Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2011/12/16/2011-31731/mortgage-acts-and-practices-advertising-regulation-n-mortgage-assistance-relief-services-regulation
Timestamp: 2014-03-08 06:04:22
Document Index: 469121902

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 1014', 'art 1014', 'art 1015', 'art 1014', 'art 1015', 'arts 321', 'arts 321', '§ 322', '§ 322', '§ 322', '§ 322', '§ 322', '§ 1015', '§ 1015', 'arts 1014', 'arts 1014', 'ART 1014', '§ 1014', '§ 1014', '§ 1014', '§ 1014', '§ 1014', '§ 1014', '§ 1014', 'ART 1015', 'art.\n1015', '§ 1015', '§ 1015', '§ 1015', '§ 1015', '§ 1015', '§ 1015', '§ 1015', '§ 1015', '§ 1015', '§ 1015', '§ 1015', '§ 1015', '§ 1015', '§ 1015', '§ 1015', '§ 1015', '§ 1015', '§ 1015', '§ 1015']

Federal Register | Mortgage Acts and Practices-Advertising (Regulation N); Mortgage Assistance Relief Services (Regulation O)
Dates: This interim final rule is effective December 30, 2011. Comments must be received on or before February 14, 2012.
-78138 (9 pages)
12 CFR 1014
12 CFR 1015
Docket No. CFPB-2011-0027
Document Number: 2011-31731
Shorter URL: https://federalregister.gov/a/2011-31731 Related Topics
Title X of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) transferred rulemaking authority for a number of consumer financial protection laws from seven Federal agencies to the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) as of July 21, 2011. The Bureau is in the process of republishing the regulations implementing those laws with technical and conforming changes to reflect the transfer of authority and certain other changes made by the Dodd-Frank Act. In light of the transfer of the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC's) rulemaking authority for section 626 of the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (Omnibus Appropriations Act) to the Bureau, the Bureau is publishing for public comment an interim final rule establishing a new Regulation N (Mortgage Acts and Practices—Advertising Rule) and a new Regulation O (Mortgage Assistance Relief Services Rule). This interim final rule does not impose any new substantive obligations on persons subject to the existing Mortgages Acts and Practices—Advertising Rule or the existing Mortgage Assistance Relief Services Rule, previously published by the FTC.
Restatement of Federal Consumer Financial Law Regulations 3 actions from December 21st, 2011 to December 2013
List of Subjects in 12 CFR Parts 1014 and 1015
You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CFPB-2011-0027 or RIN 3170-AA06, by any of the following methods:
Mail: Monica Jackson, Office of the Executive Secretary, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, 1500 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., (Attn: 1801 L Street), Washington, DC 20220.
All submissions must include the agency name and docket number or Regulatory Information Number (RIN) for this rulemaking. In general, all comments received will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov. In addition, comments will be available for public inspection and copying at 1700 G Street NW., Washington DC 20006, on official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time. You can make an appointment to inspect the documents by telephoning (202) 435-7275.
Jane Gao or Krista Ayoub, Office of Regulations, at (202) 435-7700.
Congress enacted section 626 of the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (Omnibus Appropriations Act) on March 11, 2009 and directed the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to commence a rulemaking proceeding within 90 days of enactment with respect to mortgage loans.
On May 22, 2009, the enactment of the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009
clarified the FTC's rulemaking authority under the Omnibus Appropriations Act to specify that the FTC's rulemaking based on its authority pursuant to the Omnibus Appropriations Act “shall relate to unfair or deceptive acts or practices regarding mortgage loans,” which may involve loan modification and foreclosure rescue services.
Prior to July 21, 2011, rulemaking authority for the Omnibus Appropriations Act was vested in the FTC. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act)
amended a number of consumer financial protection laws, including the Omnibus Appropriations Act. In addition to various substantive amendments, the Dodd-Frank Act transferred rulemaking authority for the Omnibus Appropriations Act to the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau), effective July 21, 2011. See sections 1061 and 1097 of the Dodd-Frank Act. Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act and the Omnibus Appropriations Act, as amended, the Bureau is publishing for public comment an interim final rule establishing a new Regulation N (Mortgage Acts and Practices—Advertising), 12 CFR part 1014, and a new Regulation O (Mortgage Assistance Relief Services), 12 CFR part 1015, implementing the Omnibus Appropriations Act.
