Form SF-1 30 Day Federal Register Notice

51882

Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 149 / Friday, August 4, 2023 / Notices

ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1

rule change would allow certain
proceedings by video conference if the
NAC or OHO determine that proceeding
in person may endanger the health or
safety of the participants or would be
impracticable.54 Additionally, the
proposed rule change would allow
certain proceedings by video conference
where both parties prefer doing so and
show good cause, or where neither party
would be materially disadvantaged.55
For approximately two and half years,
while the temporary amendments were
in effect, OHO and the NAC
successfully conducted numerous
disciplinary and evidentiary hearings by
video conference.56
The proposed rule change would
provide greater flexibility and efficiency
for FINRA’s disciplinary and eligibility
proceedings and other review processes
which serve a critical role in providing
investor protection and maintaining fair
and orderly markets, while maintaining
appropriate safeguards. The proposed
rule change would enable OHO and the
NAC to respond to unanticipated events
such as health emergencies, natural
disasters or terrorist attacks more
quickly to avoid backlogs or
unnecessary delays.57 Currently, as set
forth in the Notice, FINRA does not
have permanent rules that allow for
video conference hearings before OHO
and the NAC, even when both parties
prefer proceeding by video conference,
or doing so would not materially
disadvantage any party, or when video
conference is the only practicable
method.58 However, the successful
implementation of video conference
hearings during the COVID–19 global
health crisis demonstrated that
technology can be an effective and
efficient alternative to in-person
hearings.59 The backlog of cases that
arose as a result of the postponement of
hearings during the COVID–19
pandemic before the temporary
amendments were enacted illustrate the
need for greater flexibility to empower
OHO and the NAC to react more
expeditiously.60 The proposed rule
change would modernize existing
procedures and allow parties who
jointly prefer video conference to
potentially save travel costs and time.61
54 See supra notes 21–22, 31, 38 and
accompanying text.
55 See supra notes 33–34, 40–43 and
accompanying text.
56 See supra note 18 and accompanying text.
57 See Notice at 28647.
58 See Notice at 28648.
59 See Notice at n.6; see also supra note 18 and
accompanying text.
60 See Notice at 28647.
61 See Notice at 28649.

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be filed by the Commission permits
verification of compliance with
securities law requirements and assures
the public availability of such
information in the asset-backed
securities market. Form SF–1 takes
approximately 1,381.33 hours per
response and is filed by approximately
6 respondents. We estimate that 25% of
the 1,381.33 hours per response (345.33
hours) is prepared by the registrant for
a total annual reporting burden of 2,072
hours (345.33 hours per response × 6
responses).
An agency may conduct or sponsor,
and a person is not required to respond
to, a collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid control
number.
The public may view background
documentation for this information
collection at the following website:
www.reginfo.gov. Find this particular
information collection by selecting
‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open
for Public Comments’’ or by using the
search function. Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent
within 30 days of publication of this
notice by September 5, 2023 to (i)
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain
and (ii) David Bottom, Director/Chief
Information Officer, Securities and
Exchange Commission, c/o John
Pezzullo, 100 F Street NE, Washington,
DC 20549, or by sending an email to:
[email protected].

Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request; Extension: Form
SF–1

Dated: August 1, 2023.
Sherry R. Haywood,
Assistant Secretary.

Additionally, the use of video
conferences would be limited and
controlled. Notably, in-person hearings
would still be the default method for
conducting hearings.62 Furthermore, the
proposed rule includes procedural
safeguards to ensure fairness, such as
the requirement for evidentiary hearings
that any motions be joined by all parties
and show good cause and, for oral
argument, the ability of any party to
oppose an order or motion to proceed by
video conference on grounds that doing
so would materially disadvantage that
party.63
For these reasons, the Commission
finds the proposed rule change is
consistent with the protection of
investors and in the public interest.
IV. Conclusion
It is therefore ordered pursuant to
section 19(b)(2) of the Exchange Act 64
that the proposed rule change (SR–
FINRA–2023–008) be, and hereby is,
approved.
Dated: July 31, 2023.
Sherry R. Haywood,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023–16623 Filed 8–3–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION

Upon Written Request Copies Available
From: Securities and Exchange
Commission, Office of FOIA Services,
100 F Street NE, Washington, DC
20549–2736
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’’) has submitted to the
Office of Management and Budget this
request for extension of the previously
approved collection of information
discussed below.
Form SF–1 (17 CFR 239.44) is the
registration statement for non-shelf
issuers of assets-backed securities
register a public offering of their
securities under the Securities Act of
1933 (15 U.S.C. 77a et seq.). The
information collected is intended to
ensure that the information required to
62 See

supra note 29 and accompanying text.
Notice at 28647–28648.
64 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
63 See

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[FR Doc. 2023–16676 Filed 8–3–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Sunshine Act Meetings
10:00 a.m. Wednesday,
August 9, 2023 and 2:00 p.m. on
Thursday, August 10, 2023.
PLACE: These meetings will be held via
remote means and/or at the
Commission’s headquarters, 100 F
Street NE, Washington, DC 20549.
STATUS: These meetings will be closed
to the public.
MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED:
Commissioners, Counsel to the
Commissioners, the Secretary to the
Commission, and recording secretaries
will attend the closed meetings. Certain
staff members who have an interest in
the matters also may be present.
In the event that the time, date, or
location of these meetings change, an
TIME AND DATE:

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