Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustment, 3618-3622 [2025-00737]

Download as PDF 3618 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 9 / Wednesday, January 15, 2025 / Rules and Regulations 1990 Act, as amended, by the 2015 Act.12 for violations that occur on or after January 15, 2025. 2. Other Adjustments If a civil monetary penalty is subject to a cost-of-living adjustment under the 1990 Act, as amended, but is adjusted to an amount greater than the amount of the adjustment required under the Act within the 12 months preceding a required cost-of-living adjustment, the agency is not required to make the costof-living adjustment to that CMP in that calendar year.13 2. New Penalty Amount in § 622.61(a)(2) III. Yearly Adjustments A. Mathematical Calculations of 2025 Adjustments The adjustment requirement affects two provisions of section 5.32(a) of the Farm Credit Act. For the 2025 yearly adjustments to the CMPs set forth by the Farm Credit Act, the calculation required by the 2024 White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance 14 is based on the percentage by which the CPI for October 2024 exceeds the CPI for October 2023. The OMB set forth guidance, as required by the 2015 Act,15 with a multiplier for calculating the new CMP values.16 The 2024 OMB multiplier for the 2025 CMPs is 1.02598. The adjustment also affects the CMPs set by the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, as amended. The adjustment multiplier is the same for all FCA enforced CMPs, set at 1.02598. The maximum CMPs for violations were created in 2012 by the Biggert-Waters Act, which amended the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973. 1. New Penalty Amount in § 622.61(a)(1) The inflation-adjusted CMP currently in effect for violations of a final order occurring on or after January 15, 2024, is a maximum daily amount of $2,830.17 Multiplying the $2,830 CMP by the 2024 OMB multiplier, 1.02598, yields a total of $2,903.52. When that number is rounded as required by section 5(a) of the 1990 Act, as amended, the inflationadjusted maximum increases to $2,904. Thus, the new CMP maximum is $2,904, lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES1 12 Pursuant to section 5(a)(3) of the 2015 Act, any increase determined under the subsection shall be rounded to the nearest $1. 13 Pursuant to section 4(d) of the 1990 Act, as amended. 14 OMB Circular M–25–02, Implementation of Penalty Inflation Adjustments for 2025, Pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. 15 28 U.S.C. 2461 note, section 7(a). 16 OMB Circular M–25–02, Implementation of Penalty Inflation Adjustments for 2025, Pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. 17 12 CFR 622.61(a)(1). VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:28 Jan 14, 2025 Jkt 265001 The inflation-adjusted CMP currently in effect for violations of the Farm Credit Act or regulations issued under the Farm Credit Act occurring on or after January 15, 2024, is a maximum daily amount of $1,280.18 Multiplying the $1,280 CMP maximum by the 2024 OMB multiplier, 1.02598, yields a total of $1,313.25. When that number is rounded as required by section 5(a) of the 1990 Act, as amended the inflationadjusted maximum increases to $1,313. Thus, the new CMP maximum is $1,313, for violations that occur on or after January 15, 2025. 3. New Penalty Amounts for Flood Insurance Violations Under § 622.61(b) The existing maximum CMP for a pattern or practice of flood insurance violations pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 4012a(f)(5) occurring on or after January 15, 2024, is $2,661. Multiplying $2,661 by the 2024 OMB multiplier, 1.02598, yields a total of $2,730.13. When that number is rounded as required by section 5(a) of the 1990 Act, as amended, the new maximum assessment of the CMP for violating 42 U.S.C. 4012a(f)(5) is $2,730. Thus, the new CMP maximum is $2,730, for violations that occur on or after January 15, 2025. IV. Notice and Comment Not Required by the Administrative Procedure Act Section 4(b)(2) of the 1990 Act, as amended by section 701 of the 2015 Act (28 U.S.C. 2461 note), provides an exemption from the Administrative Procedure Act notice and comment requirements in 5 U.S.C. 553. Further, these revisions are ministerial, technical, and noncontroversial. For these reasons, the FCA has determined to adopt this rule in final form. V. Regulatory Flexibility Act Pursuant to section 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the FCA hereby certifies that this final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Each of the banks in the System, considered together with its affiliated associations, has assets and annual income in excess of the amounts that would qualify them as small entities. Therefore, System institutions are not ‘‘small entities’’ as defined in the Regulatory Flexibility Act. List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 622 Administrative practice and procedure, Crime, Investigations, Penalties. For the reasons stated in the preamble, part 622 of chapter VI, title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended to read as follows: PART 622—RULES OF PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE 1. The authority citation for part 622 continues to read as follows: ■ Authority: Secs. 5.9, 5.10, 5.17, 5.25–5.37 of the Farm Credit Act (12 U.S.C. 2243, 2244, 2252, 2261–2273); 28 U.S.C. 2461 note; and 42 U.S.C. 4012a(f). ■ 2. Revise § 622.61 to read as follows: § 622.61 Adjustment of civil money penalties by the rate of inflation under the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended. (a) The maximum amount of each civil money penalty within FCA’s jurisdiction is adjusted in accordance with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended (28 U.S.C. 2461 note), as follows: (1) Amount of civil money penalty imposed under section 5.32 of the Act for violation of a final order issued under section 5.25 or 5.26 of the Act: The maximum daily amount is $2,904 for violations that occur on or after January 15, 2025. (2) Amount of civil money penalty for violation of the Act or regulations: the maximum daily amount is $1,313 for each violation that occurs on or after January 15, 2025. (b) The maximum civil money penalty amount assessed under 42 U.S.C. 4012a(f) is $2,730 for each violation that occurs on or after January 15, 2025, with no cap on the total amount of penalties that can be assessed against any single institution during any calendar year. Dated: January 10, 2025. Ashley Waldron, Secretary to the Board, Farm Credit Administration. [FR Doc. 2025–00963 Filed 1–14–25; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6705–01–P NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION 12 CFR Part 747 RIN 3133–AF65 Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustment National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). AGENCY: 18 12 PO 00000 CFR 622.61(a)(2). Frm 00018 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\15JAR1.SGM 15JAR1 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 9 / Wednesday, January 15, 2025 / Rules and Regulations ACTION: Final rule. The NCUA Board (Board) is amending its regulations to adjust the maximum amount of each civil monetary penalty (CMP) within its jurisdiction to account for inflation. This action, including the amount of the adjustments, is required under the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended by the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 and the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. DATES: This final rule is effective January 15, 2025. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gira Bose, Senior Staff Attorney, at 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, via email at gbose@ncua.gov, or by telephone at (703) 518–6562. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: I. Legal Background II. Regulatory Procedures I. Legal Background A. Statutory Requirements lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES1 Every Federal agency, including the NCUA, is required by law to adjust its maximum CMP amounts each year to account for inflation. Prior to this being an annual requirement, agencies were required to adjust their CMPs at least once every four years. The previous four-year requirement stemmed from the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996,1 which amended the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990.2 The current annual requirement stems from the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015,3 which contains the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (the 2015 amendments).4 This legislation provided for an initial ‘‘catch-up’’ adjustment of CMPs in 2016, followed by annual adjustments. The catch-up adjustment reset CMP maximum amounts by setting aside the inflation adjustments that agencies made in prior years and instead calculated inflation with reference to the year when each CMP was enacted or last modified by Congress. Agencies were required to publish their catch-up adjustments in an interim final rule by July 1, 2016, and 1 Public Law 104–134, Sec. 31001(s), 110 Stat. 1321–373 (Apr. 26, 1996). The law is codified at 28 U.S.C. 2461 note. 2 Public Law 101–410, 104 Stat. 890 (Oct. 5, 1990), codified at 28 U.S.C. 2461 note. 3 Public Law 114–74, 129 Stat. 584 (Nov. 2, 2015). 