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11 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(C). 

12 15 U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(F). 

13 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(d)(12). 

14 15 U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(F). 

15 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(d)(12). 

16 15 U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(F). 

17 15 U.S.C. 78q–1. 

18 In approving the proposed rule change, the 

Commission considered the proposal’s impact on 

efficiency, competition, and capital formation. 15 

U.S.C. 78c(f). 

19 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). 

1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 

2 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 

3The PIM is a process by which an Electronic 

Access Member can provide price improvement 

opportunities for a transaction wherein the 

Electronic Access Member seeks to facilitate an 

order it represents as agent, and/or a transaction 

wherein the Electronic Access Member solicited 

interest to execute against an order it represents as 

agent (a ‘‘Crossing Transaction’’). See Rule 723(a). 

4See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 52364 

(August 31, 2005), 70 FR 53403 (September 8, 2005) 

(SR–ISE–2005–41). The term ‘‘Public Customer’’ 

means a person or entity that is not a broker or 

dealer in securities. See ISE Rule 100(a)(38). 

5A Crossing Transaction is comprised of the 

order the Electronic Access Member represents as 

agent (the ‘‘Agency Order’’) and a counter-side 

order for the full size of the Agency Order (the 

‘‘Counter-Side Order’’). The Counter-Side Order 

may represent interest for the Member’s own 

account, or interest the Member has solicited from 

one or more other parties, or a combination of both. 

See Rule 723(b). 

6See ISE Rule 723(c)(1). 

will be announced via a DTC Important 

Notice. 

III. Discussion 

Section 19(b)(2)(C) of the Act 11

directs the Commission to approve a 

proposed rule change of a selfregulatory organization if it finds that 

such proposed rule change is consistent 

with the requirements of the Act and 

rules and regulations thereunder 

applicable to such organization. Section 

17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act requires, among 

other things, that the rules of a clearing 

agency be designed to promote the 

prompt and accurate clearance and 

settlement of securities transactions.12

In addition, Rule 17Ad–22(d)(12) of the 

Act requires that a clearing agency 

establish, implement, maintain and 

enforce written policies and procedures 

reasonably designed to ensure that final 

settlement occurs no later than the end 

of the settlement day and require that 

intraday or real-time finality be 

provided where necessary to reduce 

risks.13

The Commission finds the Proposed 

Rule Change consistent with the Act. 

More specifically, as the Proposed Rule 

Change pertains to requiring acceptance 

through RAD of any affirmed ID 

Transaction, the Commission finds that 

the Proposed Rule Change is consistent 

with Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act 14

because the change will increase the 

number of deliveries that will require 

Receiver approval prior to DTC 

processing. This requirement will 

reduce the intraday uncertainty and 

associated risks that may currently arise 

from same-day reclaims, thus 

facilitating the prompt and accurate 

clearance and settlement of securities 

transactions. The Commission also finds 

these aspects of the Proposed Rule 

Change consistent with Rule 17Ad– 

22(d)(12) under the Act 15 because more 

transactions will be subject to DTC’s 

risk management controls, which helps 

ensure that final settlement occurs no 

later than the end of the settlement day. 

As the Proposed Rule Change pertains 

to the proposed technical changes, the 

Commission finds that the Proposed 

Rule Change is also consistent with 

Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act 16

because updates to the Guide to make it 

more clear, consistent, and current 

supports the prompt and accurate 

clearance and settlement of securities 

transactions. 

IV. Conclusion 

On the basis of the foregoing, the 

Commission finds that the Proposed 

Rule Change is consistent with the 

requirements of the Act and in 

particular with the requirements of 

Section 17A of the Act 17 and the rules 

and regulations thereunder. 

It is therefore ordered, pursuant to 

Section 19(b)(2) of the Act, that 

proposed rule change SR–DTC–2014–10 

be, and hereby is, approved.18

For the Commission, by the Division of 

Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated 

authority.19

Kevin M. O’Neill, 

Deputy Secretary. 

