Disclosure Modernization and Simplification Act of 2014

Bill: 113-hr-4569
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Garrett, Scott [R-NJ-5]
Introduced: 2014-05-06
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Business records

Congressional oversight

Corporate finance and management

Financial services and investments

Government information and archives

Government studies and investigations

Securities

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Small business
Latest action: action_date: 2014-12-03
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2014-05-06
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>Disclosure Modernization and Simplification Act of 2014 - Directs the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to: (1) issue regulations permitting issuers to submit a summary page on annual and transition report form 10-K if each item on that page cross-references the material contained in form 10-K; (2) revise regulation S-K in order to reduce the burden on smaller issuers, including emerging growth companies, accelerated filers, and smaller reporting companies; and (3) eliminate duplicative, overlapping, outdated, or unnecessary provisions in regulation S-K. </p> <p>Directs the SEC to study ways to: (1) modernize and simplify the requirements in regulation S-K, (2) improve the readability and navigability of disclosure documents, and (3) discourage repetition and disclosure of immaterial information.</p>

action_date: 2014-12-02
action_desc: Passed House amended
text: <p>Disclosure Modernization and Simplification Act of 2014 - Directs the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to issue regulations permitting issuers to submit a summary page on annual and transition report form 10-K if each item on that page cross-references electronically or otherwise the material contained in form 10-K to which the item relates.</p> <p>Requires the SEC to revise regulation S-K (Standard Instructions for Filing Forms under the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975) in order to:</p> <ul> <li>reduce the burden on smaller issuers, including emerging growth companies, accelerated filers, and smaller reporting companies (while still providing all material information to investors);</li> <li>eliminate duplicative, overlapping, outdated, or unnecessary provisions; and </li> <li>for which o further study under this Act is necessary to determine the efficacy of such revisions.</li> </ul>  <p>Directs the SEC to study ways to: (1) modernize and simplify requirements in regulation S-K, and (2) evaluate information delivery and presentation methods as well as explore methods to discourage repetition and disclosure of immaterial information.</p> <p>Requires the SEC to issue a proposed rule to implement any recommendations it makes to Congress based on the study.</p>

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4569 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 6, 2014 Mr. Garrett (for himself and Mr. Hurt ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services A BILL To require the Securities and Exchange Commission to make certain improvements to form 10-K and regulation S-K, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Disclosure Modernization and Simplification Act of 2014 . 2. Summary page for form 10-K Not later than the end of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Securities and Exchange Commission shall issue regulations to permit issuers to submit a summary page on form 10-K (17 C.F.R. 249.310), but only if each item on such summary page includes a cross-reference (by electronic link or otherwise) to the material contained in form 10-K to which such item relates. 3. Improvement of regulation S-K Not later than the end of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Securities and Exchange Commission shall revise regulation S-K (17 C.F.R. 229.10 et seq.)— (1) to further scale or eliminate requirements of regulation S-K, in order to reduce the burden on emerging growth companies, accelerated filers, and smaller reporting companies, and other smaller issuers; and (2) to eliminate provisions of regulation S-K, required for all issuers, that are duplicative, overlapping, outdated, or unnecessary. 4. Study on modernization and simplification of regulation S-K (a) Study The Securities and Exchange Commission shall carry out a study of the requirements contained in regulation S-K (17 C.F.R. 229.10 et seq.). Such study shall— (1) determine how best to modernize and simplify such requirements in a manner that reduces the costs and burdens on issuers while still providing all material information; (2) emphasize a company by company approach that allows relevant and material information to be disseminated to investors without boilerplate language or static requirements while preserving completeness and comparability of information across registrants; and (3) evaluate methods of information delivery and presentation and explore methods for discouraging repetition and the disclosure of immaterial information. (b) Report Not later than the end of the 360-day period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall issue a report to the Congress containing— (1) all findings and determinations made in carrying out the study required under subsection (a); (2) specific and detailed recommendations on modernizing and simplifying the requirements in regulation S-K in a manner that reduces the costs and burdens on companies while still providing all material information; and (3) specific and detailed recommendations on ways to improve the readability and navigability of disclosure documents and to discourage repetition and the disclosure of immaterial information. (c) Rulemaking Not later than the end of the 360-day period beginning on the date that the report is issued to the Congress under subsection (b), the Commission shall issue a proposed rule to implement the recommendations of the report issued under subsection (b). (d) Rule of construction Revisions made to regulation S-K by the Commission under section 3 shall not be construed as satisfying the rulemaking requirements under this section.