4 129 Stat. 599. VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:48 Jan 14, 2025 Jkt 265001 make them effective by August 1, 2016.5 The NCUA complied with these requirements in a June 2016 interim final rule, followed by a November 2016 final rule to confirm the adjustments as final.6 The 2015 amendments also specified how agencies must conduct annual inflation adjustments after the 2016 catch-up adjustment. Following the catch-up adjustment, agencies must make the required adjustments and publish them in the Federal Register by January 15 each year.7 For 2017, the NCUA issued an interim final rule on January 6, 2017,8 followed by a final rule issued on June 23, 2017.9 For each of the years 2018 through 2024, the NCUA issued a final rule to satisfy the agency’s annual requirements.10 This final rule satisfies the agency’s requirement for the 2025 annual adjustment. The law provides that the adjustments shall be made notwithstanding the section of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) that requires prior notice and public comment for agency rulemaking.11 The 2015 amendments also specify that each CMP maximum must be increased by the percentage by which the consumer price index for urban consumers (CPI–U) 12 for October of the year immediately preceding the year the adjustment is made exceeds the CPI–U for October of the prior year.13 Thus, for the adjustment to be made in 2025, an agency must compare the October 2023 and October 2024 CPI–U figures. An annual adjustment under the 2015 amendments is not required if a CMP has been amended in the preceding 12 months pursuant to other authority. Specifically, the statute provides that an agency is not required to make an annual adjustment to a CMP if in the preceding 12 months it has been increased by an amount greater than the 5 Public Law 114–74, Sec. 701(b)(1), 129 Stat. 584, 599 (Nov. 2, 2015). 6 81 FR 40152 (June 21, 2016); 81 FR 78028 (Nov. 7, 2016). 7 Public Law 114–74, Sec. 701(b)(1), 129 Stat. 584, 599 (Nov. 2, 2015). 8 82 FR 7640 (Jan. 23, 2017). 9 82 FR 29710 (June 30, 2017). 10 83 FR 2029 (Jan. 16, 2018); 84 FR 2052 (Feb. 6, 2019); 85 FR 2009 (Jan. 14, 2020); 86 FR 933 (Jan. 7, 2021); 87 FR 377 (Jan. 5, 2022); 88 FR 1323 (Jan. 10, 2023); 89 FR 1441 (Jan. 10, 2024). 11 Public Law 114–74, Sec. 701(b)(1), 129 Stat. 584, 599 (Nov. 2, 2015). 12 This index is published by the Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and is available at its website: https://www.bls.gov/cpi/. 13 Public Law 114–74, Sec. 701(b)(2)(B), 129 Stat. 584, 600 (Nov. 2, 2015). PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 3619 annual adjustment required by the 2015 amendments.14 The NCUA did not make any adjustments in the preceding 12 months pursuant to other authority. Therefore, this rulemaking adjusts all of the NCUA’s CMPs pursuant to the 2015 amendments. B. Application to the 2025 Adjustments and Office of Management and Budget Guidance This section applies the statutory requirements and the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) guidance to the NCUA’s CMPs and sets forth the Board’s calculation of the 2025 adjustments. The 2015 amendments directed OMB to issue guidance to agencies on implementing the inflation adjustments.15 OMB is required to issue its guidance each December and, with respect to the 2025 annual adjustment, did so on December 17, 2024.16 For 2025, Federal agencies must adjust the maximum amounts of their CMPs by the percentage by which the October 2024 CPI–U (315.664) exceeds the October 2023 CPI–U (307.671). The resulting increase can be expressed as an inflation multiplier (1.02598) to apply to each current CMP maximum amount to determine the adjusted maximum. The OMB guidance also addresses rulemaking procedures and agency reporting and oversight requirements for CMPs.17 The following table presents the adjustment calculations. The current maximums are found at 12 CFR 747.1001, as adjusted by the final rule that the Board approved in January 2024. This amount is multiplied by the inflation multiplier to calculate the new maximum in the far-right column. Only these adjusted maximum amounts, and not the calculations, will be codified at 12 CFR 747.1001 under this final rule. The adjusted amounts will be effective upon publication in the Federal Register and can be applied to violations that occurred on or after November 2, 2015, the date the 2015 amendments were enacted.18 14 Public Law 114–74, Sec. 701(b)(1), 129 Stat. 584, 600 (Nov. 2, 2015). 15 Public Law 114–74, Sec. 701(b)(4), 129 Stat. 584, 601 (Nov. 2, 2015). 16 See OMB Memorandum M–25–02, Implementation of Penalty Inflation Adjustments for 2025, Pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (Dec. 17, 2024). 17 Id. 18 Public Law 114–74, 129 Stat. 600 (Nov. 2, 2015). E:\FR\FM\15JAR1.SGM 15JAR1 3620 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 9 / Wednesday, January 15, 2025 / Rules and Regulations TABLE—CALCULATION OF MAXIMUM CMP ADJUSTMENTS Description and tier 19 Current maximum ($) 12 U.S.C. 1782(a)(3) .................. Inadvertent failure to submit a report or the inadvertent submission of a false or misleading report. Non-inadvertent failure to submit a report or the noninadvertent submission of a false or misleading report. Failure to submit a report or the submission of a false or misleading report done knowingly or with reckless disregard. Tier 1 CMP for inadvertent failure to submit certified statement of insured shares and charges due to the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF), or inadvertent submission of false or misleading statement. Tier 2 CMP for non-inadvertent failure to submit certified statement or submission of false or misleading statement. Tier 3 CMP for failure to submit a certified statement or the submission of a false or misleading statement done knowingly or with reckless disregard. Non-compliance with insurance logo requirements ..... Non-compliance with NCUA security requirements ..... Tier 1 CMP for violations of law, regulation, and other orders or agreements. Tier 2 CMP for violations of law, regulation, and other orders or agreements and for recklessly engaging in unsafe or unsound practices or breaches of fiduciary duty. Tier 3 CMP for knowingly committing the violations under Tier 1 or 2 (natural person). Tier 3 CMP for knowingly committing the violations under Tier 1 or 2 (insured credit union). Non-compliance with senior examiner post-employment restrictions. Non-compliance with appraisal independence standards (first violation). Subsequent violations of the same .............................. Non-compliance with flood insurance requirements .... 4,899 ................................. 1.02598 5,026. 48,992 ............................... 1.02598 50,265. Lesser of 2,449,575 or 1% of total credit union (CU) assets. 4,480 ................................. 1.02598 Lesser of 2,513,215 or 1% of total CU assets. 1.02598 4,596. 44,783 ............................... 1.02598 45,946. Lesser of 2,239,210 or 1% of total CU assets. 1.02598 Lesser of 2,297,385 or 1% of total CU assets. 153 .................................... 356 .................................... 12,249 ............................... 1.02598 1.02598 1.02598 157. 365. 12,567. 61,238 ............................... 1.02598 62,829. 2,449,575 .......................... 1.02598 2,513,215. Lesser of 2,449,575 or 1% of total CU assets. 402,920 ............................. 1.02598 1.02598 Lesser of 2,513,215 or 1% of total CU assets. 413,388. 14,069 ............................... 1.02598 14,435. 28,135 ............................... 2,661 ................................. 1.02598 1.02598 28,866. 2,730. 12 U.S.C. 1782(a)(3) .................. 12 U.S.C. 1782(a)(3) .................. 12 U.S.C. 1782(d)(2)(A) ............. 12 U.S.C. 1782(d)(2)(B) ............. 12 U.S.C. 1782(d)(2)(C) ............. 12 U.S.C. 1785(a)(3) .................. 12 U.S.C. 1785(e)(3) .................. 12 U.S.C. 1786(k)(2)(A) ............. 12 U.S.C. 1786(k)(2)(B) ............. 12 U.S.C. 1786(k)(2)(C) ............. 12 U.S.C. 1786(k)(2)(C) ............. 12 U.S.C. 1786(w)(5)(A)(ii) ........ 15 U.S.C. 1639e(k) .................... 