[FR Doc. 2014–29360 Filed 12–15–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8011–01–P 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE 

COMMISSION 

[Release No. 34–73808; File No. SR–ISE– 

2014–54] 

Self-Regulatory Organizations; 

International Securities Exchange, 

LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate 

Effectiveness of Proposed Rule 

Change To Make Technical 

Corrections to ISE Rules 

December 10, 2014. 

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the 

Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the 

‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2

notice is hereby given that on December 

3, 2014, the International Securities 

Exchange, LLC (the ‘‘Exchange’’ or the 

‘‘ISE’’) filed with the Securities and 

Exchange Commission (‘‘SEC’’ or 

‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule 

change, as described in Items I and II 

below, which Items have been prepared 

by the self-regulatory organization. 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 the Substance 

of the Proposed Rule Change 

The ISE proposes to make certain 

technical corrections to ISE rules as 

described in more detail below. The text 

of the proposed rule change is available 

on the Exchange’s Web site (http://

www.ise.com), at the principal office of 

the Exchange, 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, the 

self-regulatory organization 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 self-regulatory organization 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 

The purpose of the proposed rule 

change is to eliminate investor 

confusion by making certain technical 

corrections to ISE rules that are either 

obsolete or outdated, as described in 

more detail below. 

1. Order Type Cleanup 

The Exchange adopted Customer 

Participation Orders in August 2005 in 

order to facilitate members providing 

access to the Price Improvement 

Mechanism (‘‘PIM’’) 3 to Public 

Customers.4 Upon the entry of a 

Crossing Transaction into the PIM,5 a 

broadcast message is sent to all 

members, who then have 500 

milliseconds to enter orders that 

indicate the size and price at which they 

want to participate in the execution 

(‘‘Improvement Orders’’).6 The 

Customer Participation Order is an 

instruction to the member to enter an 

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74798 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 241 / Tuesday, December 16, 2014 / Notices 

7See Rule 715(f). 

8Although Customer Participation Orders are no 

longer available, members will continue to be able 

to enter Improvement Orders for the account of 

Public Customers. 

9See Exchange Act Release No. 58486 (September 

8, 2008), 73 FR 53298 (September 15, 2008) (SR– 

ISE–2008–36). 

10Symbols not included in the Penny Pilot 

(discussed below) generally trade in $0.05 

increments if the options contract is trading at less 

than $3.00 per option, and $0.10 increments if the 

options contract is trading at $3.00 per option or 

higher. See Rule 710. 

11See Exchange Act Release No. 55161 (January 

24, 2007), 72 FR 4754 (February 1, 2007) (SR–ISE– 

2006–62) (Approval Order); 54603 (October 16, 

2006), 71 FR 62024 (October 20, 2006) (SR–ISE– 

2006–62) (Notice). 

12See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 69396 

(April 18, 2013), 78 FR 24273 (April 24, 2013) (SR– 

ISE–2013–18). 13See ‘‘Supplemental’’ Material to Rules 717, 

809, 810, and 1615. See also references in Rule 

721(a)(3) to ‘‘Supplemental’’ Material .01 to Rule 

717, in Rule 1903 to ‘‘Supplemental’’ Material .02 

and .03 to Rule 1901, and in Rule 2011 to the 

‘‘Supplemental’’ Material to Rule 2001. 

Improvement Order on behalf of a 

Public Customer. Specifically, a 

Customer Participation Order is a limit 

order on behalf of a Public Customer 

that, in addition to the limit order price 

in standard increments, includes a price 

stated in one cent increments at which 

the Public Customer wishes to 

participate in trades executed in the 

same options series in penny 

increments through the PIM.7 The 

Exchange no longer offers Customer 

Participation Orders and therefore 

proposes to remove this order type from 

its rules. Furthermore, the Exchange 

proposes to remove two obsolete 

references to Customer Participation 

Orders in other rules. Specifically, the 

Exchange proposes to remove references 

to Customer Participation Orders in 

Supplementary Material .06 to Rule 723, 

which explains when Improvement 

Orders can be entered with respect to a 

Customer Participation Order,8 and in 

Rule 723(d), which notes that the 

agency side of an order entered into the 

PIM may execute against Customer 

Participation Orders at the end of the 

exposure period. 

