instruction:
In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Shareholder Empowerment Act of 
2009''.

SEC. 2. MAJORITY VOTING FOR DIRECTORS.

    The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is amended by adding after 
section 16 the following new section:

``SEC. 16A. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS.

    ``(a) Standards Relating to Election of Directors.--
            ``(1) Commission rules.--Not later than 270 days after the 
        date of enactment of this section, the Commission shall, by 
        rule, direct the national securities exchanges and national 
        securities associations to prohibit the listing of any security 
        of an issuer that is not in compliance with the requirements of 
        any portion of paragraph (2). Such rules shall provide for 
        appropriate procedures for an issuer to have an opportunity to 
        cure any defects that would be the basis for such a prohibition 
        before the imposition of such prohibition.
            ``(2) Standards for election of directors.--
                    ``(A) Majority voting.--Each issuer shall, to the 
                extent permitted under State law, provide in its 
                governing documents that--
                            ``(i) directors in uncontested elections 
                        shall be elected by a majority of the votes 
                        cast as to each nominee; and
                            ``(ii) in contested elections where the 
                        number of nominees exceeds the number of 
                        directors to be elected, directors shall be 
                        elected by the vote of a plurality of the 
                        shares represented at any meeting and entitled 
                        to vote on the election of directors.
                    ``(B) Resignation policy.--Each issuer shall also, 
                to the extent permitted under State law, adopt 
                procedures under which any director who is not elected 
                to a new term shall offer to tender his or her 
                resignation to the board of directors. The board of 
                directors, with the advice of a committee of the board 
                if such a committee has been established for that 
                purpose, shall determine what action should be taken as 
                to that resignation and shall publicly disclose its 
                decision and the rationale for that decision within a 
                reasonable period after certification of the election 
                results.
    ``(b) Shareholder Access to the Proxy in Director Elections.--
            ``(1) Rule.--Not later than 270 days after the date of 
        enactment of this section, the Commission shall, by rule, 
        require that in proxy statements and proxies, authorizations or 
        consents prepared by an issuer pursuant to section 14, the 
        issuer shall identify and provide security holders with an 
        opportunity to vote on candidates for the board of directors 
        who have been nominated by holders in the aggregate at least 1 
        percent of the issuer's voting securities for at least 2 years 
        prior to a record date established by the issuer for a meeting 
        of security holders.
            ``(2) Application.--This rule shall specify the information 
        to be provided to an issuer by security holders who nominate 
        candidates for inclusion in an issuer's proxy materials under 
        this section and shall require the issuer to disclose 
        information about such candidates in the issuer's proxy 
        materials to the same extent that information must be disclosed 
        about candidates nominated by the issuer. This rule shall apply 
        only when eligible security holders have nominated fewer than a 
        majority of the number of directors then authorized to serve on 
        the board of directors, and the rule shall specify procedures 
        to be followed if different security holders nominate 
        candidates sufficient to constitute a majority of the board of 
        directors.
            ``(3) Effective date.--The rule shall apply to proxy voting 
        for meetings of security holders held on or after January 1, 
        2010, except to the extent that a meeting was originally 
        scheduled to be held in 2009, but was adjourned to 2010.
    ``(c) Broker Discretionary Voting in Uncontested Director 
Elections.--Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this 
section, the Commission shall by, rule, require that a broker shall not 
be allowed to vote securities on an uncontested election to the board 
of directors of an issuer to the extent that the beneficial owner of 
those securities has not provided specific instructions to the broker. 
The rule shall apply to proxy voting for meetings of security holders 
held on or after January 1, 2010, except to the extent that a meeting 
was originally scheduled to be held in 2009, but was adjourned to 2010.
    ``(d) Independent Chairman of the Board of Directors.--
            ``(1) Commission rules.--Not later than 270 days after the 
        date of enactment of this section, the Commission shall, by 
        rule, direct the national securities exchanges and national 
        securities associations to prohibit the listing of any security 
        of an issuer that is not in compliance with the requirements of 
        any portion of paragraph (2). Such rules shall provide for 
        appropriate procedures for an issuer to have an opportunity to 
        cure any defects that would be the basis for such a prohibition 
        before the imposition of such prohibition.
            ``(2) Independent chairman of the board of directors.--Each 
        issuer shall provide in its governing documents or a public 
        statement of corporate policy that, to the extent possible and 
        consistent with the issuer's status as a publicly traded 
        company, the chairman of the board of directors shall be an 
        independent director who has not previously served as an 
        executive officer of the issuer. Such rule shall be implemented 
        with due regard for contracts in existence on the date of 
        enactment of this section. For purposes of this subsection, an 
        `independent director' shall be one who during the preceding 5 
        years has not been--
                    ``(A) employed by the issuer in an executive 
                capacity;
                    ``(B) an employee, director or owner greater than 
                20 percent of the beneficial shares of a firm that is a 
                paid adviser or consultant to the issuer;
                    ``(C) employed by a significant customer or 
                supplier of the issuer;
                    ``(D) a party to a personal services contract with 
                the issuer, as well as with the issuer's Chair, chief 
                executive officer, or other senior executive officer;
                    ``(E) an employee, officer or director of a 
                foundation, university or other non-profit organization 
                that receives the greater of $100,000 or 1 percent of 
                total annual donations from the issuer;
                    ``(F) a relative of an executive of the issuer;
                    ``(G) part of an interlocking directorate in which 
                the issuer's chief executive officer or another 
                executive serves on the board of another issuer 
                employing that director; and
                    ``(H) engaged in any other relationship with the 
                issuer or senior executives that the Commission 
                determines would not render that director an 
                independent director.''.

