos. MC2024–204, CP2024–210. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Sean Robinson, Attorney, Corporate and Postal Business Law. [FR Doc. 2024–05375 Filed 3–13–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7710–12–P POSTAL SERVICE Product Change—Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage® Negotiated Service Agreement Sean C. Robinson, Attorney, Corporate and Postal Business Law. [FR Doc. 2024–05379 Filed 3–13–24; 8:45 am] AGENCY: ACTION: Postal ServiceTM. BILLING CODE 7710–12–P Notice. The Postal Service gives notice of filing a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission to add a domestic shipping services contract to the list of Negotiated Service Agreements in the Mail Classification Schedule’s Competitive Products List. SUMMARY: Date of required notice: March 14, 2024. DATES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sean Robinson, 202–268–8405. The United States Postal Service® hereby gives notice that, pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3642 and 3632(b)(3), on February 27, 2024, it filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission a USPS Request to Add Priority Mail & USPS Ground Advantage® Contract 194 to Competitive Product List. Documents are available at www.prc.gov, Docket Nos. MC2024–196, CP2024–202. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Sean Robinson, Attorney, Corporate and Postal Business Law. [FR Doc. 2024–05383 Filed 3–13–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7710–12–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:47 Mar 13, 2024 Jkt 262001 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [SEC File No. 270–625 OMB Control No. 3235–0686] Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Extension: Implementing the Whistleblower Provisions of Section 21F of the Securities Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of FOIA Services, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549–2736. Exchange Act of 1934—Form WB–APP Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) (‘‘PRA’’), the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) is soliciting comments on the collection of information summarized below. The Commission plans to submit an extension for this current collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget for approval. PO 00000 Frm 00095 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 In Release No. 34–64545,1 the Commission adopted rules (‘‘Rules’’) and forms to implement Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 entitled ‘‘Securities Whistleblower Incentives and Protection,’’ which was created by Section 922 of the DoddFrank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (‘‘Dodd-Frank Act’’).2 The Rules describe the whistleblower program that the Commission has established pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act which requires the Commission to pay an award, subject to certain limitations and conditions, to whistleblowers who voluntarily provide the Commission with original information about a violation of the Federal securities laws that leads to the successful enforcement of a covered judicial or administrative action, or of a related action. The Rules define certain terms critical to the operation of the whistleblower program, outline the procedures for applying for awards and the Commission’s procedures for making decisions on claims, and generally explain the scope of the whistleblower program to the public and to potential whistleblowers. Form WB–APP is a form that is submitted by whistleblowers filing a claim for a whistleblower award. Form WB–APP is required for application for an award under the Rules. On December 4, 2020, the Commission approved an updated version of the WB–APP in accordance with its amended rules.3 The updated WB–APP removed the requirement for the filer to submit their Social Security Number and modified the order of the questions on the form. Although a new question has been added to the form, there have been no substantive changes made to the WB– APP since that approval. The Commission estimates that it takes a whistleblower, on average, two hours to complete Form WB–APP. The completion time depends largely on the complexity of the alleged violation and the amount of information the whistleblower possesses in support of his or her application for an award. Based on the receipt of approximately 192 submissions on average for the past eight fiscal years, the Commission estimates that the total annual PRA burden of Form WB–APP is 384 hours. Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether this collection of information 1 Implementation of the Whistleblower Provisions of Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Release No. 34–64545; File No. S7–33–10 (adopted May 25, 2011). 2 Public Law 111–203, 922(a), 124 Stat 1841 (2010). 3 SEC Release 34–89963, 2020 WL 5763381, 85 FR 70898 (Nov. 5, 2020). E:\FR\FM\14MRN1.SGM 14MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 51 / Thursday, March 14, 2024 / Notices is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden imposed by the collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted by May 13, 2024. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information under the PRA unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Please direct your written comments to: David Bottom, Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o John Pezzullo, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549, or send an email to: PRA_ Mailbox@sec.gov. Dated: March 8, 2024. J. Matthew DeLesDernier, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2024–05380 Filed 3–13–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–99701; File No. SR–OCC– 2024–002] Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Options Clearing Corporation; Order Granting Proposed Rule Change Concerning Amendments to The Options Clearing Corporation’s Rules, By-Laws, and Certain Clearing Member Documents ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 March 8, 2024. I. Introduction On January 10, 2024, the Options Clearing Corporation (‘‘OCC’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule change SR–OCC–2024– 002 pursuant to Section 19(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Exchange Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4 2 thereunder. The proposed rule change would amend the OCC Rules, By-Laws, and certain Clearing Member documents 3 in connection with the 1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). CFR 240.19b–4. 