The interim final rule substantially duplicates the FTC's Mortgage Acts and Practices—Advertising Rule as the Bureau's new Regulation N, 12 CFR part 1014, and the FTC's Mortgage Assistance Relief Services Rule as the Bureau's new Regulation O, 12 CFR part 1015, making only certain non-substantive, technical, formatting, and stylistic changes. To minimize any potential confusion, other than republishing 16 CFR parts 321 and 322 with the Bureau's part number, the Bureau is preserving where possible the numbering the FTC used in the two rules. Additionally, while this interim final rule generally incorporates the FTC's existing regulatory text, the rule has been edited as necessary to reflect nomenclature and other technical amendments required by the Dodd-Frank Act. Notably, this interim final rule does not impose any new substantive obligations on regulated entities. In future rulemakings, the Bureau expects to amend Regulations N and O to implement certain other changes to the Omnibus Appropriations Act made by the Dodd-Frank Act, such as expanding the scope of Regulations N and O to include persons excluded from coverage under the FTC's existing 16 CFR parts 321 and 322 due to the fact that they are not subject to the FTC's enforcement jurisdiction.
References to the FTC's rulemaking authority have been replaced with references to the Bureau. Conforming edits have been made to internal cross-references. Historical references that are no longer applicable, and references to effective dates that have passed, have been removed as appropriate. In addition, with respect to the Mortgage Assistance Relief Services Rule, the Bureau is correcting a citation error in the FTC's existing § 322.9(c). As adopted by the FTC, § 322.9(c) contains a cross-reference to § 322.10(a). The correct citation should be to §§ 322.9(a) and (b). The Bureau is republishing § 322.9(c) as § 1015.9(c) with the citation corrected to read §§ 1015.9(a) and (b).
The Bureau is issuing this interim final rule pursuant to its authority under the Omnibus Appropriations Act and the Dodd-Frank Act. Effective July 21, 2011, section 1061 of the Dodd-Frank Act transferred to the Bureau all of the FTC's authority under an enumerated consumer law to prescribe rules, issue guidelines, conduct studies, or issue reports.
The Omnibus Appropriations Act is an enumerated consumer law.
Accordingly, effective July 21, 2011, the authority of the FTC to issue regulations pursuant to the Omnibus Appropriations Act transferred to the Bureau.
The Omnibus Appropriations Act, as amended, authorizes the Bureau to issue regulations in accordance with section 553 of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 5 U.S.C. 553, to carry out the provisions of the Omnibus Appropriations Act. These regulations may pertain to unfair or deceptive acts or practices regarding mortgage loans, which may include unfair or deceptive acts or practices involving loan modification and foreclosure rescue services. In its existing regulations, the FTC used this Omnibus Appropriations Act authority to adopt the Mortgage Acts and Practices—Advertising Rule and the Mortgage Assistance Relief Services Rule.
generally requires public notice and an opportunity to comment before promulgation of regulations.
The APA provides exceptions to notice-and-comment procedures, however, where an agency for good cause finds that such procedures are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest or when a rulemaking relates to agency organization, procedure, and practice.
The Bureau finds that there is good cause to conclude that providing notice and opportunity for comment would be unnecessary and contrary to the public interest under these circumstances. In addition, substantially all the changes made by this interim final rule, which were necessitated by the Dodd-Frank Act's transfer of Omnibus Appropriations Act authority from the FTC to the Bureau, relate to agency organization, procedure, and practice and are thus exempt from the APA's notice-and comment requirements.
The Bureau's good cause findings are based on the following considerations. As an initial matter, the FTC's existing regulations were a result of notice-and-comment rulemaking to the extent required. Moreover, the interim final rule published today does not impose any new, substantive obligations on regulated entities. Rather, the interim final rule makes only non-substantive, technical changes to the existing text of the regulations, such as renumbering, changing internal cross-references, and replacing appropriate nomenclature to reflect the transfer of authority to the Bureau. Given the technical nature of these changes, and the fact that the interim final rule does not impose any additional substantive requirements on covered entities, an opportunity for prior public comment is unnecessary. In addition, recodifying the FTC's regulations to reflect the transfer of authority to the Bureau will help facilitate compliance with the Omnibus Appropriations Act and its implementing regulations, and will help reduce uncertainty regarding the applicable regulatory framework. Using notice-and-comment procedures would delay this process and thus be contrary to the public interest.