SEC. 3. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION REQUIREMENTS.

    The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is further amended by adding 
after the section 16A, as added by section 2, the following new section

``SEC. 16B. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION REQUIREMENTS.

    ``(a) Shareholder Approval of Executive Compensation.--
            ``(1) Annual shareholder vote on executive compensation.--
        Any proxy or consent or authorization for an annual or other 
        meeting of an issuer shall permit a separate vote by 
        shareholders to approve the compensation of senior executive 
        officers, as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure 
        rules of the Commission (which disclosure shall include the 
        compensation discussion and analysis, the compensation tables, 
        and any related material).
            ``(2) Non-binding nature of vote.--A shareholder vote 
        described in paragraph (1) shall not be binding on the board of 
        directors of an issuer and may not be construed as overruling a 
        decision by such board, nor to create or imply any additional 
        fiduciary duty by such board, nor shall such vote be construed 
        to restrict or limit the ability of security holders to make 
        proposals for inclusion in proxy materials related to executive 
        compensation.
            ``(3) Deadline for rules.--Not later than 1 year after the 
        date of enactment of this section, the Commission shall issue 
        any final rules and regulations required by this section.
            ``(4) Exception.--This provision shall not apply to any 
        issuer who is subject to a similar recoupment requirement under 
        another provision of Federal law.
    ``(b) Independent Compensation Advisers.--
            ``(1) Requirement.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this section, the Commission shall, by rule, 
        require that if an issuer's board of directors or a committee 
        thereof retains an individual adviser or advisory firm in 
        conjunction with negotiating employment contracts or 
        compensation agreements with the issuer's executives, the 
        individual adviser and his or her firm shall be independent of 
        the issuer, its executives and directors, and shall report 
        solely to the board of directors or the committee thereof 
        responsible for executive compensation. The rule shall further 
        require that issuers shall not agree to indemnify or limit the 
        liability of compensation advisers or advisory firms.
            ``(2) Determination.--In determining the extent to which an 
        adviser or advisory firm is independent of an issuer within the 
        meaning of this section, the Commission shall consider such 
        matters as--
                    ``(A) the extent (as measured by annual fees and 
                other relevant metrics) to which an individual adviser 
                or advisory firm provides services in conjunction with 
                negotiating employment contracts or compensation 
                agreements with the issuer's executives, as compared to 
                other services that the adviser or advisory firm 
                provides to the issuer or executives;
                    ``(B) whether individual advisers are permitted to 
                hold equity and do hold equity in the issuer; and
                    ``(C) whether an advisory firm's incentive 
                compensation plan links the compensation of individual 
                advisers to the advisory firm's provision of other 
                services to the issuer.
    ``(c) Clawbacks of Unearned Performance-Based Pay.--
            ``(1) Commission rules.--Not later than 270 days after the 
        date of enactment of this section, the Commission shall, by 
        rule, direct the national securities exchanges and national 
        securities associations to prohibit the listing of any security 
        of an issuer that is not in compliance with the requirements of 
        any portion of paragraph (2). Such rules shall provide for 
        appropriate procedures for an issuer to have an opportunity to 
        cure any defects that would be the basis for such a prohibition 
        before the imposition of such prohibition.
            ``(2) Recoupment of unearned compensation.--An issuer's 
        board of directors or a committee thereof shall develop and 
        disclose a policy for reviewing unearned bonus payments, 
        incentive payments, or equity payments that were awarded to 
        executive officers owing to fraud, financial results that 