3 The Clearing Member documents consist of contracts and forms, that in conjunction with OCC’s By-Laws and Rules, establish and govern the 2 17 VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:47 Mar 13, 2024 Jkt 262001 recent amendments adopted by the Commission to Rule 15c6–1(a) 4 under the Exchange Act. The proposed rule change was published for public comment in the Federal Register on January 25, 2024.5 The Commission has received no comments regarding the proposed rule change. This order approves the proposed rule change (hereinafter defined as ‘‘Proposed Rule Change’’). II. Background OCC is the sole clearing agency for standardized equity options listed on national securities exchanges registered with the Commission, including options that contemplate the physical delivery of equities cleared by the National Securities Clearing Corporation (‘‘NSCC’’) in exchange for cash (‘‘physically settled’’ options).6 The standard settlement cycle for most such equities is two business days after the trade date (T+2). On February 15, 2023, the Commission adopted amendments to Rule 15c6–1(a) to shorten the standard settlement cycle for most broker-dealer transactions to one business day after the trade date (T+1).7 OCC proposes three categories of changes in connection with the shortening of the settlement cycle, all of which OCC intends to implement on May 28, 2024, which is the compliance date regarding the amendments to Rule 15c6–1(a). First, OCC is proposing timing changes to certain internal processes to ensure those processes are completed in a timeframe that will accommodate a T+1 standard settlement cycle. Where necessary, OCC also is making conforming changes to its internal documentation for these and other processes to ensure that they too reflect and are consistent with a T+1 standard settlement cycle. Second, OCC is proposing to amend its rules to eliminate the possibility of late exercise. This is because the relevant processing relationship between OCC and each Clearing Member. See Exchange Act Release No. 73577 (Nov. 12, 2014), 79 FR 68733 (Nov. 18, 2014) (File No. SR–OCC–2014–020). 4 17 CFR 240.15c6–1(a). 5 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34–99392 (January 25, 2024), 89 FR 5069 (Jan. 19, 2024) (File No. SR–OCC–2024–002) (‘‘Notice of Filing’’). 6 The term ‘‘physically-settled’’ as used throughout the OCC Rulebook refers to cleared contracts that settle into their underlying interest (i.e., options or futures contracts that are not cashsettled). When a contract settles into its underlying interest, shares of stock are sent (i.e., delivered) to contract holders who have the right to receive the shares from contract holders who are obligated to deliver the shares at the time of exercise/assignment in the case of an option and maturity in the case of a future. 7 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 96930 (Feb. 15, 2023), 88 FR 13872 (Mar. 6, 2023) (File No. S7–05–22). PO 00000 Frm 00096 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 18685 and other timelines necessary to accommodate a T+1 standard settlement cycle are too compressed to allow OCC to accommodate late exercise. A. Timeframe Changes OCC proposes changes regarding settlement timing both through NSCC and on a broker-to-broker basis as well as in OCC’s stock loan programs. Regarding transactions settling through NSCC, for example, OCC proposes to limit the authority of its officers to extend or postpone settlement to no more than one business day (as opposed to two business days) under OCC’s Rule 901. For transaction settling on a brokerto-broker basis, OCC proposes changing the delivery date for physically-settled options under OCC Rule 903 from the ‘‘second’’ to the ‘‘first’’ business day following exercise.8 OCC also proposes similar changes to the rules governing its stock loan programs.9 Separately, OCC proposes changes regarding Clearing Member appointments, escrow deposits, and Treasuries. OCC proposes to change the timing of appointments that must occur following execution, but prior to settlement, such as when a Canadian Clearing Member appointments CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc. to act on the member’s behalf with respect to the settlement of exercised or matured cleared securities in its accounts through NSCC.10 OCC also proposes streamlining changes, such as replacing references to the specific business day for release of certain escrows deposits with a reference to OCC’s Operations Manual.11 Finally, OCC proposes to revise Rule 1302 concerning the delivery of underlying securities and Rule 1302B concerning the delivery of underlying Treasury securities. Specifically, in these two rules, OCC proposes to update references from the ‘‘second’’ business day to the ‘‘first’’ business day with respect to applicable deadlines specified. To align the rest of OCC’s Rules, ByLaws, and Clearing Member documents to the T+1 settlement cycle, OCC is 8 OCC proposes similar changes related to the timing of settlement for other relevant contracts, such as futures contracts and stock loan transactions. 9 Such changes would update the timing termination (under Article XXI, Section 2(c) of OCC’s By-Laws as well as OCC Rule 2209A(d)) and the failure of a recall transaction (under OCC Rule 2209A(a)(3). 10 Such changes include changes both to OCC’s public rulebook (e.g., OCC Rule 901(f)) as well as related documents, such as OCC’s ‘‘Appointment of CDS—Stock Settlement Form.’’ 11 The Operations Manual would state that this release of collateral would occur on the next business day following the expiration date. E:\FR\FM\14MRN1.SGM 14MRN1