15 U.S.C. 1639e(k) .................... 42 U.S.C. 4012a(f)(5) ................. II. Regulatory Procedures A. Final Rule Under the APA In the 2015 amendments, Congress provided that agencies shall make the required inflation adjustments in 2017 and subsequent years notwithstanding 5 U.S.C. 553, which generally requires agencies to follow notice-and-comment procedures in rulemaking and to make rules effective no sooner than 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.20 The 2015 amendments provide a clear exception to these requirements.21 In addition, the Board finds that notice-and-comment procedures would be impracticable and unnecessary under the APA because of the largely ministerial and technical nature of the final rule, which affords agencies limited discretion in promulgating the rule, and the statutory lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES1 Adjusted maximum ($) (current maximum X multiplier, rounded to nearest dollar) Citation 19 The table uses condensed descriptions of CMP tiers. Refer to the U.S. Code citations for complete descriptions. 20 Public Law 114–74, Sec. 701(b)(1), 129 Stat. 584, 599 (Nov. 2, 2015). 21 See 5 U.S.C. 559; Asiana Airlines v. Fed. Aviation Admin., 134 F.3d 393, 396–99 (D.C. Cir. 1998). VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:48 Jan 14, 2025 Jkt 265001 deadline for making the adjustments.22 In these circumstances, the Board finds good cause to issue a final rule without issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking or soliciting public comments. The Board also finds good cause to make the final rule effective upon publication because of the statutory deadline. Accordingly, this final rule is issued without prior notice and comment and will become effective immediately upon publication. B. Regulatory Flexibility Act The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) generally requires that when an agency issues a proposed rule or a final rule pursuant to the APA 23 or another law, the agency must prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis that meets the requirements of the RFA and publish such analysis in the Federal Register.24 22 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B); see Mid-Tex. Elec. Co-op., Inc. v. Fed. Energy Regulatory Comm’n, 822 F.2d 1123 (D.C. Cir. 1987). For the same reasons, this final rule does not include the usual 60-day comment period under NCUA Interpretive Ruling and Policy Statement (IRPS) 87–2, as amended by IRPS 03–2 and 15–1 (Sept. 24, 2015). 23 5 U.S.C. 553(b). 24 5 U.S.C. 603, 604. PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 Multiplier Specifically, the RFA normally requires agencies to describe the impact of a rulemaking on small entities by providing a regulatory impact analysis. For purposes of the RFA, the Board considers federally insured credit unions with assets less than $100 million to be small entities.25 As discussed previously, consistent with the APA, the Board has determined for good cause that general notice and opportunity for public comment is unnecessary, and therefore the Board is not issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking.26 Rules that are exempt from notice and comment procedures are also exempt from the RFA requirements, including conducting a regulatory flexibility analysis, when among other things the agency for good cause finds that notice and public procedure are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest. Accordingly, the Board has concluded that the RFA’s requirements relating to 25 NCUA 26 5 E:\FR\FM\15JAR1.SGM IRPS 15–1. U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B). 15JAR1 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 9 / Wednesday, January 15, 2025 / Rules and Regulations initial and final regulatory flexibility analysis do not apply. Nevertheless, the Board notes that this final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small credit unions because it affects only the maximum amounts of CMPs that may be assessed in individual cases, which are not numerous and generally do not involve assessments at the maximum level. In addition, several of the CMPs are limited to a percentage of a credit union’s assets. Finally, in assessing CMPs, the Board generally must consider a party’s financial resources.27 Because this final rule will affect few, if any, small credit unions, the Board certifies that the final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. C. Paperwork Reduction Act The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) applies to rulemakings in which an agency creates a new paperwork burden on regulated entities or modifies an existing burden.28 For purposes of the PRA, a paperwork burden may take the form of either a reporting or a recordkeeping requirement, both referred to as information collections. This final rule adjusts the maximum amounts of certain CMPs that the Board may assess against individuals, entities, or credit unions but does not require any reporting or recordkeeping. Therefore, this final rule will not create new paperwork burdens or modify any existing paperwork burdens. D. Executive Order 13132 Executive Order 13132 encourages independent regulatory agencies to consider the impact of their actions on state and local interests. In adherence to fundamental federalism principles, the NCUA, an independent regulatory agency as defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(5), voluntarily complies with the executive order. This final rule adjusts the maximum amounts of certain CMPs that the Board may assess against individuals, entities, and federally insured credit unions, including statechartered credit unions. However, the final rule does not create any new authority or alter the underlying statutory authorities that enable the Board to assess CMPs. Accordingly, this final rule will not have a substantial direct effect on the states, on the connection between the national government and the states, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. The Board has determined that this final rule does not constitute a policy that has federalism implications for purposes of the executive order. E. Assessment of Federal Regulations and Policies on Families The Board has determined that this final rule will not affect family wellbeing within the meaning of Section 654 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 1999.29 F. Congressional Review Act For purposes of the Congressional Review Act,30 the OMB determines whether a final rule constitutes a ‘‘major rule.’’ If the OMB deems a rule to be a ‘‘major rule,’’ the Congressional Review Act generally provides that the rule may not take effect until at least 60 days following its publication. As required by the Congressional Review Act, the Board submitted the final rule and other appropriate reports to the OMB which determined that this rule is not a ‘‘major rule.’’ The Board will also be submitting this rule to Congress and the Government Accountability Office for review. The Congressional Review Act defines a ‘‘major rule’’ as any rule that the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of the OMB finds has resulted in or is likely to result in (A) an annual effect on the economy of $100,000,000 or more; (B) a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, Federal, State, or local government agencies or geographic regions; or (C) significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or on the ability of United States-based enterprises to compete with foreign- U.S. Code citation (1) 12 U.S.C. 1782(a)(3) .......... lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES1 (2) 12 U.S.C. 1782(a)(3) .......... (3) 12 U.S.C. 1782(a)(3) .......... 27 12 28 44 VerDate Sep<11>2014 based enterprises in domestic and export markets.31 For the reasons previously stated, the Board is adopting the final rule without the delayed effective date generally prescribed under the Congressional Review Act. The delayed effective date required by the Congressional Review Act does not apply to any rule for which an agency for good cause finds (and incorporates the finding and a brief statement of reasons therefor in the rule issued) that notice and public procedures thereon are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.32 List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 747 Civil monetary penalties, Credit unions. By the National Credit Union Administration Board on January 10, 2025. Ji Kwon, Acting Secretary of the Board. For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Board amends 12 CFR part 747 as follows: PART 747—ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS, ADJUDICATIVE HEARINGS, RULES OF PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE, AND INVESTIGATIONS 1. The authority for part 747 continues to read as follows: ■ Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1766, 1782, 1784, 1785, 1786, 1787, 1790a, 1790d; 15 U.S.C. 1639e; 42 U.S.C. 4012a; Public Law 101–410; Public Law 104–134; Public Law 109–351; Public Law 114–74. 