E6-18607. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Amendment to Rule A-6, on Committees of the Board  

  • Start Preamble Start Printed Page 64750 October 30, 2006.

    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”),[1] and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,[2] notice is hereby given that on October 24, 2006, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (“MSRB” or “Board”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission” or “SEC”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II and III below, which Items have been prepared by the MSRB. The MSRB has filed the proposal pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act,[3] and Rule 19b-4(f)(3) thereunder,[4] which renders the proposal effective upon filing with the Commission. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.

    I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

    The MSRB is filing with the Commission a proposed rule change consisting of an amendment to Rule A-6, on committees of the Board, to delete a provision from the rule that states that, in all matters, the role of any committee shall be solely advisory. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the MSRB's Web site (http://www.msrb.org), at the MSRB's principal office, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

    II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, the MSRB included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The MSRB has prepared summaries, set forth in Sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.

    A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    1. Purpose

    The Board has been reviewing its Administrative Rules and by-laws to ensure that they are consistent with current good corporate governance practices. Rule A-6, on committees of the Board, currently provides, among other things, that in all matters, the role of any Board committee shall be solely advisory. The Board has determined to delete this provision from the rule (as well as from By-Law Article 6) to allow Board committees to undertake appropriate responsibilities at the direction of the Board or pursuant to the committee charters consistent with such good corporate governance practices.[5]

    2. Statutory Basis

    The MSRB believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 15B(b)(2)(I) of the Act,[6] which authorizes the MSRB to adopt rules that provide for the operation and administration of the MSRB. The MSRB believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with this provision because it is concerned solely with the operation and administration of the MSRB.

    B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The MSRB does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act since it only applies to the operation and administration of the MSRB.

    C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants or Others

    Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

    III. Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Date of Commission Action

    The proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act [7] and Rule 19b-4(f)(3) thereunder [8] because it is concerned solely with the administration of the MSRB. At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission may summarily abrogate such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.[9]

    IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:

    Electronic Comments

    Paper Comments

    • Send paper comments in triplicate to Nancy M. Morris, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, Station Place, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-MSRB-2006-08. This file number should be included on the subject line if e-mail is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/​rules/​sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for inspection and copying in the Commission's Public Reference Room. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the MSRB. All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All Start Printed Page 64751submissions should refer to File Number SR-MSRB-2006-08 and should be submitted on or before November 24, 2006.

    Start Signature

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.[10]

    Nancy M. Morris,

    Secretary.

    End Signature End Preamble

    Footnotes

    5.  Such practices include, but are not limited to, vesting responsibility in the audit committee for the hiring, firing and compensation of the independent financial auditors.

    Back to Citation

    9.  See Section 19(b)(3)(C) of the Act, 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(C).

    Back to Citation

    [FR Doc. E6-18607 Filed 11-2-06; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 8011-01-P

Document Information

Comments Received:
0 Comments
Published:
11/03/2006
Department:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
E6-18607
Pages:
64750-64751 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Release No. 34-54671, File No. SR-MSRB-2006-08
EOCitation:
of 2006-10-30
PDF File:
e6-18607.pdf