81 FR 24738 - Federal Credit Union Occupancy, Planning, and Disposal of Acquired and Abandoned Premises; Incidental Powers

NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 81 (April 27, 2016)

As part of NCUA's Regulatory Modernization Initiative, the NCUA Board (Board) is issuing for public comment a proposed rule to amend its regulation governing federal credit union (FCU) occupancy, planning, and disposal of acquired and abandoned premises, and its regulation regarding incidental powers. To provide regulatory relief to FCUs, the proposal eliminates a requirement in the current occupancy rule (formerly known as the fixed assets rule) that an FCU must plan for, and eventually achieve, full occupancy of acquired premises. The proposal generally retains the current regulatory timeframes for partial occupancy. However, it modifies the definition of ``partially occupy'' to mean occupation and use, on a full-time basis, of at least fifty percent of the premises by the FCU, or by a combination of the FCU and a credit union service organization (CUSO) in which the FCU has a controlling interest in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). The proposal also amends the excess capacity provision in NCUA's incidental powers rule to clarify that an FCU may lease or sell excess capacity in its facilities, but it need not anticipate that such excess capacity will be fully occupied by the FCU in the future. However, the sale or lease of excess capacity in equipment or services, including employee-sharing and data processing for third parties, continues to be limited to circumstances where an FCU reasonably anticipates that such excess capacity will be taken up by the future expansion of services to members.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 81 (Wednesday, April 27, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 24738-24742]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09867]


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NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION

12 CFR Parts 701 and 721

RIN 3133-AE54


Federal Credit Union Occupancy, Planning, and Disposal of 
Acquired and Abandoned Premises; Incidental Powers

AGENCY: National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: As part of NCUA's Regulatory Modernization Initiative, the 
NCUA Board (Board) is issuing for public comment a proposed rule to 
amend its regulation governing federal credit union (FCU) occupancy, 
planning, and disposal of acquired and abandoned premises, and its 
regulation regarding incidental powers. To provide regulatory relief to 
FCUs, the proposal eliminates a requirement in the current occupancy 
rule (formerly known as the fixed assets rule) that an FCU must plan 
for, and eventually achieve, full occupancy of acquired premises.
    The proposal generally retains the current regulatory timeframes 
for partial occupancy. However, it modifies the definition of 
``partially occupy'' to mean occupation and use, on a full-time basis, 
of at least fifty percent of the premises by the FCU, or by a 
combination of the FCU and a credit union service organization (CUSO) 
in which the FCU has a controlling interest in accordance with 
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
    The proposal also amends the excess capacity provision in NCUA's 
incidental powers rule to clarify that an FCU may lease or sell excess 
capacity in its facilities, but it need not anticipate that such excess 
capacity will be fully occupied by the FCU in the future. However, the 
sale or lease of excess capacity in equipment or services, including 
employee-sharing and data processing for third parties, continues to be 
limited to circumstances where an FCU reasonably anticipates that such 
excess capacity will be taken up by the future expansion of services to 
members.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 27, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods 
(Please send comments by one method only):
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     NCUA Web site: https://www.ncua.gov/regulation-supervision/Pages/rules/proposed.aspx. Follow the instructions for 
submitting comments.
     Email: Address to [email protected]. Include ``[Your 
name] Comments on Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Parts 701 and 721, 
FCU Occupancy, Planning, and Disposal of Acquired and Abandoned 
Premises; Incidental Powers'' in the email subject line.
     Fax: (703) 518-6319. Use the subject line described above 
for email.
     Mail: Address to Gerard Poliquin, Secretary of the Board, 
National Credit Union Administration, 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, 
Virginia 22314-3428.

