Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection July 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This interim final rule establishes procedures for the public to obtain information from the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, under the Freedom of Information Act, the Privacy Act of 1974, and in legal proceedings. This interim final rule also establishes the CFPB's rules regarding the confidential treatment of information obtained from persons in connection with the exercise of its authorities under federal consumer financial law.

Section 1042(c) of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 (``Act''), requires the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (``CFPB'' or ``Bureau'') to prescribe rules establishing procedures that govern the process, described in section 1042(b) of the Act, by which state officials notify the CFPB of actions or proceedings undertaken pursuant to the authority granted in section 1042(a) to enforce the Act or regulations prescribed thereunder. This interim final rule with a request for public comment sets forth those rules.

The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (CFPB) is publishing for public comment an interim final rule establishing Regulation D (Alternative Mortgage Transaction Parity) pursuant to the Alternative Mortgage Transaction Parity Act (AMTPA) and the Truth in Lending Act. The interim final rule is necessary to avoid a regulatory gap created by the amendments to AMTPA in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act). Without an interim final rule that takes immediate effect, state housing creditors would no longer be able to make variable rate mortgage loans and other alternative mortgage transactions pursuant to AMTPA in states that prohibit such transactions, thus denying consumers access to that form of credit. Until July 22, 2012, the interim final rule applies only to state housing creditors seeking to invoke federal preemption of state law under AMTPA. The interim final rule will be in place as a temporary measure pending the CFPB's completion of a notice-and-comment rulemaking to promulgate permanent rules, including rules governing alternative mortgage transactions made by federally chartered housing creditors. The CFPB seeks public comment in anticipation of that process.