2. Revise § 747.1001 to read as follows: ■ § 747.1001 Adjustment of civil monetary penalties by the rate of inflation. (a) The NCUA is required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101– 410, 104 Stat. 890, as amended (28 U.S.C. 2461 note)), to adjust the maximum amount of each civil monetary penalty (CMP) within its jurisdiction by the rate of inflation. The following chart displays those adjusted amounts, as calculated pursuant to the statute: CMP description New maximum amount Inadvertent failure to submit a report or the inadvertent submission of a false or misleading report. Non-inadvertent failure to submit a report or the non-inadvertent submission of a false or misleading report. Failure to submit a report or the submission of a false or misleading report done knowingly or with reckless disregard. U.S.C. 1786(k)(2)(G)(i). U.S.C. 3507(d); 5 CFR part 1320. 15:48 Jan 14, 2025 Jkt 265001 29 Public Law 105–277, 112 Stat. 2681 (Oct. 21, 1998). 30 5 U.S.C. 801–808. PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4700 3621 Sfmt 4700 $5,026. $50,265. $2,513,215 or 1% of the total assets of the credit union, whichever is less. 31 5 32 5 E:\FR\FM\15JAR1.SGM U.S.C. 804(2). U.S.C. 808. 15JAR1 3622 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 9 / Wednesday, January 15, 2025 / Rules and Regulations U.S. Code citation CMP description (4) 12 U.S.C. 1782(d)(2)(A) ..... Tier 1 CMP for inadvertent failure to submit certified statement of insured shares and charges due to the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF), or inadvertent submission of false or misleading statement. Tier 2 CMP for non-inadvertent failure to submit certified statement or submission of false or misleading statement. Tier 3 CMP for failure to submit a certified statement or the submission of a false or misleading statement done knowingly or with reckless disregard. Non-compliance with insurance logo requirements ............................................ Non-compliance with NCUA security requirements ........................................... Tier 1 CMP for violations of law, regulation, and other orders or agreements .. Tier 2 CMP for violations of law, regulation, and other orders or agreements and for recklessly engaging in unsafe or unsound practices or breaches of fiduciary duty. Tier 3 CMP for knowingly committing the violations under Tier 1 or 2 (natural person). Tier 3 CMP for knowingly committing the violations under Tier 1 or 2 (insured credit union). Non-compliance with senior examiner post-employment restrictions ................ (5) 12 U.S.C. 1782(d)(2)(B) ..... (6) 12 U.S.C. 1782(d)(2)(C) ..... (7) 12 U.S.C. 1785(a)(3) .......... (8) 12 U.S.C. 1785(e)(3) .......... (9) 12 U.S.C. 1786(k)(2)(A) ..... (10) 12 U.S.C. 1786(k)(2)(B) ... (11) 12 U.S.C. 1786(k)(2)(C) ... (12) 12 U.S.C. 1786(k)(2)(C) ... (13) 12 U.S.C. 1786(w)(5)(A)(ii). (14) 15 U.S.C. 1639e(k) .......... (15) 42 U.S.C. 4012a(f)(5) ....... Non-compliance with appraisal independence requirements ............................. Non-compliance with flood insurance requirements ........................................... (b) The adjusted amounts displayed in paragraph (a) of this section apply to civil monetary penalties that are assessed after the date the increase takes effect, including those whose associated violation or violations pre-dated the increase and occurred on or after November 2, 2015. [FR Doc. 2025–00737 Filed 1–14–25; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7535–01–P CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU 12 CFR Part 1026 [Docket No. CFPB–2024–0032] Truth in Lending (Regulation Z); Consumer Credit Offered to Borrowers in Advance of Expected Receipt of Compensation for Work Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. ACTION: Advisory opinion rescinding previous advisory opinion. AGENCY: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is issuing this advisory opinion to rescind an advisory opinion it issued in November 2020 that described how one particular type of ‘‘earned wage’’ product does not involve the offering or extension of ‘‘credit’’ as that term is defined in the Truth in Lending Act and Regulation Z. DATES: This advisory opinion is applicable January 15, 2025. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Karithanom, Regulatory Implementation & Guidance Program Analyst, Office of Regulations, at 202– 435–7700 or at: https:// reginquiries.consumerfinance.gov/. If you require this document in an lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES1 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 New maximum amount 16:28 Jan 14, 2025 Jkt 265001 alternative electronic format, please contact CFPB_Accessibility@cfpb.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Advisory Opinion A. Background One major source of demand for consumer credit is derived from the mismatch of when American workers receive compensation for their labor and when they incur expenses. While there have long been sources of credit for consumers to pay expenses in advance of receiving their compensation, there are a number of new offerings that seek to provide additional choices for consumers. Instead of being paid daily or upfront, American workers generally provide services before employers pay for those services some time later—typically on a biweekly or semi-monthly wage cycle.1 Employers have a strong incentive to delay payment, since these delays reduce working capital needs. Nearly three-quarters of non-farm payroll employees remain paid biweekly or even less frequently, and the remainder are generally paid their wages weekly. To address liquidity challenges, many consumers therefore turn to credit products, such as payday loans, personal installment loans, and credit cards. In recent years, American consumers have significantly expanded their use of products sometimes marketed as ‘‘earned wage access’’ or ‘‘earned wage advance.’’ 2 As these 1 While the terms ‘‘employer’’ and ‘‘employee’’ are used throughout, this advisory opinion applies more broadly to situations where consumers receive payment for work performed. 2 A recent CFPB report describes rapid recent growth in one part of this developing market. See CFPB, Developments in the Paycheck Advance Market, at 3 (July 2024) (hereinafter 2024 Paycheck Advance Report). PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 $4,596. $45,946. $2,297,385 or 1% of the total assets of the credit union, whichever is less. $157. $365. $12,567. $62,829. $2,513,215. $2,513,215 or 1% of the total assets of the credit union, whichever is less. $413,388. First violation: $14,435 Subsequent violations: $28,866. $2,730. paycheck advance products generally have features that make them subject to the CFPB’s jurisdiction, the CFPB has sought to understand these and other products, particularly those offered online, by engaging in ongoing monitoring of the market, including, for example, collecting and analyzing data, engaging with stakeholders (e.g., market participants, consumer groups, and States), tracking and studying market developments, and conducting market research, among other things. While many of these products have similarities to payday loans, there are important distinctions. The CFPB has found that there are two emerging models of earned wage products: employer-partnered and direct-toconsumer. For ‘‘employer-partnered’’ products, providers contract with employers to offer funds in amounts not exceeding accrued wages. Those funds are recovered via one or more payroll deductions, lowering the consumer’s paychecks accordingly, with other recourse options generally unavailable to the provider. In contrast, ‘‘direct-toconsumer’’ products provide funds to employees in amounts that are not as strictly limited by accrued wages. Some of these products limit advances to an amount estimated to be below accrued wages and do not consider other factors. Others consider estimated accrued wages as one of several factors when determining the amount to advance. Still others do not expressly state that estimated accrued wages are a factor considered despite being marketed as earned wage products. Regardless of the exact model, funds are generally recovered via automated withdrawal E:\FR\FM\15JAR1.SGM 15JAR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 15, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3618-3622]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-00737]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION

