Department of Justice July 5, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This interim final rule (``rule'') sets forth the proposed application procedures to be used by United States Trustees for approval of nonprofit budget and credit counseling agencies (``agencies'') and for approval of providers of a personal financial management instructional course (``providers'') under the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (``BAPCPA''). Under the BAPCPA, individual debtors are required to consult with approved agencies to receive a briefing on the opportunities for credit counseling and a budget analysis, within 180 days before filing for bankruptcy relief, and to consult with approved providers of a personal financial management instructional course, after filing for relief, before receiving a discharge of their debts. The BAPCPA also sets forth procedures and standards for the United States Trustees to use in approving agencies and providers for subsequent inclusion on a publicly available agency list and provider list in each federal judicial district where they are deemed qualified to counsel or instruct individuals.