[[Page 24739]]

     Hand Delivery/Courier: Same as mail address.
    Public Inspection: You may view all public comments on NCUA's Web 
site at http://www.ncua.gov/Legal/Regs/Pages/PropRegs.aspx as 
submitted, except for those we cannot post for technical reasons. NCUA 
will not edit or remove any identifying or contact information from the 
public comments submitted. You may inspect paper copies of comments in 
NCUA's law library at 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, by 
appointment weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. To make an appointment, 
call (703) 518-6546 or send an email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Yu, Senior Staff Attorney, 
Office of General Counsel, at the above address or telephone (703) 518-
6540, or Jacob McCall, Program Officer, Office of Examination and 
Insurance, at the above address or telephone (703) 518-6360.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background
II. Summary of the Proposed Rule
III. Regulatory Procedures

I. Background

    Section 107(4) of the Federal Credit Union Act (FCU Act) authorizes 
an FCU to purchase, hold, and dispose of property necessary or 
incidental to its operations.\1\ NCUA's occupancy rule (formerly 
referred to as the fixed assets rule) interprets and implements this 
provision of the FCU Act by establishing occupancy, planning, and 
disposal requirements for acquired and abandoned premises. The rule 
also prohibits certain transactions to avoid conflicts of interest in 
the acquisition or lease of FCU premises.\2\
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    \1\ 12 U.S.C. 1757(4).
    \2\ 12 CFR 701.36.
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    Over the past several years, the Board has proposed and adopted 
several regulatory amendments to modernize Sec.  701.36.\3\ Most 
recently, in July 2015, the Board approved a final rule to eliminate 
the five percent aggregate limit on investments in fixed assets for 
FCUs with $1,000,000 or more in assets and to streamline the partial 
occupancy requirements. Public comment in response to these recent 
amendments has been generally supportive of the Board's ongoing efforts 
to provide regulatory relief to FCUs in this area. However, commenters 
have continued to ask for more regulatory relief to provide FCUs with 
greater flexibility in the management of property necessary or 
incidental to FCU operations. In particular, commenters have strongly 
advocated the elimination of regulatory occupancy requirements, 
especially the requirement for full occupancy.
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    \3\ 78 FR 57250 (Sept. 18, 2013); 79 FR 46727 (Aug. 11, 2014); 
80 FR 16595 (Mar. 30, 2015); 80 FR 45844 (Aug. 3, 2015).
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    In general, commenters have maintained that the FCU Act does not 
expressly mandate specific timeframes for occupancy or otherwise 
prescribe occupancy requirements for FCU premises. Thus, commenters 
have urged the Board to liberalize NCUA's occupancy rules.\4\ For 
example, commenters have said that NCUA should not set a specific time 
period for full occupancy; that FCU boards and management should 
determine the best timeframe in which to fully develop property; and 
that the full occupancy requirement should be eliminated entirely.\5\ 
Commenters have also suggested that NCUA should replace the ``full'' 
occupancy requirement with a ``significant'' or ``substantial'' 
occupancy requirement, defined as fifty-one percent occupancy.\6\
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    \4\ 80 FR 45844 (Aug. 3, 2015).
    \5\ 80 FR 16595, 16599 (Mar. 30, 2015).
    \6\ Id.
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    In addition, commenters urging NCUA to reconsider its position on 
full occupancy have indicated that it oftentimes makes sense for a 
credit union to own a building and lease out part or all of the 
building to help offset the cost of property ownership.\7\ Commenters 
have argued that prescriptive occupancy requirements reduce access to 
commercial space and limit an FCU's ability to acquire space in the 
most cost-effective manner. As an example, commenters have noted that 
some local zoning or mixed-use ordinances, city entitlements, or other 
use requirements may require a portion of the property to be dedicated 
to retail business.\8\ Commenters have also posited that generating 
long-term income from FCU premises would generate value for the FCU's 
membership.\9\
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    \7\ 80 FR 45844 (Aug. 3, 2015).
    \8\ 80 FR 16595, 16599 (Mar. 30, 2015).
    \9\ Id.
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    The Board has carefully considered the numerous comments received 
on this subject since at least 2013.\10\ The Board also has 
reconsidered the regulatory position that the limited authority for 
FCUs to invest in property granted by Section 107(4) of the FCU Act 
means that an FCU may not hold real property indefinitely without fully 
occupying the premises. Accordingly, as discussed in more detail below, 
the Board is proposing to eliminate from the current occupancy rule the 
requirement that an FCU must plan for, and eventually achieve, full 
occupancy of its premises. The proposal generally retains the current 
regulatory timeframes for partial occupancy and the related waiver 
provisions, including those finalized in July 2015.\11\ However, the 
current definition of ``partially occupy'' is modified in the proposal 
to reflect that an FCU need not fully occupy premises, but the FCU (or 
a combination of the FCU and a CUSO in which the FCU has a controlling 
interest in accordance with GAAP) must utilize at least fifty percent 
of the premises on a full-time basis within the required timeframe to 
achieve partial occupancy. For consistency, the proposal also amends 
the excess capacity provision in the incidental powers rule and makes 
technical and conforming amendments \12\ to reflect the proposed policy 
change regarding full occupancy for FCU premises.
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    \10\ In fact, requests for relief from the full occupancy 
requirement date back to at least 2004. See 69 FR 58039, 58041 
(Sept. 29, 2004) (``Several commenters believe NCUA should reduce or 
eliminate the rule's requirements for both partial and full 
occupation, but particularly for full occupation. These commenters 
contend it is difficult for a credit union to obtain a building or 
lease space that is a perfect fit for the credit union's current and 
near term plans and the rule's occupation requirements restrict 
credit union growth and may be anticompetitive. One commenter cites 
the perceived difficulty rural and low-income credit unions have in 
finding appropriate office space, and another cites the perceived 
difficulty a continuing credit union in a merger has in balancing 
reduced staffing needs with the buildings it inherits in a 
merger.'')
    \11\ 80 FR 45844 (Aug. 3, 2015).
    \12\ For example, the proposed rule generally removes references 
to ``future expansion'' and other language that implies an FCU must 
plan for and achieve full occupancy of its premises.
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    The proposed rule is discussed in greater detail below.