        require restatement, or some other cause. The policy should 
        require recovery or cancellation of any unearned payments to 
        the extent that it is feasible and practical to do so.
            ``(3) Exception.--This provision shall not apply to any 
        issuer who is subject to a similar recoupment requirement under 
        another provision of Federal law.
    ``(d) Severance Agreements Tied to Performance.--
            ``(1) Commission rules.--Not later than 270 days after the 
        date of enactment of this section, the Commission shall, by 
        rule, direct the national securities exchanges and national 
        securities associations to prohibit the listing of any security 
        of an issuer that is not in compliance with the requirements of 
        any portion of paragraph (2). Such rules shall provide for 
        appropriate procedures for an issuer to have an opportunity to 
        cure any defects that would be the basis for such a prohibition 
        before the imposition of such prohibition.
            ``(2) Severance agreements tied to performance.--An 
        issuer's board of directors or a committee thereof shall not 
        enter into agreements providing for severance payments to a 
        senior executive officer who is terminated because of poor 
        performance as an executive, as determined by the board of 
        directors. To the extent that an issuer is able to terminate a 
        senior executive officer for cause, poor performance by the 
        executive, as determined by the board of directors, shall be 
        considered as one such cause. The rule shall be implemented 
        with due regard for contracts in existence on the date of 
        enactment of this section.
    ``(e) Improved Disclosure of Compensation Targets.--Not later than 
1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Commission 
shall, by rule, require additional disclosure of specific performance 
targets that are used by issuers to determine a senior executive 
officer's eligibility for bonuses, equity and incentive compensation. 
The Commission shall consider methods to improve disclosure in 
situations when it is claimed that disclosure would result in 
competitive harm to the issuer, including, requirements that the issuer 
describe its past experience with similar target levels, disclose any 
inconsistencies between compensation targets and targets set in other 
contexts, submit a request for confidential treatment of the 
performance targets under Commission rules, or disclose the data after 
disclosure would no longer be considered competitively harmful.''.
answer:
Shareholder Empowerment Act of 2009 - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to direct the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to prohibit national securities exchanges and associations from listing the securities of any issuer unless, to the extent permitted by state law, such issuer requires: (1) the election of directors who receive the majority of votes in uncontested elections or a plurality of votes in contested elections; and (2) directors who are not reelected to offer to tender their resignations.

Directs the SEC to: (1) require issuers to identify and provide security holders with an opportunity to vote on director candidates who have been nominated by holders of at least 1% of the issuer's voting securities for at least two years, provided security holders have nominated fewer than a majority of the directors then authorized to serve; (2) prohibit brokers from voting securities on an uncontested election to the board of directors without having received specific instructions from the securities' beneficial owners; and (3) requires listed issuers, to the extent possible, to have an independent chairman of their board of directors who has not served as an executive of the issuer.

Requires any proxy or consent or authorization for an annual or other meeting of a securities issuer to permit a separate shareholder vote on executive compensation, though such vote shall not be binding on its board of directors.

Directs the SEC to direct the national securities exchanges and national securities associations to prohibit: (1) issuers from retaining advisors in negotiating executive employment or compensation agreements that are not independent or are protected from liability by such issuers; (2) the listing of issuers that do not have a (clawback) policy of recovering executive payments that were unearned due to fraud, faulty financial statements, or some other cause; and (3) the listing of issuers that provide severance payments to senior executives who are terminated for poor performance.

