Securities and Exchange Commission July 24, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'' or ``SEC'') is publishing for comment proposed amendments to Rule 15c2-12 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Exchange Act'') relating to municipal securities disclosure. The proposal would amend certain requirements regarding the information that a broker, dealer, or municipal securities dealer acting as an underwriter in a primary offering of municipal securities must reasonably determine that an issuer of municipal securities or an obligated person has undertaken, in a written agreement or contract for the benefit of holders of the issuer's municipal securities, to provide to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (``MSRB''). Specifically, the proposed amendments would require a broker, dealer, or municipal securities dealer to reasonably determine that the issuer or obligated person has agreed to provide notice of specified events in a timely manner not in excess of ten business days after the event's occurrence, would amend the list of events for which a notice is to be provided, and would modify the events that are subject to a materiality determination before triggering a notice to the MSRB. In addition, the amendments would revise an exemption from the rule for certain offerings of municipal securities with put features. The Commission also is providing interpretive guidance intended to assist municipal securities issuers, brokers, dealers and municipal securities dealers in meeting their obligations under the antifraud provisions.