Agencies and Commissions November 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces the extension of SBA's Export Express Pilot Program until May 31, 2006. This extension will allow time for SBA to complete its decisionmaking regarding potential modifications and enhancements to the Program.

This is a notice of an administrative declaration of a disaster for the State of Kentucky dated 11/15/2005. Incident: Severe Storms and Tornadoes. Incident Period: 11/06/2005. Effective Date: 11/15/2005. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 01/16/2006. EIDL Loan Application Deadline Date: 08/14/2006.

This gives notice of OPM decisions granting authority to make appointments under Schedules A, B, and C in the excepted service as required by 5 CFR 6.6 and 213.103.

The Board of Governors is adopting a final rule amending Regulation CC to define ``remotely created checks'' and to create transfer and presentment warranties for such checks. The purpose of the amendments is to shift liability for unauthorized remotely created checks to the depositary bank, which is generally the bank for the person that initially created and deposited the remotely created check. The Board is also adopting conforming cross-references to the new warranties in Regulation J.

The public hearing on proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, scheduled for December 2, 2005, in Washington, DC, has been canceled. [Original notice of hearing appeared in the Federal Register of July 14, 2005.]

The FDIC is amending part 363 of its regulations concerning annual independent audits and reporting requirements, which implement section 36 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDI Act), as proposed, but with modifications to the composition of the audit committee and the effective date. The FDIC's amendments raise the asset-size threshold from $500 million to $1 billion for internal control assessments by management and external auditors. For institutions between $500 million and $1 billion in assets, the amendments require the majority, rather than all, of the members of the audit committee, who must be outside directors, to be independent of management and create a hardship exemption. The amendments also make certain technical changes to part 363 to correct outdated titles, terms, and references in the regulation and its appendix. As required by section 36, the FDIC has consulted with the other federal banking agencies.

The Corporation for National and Community Service (hereinafter the ``Corporation''), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) (44 U.S.C. Sec. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirement on respondents can be properly assessed. This form is available in alternate formats. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TTY/TDD) may call (202) 606- 5256 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday. Currently, the Corporation is soliciting comments concerning its proposed collection of State Service Plans from State Commissions. These plans are submitted by State Commissions as required by statute. The plans are elicited in order to assure that national service and volunteer service entities within a state are aware of each other and are coordinating activities to maximize their ability to leverage both human and financial resources in order to address significant unmet community needs. Copies of the information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed in the address section of this notice.

The Committee is proposing to add to the Procurement List products to be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities.

This Request for Comments (``Request'') continues the Commission's ongoing review of self-regulation and self-regulatory organizations in the U.S. futures industry (``SRO Study''). The Request seeks public comment on a range of SRO issues, including governance, minimizing conflicts of interest within self-regulation, the composition of SROs' boards of directors and disciplinary committees, and the impact of increasing competition, changing business models and new ownership structures on SROs' self-regulatory responsibilities.\2\ Commenters are also asked to consider the impact of securities exchanges' listing standards and the unique role of registered futures associations (``RFAs'') and other third-party regulatory service providers. The questions presented update the Commission's prior fact- finding on self-regulation, build on industry developments since that time, and offer interested parties an additional opportunity to comment as the SRO Study nears conclusion. The questions raised in this Request will also form the basis of an upcoming Commission roundtable on self- regulation. The roundtable will provide a forum for industry participants to present their views on both the challenges and opportunities of self-regulation in a rapidly evolving futures industry.