
[Federal Register: March 9, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 45)]
[Notices]               
[Page 10846]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09mr10-98]                         

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 
Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange 
Commission, Office of Investor Education and Advocacy, Washington, DC 
20549-0213.

Extension: Rule 31; SEC File No. 270-537; OMB Control No. 3235-0597.
    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'') is soliciting comments on the collection of 
information summarized below. The Commission plans to submit this 
existing collection of information to the Office of Management and 
Budget for extension and approval.
    Section 31 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78ee) 
(``Exchange Act'') requires the Commission to collect fees and 
assessments from national securities exchanges and national securities 
associations (collectively, ``self-regulatory organizations'' or 
``SROs'') based on the volume of their securities transactions. To 
collect the proper amounts, the Commission adopted Rule 31 (17 CFR 
240.31) and Form R31 (17 CFR 249.11) under the Exchange Act whereby the 
SROs must report to the Commission the volume of their securities 
transaction and the Commission, based on that data, calculates the 
amount of fees and assessments that the SROs owe pursuant to Section 
31. Rule 31 and Form R31 require the SROs to provide this data on a 
monthly basis.
    The Commission estimates that each respondent makes 12 such filings 
on an annual basis at an average hourly burden of approximately 1.47 
hours per response. Currently, there are 16 respondents. However, based 
on past experience, the Commission is estimating an increase to 18 
respondents, including 13 national securities exchanges, two security 
futures exchanges, and one national securities association subject to 
the collection of information requirements of Rule 31 and two 
registered clearing agencies are required to provide certain data in 
their possession needed by the SROs to complete Form R31. The 
Commission estimates that the total burden for all 18 respondents is 
318 hours (12 filings/respondent per year x 1.47 hours/filing x 18 
respondents = 317.52; rounded to 318 hours) per year.
    Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Commission, including whether the information 
shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's 
estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) 
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on respondents, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. 
Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted in 
writing within 60 days of this publication.
    Please direct your written comments to: Charles Boucher, Director/
Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o 
Shirley Martinson, 6432 General Green Way, Alexandria, Virginia, 22312 
or by sending an email to: PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov.

    Dated: March 2, 2010.
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010-4914 Filed 3-8-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P

