Self-Regulatory Organizations; Proposed Rule Changes: Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board
Federal Register: March 11, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 47)
Notices
Page 11603-11604
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
DOCID:fr11mr10-99
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Release No. 34-61647; File No. SR-MSRB-2010-01
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Municipal Securities Rulemaking
Board; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule
Change Consisting of Revised Interpretive Questions & Answers on the
Application of Rule G-37
March 4, 2010.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that on February 25, 2010, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board
(``MSRB''), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(``Commission'' or ``SEC'') the proposed rule change as described in
Items I, II and III below, which Items have been prepared by the MSRB.
The MSRB has designated the proposed rule change as constituting a stated policy, practice, or interpretation with respect to the meaning, administration, or enforcement of an existing rule of the self- regulatory organization pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(i) of the
Act,\3\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(1) thereunder,\4\ which renders the proposal effective upon filing with the Commission. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
\3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(i).
\4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(1).
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Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
The MSRB has filed with the Commission a proposed rule change consisting of revisions to certain of the existing Rule G-37 interpretive Questions & Answers (``Qs&As'') to reflect the new rule language as contained in recently adopted amendments to Rule G-37 \5\, concerning disclosure of certain contributions to bond ballot campaigns. The MSRB requested that the proposed rule change become effective immediately upon its filing with the SEC.
\5\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 61381, File No. SR-MSRB- 2009-18 (January 20, 2010).
The text of the proposed rule change is available on the MSRB's Web site (http://www.msrb.org/msrb1/sec.asp), at the MSRB's principal office, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.
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Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, the MSRB included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in
Item IV below. The MSRB has prepared summaries, set forth in Sections
A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.
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Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change 1. Purpose
Since the adoption of Rule G-37, on political contributions and prohibitions on municipal securities business, the MSRB has received numerous inquiries concerning the application of the rule. In order to assist the municipal securities industry in understanding and complying with the provisions of the rule, the MSRB has published a series of interpretive notices that set forth, in Q & A format, general guidance on Rule G-37.
On February 1, 2010, amendments to Rule G-37 became effective concerning disclosure of certain contributions to bond ballot campaigns. The proposed rule change revises certain of the Rule G-37
Qs&As to reflect the new rule language as contained in the amendments. 2. Statutory Basis
The MSRB believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with
Section 15B(b)(2)(C) of the Act,\6\ which provides that the MSRB's rules shall:
\6\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-4(b)(2)(C).
Be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating transactions in municipal securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market in municipal securities, and, in general, to protect investors and
the public interest.
The MSRB believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act in that it provides guidance to brokers, dealers, and municipal securities dealers in complying with existing MSRB rules.
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Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The MSRB does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act, since it would apply equally to all dealers.
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Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants or Others
Written comments were neither solicited nor received.
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Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(i) of the Act \7\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(1) thereunder,\8\ in that the proposed rule change constitutes a stated policy, practice, or interpretation with respect to the meaning, administration, or enforcement of an existing rule of the MSRB. At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission may summarily abrogate such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.\9\
\7\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(i).
\8\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(1).
\9\ See Section 19(b)(3)(C) of the Act, 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(C).
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Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:
Electronic Comments
Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http:// www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
Send an e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include
File Number SR-MSRB-2010-01 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
Send paper comments in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary,
Page 11604
Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-MSRB-2010-01. This file number should be included on the subject line if e-mail is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/rules/ sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the MSRB. All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-MSRB-2010-01 and should be submitted on or before April 1, 2010.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.\10\
\10\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
FR Doc. 2010-5215 Filed 3-10-10; 8:45 am
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
