[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 61 (Monday, March 30, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17608-17609]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-06570]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[SEC File No. 270-664, OMB Control No. 3235-0740]


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Upon Written Request Copies Available From: U.S. Securities and 
Exchange Commission, Office of FOIA Services, 100 F Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20549-2736

Extension:
    Joint Standards for Assessing Diversity Policies and Practices

    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 (``OMB'') for extension and approval.
    In accordance with the requirements of Section 342 of the Dodd-
Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (12 U.S.C. 
5452), the Commission joined with the Office of the Comptroller of the 
Currency, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Federal 
Deposit Insurance Corporation, and Bureau of Consumer Financial 
Protection (Agencies) to develop Joint Standards for Assessing the 
Diversity Policies and Practices of Entities Regulated by the Agencies 
(Joint Standards), which were issued through an interagency policy 
statement published in the Federal Register on June 15, 2015. To 
facilitate the collection of information envisioned by the Joint 
Standards, the Commission developed a form entitled the ``Diversity 
Assessment Report for Entities

[[Page 17609]]

Regulated by the SEC'' (Diversity Assessment Report).
    The Diversity Assessment Report (1) asks for general information 
about the respondent; (2) includes a checklist and questions relating 
to the policies and practices set forth in the Joint Standards; (3) 
requests data related to workforce diversity and supplier diversity; 
and (4) provides respondents with the opportunity to describe their 
successful policies and practices for promoting diversity and 
inclusion.
    The information collection is voluntary. The Commission may use 
information submitted to monitor progress and trends in the financial 
services industry regarding diversity and inclusion and to identify and 
highlight diversity and inclusion policies and practices that have been 
successful. In addition, the Commission may publish information 
submitted, such as leading practices, in a form that does not identify 
a particular entity or disclose confidential business information. 
Further, the Commission may share information with other Agencies, when 
appropriate, to support coordination of efforts and to avoid 
duplication.
    Title of Collection: Joint Standards for Assessing Diversity 
Policies and Practices.\1\
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    \1\ The title of the currently approved collection--Joint 
Standards for Assessing the Diversity Policies and Practices of 
Entities Regulated by the Agencies--has been shortened.
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    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Frequency of Response: Biennially.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 260.
    Estimated Burden Hours per Respondent: 10 hours; 5 hours 
annualized.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,600; 1,300 annualized.
    Since the last approval of this information collection, we have 
adjusted the estimated number of respondents from 1,500 to 260 
respondents, based on the actual response rate to the requests for 
Diversity Assessment Reports made two years ago and the anticipated 
increase in that response rate as a result of ongoing outreach to 
regulated entities to encourage them to submit Diversity Assessment 
Reports. This reduction in the number of respondents has resulted in a 
6,200-hour reduction in the estimated total burden hours (annualized).
    Request for Comments: The comments submitted in response to this 
notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. 
All comments will become a matter of public record. Written comments 
are invited on: (a) Whether this collection of information is necessary 
for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy 
of the agency's estimate of the burden imposed by the collection of 
information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information 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.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information under the PRA unless it 
displays a currently valid OMB control number. Please direct your 
written comments to David Bottom, Director/Chief Information Officer, 
Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Cynthia Roscoe, 100 F Street 
NE, Washington DC, 20549 or send an email to: PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov.

    Dated: March 25, 2020.
J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-06570 Filed 3-27-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