The APA generally requires that rules be published not less than 30 days before their effective dates. See 5 U.S.C. 553(d). As with the notice and comment requirement, however, the APA allows an exception when “otherwise provided by the agency for good cause found and published with the rule.” 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). The Bureau finds that there is good cause for providing less than 30 days notice here. A delayed effective date would harm consumers and regulated entities by needlessly perpetuating discrepancies between the amended statutory text and the implementing regulations, thereby hindering compliance and prolonging uncertainty regarding the applicable regulatory framework.
In addition, delaying the effective date of the interim final rule for 30 days would provide no practical benefit to regulated entities in this context and in fact could operate to their detriment. As discussed above, the interim final rule published today does not impose any new, substantive obligations on regulated entities. Instead, the rule makes only non-substantive, technical changes to the existing text of the regulations. Thus, regulated entities that are already in compliance with the existing rules will not need to modify business practices as a result of this rule.
In developing the interim final rule, the Bureau has conducted an analysis of potential benefits, costs, and impacts.
The Bureau believes that the interim final rule will benefit consumers and covered persons by updating and recodifying Regulations N and O to reflect the transfer of authority to the Bureau and certain other changes mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act. This will help facilitate compliance with the Omnibus Appropriations Act and its implementing regulations and help reduce any uncertainty regarding the applicable regulatory framework. The interim final rule will not impose any new substantive obligations on consumers or covered persons and is not expected to have any impact on consumers' access to consumer financial products and services.
Although not required by the interim final rule, covered entities may incur some costs in updating compliance manuals and related materials to reflect the new numbering and other technical changes reflected in the new Regulations N and O. The Bureau has worked to reduce any such burden by preserving the existing numbering to the extent possible and believes that such costs will likely be minimal. These changes could be handled in the short term by providing a short, standalone summary alerting users to the changes and in the long term could be combined with other updates at the firm's convenience. The Bureau intends to continue investigating the possible costs to affected entities of updating manuals and related materials to reflect these changes and solicits comments on this and other issues discussed in this section.
In undertaking the process of recodifying Regulations N and O, as well as regulations implementing thirteen other consumer financial laws,
the Bureau consulted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the National Credit Union Administration, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, including with respect to consistency with any prudential, market, or systemic objectives that may be administered by such agencies.
The Bureau also has consulted with the Office of Management and Budget for technical assistance. The Bureau expects to have further consultations with the appropriate Federal agencies during the comment period.
The IRFA and FRFA requirements described above apply only where a notice of proposed rulemaking is required,
and the panel requirement applies only when a rulemaking requires an IRFA.
As discussed above in part III, a notice of proposed rulemaking is not required for this rulemaking.
In addition, as discussed above, this interim final rule has only a minor impact on entities subject to Regulations N and O. The rule imposes no new, substantive obligations on covered entities. Accordingly, the undersigned certifies that this interim final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
The Bureau may not conduct or sponsor, and a respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. This rule contains information collection requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), which have been previously approved by OMB, and the ongoing PRA burden for which is unchanged by this rule. There are no new information collection requirements in this interim final rule. The Bureau's OMB control numbers for this information collection are: 3170-0009 for Regulation N (Mortgage Acts and Practices—Advertising) and 3170-0007 for Regulation O (Mortgage Assistance Relief Services).
List of Subjects in 12 CFR Parts 1014 and 1015 Back to Top
Business practices related to mortgage loans
For the reasons set forth above, the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection adds parts 1014 and 1015 to Chapter X in Title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations to read as follows:
PART 1014—MORTGAGE ACTS AND PRACTICES—ADVERTISING (REGULATION N) Back to Top
12 U.S.C. 5512, 5581; 15 U.S.C. 1638 note.
§ 1014.1 Scope of regulations in this part.
This part, known as Regulation N, is issued by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection to implement the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act, Public L. 111-8, section 626, 123 Stat. 524 (Mar. 11, 2009), as amended by the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009, Public Law 111-24, section 511, 123 Stat. 1734 (May 22, 2009), and as amended by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010, Public Law 111-203, section 1097, 124 Stat. 1376 (July 21, 2010). This part applies to persons over which the Federal Trade Commission has jurisdiction under the Federal Trade Commission Act.
§ 1014.2 Definitions.