Directs the SEC to require additional disclosure of specific performance targets issuers use in determining a senior executive's eligibility for bonuses, equity, and incentive compensation.


question:
SECTION 1. CREDIT FOR CERTAIN HOME PURCHASES.

    (a) Allowance of Credit.--Subpart A of part IV of subchapter A of 
chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to refundable 
credits) is amended by inserting after section 25D the following new 
section:

``SEC. 25E. CREDIT FOR CERTAIN HOME PURCHASES.

    ``(a) Allowance of Credit.--In the case of an individual who 
purchases a principal residence in the United States during the 12-
month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this section, 
there shall be allowed to the taxpayer as a credit against the tax 
imposed by this chapter for the taxable year an amount equal to 10 
percent of the purchase price of the residence.
    ``(b) Limitations.--
            ``(1) Dollar limitation.--The credit allowed under 
        subsection (a) shall not exceed $10,000.
            ``(2) Denial of credit for residences acquired with 
        nonconforming loans.--No credit shall be allowed under 
        subsection (a) with respect to the purchase of any residence if 
        the aggregate acquisition indebtedness (as defined in section 
        163(h)(3)(B)) with respect to such residence exceeds the 
        limitation on the maximum original principal obligation of a 
        mortgage that may be purchased by the Federal Home Loan 
        Mortgage Corporation (as such limitation is in effect at the 
        time of such purchase).
            ``(3) Limitation based on amount of tax.--In the case of a 
        taxable year to which section 26(a)(2) does not apply, the 
        credit allowed under subsection (a) for any taxable year shall 
        not exceed the excess of--
                    ``(A) the sum of the regular tax liability (as 
                defined in section 26(b)) plus the tax imposed by 
                section 55, over
                    ``(B) the sum of the credits allowable under this 
                subpart (other than this section) for the taxable year.
            ``(4) One-time only.--
                    ``(A) In general.--If a credit is allowed under 
                this section in the case of any individual (and such 
                individual's spouse, if married) with respect to the 
                purchase of any principal residence, no credit shall be 
                allowed under this section in any taxable year with 
                respect to the purchase of any other principal 
                residence by such individual or a spouse of such 
                individual.
                    ``(B) Joint purchase.--In the case of a purchase of 
                a principal residence by 2 or more unmarried 
                individuals or by 2 married individuals filing 
                separately, no credit shall be allowed under this 
                section if a credit under this section has been allowed 
                to any of such individuals in any taxable year with 
                respect to the purchase of any other principal 
                residence.
    ``(c) Carryforward of Unused Credit.--
            ``(1) Rule for years in which all personal credits allowed 
        against regular and alternative minimum tax.--In the case of a 
        taxable year to which section 26(a)(2) applies, if the credit 
        allowable under subsection (a) exceeds the limitation imposed 
        by section 26(a)(2) for such taxable year reduced by the sum of 
        the credits allowable under this subpart (other than this 
        section), such excess shall be carried to the succeeding 
        taxable year and added to the credit allowable under subsection 
        (a) for such succeeding taxable year.
            ``(2) Rule for other years.--In the case of a taxable year 
        to which section 26(a)(2) does not apply, if the credit 
        allowable under subsection (a) exceeds the limitation imposed 
        by subsection (b)(3) for such taxable year, such excess shall 
        be carried to the succeeding taxable year and added to the 
        credit allowable under subsection (a) for such succeeding 
        taxable year.
            ``(3) Limitation.--No credit may be carried forward under 
        this subsection to any taxable year following the first taxable 
        year after the taxable year in which the credit arose.