12 CFR Part 747

RIN 3133-AF65


Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustment

AGENCY: National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).

[[Page 3619]]


ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The NCUA Board (Board) is amending its regulations to adjust 
the maximum amount of each civil monetary penalty (CMP) within its 
jurisdiction to account for inflation. This action, including the 
amount of the adjustments, is required under the Federal Civil 
Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended by the Debt 
Collection Improvement Act of 1996 and the Federal Civil Penalties 
Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015.

DATES: This final rule is effective January 15, 2025.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gira Bose, Senior Staff Attorney, at 
1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, via email at [email protected], or 
by telephone at (703) 518-6562.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Legal Background
II. Regulatory Procedures

I. Legal Background

A. Statutory Requirements

    Every Federal agency, including the NCUA, is required by law to 
adjust its maximum CMP amounts each year to account for inflation. 
Prior to this being an annual requirement, agencies were required to 
adjust their CMPs at least once every four years. The previous four-
year requirement stemmed from the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 
1996,\1\ which amended the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment 
Act of 1990.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Public Law 104-134, Sec. 31001(s), 110 Stat. 1321-373 (Apr. 
26, 1996). The law is codified at 28 U.S.C. 2461 note.
    \2\ Public Law 101-410, 104 Stat. 890 (Oct. 5, 1990), codified 
at 28 U.S.C. 2461 note.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The current annual requirement stems from the Bipartisan Budget Act 
of 2015,\3\ which contains the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation 
Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (the 2015 amendments).\4\ This 
legislation provided for an initial ``catch-up'' adjustment of CMPs in 
2016, followed by annual adjustments. The catch-up adjustment reset CMP 
maximum amounts by setting aside the inflation adjustments that 
agencies made in prior years and instead calculated inflation with 
reference to the year when each CMP was enacted or last modified by 
Congress. Agencies were required to publish their catch-up adjustments 
in an interim final rule by July 1, 2016, and make them effective by 
August 1, 2016.\5\ The NCUA complied with these requirements in a June 
2016 interim final rule, followed by a November 2016 final rule to 
confirm the adjustments as final.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ Public Law 114-74, 129 Stat. 584 (Nov. 2, 2015).
    \4\ 129 Stat. 599.
    \5\ Public Law 114-74, Sec. 701(b)(1), 129 Stat. 584, 599 (Nov. 
2, 2015).
    \6\ 81 FR 40152 (June 21, 2016); 81 FR 78028 (Nov. 7, 2016).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The 2015 amendments also specified how agencies must conduct annual 
inflation adjustments after the 2016 catch-up adjustment. Following the 
catch-up adjustment, agencies must make the required adjustments and 
publish them in the Federal Register by January 15 each year.\7\ For 
2017, the NCUA issued an interim final rule on January 6, 2017,\8\ 
followed by a final rule issued on June 23, 2017.\9\ For each of the 
years 2018 through 2024, the NCUA issued a final rule to satisfy the 
agency's annual requirements.\10\ This final rule satisfies the 
agency's requirement for the 2025 annual adjustment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ Public Law 114-74, Sec. 701(b)(1), 129 Stat. 584, 599 (Nov. 
2, 2015).
    \8\ 82 FR 7640 (Jan. 23, 2017).
    \9\ 82 FR 29710 (June 30, 2017).
    \10\ 83 FR 2029 (Jan. 16, 2018); 84 FR 2052 (Feb. 6, 2019); 85 
FR 2009 (Jan. 14, 2020); 86 FR 933 (Jan. 7, 2021); 87 FR 377 (Jan. 
5, 2022); 88 FR 1323 (Jan. 10, 2023); 89 FR 1441 (Jan. 10, 2024).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The law provides that the adjustments shall be made notwithstanding 
the section of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) that requires 
prior notice and public comment for agency rulemaking.\11\ The 2015 
amendments also specify that each CMP maximum must be increased by the 
percentage by which the consumer price index for urban consumers (CPI-
U) \12\ for October of the year immediately preceding the year the 
adjustment is made exceeds the CPI-U for October of the prior year.\13\ 
Thus, for the adjustment to be made in 2025, an agency must compare the 
October 2023 and October 2024 CPI-U figures.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ Public Law 114-74, Sec. 701(b)(1), 129 Stat. 584, 599 (Nov. 
2, 2015).
    \12\ This index is published by the Department of Labor, Bureau 
of Labor Statistics, and is available at its website: https://www.bls.gov/cpi/.
    \13\ Public Law 114-74, Sec. 701(b)(2)(B), 129 Stat. 584, 600 
(Nov. 2, 2015).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    An annual adjustment under the 2015 amendments is not required if a 
CMP has been amended in the preceding 12 months pursuant to other 
authority. Specifically, the statute provides that an agency is not 
required to make an annual adjustment to a CMP if in the preceding 12 
months it has been increased by an amount greater than the annual 
adjustment required by the 2015 amendments.\14\ The NCUA did not make 
any adjustments in the preceding 12 months pursuant to other authority. 
Therefore, this rulemaking adjusts all of the NCUA's CMPs pursuant to 
the 2015 amendments.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ Public Law 114-74, Sec. 701(b)(1), 129 Stat. 584, 600 (Nov. 
2, 2015).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Application to the 2025 Adjustments and Office of Management and 
Budget Guidance