In September 2008, the ISE adopted 

rules to allow members to enter nondisplayed orders and quotes in penny 

increments in designated options with a 

minimum trading increment greater 

than one cent (‘‘non-displayed penny 

orders and quotes’’).9 As proposed in 

that filing, a non-displayed penny order 

or quote is available for execution at its 

penny price but is displayed at the 

closest minimum trading increment that 

does not violate the limit price. The 

Exchange does not offer non-displayed 

penny orders or quotes and therefore 

proposes to delete references to this 

order type from its rules as described 

below. First, the Exchange proposes to 

delete Rule 715(b)(4), which defines 

non-displayed penny order. Second, the 

Exchange proposes to delete language in 

Rule 804(b)(1) and Rule 805(a) that 

permits market makers to enter nondisplayed penny quotes and orders, 

respectively. Third, the Exchange 

proposes to delete language in 

Supplementary Material .06 to Rule 716 

concerning split prices for nondisplayed penny orders and quotes 

entered into the Facilitation and 

Solicitation Mechanisms. Finally, the 

Exchange proposes to delete language in 

Supplementary Material .03 to Rule 717 

concerning the execution of nondisplayed penny orders that an 

Electronic Access Member represents as 

agent against principal orders and 

orders solicited from other broker 

dealers. 

2. No Bid Options/Limit Price 

Rule 713(b), which deals with priority 

of orders, provides that if the lowest 

offer for any options contract is $0.05 

then no member shall enter a market 

order to sell that series, and any such 

market order shall be considered a limit 

order to sell at a price of $0.05. This 

provision is intended to prevent 

members from submitting market orders 

to sell in no bid series, which would 

execute at a price of $0.00, and to 

instead convert those orders to limit 

orders with a limit price equal to the 

minimum trading increment, i.e., $0.05 

for most option classes.10 A ‘‘no bid’’ or 

‘‘zero bid’’ series refers to an option 

where the bid price is $0.00. Series of 

options quoted no bid are usually deep 

out-of-the-money series that are 

perceived as having little if any chance 

of expiring in-the-money. For options 

that trade in regular nickel increments, 

a best offer of $0.05 corresponds to a 

best bid of $0.00, i.e. one minimum 

trading increment below the offer. 

However, option series may be no bid 

with other offer prices as well. For 

example, an option class would be 

considered no bid if it is quoted at $0.00 

(bid)–$0.15 (offer). In order to avoid 

having these orders execute at a price of 

$0.00, the Exchange proposes to clarify 

that Rule 713(b) applies to all option 

classes that are quoted no bid, rather 

than just those option classes that have 

an offer of $0.05. Furthermore, on 

January 26th, 2007, the options 

exchanges commenced a pilot (the 

‘‘Penny Pilot’’) to quote and trade 

options in one cent increments, 

lowering the minimum trading 

increment from $0.05 in certain 

symbols.11 The Exchange therefore 

proposes to clarify in Rule 713(b) that it 

will put a limit price equal to the 

minimum trading increment on market 

orders to sell a no bid option series. For 

example, if the deep out-of-the-money 

SPY December $230.00 call, which is 

traded in penny increments, is quoted at 

$0.00 (bid)–$0.03 (offer), a market order 

to sell would instead be treated as a 

limit order to sell at a price of $0.01. 

3. Linkage Rules 

On April 18, 2013 the Commission 

approved a proposed rule change that 

modified the ISE’s linkage handling 

procedures under the Options Order 

Protection and Locked/Crossed Market 

Plan (the ‘‘Plan’’).12 Prior to this rule 

change Primary Market Makers 

(‘‘PMMs’’) were responsible for routing 

orders to away markets when necessary 

to comply with the Plan. Under the 

current rules, however, the ISE has 

contracted with unaffiliated broker 

dealers to route orders to other 

exchanges when necessary to comply 

with the linkage rules (‘‘Linkage 

Handlers’’). Since PMMs no longer 

perform linkage handling, the Exchange 

proposes to move related language in 

Rule 803, which concerns the obligation 

of market makers, to Chapter 19. In 

particular, the Exchange proposes to 

move Supplementary Material .04 and 

.05 to Rule 803 to the Supplementary 

Material to Rule 1901, which contains 

provisions relevant to linkage handling. 

