[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 126 (Friday, June 28, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 33784]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-16573]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and 
Exchange Commission, Office of Filings and Information Services, 
Washington, DC 20549.
    Extension:

Rule 17f-2(c)--SEC File No. 270-35, OMB Control No. 3235-0029;
Rule 17f-2(d)--SEC File No. 270-36, OMB Control No. 3235-0028;
Rule 17f-2(e)--SEC File No. 270-37, OMB Control No. 3235-0031

    Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (``Commission'') is publishing the following summaries of 
collections for public comment.
    Rule 17f-2(c) allows persons required to be fingerprinted, pursuant 
to Section 17(f)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange 
Act), to submit their fingerprints through a national securities 
exchange or a national securities association in accordance with a plan 
submitted to and approved by the Commission. Plans have been approved 
for the American, Boston, Chicago, New York, Pacific, and Philadelphia 
stock exchanges and for the National Association of Securities Dealers 
and the Chicago Board Options Exchange.
    It is estimated that 8,500 registered broker-dealers submit 
approximately 275,000 fingerprint cards to exchanges or a registered 
security association on an annual basis. It is approximated that it 
should take 15 minutes to comply with Rule 17f-2(c). The total 
reporting burden is estimated to be 68,750 hours.
    Rule 17f-2(d), requires that records produced, pursuant to the 
fingerprinting requirements of section 17(f)(2) of the Exchange Act, be 
maintained; permits the designated examining authorities of broker-
dealers or members of exchanges, under certain circumstances, to store 
and to maintain records required to be kept by this rule; and permits 
the required records to be maintained on microfilm.
    Approximately 10,025 respondents are subject to the recordkeeping 
requirements of the rule. Each respondent keeps approximately 32 new 
records per year, which take approximately 2 minutes per record for the 
respondent to maintain, for an annual burden of 64 minutes per 
respondent. All records subject to the rule must be retained for the 
term of employment plus 3 years.
    Rule 17f-2(e) requires entities claiming an exemption from the 
fingerprinting requirements to prepare and maintain a notice supporting 
their claim for exemption and exempts certain small transfer agents 
from the requirement.
    While the Commission no longer receives notices pursuant to Rule 
17f-2(e), the covered entities are still required to prepare and retain 
such notices. Based on the indications of several covered entities, 
most notices require one-half hour to prepare. Approximately 75 
respondents will prepare notices each year. The total average annual 
burden to covered entities is approximately 37.5 hours of preparation 
and maintenance time.
    Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of 
the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on respondents, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. 
Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted in 
writing within 60 days of this publication.
    Direct your written comments to Michael E. Bartell, Associate 
Executive Director, Office of Information Technology, Securities and 
Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20549.

    Dated: June 18, 1996.
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-16573 Filed 6-27-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-M