    This section applies the statutory requirements and the Office of 
Management and Budget's (OMB) guidance to the NCUA's CMPs and sets 
forth the Board's calculation of the 2025 adjustments.
    The 2015 amendments directed OMB to issue guidance to agencies on 
implementing the inflation adjustments.\15\ OMB is required to issue 
its guidance each December and, with respect to the 2025 annual 
adjustment, did so on December 17, 2024.\16\ For 2025, Federal agencies 
must adjust the maximum amounts of their CMPs by the percentage by 
which the October 2024 CPI-U (315.664) exceeds the October 2023 CPI-U 
(307.671). The resulting increase can be expressed as an inflation 
multiplier (1.02598) to apply to each current CMP maximum amount to 
determine the adjusted maximum. The OMB guidance also addresses 
rulemaking procedures and agency reporting and oversight requirements 
for CMPs.\17\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ Public Law 114-74, Sec. 701(b)(4), 129 Stat. 584, 601 (Nov. 
2, 2015).
    \16\ See OMB Memorandum M-25-02, Implementation of Penalty 
Inflation Adjustments for 2025, Pursuant to the Federal Civil 
Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (Dec. 
17, 2024).
    \17\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The following table presents the adjustment calculations. The 
current maximums are found at 12 CFR 747.1001, as adjusted by the final 
rule that the Board approved in January 2024. This amount is multiplied 
by the inflation multiplier to calculate the new maximum in the far-
right column. Only these adjusted maximum amounts, and not the 
calculations, will be codified at 12 CFR 747.1001 under this final 
rule. The adjusted amounts will be effective upon publication in the 
Federal Register and can be applied to violations that occurred on or 
after November 2, 2015, the date the 2015 amendments were enacted.\18\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ Public Law 114-74, 129 Stat. 600 (Nov. 2, 2015).

[[Page 3620]]



                                  Table--Calculation of Maximum CMP Adjustments
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               Adjusted maximum
                                                                                                 ($) (current
             Citation                Description and    Current maximum ($)    Multiplier         maximum X
                                        tier \19\                                            multiplier, rounded
                                                                                              to nearest dollar)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 U.S.C. 1782(a)(3).............  Inadvertent failure  4,899..............         1.02598  5,026.
                                    to submit a report
                                    or the inadvertent
                                    submission of a
                                    false or
                                    misleading report.
12 U.S.C. 1782(a)(3).............  Non-inadvertent      48,992.............         1.02598  50,265.
                                    failure to submit
                                    a report or the
                                    non-inadvertent
                                    submission of a
                                    false or
                                    misleading report.
12 U.S.C. 1782(a)(3).............  Failure to submit a  Lesser of 2,449,575         1.02598  Lesser of 2,513,215
                                    report or the        or 1% of total                       or 1% of total CU
                                    submission of a      credit union (CU)                    assets.
                                    false or             assets.
                                    misleading report
                                    done knowingly or
                                    with reckless
                                    disregard.
12 U.S.C. 1782(d)(2)(A)..........  Tier 1 CMP for       4,480..............         1.02598  4,596.
                                    inadvertent
                                    failure to submit
                                    certified
                                    statement of
                                    insured shares and
                                    charges due to the
                                    National Credit
                                    Union Share
                                    Insurance Fund
                                    (NCUSIF), or
                                    inadvertent
                                    submission of
                                    false or
                                    misleading
                                    statement.
12 U.S.C. 1782(d)(2)(B)..........  Tier 2 CMP for non-  44,783.............         1.02598  45,946.
                                    inadvertent
                                    failure to submit
                                    certified
                                    statement or
                                    submission of
                                    false or
                                    misleading
                                    statement.
12 U.S.C. 1782(d)(2)(C)..........  Tier 3 CMP for       Lesser of 2,239,210         1.02598  Lesser of 2,297,385
                                    failure to submit    or 1% of total CU                    or 1% of total CU
                                    a certified          assets.                              assets.
                                    statement or the
                                    submission of a
                                    false or
                                    misleading
                                    statement done
                                    knowingly or with
                                    reckless disregard.
12 U.S.C. 1785(a)(3).............  Non-compliance with  153................         1.02598  157.
                                    insurance logo
                                    requirements.
12 U.S.C. 1785(e)(3).............  Non-compliance with  356................         1.02598  365.
                                    NCUA security
                                    requirements.
12 U.S.C. 1786(k)(2)(A)..........  Tier 1 CMP for       12,249.............         1.02598  12,567.
                                    violations of law,
                                    regulation, and
                                    other orders or
                                    agreements.
12 U.S.C. 1786(k)(2)(B)..........  Tier 2 CMP for       61,238.............         1.02598  62,829.
                                    violations of law,
                                    regulation, and
                                    other orders or
                                    agreements and for
                                    recklessly
                                    engaging in unsafe
                                    or unsound
                                    practices or
                                    breaches of
                                    fiduciary duty.
12 U.S.C. 1786(k)(2)(C)..........  Tier 3 CMP for       2,449,575..........         1.02598  2,513,215.
                                    knowingly
                                    committing the
                                    violations under
                                    Tier 1 or 2
                                    (natural person).
12 U.S.C. 1786(k)(2)(C)..........  Tier 3 CMP for       Lesser of 2,449,575         1.02598  Lesser of 2,513,215
                                    knowingly            or 1% of total CU                    or 1% of total CU
                                    committing the       assets.                              assets.
                                    violations under
                                    Tier 1 or 2
                                    (insured credit
                                    union).
12 U.S.C. 1786(w)(5)(A)(ii)......  Non-compliance with  402,920............         1.02598  413,388.
                                    senior examiner
                                    post-employment
                                    restrictions.
15 U.S.C. 1639e(k)...............  Non-compliance with  14,069.............         1.02598  14,435.
                                    appraisal
                                    independence
                                    standards (first
                                    violation).
15 U.S.C. 1639e(k)...............  Subsequent           28,135.............         1.02598  28,866.
                                    violations of the
                                    same.
42 U.S.C. 4012a(f)(5)............  Non-compliance with  2,661..............         1.02598  2,730.
                                    flood insurance
                                    requirements.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