In connection with this change, the 

Exchange also proposes to correct 

incorrect internal cross references to 

‘‘paragraph (c)(2)’’ in this 

Supplementary Material. Prior to the 

proposed rule change described above, 

paragraph (c)(2) of Rule 803 contained 

language concerning a PMM’s linkage 

handling function. As away market 

routing is now handled by Linkage 

Handlers pursuant to the 

Supplementary Material to Rule 1901, 

the Exchange proposes to reference 

these rules instead. 

4. Supplementary Material 

Finally, the Exchange notes that 

certain supplementary material is 

mistakenly labelled as ‘‘supplemental’’ 

material in the Exchange’s rulebook.13

In order to achieve consistency with 

how other rules are labelled, the 

Exchange proposes to change these to 

instead refer to ‘‘supplementary’’ 

material. 

2. Statutory Basis 

The Exchange believes that the 

proposed rule change is consistent with 

the requirements of the Act and the 

rules and regulations thereunder that 

are applicable to a national securities 

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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 241 / Tuesday, December 16, 2014 / Notices 74799 

14 15 U.S.C. 78f(b). 

15 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). 

16See e.g. Securities Exchange Act Release No. 

59475 (February 27, 2009), 74 FR 9840 (March 6, 

2009) (SR–BX–2009–014) (Notice); 59742 (April 9, 

2009), 74 FR 17701 (April 16, 2009). 

17 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A). 

18 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b– 

4(f)(6) requires the Exchange to give the 

Commission written notice of the Exchange’s intent 

to file the proposed rule change along with a brief 

description and text of the proposed rule change, 

at least five business days prior to the date of filing 

of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time 

as designated by the Commission. The Exchange 

has satisfied this requirement. 

19 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). 

20 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6)(iii). 

21For purposes only of waiving the 30-day 

operative delay, the Commission has considered the 

proposed rule’s impact on efficiency, competition, 

and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f). 

exchange, and, in particular, with the 

requirements of Section 6(b) of the 

Act.14 In particular, the proposal is 

consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the 

Act,15 because is designed to promote 

just and equitable principles of trade, 

remove impediments to and perfect the 

mechanisms of a free and open market 

and a national market system and, in 

general, to protect investors and the 

public interest. As explained in more 

detail below, the Exchange believes it is 

appropriate to make the proposed 

technical corrections to its rules so that 

members and investors have a clear and 

accurate understanding of the meaning 

of the ISE’s rules. 

1. Order Type Cleanup 

As explained above, the Exchange 

does not offer Customer Participation 

Orders or non-displayed penny orders 

or quotes, and thus proposes to remove 

obsolete definitions and other outdated 

references to these order types. The 

Exchange believes that these changes 

will eliminate investor confusion 

regarding order types available for 

trading on the ISE to the benefit of 

members of investors. 

2. No Bid Options/Limit Price 

The ISE, along with other options 

exchanges, currently operates a pilot 

program to permit designated options 

classes to be quoted and traded in 

increments as low as one cent. The 

Exchange is proposing to amend Rule 

713(b) to account for the fact that option 

classes selected for inclusion in the 

Penny Pilot are permitted to trade in 

penny increments. For penny classes 

that are quoted no bid, the Exchange 

will convert a market order to sell to a 

limit order with a price of one cent. In 

addition, the proposed rule change 

clarifies that Rule 713(b) applies to all 

series with a bid of $0.00, and not just 

those series that also have an offer of 

$0.05. The proposed rule change is 

necessary to account for options trading 

in multiple trading increments, 

including under the Penny Pilot, and 

will ensure that market orders to sell are 

not inadvertently executed at a price of 

zero. The Exchange believes that these 

changes more accurately reflect the 

intent of Rule 713(b), as described 

above, and will eliminate investor 

confusion with respect to the operation 

of this rule by more accurately 

describing the functionality provided by 

the Exchange. Moreover, the Exchange 

notes that other exchanges have similar 

rules whereby a market order to sell a 

no bid series is treated as a limit order 

with a limit price equal to the minimum 

trading increment for the series.16

3. Linkage Rules 

The proposed changes to the linkage 

rules are non-substantive and intended 

to reduce investor confusion by moving 

rules concerning linkage handling to the 

appropriate chapter of the Exchange’s 

rulebook. As explained above, since 

PMMs previously conducted the linkage 

handling function, these rules were 

located in Chapter 8 of the rulebook. 