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4569 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To require the Securities and Exchange Commission to make certain improvements to form 10-K and regulation S-K, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Disclosure Modernization and Simplification Act of 2014 . 2. Summary page for form 10-K Not later than the end of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Securities and Exchange Commission shall issue regulations to permit issuers to submit a summary page on form 10-K (17 CFR 249.310), but only if each item on such summary page includes a cross-reference (by electronic link or otherwise) to the material contained in form 10-K to which such item relates. 3. Improvement of regulation S-K Not later than the end of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Securities and Exchange Commission shall take all such actions to revise regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.10 et seq.)— (1) to further scale or eliminate requirements of regulation S-K, in order to reduce the burden on emerging growth companies, accelerated filers, smaller reporting companies, and other smaller issuers, while still providing all material information to investors; (2) to eliminate provisions of regulation S-K, required for all issuers, that are duplicative, overlapping, outdated, or unnecessary; and (3) for which the Commission determines that no further study under section 4 is necessary to determine the efficacy of such revisions to regulation S-K. 4. Study on modernization and simplification of regulation S-K (a) Study The Securities and Exchange Commission shall carry out a study of the requirements contained in regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.10 et seq.). Such study shall— (1) determine how best to modernize and simplify such requirements in a manner that reduces the costs and burdens on issuers while still providing all material information; (2) emphasize a company by company approach that allows relevant and material information to be disseminated to investors without boilerplate language or static requirements while preserving completeness and comparability of information across registrants; and (3) evaluate methods of information delivery and presentation and explore methods for discouraging repetition and the disclosure of immaterial information. (b) Consultation In conducting the study required under subsection (a), the Commission shall consult with the Investor Advisory Committee and the Advisory Committee on Small and Emerging Companies. (c) Report Not later than the end of the 360-day period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall issue a report to the Congress containing— (1) all findings and determinations made in carrying out the study required under subsection (a); (2) specific and detailed recommendations on modernizing and simplifying the requirements in regulation S-K in a manner that reduces the costs and burdens on companies while still providing all material information; and (3) specific and detailed recommendations on ways to improve the readability and navigability of disclosure documents and to discourage repetition and the disclosure of immaterial information. (d) Rulemaking Not later than the end of the 360-day period beginning on the date that the report is issued to the Congress under subsection (c), the Commission shall issue a proposed rule to implement the recommendations of the report issued under subsection (c). (e) Rule of construction Revisions made to regulation S-K by the Commission under section 3 shall not be construed as satisfying the rulemaking requirements under this section.

Passed the House of Representatives December 2, 2014. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: IIB 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4569 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 3, 2014 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs AN ACT To require the Securities and Exchange Commission to make certain improvements to form 10-K and regulation S-K, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Disclosure Modernization and Simplification Act of 2014 . 2. Summary page for form 10-K Not later than the end of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Securities and Exchange Commission shall issue regulations to permit issuers to submit a summary page on form 10-K (17 CFR 249.310), but only if each item on such summary page includes a cross-reference (by electronic link or otherwise) to the material contained in form 10-K to which such item relates. 3. Improvement of regulation S-K Not later than the end of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Securities and Exchange Commission shall take all such actions to revise regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.10 et seq.)— (1) to further scale or eliminate requirements of regulation S-K, in order to reduce the burden on emerging growth companies, accelerated filers, smaller reporting companies, and other smaller issuers, while still providing all material information to investors; (2) to eliminate provisions of regulation S-K, required for all issuers, that are duplicative, overlapping, outdated, or unnecessary; and (3) for which the Commission determines that no further study under section 4 is necessary to determine the efficacy of such revisions to regulation S-K. 4. Study on modernization and simplification of regulation S-K (a) Study The Securities and Exchange Commission shall carry out a study of the requirements contained in regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.10 et seq.). Such study shall— (1) determine how best to modernize and simplify such requirements in a manner that reduces the costs and burdens on issuers while still providing all material information; (2) emphasize a company by company approach that allows relevant and material information to be disseminated to investors without boilerplate language or static requirements while preserving completeness and comparability of information across registrants; and (3) evaluate methods of information delivery and presentation and explore methods for discouraging repetition and the disclosure of immaterial information. (b) Consultation In conducting the study required under subsection (a), the Commission shall consult with the Investor Advisory Committee and the Advisory Committee on Small and Emerging Companies. (c) Report Not later than the end of the 360-day period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall issue a report to the Congress containing— (1) all findings and determinations made in carrying out the study required under subsection (a); (2) specific and detailed recommendations on modernizing and simplifying the requirements in regulation S-K in a manner that reduces the costs and burdens on companies while still providing all material information; and (3) specific and detailed recommendations on ways to improve the readability and navigability of disclosure documents and to discourage repetition and the disclosure of immaterial information. (d) Rulemaking Not later than the end of the 360-day period beginning on the date that the report is issued to the Congress under subsection (c), the Commission shall issue a proposed rule to implement the recommendations of the report issued under subsection (c). (e) Rule of construction Revisions made to regulation S-K by the Commission under section 3 shall not be construed as satisfying the rulemaking requirements under this section.

