Document ID: SEC-2019-1196-0001
Agency: sec
Document Type: Notice
Title: Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: Ombudsman Matter Management System
Posted Date: 2019-08-20T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 20, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43250-43251]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-17936]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Upon Written Request Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange 
Commission, Office of FOIA Services, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 
20549-2736

Ombudsman Matter Management System, SEC File No. 270-797, OMB 
Control No. 3235-0748

    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'' or ``SEC'') has submitted this renewal 
request for the collection of information to the Office of Management 
and Budget for approval.
    In 2016, at the time of the original request for the collection of 
information, members of the public who contacted the Ombudsman for 
assistance did so by traditional mail, electronic mail, telephone, and 
facsimile. To make it easier for retail investors and others to contact 
the Ombudsman electronically, the Commission developed the Ombudsman 
Matter Management System (``OMMS''), a new, electronic data collection 
system for the receipt, collection, and analysis of inquiries, 
complaints, and recommendations from retail investors directed to the 
SEC Ombudsman and the Office of the Investor Advocate. The Commission 
invites comment on OMMS.
    OMMS was launched for internal use by SEC staff in 2017. Through 
OMMS, members of the public may request assistance from the Ombudsman 
and staff using a web-based form (the ``OMMS Form'') tailored to gather 
information about matters within the scope of the Ombudsman's function 
and streamline the inquiry and response process. The OMMS Form, which 
was made available to the public for use in September 2017, facilitates 
communication with the Ombudsman via an electronic series of basic 
questions with user-friendly and mobile-friendly response features such 
as radio buttons, drop-down menu responses, pop-up explanation bubbles, 
web page links, fillable narrative text fields, and document upload 
options. In addition, the OMMS Form incorporates functionality that, 
depending upon certain responses, pre-populates specific fields, and 
prompts the user to provide additional information. By eliciting 
specific information from the user, the OMMS Form facilitates 
communication between the user and the Ombudsman, reduces response and 
resolution times, and maximizes Ombudsman staff resources available for 
recording, processing, and responding to matters. The requested 
information collection is voluntary and does not change the contact 
methods currently available.
    The OMMS Form is publicly available through the Commission's 
website, https://www.sec.gov.
    The Commission estimates that the total reporting burden for using 
the OMMS Form will be 400 hours. The calculation of this estimate 
depends on how many members of the public use the form each year and 
the estimated time it takes to complete the form: 800 respondents x 30 
minutes = 400 burden hours. The estimates of average burden hours are 
made solely for the purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act and are not 
derived from a comprehensive or even representative survey or study of 
the cost of Commission rules and forms.
    The total estimated one-time cost to the federal government of 
creating OMMS and the OMMS Form was $400,000. During the three-year 
period covered by our prior Paperwork Reduction Act submission in 2016, 
the startup costs were fully expensed and are therefore not included in 
the cost calculation for this renewal.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless it displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be 
subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of 
information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid Office of 
Management and Budget control number.
    Written comments are invited on all aspects of this proposed 
information collection renewal request, in particular: (a) Whether this 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the agency, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of 
the burden imposed by the collection of information; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; 
and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
users, including through the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Background documentation for this information collection may be 
viewed at the following website, www.reginfo.gov. Comments should be 
directed to: (i) Desk Officer for the Securities and Exchange 
Commission, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of 
Management and Budget, Room 10102, New Executive Office Building, 
Washington, DC 20503, or by sending an email to 
Lindsay.M.Abate@omb.eop.gov; and (ii) Charles Riddle, Acting Chief 
Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Candace 
Kenner, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549; or send an email

[[Page 43251]]

to: PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov. Comments must be submitted within 30 days of 
this notice.

     Dated: August 15, 2019.
Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-17936 Filed 8-19-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P