With the introduction of away market 

routing by Linkage Handlers, the 

Exchange believes that these rules are 

more appropriately located in Chapter 

19. In addition, the Exchange notes that 

it is correcting related internal cross 

references. 

4. Supplementary Material 

The proposed change to label 

supplementary material correctly is 

non-substantive and is intended to 

achieve consistency in how these rules 

are labelled to the benefit of members 

and investors. 

B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s 

Statement on Burden on Competition 

The Exchange 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. The 

proposed rule change makes technical, 

non-substantive, amendments to the 

Exchange’s rules in order to eliminate 

investor confusion, and is not designed 

to have any competitive impact. 

C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s 

Statement on Comments on the 

Proposed Rule Change Received From 

Members, Participants, or Others 

The Exchange has not solicited, and 

does not intend to solicit, comments on 

this proposed rule change. The 

Exchange has not received any 

unsolicited written comments from 

members or other interested parties. 

III. Date of Effectiveness of the 

Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 

Commission Action 

Because the foregoing proposed rule 

change does not: (i) Significantly affect 

the protection of investors or the public 

interest; (ii) impose any significant 

burden on competition; and (iii) become 

operative for 30 days from the date on 

which it was filed, or such shorter time 

as the Commission may designate, it has 

become effective pursuant to Section 

19(b)(3)(A) of the Act 17 and Rule 19b– 

4(f)(6) thereunder.18

A proposed rule change filed 

pursuant to Rule 19b–4(f)(6) under the 

Act 19 normally does not become 

operative for 30 days after the date of its 

filing. However, Rule 19b–4(f)(6)(iii) 20

permits the Commission to designate a 

shorter time if such action is consistent 

with the protection of investors and the 

public interest. The Exchange has asked 

the Commission to waive the 30-day 

operative delay so that the proposal may 

become operative immediately upon 

filing. The Exchange believes that 

waiving the 30-day operative delay is 

consistent with the protection of 

investors and the public interest 

because the proposed rule change makes 

non-substantive, technical changes to 

the ISE’s rules. The Exchange believes 

that these changes should take effect on 

filing as they increase the clarity of the 

ISE’s rules to the benefit of members 

and investors that trade on the 

Exchange. With respect to the 

provisions regarding no bid options, the 

Exchange believes the proposed rule 

change will update and clarify those 

rules consistent with treatment on other 

options exchanges. The Commission 

believes that waiving the 30-day 

operative delay is consistent with the 

protection of investors and the public 

interest, as it will enhance the clarity of 

the ISE’s rules and will reduce investor 

confusion with respect to the operation 

of the ISE’s rules. Therefore, the 

Commission hereby waives the 

operative delay and designates the 

proposed rule change operative upon 

filing.21

At any time within 60 days of the 

filing of the proposed rule change, the 

Commission summarily may 

temporarily suspend 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. If the 

Commission takes such action, the 

Commission shall institute proceedings 

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74800 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 241 / Tuesday, December 16, 2014 / Notices 

22 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). 

to determine whether the proposed rule 

should be approved or 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 email to rule-comments@

sec.gov. Please include File Number SR– 

ISE–2014–54 on the subject line. 

Paper Comments 

• Send paper comments in triplicate 

to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities 

and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street 

NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090. 

All submissions should refer to File 

Number SR–ISE–2014–54. This file 

number should be included on the 

subject line if email 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 

10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such 

filing also will be available for 

inspection and copying at the principal 

office of the Exchange. 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–ISE– 

2014–54, and should be submitted on or 

before January 6, 2015. 

