03-27224. Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Filings and Information Services, Washington, DC 20549.

Extension:

Rule 15c2-12, SEC File No. 270-330, OMB Control No. 3235-0372

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.

• Rule 15c2-12 Disclosure requirements for municipal securities

Rule 15c2-12 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires underwriters of municipal securities: (1) To obtain and review a copy of an official statement deemed final by an issuer of the securities, except for the omission of specified information; (2) in non-competitively bid offerings, to make available, upon request, the most recent preliminary official statement, if any; (3) to contract with the issuer of the securities, or its agent, to receive, within specified time periods, sufficient copies of the issuer's final official statement to comply both with this rule and any rules of the MSRB; (4) to provide, for a specified period of time, copies of the final official statement to any potential customer upon request; (5) before purchasing or selling municipal securities in connection with an offering, to reasonably determine that the issuer or other specified person has undertaken, in a written agreement or contract, for the benefit of holders of such municipal securities, to provide certain information about the issue or issuer on a continuing basis to a nationally recognized municipal securities information repository; and (6) to review the information the issuer of the municipal security has undertaken to provide prior to recommending a transaction in the municipal security.

These disclosure and recordkeeping requirements will ensure that investors have adequate access to official disclosure documents that contain details about the value and risks of particular municipal securities at the time of issuance while the existence of compulsory repositories will ensure that investors have continued access to terms and provisions relating to certain static features of those municipal securities. The provisions of Rule 15c2-12 regarding an issuer's continuing disclosure requirements assist investors by ensuring that information about an issue or issuer remains available after the issuance.

Municipal offerings of less than $1 million are exempt from the rule, as are offerings of municipal securities issued in large denominations that are sold to no more than 35 sophisticated investors, have short-term maturities, or have short-term tender or put features. It is estimated that approximately 12,000 brokers, dealers, municipal securities dealers, issuers of municipal securities, and nationally recognized municipal securities information repositories will spend a total of 123,850 hours per year complying with Rule 15c2-12.

Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimates 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 Kenneth A. Fogash, Acting Associate Executive Director/CIO, Office of Information Technology, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549.

Dated: October 22, 2003.

Margaret H. McFarland,

Deputy Secretary.