II. Summary of the Proposed Rule

A. Occupancy rule

    Under the current rule, if an FCU acquires premises for future 
expansion and does not fully occupy them within one year, it must have 
an FCU board resolution in place by the end of that year with 
definitive plans for full occupation.\13\ For purposes of the rule, 
``premises'' means any office, branch office, suboffice, service 
center, parking lot, other facility, or real estate where the FCU 
transacts or will transact business.\14\ The current rule does not set 
a specific time period within which an

[[Page 24740]]

FCU must achieve full occupation of premises acquired for future 
expansion. However, partial occupancy of the premises is required 
within a reasonable period, but no later than six years after the date 
of acquisition, regardless of whether the premises are improved or 
unimproved.\15\ Partial occupancy must be sufficient to show, among 
other things, that the FCU will fully occupy the premises within a 
reasonable time and consistent with its plan for the premises.\16\
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    \13\ 12 CFR 701.36(c)(1). Under the current rule, the 
reasonableness of an FCU's plan for full occupation is evaluated 
through the examination process and based upon such factors as the 
defensibility of projection assumptions, the operational and 
financial feasibility of the plan, and the overall suitability of 
the plan relative to the FCU's field of membership.
    \14\ 12 CFR 701.36(b).
    \15\ 12 CFR 701.36(c)(2).
    \16\ 12 CFR 701.36(b).
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    The occupancy requirements in the current rule have a statutory 
basis, but full occupancy of FCU premises is not expressly or 
specifically mandated by statute. Section 107(4) of the FCU Act 
authorizes an FCU to purchase, hold, and dispose of property necessary 
or incidental to its operations.\17\ NCUA has long held that the 
limited authority granted by this provision means that an FCU may not 
hold, or lease to unrelated third parties, real property indefinitely 
without fully occupying the premises.\18\
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    \17\ 12 U.S.C. 1757(4) (emphasis added).
    \18\ 69 FR 58039, 58041 (Sept. 29, 2004).
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    After further consideration, however, the Board believes the 
language in Section 107(4) of the FCU Act supports an interpretation 
that provides FCUs' with more flexibility to acquire and hold real 
property. Accordingly, the Board has reconsidered its current approach 
of ensuring that FCU investment in and use of real property is 
consistent with the FCU Act by requiring FCUs to fully occupy premises. 
Section 107(4) neither explicitly mentions nor expressly requires full 
occupancy of FCU property. Accordingly, the Board proposes to eliminate 
the full occupancy and related planning requirements in the current 
occupancy rule. Specifically, the proposed rule deletes the requirement 
in current Sec.  701.36(c)(1) that, if an FCU acquires premises for 
future expansion and does not fully occupy them within one year, it 
must have a board resolution in place by the end of that year with 
definitive plans for full occupation.
    While this proposed change represents a departure from the Board's 
previous interpretation of Section 107(4), it is both reasonable and 
consistent with the requirements of the FCU Act. The United States 
Supreme Court has emphasized that an ``initial agency interpretation is 
not instantly carved in stone,'' and ``to engage in informed 
rulemaking, [an agency] must consider varying interpretations and the 
wisdom of its policy on a continuing basis,'' indicating that an agency 
may change its interpretive position on the statutes it 
administers.\19\ In light of the continuing requests from commenters 
for relief from the full occupancy requirement, the proposed change is 
required to avoid unnecessarily imposing undue hardship on FCUs that 
may have difficulty realizing their growth potential and member service 
strategies under the current rule.
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    \19\ Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, 467 U.S. 837, 
863-864 (1984). The Supreme Court has also found that an agency is 
entitled to Chevron deference if it reverses an earlier 
interpretation. See e.g., Rust v. Sullivan, 500 U.S. 173 (1991); 
National Cable & Telecommunications Ass'n v. Brand X Internet 
Services, 545 U.S. 967 (2005).
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    The Board emphasizes, however, that it maintains its current view 
that there is no authority in the FCU Act for an FCU to invest in real 
estate for speculative purposes or to otherwise engage in real estate 
