2019-19975. Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of FOIA Services, Washington, DC 20549-2736.

Extension:

Rule 201 and Rule 200(g) of Regulation SHO, SEC File No. 270-606, OMB Control No. 3235-0670

Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) (“PRA”), the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) is soliciting comments on the existing collection of information provided for in Rule 201 (17 CFR 242.201) and Rule 200(g) (17 CFR 242.200(g)) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.). The Commission plans to submit this existing collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) for extension and approval.

Rule 201 is a short sale-related circuit breaker rule that, if triggered, imposes a restriction on the prices at which securities may be sold short. Rule 200(g) provides that a broker-dealer may mark certain qualifying sell orders “short exempt.” The information collected under Rule 201's written policies and procedures requirement applicable to trading centers, the written policies and procedures requirement of the broker-dealer provision of Rule 201(c), the written policies and procedures requirement of the riskless principal provision of Rule 201(d)(6), and the “short exempt” marking requirement of Rule 200(g) enable the Commission and self-regulatory organizations (“SROs”) to examine and monitor for compliance with the requirements of Rule 201 and Rule 200(g).

In addition, the information collected under Rule 201's written policies and procedures requirement applicable to trading centers help ensure that trading centers do not execute or display any impermissibly priced short sale orders, unless an order is marked “short exempt,” in accordance with the Rule's requirements. Similarly, the information collected under the written policies and procedures requirement of the broker-dealer provision of Rule 201(c) and the riskless principal provision of Rule 201(d)(6) help to ensure that broker-dealers comply with the requirements of these provisions. The information collected pursuant to the “short exempt” marking requirement of Rule 200(g) also provides an indication to a trading center when it must execute or display a short sale order without regard to whether the short sale order is at a price that is less than or equal to the current national best bid.

It is estimated that SRO and non-SRO respondents registered with the Commission and subject to the collection of information requirements of Rule 201 and Rule 200(g) incur an aggregate annual burden of 1,621,571 hours to comply with the Rules and an aggregate annual external cost of $220,000.

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 estimates of the burden of the proposed 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: Charles Riddle, Acting Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Candace Kenner, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549, or send an email to: [e-mail].

Dated: September 11, 2019.

Jill M. Peterson,

Assistant Secretary.