Commercial communication means any written or oral statement, illustration, or depiction, whether in English or any other language, that is designed to effect a sale or create interest in purchasing goods or services, whether it appears on or in a label, package, package insert, radio, television, cable television, brochure, newspaper, magazine, pamphlet, leaflet, circular, mailer, book insert, free standing insert, letter, catalogue, poster, chart, billboard, public transit card, point of purchase display, film, slide, audio program transmitted over a telephone system, telemarketing script, on-hold script, upsell script, training materials provided to telemarketing firms, program-length commercial (“infomercial”), the internet, cellular network, or any other medium. Promotional materials and items and Web pages are included in the term commercial communication.
Consumer means a natural person to whom a mortgage credit product is offered or extended.
Credit means the right to defer payment of debt or to incur debt and defer its payment.
Dwelling means a residential structure that contains one to four units, whether or not that structure is attached to real property. The term includes any of the following if used as a residence: an individual condominium unit, cooperative unit, mobile home, manufactured home, or trailer.
Mortgage credit product means any form of credit that is secured by real property or a dwelling and that is offered or extended to a consumer primarily for personal, family, or household purposes.
Person means any individual, group, unincorporated association, limited or general partnership, corporation, or other business entity.
Term means any of the fees, costs, obligations, or characteristics of or associated with the product. It also includes any of the conditions on or related to the availability of the product.
§ 1014.3 Prohibited representations.
It is a violation of this part for any person to make any material misrepresentation, expressly or by implication, in any commercial communication, regarding any term of any mortgage credit product, including but not limited to misrepresentations about:
(a) The interest charged for the mortgage credit product, including but not limited to misrepresentations concerning:
(1) The amount of interest that the consumer owes each month that is included in the consumer's payments, loan amount, or total amount due, or
(2) Whether the difference between the interest owed and the interest paid is added to the total amount due from the consumer;
(b) The annual percentage rate, simple annual rate, periodic rate, or any other rate;
(c) The existence, nature, or amount of fees or costs to the consumer associated with the mortgage credit product, including but not limited to misrepresentations that no fees are charged;
(d) The existence, cost, payment terms, or other terms associated with any additional product or feature that is or may be sold in conjunction with the mortgage credit product, including but not limited to credit insurance or credit disability insurance;
(e) The terms, amounts, payments, or other requirements relating to taxes or insurance associated with the mortgage credit product, including but not limited to misrepresentations about:
(1) Whether separate payment of taxes or insurance is required; or
(2) The extent to which payment for taxes or insurance is included in the loan payments, loan amount, or total amount due from the consumer;
(f) Any prepayment penalty associated with the mortgage credit product, including but not limited to misrepresentations concerning the existence, nature, amount, or terms of such penalty;
(g) The variability of interest, payments, or other terms of the mortgage credit product, including but not limited to misrepresentations using the word “fixed”;
(h) Any comparison between:
(1) Any rate or payment that will be available for a period less than the full length of the mortgage credit product; and
(2) Any actual or hypothetical rate or payment;
(i) The type of mortgage credit product, including but not limited to misrepresentations that the product is or involves a fully amortizing mortgage;
(j) The amount of the obligation, or the existence, nature, or amount of cash or credit available to the consumer in connection with the mortgage credit product, including but not limited to misrepresentations that the consumer will receive a certain amount of cash or credit as part of a mortgage credit transaction;
(k) The existence, number, amount, or timing of any minimum or required payments, including but not limited to misrepresentations about any payments or that no payments are required in a reverse mortgage or other mortgage credit product;
(l) The potential for default under the mortgage credit product, including but not limited to misrepresentations concerning the circumstances under which the consumer could default for nonpayment of taxes, insurance, or maintenance, or for failure to meet other obligations;
(m) The effectiveness of the mortgage credit product in helping the consumer resolve difficulties in paying debts, including but not limited to misrepresentations that any mortgage credit product can reduce, eliminate, or restructure debt or result in a waiver or forgiveness, in whole or in part, of the consumer's existing obligation with any person;
(n) The association of the mortgage credit product or any provider of such product with any other person or program, including but not limited to misrepresentations that:
(1) The provider is, or is affiliated with, any governmental entity or other organization; or
(2) The product is or relates to a government benefit, or is endorsed, sponsored by, or affiliated with any government or other program, including but not limited to through the use of formats, symbols, or logos that resemble those of such entity, organization, or program;
(o) The source of any commercial communication, including but not limited to misrepresentations that a commercial communication is made by or on behalf of the consumer's current mortgage lender or servicer;
(p) The right of the consumer to reside in the dwelling that is the subject of the mortgage credit product, or the duration of such right, including but not limited to misrepresentations concerning how long or under what conditions a consumer with a reverse mortgage can stay in the dwelling;
(q) The consumer's ability or likelihood to obtain any mortgage credit product or term, including but not limited to misrepresentations concerning whether the consumer has been preapproved or guaranteed for any such product or term;
(r) The consumer's ability or likelihood to obtain a refinancing or modification of any mortgage credit product or term, including but not limited to misrepresentations concerning whether the consumer has been preapproved or guaranteed for any such refinancing or modification; and
(s) The availability, nature, or substance of counseling services or any other expert advice offered to the consumer regarding any mortgage credit product or term, including but not limited to the qualifications of those offering the services or advice.