activities that do not generally support its purpose of providing 
financial services to its members. The statute is clear that any 
property acquired or held by an FCU must be ``necessary or incidental 
to its operations.'' \20\ NCUA has stated consistently that an FCU may 
only invest in property it intends to use to transact credit union 
business or in property that supports its internal operations or member 
services.\21\
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    \20\ 12 U.S.C. 1757(4).
    \21\ See 43 FR 58176, 58178 (Dec. 13, 1978) (``Part 107(4) of 
the Federal Credit Union Act provides that a credit union may 
purchase, hold, and dispose of property necessary or incidental to 
its operations. Retaining a piece of property whose only purpose is 
to provide office space to other entities is clearly not necessary 
or incidental to the Federal credit union's operations. Further, 
investing in, or holding, property with the intent of realizing a 
profit from appreciation at a future sale is also outside the powers 
of a Federal credit union.''); 69 FR 58039, 58041 (Sept. 29, 2004) 
(``Federal credit unions are chartered for the purpose of providing 
financial services to their members and it is not permissible for 
them to engage in real estate activities that do not support that 
purpose.'')
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    Although the Board's position on full occupancy has evolved, it 
continues to read the FCU Act as requiring that an FCU may purchase or 
hold property only for a permissible purpose or activity; that is, to 
support the FCU's provision of financial services to its members. As 
the Board noted in the preamble to the July 2015 final rule, the 
requirement for an FCU to partially occupy its acquired premises within 
a specified timeframe is intended to function as a reasonable safeguard 
against speculative real estate investments or other real estate 
activities that are not permitted for FCUs under the FCU Act.\22\ 
Making speculative investments in real property exceeds an FCU's 
authority and can lead to safety and soundness problems. Making 
speculative investments in real property increases an FCU's exposure to 
market factors unrelated to financial services. As well, managing 
unoccupied real property or commercial leases creates operational risk 
exposures which are significantly different from those related to 
managing authorized financial services permissible for FCUs. By 
maintaining the requirement that FCUs must partially occupy real 
property, NCUA reduces the opportunity for speculative investment and 
helps FCUs align their real property investment decisions with the 
operational needs of the FCU and its members.
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    \22\ 80 FR 45844 (Aug. 3, 2015).
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    Requiring an FCU to fully occupy its acquired premises may, under 
certain circumstances: (1) Hinder its ability to obtain cost-effective 
office space necessary to serve its members; (2) restrict its growth; 
or (3) place it at a competitive disadvantage. However, without a 
reasonable occupancy requirement, there is little to inhibit an FCU 
from: (1) Speculating on real property with the sole intent of 
realizing a profit from its future sale; (2) acting as a property 
developer or full-time landlord; or (3) otherwise venturing into real 
estate activities that are beyond the scope of its authority under 
Section 107(4). Accordingly, the Board has determined that an FCU must 
at least partially occupy each of its acquired real property. For both 
legal and safety and soundness reasons, the proposed rule retains the 
requirement that an FCU premises, including unimproved property, must 
be partially occupied within six years from the date of its 
acquisition. An FCU may apply for a waiver if it is not able to achieve 
partial occupancy of its premises within six years.\23\
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    \23\ 12 CFR 701.36(c)(2).
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    Under the current rule, ``partially occupy'' means occupation, on a 
full-time basis, of a portion of the premises that is: (1) Consistent 
with the FCU's usage plan for the premises; (2) significant enough that 
the FCU is deriving practical utility from the occupied portion 
relative to the scope of the usage plan; and (3) sufficient to show 
that the FCU will fully occupy the premises within a reasonable 
time.\24\ The Board proposes to modify the current definition of 
``partial occupancy'' to eliminate references to the current 
requirement to plan for full occupancy (usage plan) and the need to 
show that the FCU will fully occupy the premises. Additionally, the 
Board proposes to amend that definition to

[[Page 24741]]

emphasize that at least fifty percent of FCU premises must be occupied 
and used, on a full-time basis, by the FCU or a combination of the FCU 
and a CUSO in which the FCU has a controlling interest in accordance 
with GAAP.\25\ Occupancy of FCU premises with third-party vendors or 
CUSOs in which the FCU does not maintain a controlling interest will 
not count towards the fifty percent partial occupancy requirement 
because these entities operate at the direction of other owners and may 
not be obligated to primarily support the FCU that acquired the 
premises or to primarily serve that FCU's members. The proposed 
definition, which incorporates elements from the current rule's 
definition of full occupancy,\26\ will ensure that any property 
acquired or held by an FCU is primarily utilized for a purpose that is 
necessary or incidental to its operations, as required by the FCU Act.
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    \24\ 12 CFR 701.36(b).
    \25\ FASB Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 805 defines 
controlling interest as ``the ability of an entity to direct the 
policies and management that guide the ongoing activities of another 
entity so as to increase its benefits and limit its losses from that 
other entity's activities.'' More generally, controlling interest is 
majority interest or any other ownership interest which entitles the 
owner to direct the activities of the CUSO.
    \26\ 12 CFR 701.36(c)(1).
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B. Incidental powers.

    The Board recognizes that in planning for future expansion, FCUs 
should be permitted to sell or lease their excess capacity as a matter 
of good business practice.\27\ The incidental powers rule permits an 
FCU to sell or lease its excess capacity with respect to its property 
and services.\28\ Under that rule, excess capacity refers to the excess 
use or capacity remaining in FCU facilities, equipment, or 
services.\29\ An FCU's sale or lease of excess capacity, for example, 
may involve leasing excess office space, sharing employees, or using 
data processing systems to process information for third parties.\30\ 
However, while an FCU has the authority under the rule to obtain income 
by selling or leasing excess capacity in its facilities, equipment, or 
services to third parties, that authority is subject to the following 
conditions: (1) The facilities, equipment, or services must have been 
acquired by an FCU, in good faith, for the purpose of providing 
financial services to its members; and (2) the FCU must reasonably 
anticipate that the excess capacity will be taken up by the future 
expansion of services to its members.\31\
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    \27\ 66 FR 40845, 40851 (Aug. 6, 2001).
    \28\ The incidental powers rule defines an incidental powers 
activity as one that is necessary or requisite to enable an FCU to 
carry on effectively the business for which it is incorporated. An 
activity meets the definition of an incidental powers activity if 
it: (1) Is convenient or useful in carrying out the mission or 
business of credit unions consistent with the FCU Act; (2) is the 
functional equivalent or logical outgrowth of activities that are 
part of the mission or business of credit unions; and (3) involves 
risks similar in nature to those already assumed as part of the 
business of credit unions. 12 CFR 721.2.
    \29\ 12 CFR 721.3(e).
    \30\ Id.
    \31\ Id.
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    To conform to the above proposed amendments to the occupancy rule, 
the Board proposes to amend the incidental powers rule regarding the 
sale or lease of excess capacity by removing the condition that excess 
capacity in FCU facilities must eventually be fully occupied by the 
FCU. The Board continues to believe, however, that the sale or lease of 
excess capacity in equipment or services, including employee-sharing 
and data processing for third parties, should be limited to 
circumstances where an FCU reasonably anticipates that the excess 
capacity will be taken up by the future expansion of services to its 
members.
    In adopting the excess capacity provision in the incidental powers 
rule, the Board reasoned in 2001 that ``[t]he sale of excess capacity 
offers FCUs the opportunity to provide financial services to its 
members, even though member demand for the services does not initially 
meet the FCU's capacity.'' \32\ However, the Board also noted:
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    \32\ 66 FR 40845, 40851 (Aug. 6, 2001).