Passed the House of Representatives December 2, 2014. Karen L. Haas, Clerk

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 482 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4569 [Report No. 113–642] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 6, 2014 Mr. Garrett (for himself and Mr. Hurt ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services December 2, 2014 Additional sponsor: Mr. Hultgren December 2, 2014 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic A BILL To require the Securities and Exchange Commission to make certain improvements to form 10-K and regulation S-K, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Disclosure Modernization and Simplification Act of 2014 . 2. Summary page for form 10-K Not later than the end of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Securities and Exchange Commission shall issue regulations to permit issuers to submit a summary page on form 10-K (17 C.F.R. 249.310), but only if each item on such summary page includes a cross-reference (by electronic link or otherwise) to the material contained in form 10-K to which such item relates. 3. Improvement of regulation S-K Not later than the end of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Securities and Exchange Commission shall revise regulation S-K (17 C.F.R. 229.10 et seq.)— (1) to further scale or eliminate requirements of regulation S-K, in order to reduce the burden on emerging growth companies, accelerated filers, and smaller reporting companies, and other smaller issuers; and (2) to eliminate provisions of regulation S-K, required for all issuers, that are duplicative, overlapping, outdated, or unnecessary. 4. Study on modernization and simplification of regulation S-K (a) Study The Securities and Exchange Commission shall carry out a study of the requirements contained in regulation S-K (17 C.F.R. 229.10 et seq.). Such study shall— (1) determine how best to modernize and simplify such requirements in a manner that reduces the costs and burdens on issuers while still providing all material information; (2) emphasize a company by company approach that allows relevant and material information to be disseminated to investors without boilerplate language or static requirements while preserving completeness and comparability of information across registrants; and (3) evaluate methods of information delivery and presentation and explore methods for discouraging repetition and the disclosure of immaterial information. (b) Report Not later than the end of the 360-day period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall issue a report to the Congress containing— (1) all findings and determinations made in carrying out the study required under subsection (a); (2) specific and detailed recommendations on modernizing and simplifying the requirements in regulation S-K in a manner that reduces the costs and burdens on companies while still providing all material information; and (3) specific and detailed recommendations on ways to improve the readability and navigability of disclosure documents and to discourage repetition and the disclosure of immaterial information. (c) Rulemaking Not later than the end of the 360-day period beginning on the date that the report is issued to the Congress under subsection (b), the Commission shall issue a proposed rule to implement the recommendations of the report issued under subsection (b). (d) Rule of construction Revisions made to regulation S-K by the Commission under section 3 shall not be construed as satisfying the rulemaking requirements under this section.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Disclosure Modernization and Simplification Act of 2014 . 2. Summary page for form 10-K Not later than the end of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Securities and Exchange Commission shall issue regulations to permit issuers to submit a summary page on form 10-K (17 C.F.R. 249.310), but only if each item on such summary page includes a cross-reference (by electronic link or otherwise) to the material contained in form 10-K to which such item relates. 3. Improvement of regulation S-K Not later than the end of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Securities and Exchange Commission shall take all such actions to revise regulation S-K (17 C.F.R. 229.10 et seq.)— (1) to further scale or eliminate requirements of regulation S-K, in order to reduce the burden on emerging growth companies, accelerated filers, smaller reporting companies, and other smaller issuers, while still providing all material information to investors; (2) to eliminate provisions of regulation S-K, required for all issuers, that are duplicative, overlapping, outdated, or unnecessary; and (3) for which the Commission determines that no further study under section 4 is necessary to determine the efficacy of such revisions to regulation S-K. 4. Study on modernization and simplification of regulation S-K (a) Study The Securities and Exchange Commission shall carry out a study of the requirements contained in regulation S-K (17 C.F.R. 229.10 et seq.). Such study shall— (1) determine how best to modernize and simplify such requirements in a manner that reduces the costs and burdens on issuers while still providing all material information; (2) emphasize a company by company approach that allows relevant and material information to be disseminated to investors without boilerplate language or static requirements while preserving completeness and comparability of information across registrants; and (3) evaluate methods of information delivery and presentation and explore methods for discouraging repetition and the disclosure of immaterial information. (b) Consultation In conducting the study required under subsection (a), the Commission shall consult with the Investor Advisory Committee and the Advisory Committee on Small and Emerging Companies. (c) Report Not later than the end of the 360-day period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall issue a report to the Congress containing— (1) all findings and determinations made in carrying out the study required under subsection (a); (2) specific and detailed recommendations on modernizing and simplifying the requirements in regulation S-K in a manner that reduces the costs and burdens on companies while still providing all material information; and (3) specific and detailed recommendations on ways to improve the readability and navigability of disclosure documents and to discourage repetition and the disclosure of immaterial information. (d) Rulemaking Not later than the end of the 360-day period beginning on the date that the report is issued to the Congress under subsection (c), the Commission shall issue a proposed rule to implement the recommendations of the report issued under subsection (c). (e) Rule of construction Revisions made to regulation S-K by the Commission under section 3 shall not be construed as satisfying the rulemaking requirements under this section.

December 2, 2014 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed