CLEAR Relief Act of 2017

To enhance the ability of community financial institutions to foster economic growth and serve their communities, boost small businesses, increase individual savings, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Community Lending Enhancement and Regulatory Relief Act of 2017 CLEAR Relief Act of 2017 2. Community bank exemption from annual management assessment of internal controls requirement of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 ( 15 U.S.C. 7262 (d) Community bank exemption (1) Definitions In this subsection— (A) the term bank holding company 12 U.S.C. 1841 (B) the term insured depository institution 12 U.S.C. 1813 (C) the term savings and loan holding company 12 U.S.C. 1467a(a) (2) In general This section and the rules prescribed under this section shall not apply in any fiscal year to any bank holding company, savings and loan holding company, or insured depository institution that, as of the end of the preceding fiscal year, had total consolidated assets of $1,000,000,000 or less. (3) Adjustment of amount The Commission shall annually adjust the dollar amount in paragraph (1) by an amount equal to the percentage increase, for the most recent year, in total assets held by all bank holding companies, savings and loan holding companies, and insured depository institutions, as reported by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. . 3. Escrow requirements relating to certain consumer credit transactions Section 129D(c) of the Truth in Lending Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1639d(c) (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (4) as subparagraphs (A) through (D), respectively, and adjusting the margins accordingly; (2) by striking The Bureau (1) In general The Bureau ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (2) Treatment of loans held by smaller institutions The Bureau shall, by regulation, exempt from the requirements of subsection (a) any loan secured by a first lien on the principal dwelling of a consumer, if such loan is held by an insured depository institution having assets of $10,000,000,000 or less. . 4. Minimum standards for residential mortgage loans Section 129C(b)(2) of the Truth in Lending Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1639c(b)(2) (F) Safe Harbor (i) In general In this section— (I) the term qualified mortgage (II) loans described in subclause (I) shall be deemed to meet the requirements of subsection (a). (ii) Exception for certain transfer In the case of a depository institution that transfers a loan originated by that institution to another depository institution by reason of the bankruptcy or failure of the originating depository institution or the purchase of the originating depository institution, the depository institution acquiring the loan shall be deemed to have complied with the requirement under clause (i)(I). . 5. Exemption from Volcker rule Section 13(h)(1) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 ( 12 U.S.C. 1851(h)(1) (1) in subparagraph (D), by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as subclauses (I) and (II), respectively; (2) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (D) as clauses (i) through (iv), respectively; (3) by striking institution that functions solely in a trust or fiduciary capacity, if— (A) that functions solely in a trust or fiduciary capacity, if— ; and (4) in clause (iv)(II), as redesignated, by striking the period at the end and inserting the following: “; or (B) with total consolidated assets of $10,000,000,000 or less. . 6. No wait for lower mortgage rates (a) In general Section 129(b) of the Truth in Lending Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1639(b) (1) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: (3) No wait for lower rate If a creditor extends to a consumer a second offer of credit with a lower annual percentage rate, the transaction may be consummated without regard to the period specified in paragraph (1). . (b) Safe harbor for good faith compliance with TILA-RESPA integrated disclosure rule Section 1032(f) of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 ( 12 U.S.C. 5532(f) (1) by striking Not later than (1) In general Not later than ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (2) Safe harbor for good faith compliance (A) Safe harbor Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during the period described in subparagraph (B), an entity that provides the disclosures required under the Truth in Lending Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1601 12 U.S.C. 2603 (B) Applicable period Subparagraph (A) shall apply to an entity during the period beginning on the date of enactment of this paragraph and ending on the date that is 30 days after the date on which a certification by the Director that the model disclosures required under paragraph (1) are accurate and in compliance with all State laws is published in the Federal Register. .

Summary: Community Lending Enhancement and Regulatory Relief Act of 2017 or the CLEAR Relief Act of 2017 This bill amends the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to exempt from specified reporting and attestation requirements a community bank with assets of $1 billion or less. The bill amends the Truth in Lending Act to exempt from certain escrow requirements and residential mortgage loan standards a residential mortgage loan held by a depository institution with assets of $10 billion or less. The bill further amends that Act, as well as the Consumer Protection Act of 2010, to exempt certain creditors from specified disclosure requirements. In addition, the bill amends the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 to exempt from the Volcker Rule a depository institution with assets of $10 billion or less. (The Volcker Rule prohibits banking agencies from engaging in proprietary trading or entering into certain relationships with hedge funds and private-equity funds.)