    ``(d) Definitions and Special Rules.--For purposes of this 
section--
            ``(1) Allocation of dollar limit.--
                    ``(A) Married individuals filing separately.--In 
                the case of a married individual filing a separate 
                return, subsection (b)(1) shall be applied by 
                substituting `$5,000' for `$10,000'.
                    ``(B) Other individuals.--If two or more 
                individuals who are not married purchase a principal 
                residence, the amount of the credit allowed under 
                subsection (a) shall be allocated among such 
                individuals in such manner as the Secretary may 
                prescribe, except that the total amount of the credits 
                allowed to all such individuals shall not exceed 
                $10,000.
            ``(2) Principal residence.--The term `principal residence' 
        has the same meaning as when used in section 121.
            ``(3) Purchase.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `purchase' means any 
                acquisition, but only if--
                            ``(i) the property is not acquired from a 
                        person related to the person acquiring it, and
                            ``(ii) the basis of the property in the 
                        hands of the person acquiring it is not 
                        determined--
                                    ``(I) in whole or in part by 
                                reference to the adjusted basis of such 
                                property in the hands of the person 
                                from whom acquired, or
                                    ``(II) under section 1014(a) 
                                (relating to property acquired from a 
                                decedent).
                    ``(B) Construction.--A residence which is 
                constructed by the taxpayer shall be treated as 
                purchased by the taxpayer on the date the taxpayer 
                first occupies such residence.
            ``(4) Purchase price.--The term `purchase price' means the 
        adjusted basis of the principal residence on the date such 
        residence is purchased.
            ``(5) Related persons.--A person shall be treated as 
        related to another person if the relationship between such 
        persons would result in the disallowance of losses under 
        section 267 or 707(b) (but, in applying section 267(b) and (c) 
        for purposes of this section, paragraph (4) of section 267(c) 
        shall be treated as providing that the family of an individual 
        shall include only his spouse, ancestors, and lineal 
        descendants).
    ``(e) Exceptions.--No credit under subsection (a) shall be allowed 
to any taxpayer for any taxable year with respect to the purchase of a 
residence if--
            ``(1) a credit under section 1400C (relating to first-time 
        homebuyer in the District of Columbia) is allowable to the 
        taxpayer (or the taxpayer's spouse) for such taxable year or 
        any prior taxable year,
            ``(2) the taxpayer is a nonresident alien, or
            ``(3) the taxpayer disposes of such residence (or such 
        residence ceases to be the principal residence of the taxpayer 
        (and, if married, the taxpayer's spouse)) before the close of 
        such taxable year.
    ``(f) Reporting Requirement.--Rules similar to the rules of section 
1400C(f) (as so in effect) shall apply.
    ``(g) Basis Adjustment.--For purposes of this subtitle, if a credit 
is allowed under this section with respect to the purchase of any 
residence, the basis of such residence shall be reduced by the amount 
of the credit so allowed.
    ``(h) Application.--This section shall not apply to any taxable 
year beginning after December 31, 2009.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Section 23(c)(1) of such Code is amended by striking 
        ``25D and 1400C'' and inserting ``25D, 25E, and 1400C''.
            (2) Section 25D(c)(2) of such Code is amended by striking 
        ``and 25B'' and inserting ``25B, and 25E''.
            (3) Section 1400C(d)(1) of such Code is amended by striking 
        ``section 25D'' and inserting ``sections 25D and 25E''.
    (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart A of 
part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 25D the 
following new item:

