00-2341. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

SUMMARY:

Background—On June 15, 1984, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) delegated to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) its approval authority under the Paperwork Reduction Act, as per 5 CFR 1320.16, to approve of and assign OMB control numbers to collections of information requests and requirements conducted or sponsored by the Board under conditions set forth in 5 CFR 1320 Appendix A.1. Board-approved collections of information are incorporated into the official OMB inventory of currently approved collections of information. Copies of the OMB 83-Is and supporting statements and approved collections of information instruments are placed into OMB's public docket files. The Federal Reserve may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection that has been extended, revised, or implemented on or after October 1, 1995, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Request for comment on information collection proposal.

The following information collection, which is being handled under this delegated authority, has received initial Board approval and is hereby published for comment. At the end of the comment period, the proposed information collection, along with an analysis of comments and recommendations received, will be submitted to the Board for final approval under OMB delegated authority. Comments are invited on the following:

a. Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the Federal Reserve's functions; including whether the information has practical utility;

b. The accuracy of the Federal Reserve's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

c. Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

d. Ways to minimize the burden of information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before April 3, 2000.

ADDRESSES:

Comments, which should refer to the OMB control number or agency form number, should be addressed to Jennifer J. Johnson, Secretary, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th and C Streets, N.W., Washington, DC 20551, or delivered to the Board's mail room between 8:45 a.m. and 5:15 p.m., and to the security control room outside of those hours. Both the mail room and the security control room are accessible from the courtyard entrance on 20th Street between Constitution Avenue and C Street, N.W. Comments received may be inspected in room M-P-500 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., except as provided in section 261.14 of the Board's Rules Regarding Availability of Information, 12 CFR 261.14(a).

A copy of the comments may also be submitted to the OMB desk officer for the Board: Alexander T. Hunt, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Room 3208, Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

A copy of the proposed form and instructions, the Paperwork Reduction Act Submission (OMB 83-I), supporting statement, and other documents that will be placed into OMB's public docket files once approved may be requested from the agency clearance officer, whose name appears below. Mary M. West, Chief, Financial Reports Section (202-452-3829), Division of Research and Statistics, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, DC 20551. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) users may contact Diane Jenkins, (202-452-3544), Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, DC 20551.

Proposal to approve under OMB delegated authority the extension for three years, without revision, of the following report:

1. Report title: The Recordkeeping and Disclosure Requirements in Connection with Regulation Z (Truth in Lending).

Agency form number: unnum Reg Z.

OMB control number: 7100-0199.

Frequency: Event-generated.

Reporters: State member banks.

Annual reporting hours: 1,863,754 hours.

Estimated average hours per response: Open-end credit: initial terms 2.5 minutes, change in terms 1 minute; Periodic statement 45 seconds; Error resolution 15 minutes; Credit and charge card accounts: Advance disclosures 10 seconds, renewal notice 5 seconds, insurance notice 15 seconds; Home equity plans: advance disclosure 2 minutes, change in terms 2 minutes; Closed-end credit disclosures 6.4 minutes; Advertising 30 minutes.

Number of respondents: 988. Small businesses are affected.

General description of report: Title I of the Consumer Credit Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) authorizes the Board to issue regulations to carry out the provisions of the Consumer Credit Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 1604(a)). Since the Federal Reserve does not collect any information, no issue of confidentiality arises. Transaction-or account-specific disclosures and billing error allegations are not publicly available and are confidential between the creditor and consumer.

Abstract: Regulation Z (12 CFR Part 226) implements the Truth in Lending Act (15 USC 1601 et seq.). The act and regulation ensure adequate disclosure of the costs and terms of credit to consumers on an event-generated basis. For open-end credit (revolving credit accounts), creditors are required to disclose information about the initial costs and terms and to provide periodic statements of account activity, notices of change in terms, and statements of rights concerning billing error procedures. The regulation also requires specific types of disclosures for credit and charge card accounts, and home equity plans. For closed-end loans (such as mortgage and installment loans) cost disclosures are required to be provided prior to consummation. Specific products trigger special disclosures, such as reverse mortgages, certain variable rate loans, and certain mortgages with rates and fees above a specific amount. Regulation Z also contains rules concerning credit advertising. Creditors are required to retain records as evidence of compliance with Regulation Z for twenty-four months (subpart D, section 226.25).

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, January 28, 2000.

Jennifer J. Johnson,

Secretary of the Board.