II. Regulatory Procedures
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ The table uses condensed descriptions of CMP tiers. Refer 
to the U.S. Code citations for complete descriptions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

A. Final Rule Under the APA

    In the 2015 amendments, Congress provided that agencies shall make 
the required inflation adjustments in 2017 and subsequent years 
notwithstanding 5 U.S.C. 553, which generally requires agencies to 
follow notice-and-comment procedures in rulemaking and to make rules 
effective no sooner than 30 days after publication in the Federal 
Register.\20\ The 2015 amendments provide a clear exception to these 
requirements.\21\ In addition, the Board finds that notice-and-comment 
procedures would be impracticable and unnecessary under the APA because 
of the largely ministerial and technical nature of the final rule, 
which affords agencies limited discretion in promulgating the rule, and 
the statutory deadline for making the adjustments.\22\ In these 
circumstances, the Board finds good cause to issue a final rule without 
issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking or soliciting public comments. 
The Board also finds good cause to make the final rule effective upon 
publication because of the statutory deadline. Accordingly, this final 
rule is issued without prior notice and comment and will become 
effective immediately upon publication.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ Public Law 114-74, Sec. 701(b)(1), 129 Stat. 584, 599 (Nov. 
2, 2015).
    \21\ See 5 U.S.C. 559; Asiana Airlines v. Fed. Aviation Admin., 
134 F.3d 393, 396-99 (D.C. Cir. 1998).
    \22\ 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B); see Mid-Tex. Elec. Co-op., Inc. v. 
Fed. Energy Regulatory Comm'n, 822 F.2d 1123 (D.C. Cir. 1987). For 
the same reasons, this final rule does not include the usual 60-day 
comment period under NCUA Interpretive Ruling and Policy Statement 
(IRPS) 87-2, as amended by IRPS 03-2 and 15-1 (Sept. 24, 2015).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) generally requires that when 
an agency issues a proposed rule or a final rule pursuant to the APA 
\23\ or another law, the agency must prepare a regulatory flexibility 
analysis that meets the requirements of the RFA and publish such 
analysis in the Federal Register.\24\ Specifically, the RFA normally 
requires agencies to describe the impact of a rulemaking on small 
entities by providing a regulatory impact analysis. For purposes of the 
RFA, the Board considers federally insured credit unions with assets 
less than $100 million to be small entities.\25\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ 5 U.S.C. 553(b).
    \24\ 5 U.S.C. 603, 604.
    \25\ NCUA IRPS 15-1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As discussed previously, consistent with the APA, the Board has 
determined for good cause that general notice and opportunity for 
public comment is unnecessary, and therefore the Board is not issuing a 
notice of proposed rulemaking.\26\ Rules that are exempt from notice 
and comment procedures are also exempt from the RFA requirements, 
including conducting a regulatory flexibility analysis, when among 
other things the agency for good cause finds that notice and public 
procedure are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public 
interest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Accordingly, the Board has concluded that the RFA's requirements 
relating to

[[Page 3621]]

initial and final regulatory flexibility analysis do not apply.
    Nevertheless, the Board notes that this final rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small credit 
unions because it affects only the maximum amounts of CMPs that may be 
assessed in individual cases, which are not numerous and generally do 
not involve assessments at the maximum level. In addition, several of 
the CMPs are limited to a percentage of a credit union's assets. 
Finally, in assessing CMPs, the Board generally must consider a party's 
financial resources.\27\ Because this final rule will affect few, if 
any, small credit unions, the Board certifies that the final rule will 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ 12 U.S.C. 1786(k)(2)(G)(i).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) applies to rulemakings in 
which an agency creates a new paperwork burden on regulated entities or 
modifies an existing burden.\28\ For purposes of the PRA, a paperwork 
burden may take the form of either a reporting or a recordkeeping 
requirement, both referred to as information collections. This final 
rule adjusts the maximum amounts of certain CMPs that the Board may 
assess against individuals, entities, or credit unions but does not 
require any reporting or recordkeeping. Therefore, this final rule will 
not create new paperwork burdens or modify any existing paperwork 
burdens.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \28\ 44 U.S.C. 3507(d); 5 CFR part 1320.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

D. Executive Order 13132

    Executive Order 13132 encourages independent regulatory agencies to 
consider the impact of their actions on state and local interests. In 
adherence to fundamental federalism principles, the NCUA, an 
independent regulatory agency as defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(5), 
voluntarily complies with the executive order. This final rule adjusts 
the maximum amounts of certain CMPs that the Board may assess against 
individuals, entities, and federally insured credit unions, including 
state-chartered credit unions. However, the final rule does not create 
any new authority or alter the underlying statutory authorities that 
enable the Board to assess CMPs. Accordingly, this final rule will not 
have a substantial direct effect on the states, on the connection 
between the national government and the states, or on the distribution 
of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. 
The Board has determined that this final rule does not constitute a 
policy that has federalism implications for purposes of the executive 
order.

