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###### Securities and Exchange Commission

          - [Release No. 34-63909; File No. SR-FINRA-2011-005]

                    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 4, 2011, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been substantially prepared by FINRA. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.                

## I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

FINRA is proposing to amend Rule 13806 of the Code of Arbitration Procedure for Industry Disputes (“Industry Code”) to provide that FINRA will appoint a chair-qualified public arbitrator to a panel resolving a promissory note dispute instead of appointing a chair-qualified public arbitrator also qualified to resolve a statutory discrimination claim.

                    The text of the proposed rule change is available on FINRA's Web site at                     *http://www.finra.org,*                     at the principal office of FINRA, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.                

## II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

In its filing with the Commission, FINRA included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. FINRA has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.

### A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

#### 1. Purpose

                    In 2009, FINRA implemented new procedures to expedite the administration of cases that solely involve a broker-dealer's claim that an associated person failed to pay money owed on a promissory note.[3]                                          Under                           ( print page 9839)                        these procedures, FINRA appoints a single chair-qualified public arbitrator from the roster of arbitrators approved to hear statutory discrimination claims (a statutory discrimination qualified arbitrator) [4]                                          to resolve the dispute.[5]                                          These specially qualified arbitrators are public chair-qualified arbitrators who also are attorneys familiar with employment law and have at least ten years of legal experience. In addition, they may not have represented primarily the views of employers or of employees within the last five years. FINRA proposed using statutory discrimination qualified arbitrators because of the depth of their experience and their familiarity with employment law. At the time that FINRA filed the proposed rule change, these arbitrators were underutilized at the forum.                

                    Since implementing the new procedures, FINRA has found that promissory note cases do not require extensive experience or depth of knowledge (or the limitation on representation of employers or of employees within the last five years). In a majority of completed cases, arbitrators decided the case on the pleadings and the respondent broker did not appear.[6]                                          Experience with the new procedures leads FINRA to propose amending the Industry Code to provide that FINRA will appoint a chair-qualified public arbitrator to a panel resolving a promissory note dispute instead of appointing a statutory discrimination qualified arbitrator. Chair-qualified arbitrators have completed chair training and are attorneys who have served through award on at least two cases, or, if not attorneys, are arbitrators who have served through award on at least three cases.[7] 

In addition, the number of promissory note cases has more than doubled in the past two years. As a result of this substantial increase, it is becoming more difficult to appoint panels solely with statutory discrimination qualified arbitrators to these cases. Under the proposed rule change, the number of arbitrators available for appointment in promissory note cases would increase significantly. The proposed rule change would ensure that FINRA has a sufficient number of qualified arbitrators readily available to resolve these matters.

                    FINRA proposes to announce the effective date of the proposed rule change in a                     *Regulatory Notice*                     to be published no later than 60 days following Commission approval. The effective date will be 30 days following publication of the                     *Regulatory Notice*                     announcing Commission approval.                

#### 2. Statutory Basis

                    FINRA believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 15A(b)(6) of the Act,[8]                                          which requires, among other things, that FINRA rules must be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. FINRA believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of the Act noted above because it would ensure that FINRA has a sufficient number of qualified arbitrators readily available to resolve promissory note cases.                

### B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

FINRA does not believe that the proposed rule change will result in any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.

### C. 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.

## III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action

                    Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the                     **Federal Register**                     or within such longer period (i) as the Commission may designate up to 90 days of such date if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission shall:                

(A) By order approve or disapprove such proposed rule change, or

(B) Institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be disapproved.

## IV. 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-FINRA-2011-005 on the subject line.                

### Paper Comments

    - Send paper comments in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

                    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-FINRA-2011-005. 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 FINRA. 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-FINRA-2011-005 and                           ( print page 9840)                        should be submitted on or before March 15, 2011.                

                        For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.[9] 

Cathy H. Ahn,

Deputy Secretary.

# Footnotes

1.                             15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                    
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2.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4.                    
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3.                                                     *See*                         Securities Exchange Act Rel. No. 60132 (June 17, 2009), 74 FR 30191 (June 24, 2009) (File No. SR-FINRA-2009-015). FINRA announced implementation of New Rule 13806 (Promissory                                                 Note Proceedings) in Regulatory Notice 09-48. The effective date was September 14, 2009.                    
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4.                                                     *See*                         Rule 13802(c)(3).                    
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5.                             Under Rule 13806, if an associated person does not file an answer, or files an answer but does not assert any counterclaims or third party claims, regardless of the amount in dispute, a single statutory discrimination qualified arbitrator decides the case. If an associated person files a counterclaim or third party claim, FINRA bases panel composition on the amount of the counterclaim or third party claim. For counterclaims and third party claims that are not more than $100,000, FINRA appoints a single statutory discrimination qualified arbitrator. For counterclaims and third party claims of more than $100,000, FINRA appoints a three-arbitrator panel comprised of a statutory discrimination qualified arbitrator, a public arbitrator, and a non-public arbitrator.                    
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6.                             Of the first 175 promissory note cases completed, arbitrators decided the case on the pleadings 76 percent of the time (unless the case concluded by settlement or some other means).                    
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7.                                                     *See*                         Rule 12400(c).                    
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8.                             15 U.S.C. 78*o*                        -3(b)(6).                    
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9.                             17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).                    
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[FR Doc. 2011-3799 Filed 2-18-11; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8011-01-P