For the Commission, by the Division of 

Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated 

authority.22

Kevin M. O’Neill, 

Deputy Secretary. 

[FR Doc. 2014–29363 Filed 12–15–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8011–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF STATE 

[Public Notice: 8974] 

Request for Information for the 2015 

Trafficking in Persons Report 

SUMMARY: The Department of State (‘‘the 

Department’’) requests written 

information to assist in reporting on the 

degree to which the United States and 

foreign governments comply with the 

minimum standards for the elimination 

of trafficking in persons (‘‘minimum 

standards’’) that are prescribed by the 

Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 

2000, (Div. A, Pub. L. 106–386) as 

amended (‘‘TVPA’’). This information 

will assist in the preparation of the 

Trafficking in Persons Report (‘‘TIP 

Report’’) that the Department submits 

annually to the U.S. Congress on 

governments’ level of compliance with 

the minimum standards. Foreign 

governments that do not comply with 

the minimum standards and are not 

making significant efforts to do so may 

be subject to restrictions on 

nonhumanitarian, nontrade-related 

foreign assistance from the United 

States, as defined by the TVPA. 

Submissions must be made in writing to 

the Office to Monitor and Combat 

Trafficking in Persons at the Department 

of State by January 20, 2015. Please refer 

to the Addresses, Scope of Interest, and 

Information Sought sections of this 

Notice for additional instructions on 

submission requirements. 

DATES: Submissions must be received by 

5 p.m. on January 30, 2015. 

ADDRESSES: Written submissions and 

supporting documentation may be 

submitted by the following methods: 

Email (preferred): tipreport@state.gov 

for submissions related to foreign 

governments and tipreportUS@state.gov 

for submissions related to the United 

States. 

• Facsimile (fax): 202–312–9637. 

• Mail, Express Delivery, Hand 

Delivery and Messenger Service: U.S. 

Department of State, Office to Monitor 

and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/

TIP), 1800 G Street NW., Suite 2148, 

Washington, DC 20520. Please note that 

materials submitted by mail may be 

delayed due to security screenings and 

processing. 

Scope of Interest: The Department 

requests information relevant to 

assessing the United States’ and foreign 

governments’ compliance with the 

minimum standards for the elimination 

of trafficking in persons in the year 

2014. The minimum standards for the 

elimination of trafficking in persons are 

listed in the Background section. 

Submissions must include information 

relevant and probative of the minimum 

standards for the elimination of 

trafficking in persons and should 

include, but need not be limited to, 

answering the questions in the 

Information Sought section. Only those 

questions for which the submitter has 

direct professional experience should be 

answered and that experience should be 

noted. For any critique or deficiency 

described, please provide a 

recommendation to remedy it. Note the 

country or countries that are the focus 

of the submission. 

Submissions may include written 

narratives that answer the questions 

presented in this Notice, research, 

studies, statistics, fieldwork, training 

materials, evaluations, assessments, and 

other relevant evidence of local, state, 

and federal government efforts. To the 

extent possible, precise dates should be 

included. 

Where applicable, written narratives 

providing factual information should 

provide citations to sources and copies 

of the source material should be 

provided. If possible, send electronic 

copies of the entire submission, 

including source material. If primary 

sources are utilized, such as research 

studies, interviews, direct observations, 

or other sources of quantitative or 

qualitative data, details on the research 

or data-gathering methodology should 

be provided. The Department does not 

include in the Report, and is therefore 

not seeking, information on prostitution, 

human smuggling, visa fraud, or child 

abuse, unless such conduct occurs in 

the context of human trafficking. 

Confidentiality: Please provide the 

name, phone number, and email address 

of a single point of contact for any 

submission. It is Department practice 

not to identify in the Report information 

concerning sources to safeguard those 

sources. Please note, however, that any 

information submitted to the 

Department may be releasable pursuant 

to the provisions of the Freedom of 

Information Act or other applicable law. 

When applicable, portions of 

submissions relevant to efforts by other 

U.S. government agencies may be 

shared with those agencies. 

Response: This is a request for 

information only; there will be no 

response to submissions. 

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