Agencies

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 51 (Thursday, March 14, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18684-18685]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05380]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[SEC File No. 270-625 OMB Control No. 3235-0686]


Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Extension: Implementing the 
Whistleblower Provisions of Section 21F of the Securities

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange 
Commission, Office of FOIA Services, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 
20549-2736.

Exchange Act of 1934--Form WB-APP

    Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) (``PRA''), the Securities and 
Exchange Commission (``Commission'') is soliciting comments on the 
collection of information summarized below. The Commission plans to 
submit an extension for this current collection of information to the 
Office of Management and Budget for approval.
    In Release No. 34-64545,\1\ the Commission adopted rules 
(``Rules'') and forms to implement Section 21F of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 entitled ``Securities Whistleblower Incentives and 
Protection,'' which was created by Section 922 of the Dodd- Frank Wall 
Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (``Dodd-Frank Act'').\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Implementation of the Whistleblower Provisions of Section 
21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Release No. 34-64545; 
File No. S7-33-10 (adopted May 25, 2011).
    \2\ Public Law 111-203, 922(a), 124 Stat 1841 (2010).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Rules describe the whistleblower program that the Commission 
has established pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act which requires the 
Commission to pay an award, subject to certain limitations and 
conditions, to whistleblowers who voluntarily provide the Commission 
with original information about a violation of the Federal securities 
laws that leads to the successful enforcement of a covered judicial or 
administrative action, or of a related action. The Rules define certain 
terms critical to the operation of the whistleblower program, outline 
the procedures for applying for awards and the Commission's procedures 
for making decisions on claims, and generally explain the scope of the 
whistleblower program to the public and to potential whistleblowers.
    Form WB-APP is a form that is submitted by whistleblowers filing a 
claim for a whistleblower award. Form WB-APP is required for 
application for an award under the Rules. On December 4, 2020, the 
Commission approved an updated version of the WB-APP in accordance with 
its amended rules.\3\ The updated WB-APP removed the requirement for 
the filer to submit their Social Security Number and modified the order 
of the questions on the form. Although a new question has been added to 
the form, there have been no substantive changes made to the WB-APP 
since that approval. The Commission estimates that it takes a 
whistleblower, on average, two hours to complete Form WB-APP. The 
completion time depends largely on the complexity of the alleged 
violation and the amount of information the whistleblower possesses in 
support of his or her application for an award. Based on the receipt of 
approximately 192 submissions on average for the past eight fiscal 
years, the Commission estimates that the total annual PRA burden of 
Form WB-APP is 384 hours. Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether 
this collection of information

[[Page 18685]]

is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden imposed by the 
collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, 
and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the 
burden of the collection of information on respondents, including 
through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology. Consideration will be given to comments and 
suggestions submitted by May 13, 2024.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ SEC Release 34-89963, 2020 WL 5763381, 85 FR 70898 (Nov. 5, 
2020).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information under the PRA unless it 
displays a currently valid OMB control number.
    Please direct your written comments to: David Bottom, Director/
Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o John 
Pezzullo, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549, or send an email to: 
[email protected].

    Dated: March 8, 2024.
J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-05380 Filed 3-13-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P

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