§ 1014.4 Waiver not permitted.
It is a violation of this part for any person to obtain, or attempt to obtain, a waiver from any consumer of any protection provided by or any right of the consumer under this part.
§ 1014.5 Recordkeeping requirements.
§ 1014.6 Actions by states.
Any attorney general or other officer of a state authorized by the state to bring an action under this part may do so pursuant to section 626(b) of the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act, Public Law 111-8, section 626, 123 Stat. 524 (Mar. 11, 2009), as amended by the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009, Public Law 111-24, section 511, 123 Stat. 1734 (May 22, 2009), and as amended by Public Law 111-203, section 1097, 124 Stat. 2102 (July 21, 2010).
§ 1014.7 Severability.
The provisions of this part are separate and severable from one another. If any provision is stayed or determined to be invalid, it is the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection's intention that the remaining provisions shall continue in effect.
PART 1015—MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE RELIEF SERVICES (REGULATION O) Back to Top
1015.1 Scope of regulations in this part.
1015.2 Definitions.
1015.3 Prohibited representations.
1015.4 Disclosures required in commercial communications.
1015.5 Prohibition on collection of advance payments and related disclosures.
1015.6 Assisting and facilitating.
1015.7 Exemptions.
1015.8 Waiver not permitted.
1015.9 Recordkeeping and compliance requirements.
1015.10 Actions by states.
1015.11 Severability.
§ 1015.1 Scope of regulations in this part.
§ 1015.2 Definitions.
§ 1015.3 Prohibited representations.
(1) The likelihood of negotiating, obtaining, or arranging any represented service or result, such as those set forth in the definition of Mortgage Assistance Relief Service in § 1015.2;
(2) The amount of time it will take the mortgage assistance relief service provider to accomplish any represented service or result, such as those set forth in the definition of Mortgage Assistance Relief Service in § 1015.2;
§ 1015.4 Disclosures required in commercial communications.
(2) In cases where the mortgage assistance relief service provider has represented, expressly or by implication, that consumers will receive any service or result set forth in paragraphs (2) through (6) of the definition of Mortgage Assistance Relief Service in § 1015.2, “Even if you accept this offer and use our service, your lender may not agree to change your loan.”
(3) In cases where the mortgage assistance relief service provider has represented, expressly or by implication, that consumers will receive any service or result set forth in paragraphs (2) through (6) of the definition of Mortgage Assistance Relief Service in § 1015.2, “Even if you accept this offer and use our service, your lender may not agree to change your loan.”
(b) Fail to disclose, at the time the mortgage assistance relief service provider furnishes the consumer with the written agreement specified in paragraph (a) of this section, the following information: “This is an offer of mortgage assistance we obtained from your lender [or servicer]. You may accept or reject the offer. If you reject the offer, you do not have to pay us. If you accept the offer, you will have to pay us [same amount as disclosed pursuant to § 1015.4(b)(1)] for our services.” The disclosure required by this paragraph must be made in a clear and prominent manner, on a separate written page, and preceded by the heading: “IMPORTANT NOTICE: Before buying this service, consider the following information.” The heading must be in bold face font that is two point-type larger than the font size of the required disclosure; or
§ 1015.6 Assisting and facilitating.
§ 1015.7 Exemptions.
(a) An attorney is exempt from this part, with the exception of § 1015.5, if the attorney:
(b) An attorney who is exempt pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section is also exempt from § 1015.5 if the attorney:
§ 1015.8 Waiver not permitted.