``Sec. 25E. Credit for certain home purchases.''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply with respect to residences purchased after the date of the 
enactment of this Act in taxable years ending after such date.
answer:
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers a one-time refundable tax credit for up to 10% of the purchase price of a principal residence purchased in the United States within the 12-month period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act. Limits the dollar amount of such credit to $10,000. Terminates such credit after 2009.


question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Realtime Investor Protection Act''.

SEC. 2. CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY.

    The constitutional authority on which this Act rests is the power 
of Congress to regulate commerce as enumerated in article I, section 8 
of the United States Constitution.

SEC. 3. METHOD OF MAINTAINING BROKER/DEALER REGISTRATION, DISCIPLINARY, 
              AND OTHER DATA.

    Subsection (i) of section 15A of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 (15 U.S.C. 78o-3(i)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(i) Obligation to Maintain Registration, Disciplinary and Other 
Data.--
            ``(1) Maintenance of system to respond to inquiries.--A 
        registered securities association shall--
                    ``(A) establish and maintain a system for 
                collecting and retaining registration information;
                    ``(B) establish and maintain a toll-free telephone 
                listing, and a readily accessible electronic or other 
                process, to receive and promptly respond to inquiries 
                regarding--
                            ``(i) registration information on its 
                        members and their associated persons; and
                            ``(ii) registration information on the 
                        members and their associated persons of any 
                        registered national securities exchange that 
                        uses the system described in subparagraph (A) 
                        for the registration of its members and their 
                        associated persons; and
                    ``(C) adopt rules governing the process for making 
                inquiries and the type, scope, and presentation of 
                information to be provided in response to such 
                inquiries in consultation with any registered national 
                securities exchange providing information pursuant to 
                subparagraph (B)(ii).
            ``(2) Recovery of costs.--Such an association may charge 
        persons making inquiries, other than individual investors, 
        reasonable fees for responses to such inquiries.
            ``(3) Process for disputed information.--Such an 
        association shall adopt rules establishing an administrative 
        process for disputing the accuracy of information provided in 
        response to inquiries under this subsection in consultation 
        with any registered national securities exchange providing 
        information pursuant to paragraph (1)(B)(ii).
            ``(4) Limitation of liability.--Such an association, or 
        exchange reporting information to such an association, shall 
        not have any liability to any person for any actions taken or 
        omitted in good faith under this subsection.
            ``(5) Definition.--For purposes of this subsection, the 
        term `registration information' means the information reported 
        in connection with the registration or licensing of brokers and 
        dealers and their associated persons, including disciplinary 
        actions, regulatory, judicial, and arbitration proceedings, and 
        other information required by law, or exchange or association 
        rule, and the source and status of such information.''.

SEC. 4. FILING DEPOSITORIES FOR INVESTMENT ADVISERS.

    (a) Amendment.--Section 204 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 
(15 U.S.C. 80b-4) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Every investment'' and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(a) In General.--Every investment''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Filing Depositories.--The Commission may, by rule, require an 
investment adviser--
            ``(1) to file with the Commission any fee, application, 
        report, or notice required to be filed by this title or the 
        rules issued under this title through any entity designated by 
        the Commission for that purpose; and
            ``(2) to pay the reasonable costs associated with such 
        filing and the establishment and maintenance of the systems 
        required by subsection (c).
    ``(c) Access to Disciplinary and Other Information.--
            ``(1) Maintenance of system to respond to inquiries.--The 
        Commission shall require the entity designated by the 
        Commission under subsection (b)(1) to establish and maintain a 
        toll-free telephone listing, and a readily accessible 
        electronic or other process, to receive and promptly respond to 
        inquiries regarding registration information (including 
        disciplinary actions, regulatory, judicial, and arbitration 
        proceedings, and other information required by law or rule to 
        be reported) involving investment advisers and persons 
        associated with investment advisers.
            ``(2) Recovery of costs.--An entity designated by the 
        Commission under subsection (b)(1) may charge persons making 
        inquiries, other than individual investors, reasonable fees for 
        responses to inquiries made under paragraph (1).
            ``(3) Limitation on liability.--An entity designated by the 
        Commission under subsection (b)(1) shall not have any liability 
        to any person for any actions taken or omitted in good faith 
        under this subsection.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Section 203A of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 
        U.S.C. 80b-3a) is amended--
                    (A) by striking subsection (d); and
                    (B) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection 
                (d).
            (2) Section 306 of the National Securities Markets 
        Improvement Act of 1996 (15 U.S.C. 80b-10, note; Public Law 
        104-290; 110 Stat. 3439) is repealed.
answer:

Realtime Investor Protection Act - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require a registered securities association to: (1) establish and maintain a registration information system on its members and their associated persons; and (2) establish and maintain a toll-free telephone listing, and a readily accessible electronic or other process, to receive and promptly respond to inquiries regarding that information. (Currently such an association is required to maintain a toll-free telephone listing to receive inquiries regarding disciplinary actions involving its members and their associated persons.)

Amends the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to authorize the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to require an investment adviser to: (1) file with the SEC any fee, application, report, or notice required to be filed through any entity designated by the SEC for that purpose; and (2) pay the reasonable costs associated with such filing and the establishment and maintenance of the telephone and electronic systems required by this Act.

Directs the SEC to require the designated entity to establish and maintain a toll-free telephone listing, and a readily accessible electronic or other process, to receive and promptly respond to inquiries regarding registration information (including disciplinary actions, regulatory, judicial, and arbitration proceedings, involving investment advisers and persons associated with investment advisers).