E. Assessment of Federal Regulations and Policies on Families

    The Board has determined that this final rule will not affect 
family well-being within the meaning of Section 654 of the Treasury and 
General Government Appropriations Act, 1999.\29\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \29\ Public Law 105-277, 112 Stat. 2681 (Oct. 21, 1998).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

F. Congressional Review Act

    For purposes of the Congressional Review Act,\30\ the OMB 
determines whether a final rule constitutes a ``major rule.'' If the 
OMB deems a rule to be a ``major rule,'' the Congressional Review Act 
generally provides that the rule may not take effect until at least 60 
days following its publication. As required by the Congressional Review 
Act, the Board submitted the final rule and other appropriate reports 
to the OMB which determined that this rule is not a ``major rule.'' The 
Board will also be submitting this rule to Congress and the Government 
Accountability Office for review.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \30\ 5 U.S.C. 801-808.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Congressional Review Act defines a ``major rule'' as any rule 
that the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs of the OMB finds has resulted in or is likely to result in (A) 
an annual effect on the economy of $100,000,000 or more; (B) a major 
increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, 
Federal, State, or local government agencies or geographic regions; or 
(C) significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, 
productivity, innovation, or on the ability of United States-based 
enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises in domestic and 
export markets.\31\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For the reasons previously stated, the Board is adopting the final 
rule without the delayed effective date generally prescribed under the 
Congressional Review Act. The delayed effective date required by the 
Congressional Review Act does not apply to any rule for which an agency 
for good cause finds (and incorporates the finding and a brief 
statement of reasons therefor in the rule issued) that notice and 
public procedures thereon are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary 
to the public interest.\32\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \32\ 5 U.S.C. 808.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 747

    Civil monetary penalties, Credit unions.

    By the National Credit Union Administration Board on January 10, 
2025.
Ji Kwon,
Acting Secretary of the Board.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Board amends 12 CFR 
part 747 as follows:

PART 747--ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS, ADJUDICATIVE HEARINGS, RULES OF 
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE, AND INVESTIGATIONS

0
1. The authority for part 747 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1766, 1782, 1784, 1785, 1786, 1787, 1790a, 
1790d; 15 U.S.C. 1639e; 42 U.S.C. 4012a; Public Law 101-410; Public 
Law 104-134; Public Law 109-351; Public Law 114-74.


0
2. Revise Sec.  747.1001 to read as follows:


Sec.  747.1001  Adjustment of civil monetary penalties by the rate of 
inflation.

    (a) The NCUA is required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation 
Adjustment Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-410, 104 Stat. 890, as amended (28 
U.S.C. 2461 note)), to adjust the maximum amount of each civil monetary 
penalty (CMP) within its jurisdiction by the rate of inflation. The 
following chart displays those adjusted amounts, as calculated pursuant 
to the statute:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
       U.S. Code citation           CMP description   New maximum amount
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) 12 U.S.C. 1782(a)(3)........  Inadvertent         $5,026.
                                   failure to submit
                                   a report or the
                                   inadvertent
                                   submission of a
                                   false or
                                   misleading report.
(2) 12 U.S.C. 1782(a)(3)........  Non-inadvertent     $50,265.
                                   failure to submit
                                   a report or the
                                   non-inadvertent
                                   submission of a
                                   false or
                                   misleading report.
(3) 12 U.S.C. 1782(a)(3)........  Failure to submit   $2,513,215 or 1%
                                   a report or the     of the total
                                   submission of a     assets of the
                                   false or            credit union,
                                   misleading report   whichever is
                                   done knowingly or   less.
                                   with reckless
                                   disregard.

[[Page 3622]]

 
(4) 12 U.S.C. 1782(d)(2)(A).....  Tier 1 CMP for      $4,596.
                                   inadvertent
                                   failure to submit
                                   certified
                                   statement of
                                   insured shares
                                   and charges due
                                   to the National
                                   Credit Union
                                   Share Insurance
                                   Fund (NCUSIF), or
                                   inadvertent
                                   submission of
                                   false or
                                   misleading
                                   statement.
(5) 12 U.S.C. 1782(d)(2)(B).....  Tier 2 CMP for non- $45,946.
                                   inadvertent
                                   failure to submit
                                   certified
                                   statement or
                                   submission of
                                   false or
                                   misleading
                                   statement.
(6) 12 U.S.C. 1782(d)(2)(C).....  Tier 3 CMP for      $2,297,385 or 1%
                                   failure to submit   of the total
                                   a certified         assets of the
                                   statement or the    credit union,
                                   submission of a     whichever is
                                   false or            less.
                                   misleading
                                   statement done
                                   knowingly or with
                                   reckless
                                   disregard.
(7) 12 U.S.C. 1785(a)(3)........  Non-compliance      $157.
                                   with insurance
                                   logo requirements.
(8) 12 U.S.C. 1785(e)(3)........  Non-compliance      $365.
                                   with NCUA
                                   security
                                   requirements.
(9) 12 U.S.C. 1786(k)(2)(A).....  Tier 1 CMP for      $12,567.
                                   violations of
                                   law, regulation,
                                   and other orders
                                   or agreements.
(10) 12 U.S.C. 1786(k)(2)(B)....  Tier 2 CMP for      $62,829.
                                   violations of
                                   law, regulation,
                                   and other orders
                                   or agreements and
                                   for recklessly
                                   engaging in
                                   unsafe or unsound
                                   practices or
                                   breaches of
                                   fiduciary duty.
(11) 12 U.S.C. 1786(k)(2)(C)....  Tier 3 CMP for      $2,513,215.
                                   knowingly
                                   committing the
                                   violations under
                                   Tier 1 or 2
                                   (natural person).
(12) 12 U.S.C. 1786(k)(2)(C)....  Tier 3 CMP for      $2,513,215 or 1%
                                   knowingly           of the total
                                   committing the      assets of the
                                   violations under    credit union,
                                   Tier 1 or 2         whichever is
                                   (insured credit     less.
                                   union).
(13) 12 U.S.C. 1786(w)(5)(A)(ii)  Non-compliance      $413,388.
                                   with senior
                                   examiner post-
                                   employment
                                   restrictions.
(14) 15 U.S.C. 1639e(k).........  Non-compliance      First violation:
                                   with appraisal      $14,435
                                   independence       Subsequent
                                   requirements.       violations:
                                                       $28,866.
(15) 42 U.S.C. 4012a(f)(5)......  Non-compliance      $2,730.
                                   with flood
                                   insurance
                                   requirements.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (b) The adjusted amounts displayed in paragraph (a) of this section 
apply to civil monetary penalties that are assessed after the date the 
increase takes effect, including those whose associated violation or 
violations pre-dated the increase and occurred on or after November 2, 
2015.

[FR Doc. 2025-00737 Filed 1-14-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7535-01-P


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