§ 1015.9 Recordkeeping and compliance requirements.
(6) Copies of the documentation provided to the consumer as specified in § 1015.5 of this rule;
§ 1015.10 Actions by states.
§ 1015.11 Severability.
[FR Doc. 2011-31731 Filed 12-15-11; 8:45 am]
1. Public L. 111-8, 123 Stat. 524 (2009). The Omnibus Appropriations Act also directed the FTC to use notice and comment procedures under section 553 of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 5 U.S.C. 553, to promulgate rules pursuant to the Omnibus Appropriations Act in lieu of the procedures set forth in section 18 of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. 57a. The FTC noted in its Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Mortgage Acts and Practices, 74 FR 26118 (June 1, 2009), that because Omnibus Appropriations Act rulemaking is not undertaken pursuant to section 18, 15 U.S.C. 57a(f), Federal banking agencies are not required to promulgate substantially similar regulations for entities within their jurisdiction. Id. at 26119, note 2.
2. Public Law 111-24, 123 Stat. 1734 (2009).
3. Id. Section 511(a)(1)(B).
5. The regulatory text of the FTC's Mortgage Acts and Practices—Advertising Rule contains a clear statement that the rule only applies to persons over which the FTC has jurisdiction under the Federal Trade Commission Act in the scope section of the regulation. See 16 CFR 321.1. The existing text of the Mortgage Assistance Relief Services Rule does not contain a similar statement in the scope section of the regulation; however, in the definitions section of the regulation, the definition of “person” subject to the regulation specifically excludes entities excluded from the FTC's jurisdiction under the Federal Trade Commission Act. See 16 CFR 322.2. FTC staff recommended to the Bureau that the Bureau add a clear statement in the scope section of the Mortgage Assistance Relief Services Rule that states the rule does not apple to entities over which the FTC lacks jurisdiction. Accordingly, the Bureau has added the following sentence, “This part applies to persons over which the Federal Trade Commission has jurisdiction under the Federal Trade Commission Act.” at the end of § 1015.1.
7. Id. Section 1002(12)(Q) (defining “enumerated consumer laws” to include the Omnibus Appropriations Act).
9. 5 U.S.C. 551 et seq.
10. 5 U.S.C. 553(b), (c).
11. 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(A), (B).
12. This interim final rule is one of 14 companion rulemakings that together restate and recodify the implementing regulations under 14 existing consumer financial laws (part III.C, below, lists the 14 laws involved). In the interest of proper coordination of this overall regulatory framework, which includes numerous cross-references among some of the regulations, the Bureau is establishing the same effective date of December 30, 2011 for those rules published on or before that date and making those published thereafter (if any) effective immediately.
13. Section 1022(b)(2)(A) of the Dodd-Frank Act addresses the consideration of the potential benefits and costs of regulation to consumers and covered persons, including the potential reduction of access by consumers to consumer financial products or services; the impact on depository institutions and credit unions with $10 billion or less in total assets as described in section 1026 of the Dodd-Frank Act; and the impact on consumers in rural areas. Section 1022(b)(2)(B) requires that the Bureau “consult with the appropriate prudential regulators or other Federal agencies prior to proposing a rule and during the comment process regarding consistency with prudential, market, or systemic objectives administered by such agencies.” The manner and extent to which these provisions apply to interim final rules and to benefits, costs, and impacts that are compelled by statutory changes rather than discretionary Bureau action is unclear. Nevertheless, to inform this rulemaking more fully, the Bureau performed the described analyses and consultations.
14. The fourteen laws implemented by this and its companion rulemakings are: the Consumer Leasing Act, the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (except with respect to section 920 of that Act), the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (except with respect to sections 615(e) and 628 of that act), the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Subsections (b) through (f) of section 43 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, sections 502 through 509 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (except for section 505 as it applies to section 501(b)), the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act, the Truth in Lending Act, the Truth in Savings Act, section 626 of the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009, and the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act.
15. In light of the technical but voluminous nature of this recodification project, the Bureau focused the consultation process on a representative sample of the recodified regulations, while making information on the other regulations available. The Bureau expects to conduct differently its future consultations regarding substantive rulemakings.
17. 5 U.S.C. 603, 604.
18. 5 U.S.C. 609.
19. 5 U.S.C. 603(a), 604(a); 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B).
20. 5 U.S.C. 609(b).