    NCUA has consistently held the position that an FCU has limited 
authority in the leasing of fixed assets and the sale of excess data 
processing capacity. FCUs are not in the business of providing 
others with data processing capacity or any other service that is 
not within their express or incidental powers; rather, they are 
cooperative financial institutions organized to provide financial 
services to their members.\33\
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    \33\ Id.

    While the Board has reconsidered its position with respect to 
requiring full occupancy of FCU facilities, the Board maintains its 
view that FCUs are not, and should not be, in the business of providing 
third parties with data processing capacity or other equipment or 
services outside their express or incidental powers. Accordingly, under 
this proposal, an FCU's authority to sell or lease excess capacity in 
equipment and services continues to be conditioned on the FCU's 
reasonable anticipation that its members will eventually fully utilize 
the excess capacity.

III. Regulatory Procedures

A. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) generally requires that, in 
connection with a notice of proposed rulemaking, an agency prepare and 
make available for public comment an initial regulatory flexibility 
analysis that describes the impact of a proposed rule on small 
entities. A regulatory flexibility analysis is not required, however, 
if the agency certifies that the rule will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities (defined for 
purposes of the RFA to include credit unions with assets less than $100 
million) and publishes its certification and a short, explanatory 
statement in the Federal Register together with the rule. The proposed 
rule would provide regulatory relief by eliminating the need to develop 
a plan for full occupancy. However, FCUs currently have limited 
flexibility to purchase real estate with excess capacity. NCUA 
certifies that the proposed rule will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small credit unions.

B. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) applies to rulemakings in 
which an agency by rule creates a new paperwork burden on regulated 
entities or modifies an existing burden.\34\ For purposes of the PRA, a 
paperwork burden may take the form of either a reporting or a 
recordkeeping requirement, both referred to as information collections. 
The proposed rule provides regulatory relief to FCUs by eliminating the 
requirement that, if an FCU does not fully occupy premises acquired for 
future expansion within one year, it must have a board resolution in 
place by the end of that year with definitive plans for full 
occupation. The proposed rule does not impose new paperwork burdens. 
The proposed rule would relieve FCUs from the current requirement to 
have a board-approved plan for full occupation of its premises.
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    \34\ 44 U.S.C. 3507(d); 5 CFR part 1320.
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    According to NCUA estimates, approximately 15 FCUs are required to 
develop a plan for full occupation premises each year. Accordingly, the 
reduction to existing paperwork burdens that would result from the 
proposal is analyzed below:
    Estimate of the reduced burden by eliminating the full occupancy 
planning requirement.
    Estimated FCUs: 15.
    Frequency of waiver request: Annual.

[[Page 24742]]

    Reduced hour burden: 15 hours.
    15 FCUs x 15 hours = 225 hours reduced burden.
    In accordance with the requirements of the PRA, NCUA intends to 
obtain a modification of its OMB Control Number, 3133-0040, to support 
these changes. NCUA is submitting a copy of the proposed rule to OMB, 
along with an application for a modification of the OMB Control Number.
    The PRA and OMB regulations require that the public be provided an 
opportunity to comment on the paperwork requirements, including an 
agency's estimate of the burden of the paperwork requirements. The 
Board invites comment on: (1) Whether the paperwork requirements are 
necessary; (2) the accuracy of NCUA's estimates on the burden of the 
paperwork requirements; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the paperwork requirements; and (4) ways to minimize the 
burden of the paperwork requirements.
    Comments should be sent to the NCUA Contact and the OMB Reviewer 
listed below:
    NCUA Contact: Dawn Wolfgang, National Credit Union Administration, 
1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3428, Fax No. 703-837-
2861, Email: [email protected].
    OMB Contact: Office of Management and Budget, ATTN: Desk Officer 
for the National Credit Union Administration, Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Washington, DC 20503.

C. Executive Order 13132

    Executive Order 13132 encourages independent regulatory agencies to 
consider the impact of their actions on state and local interests. 
NCUA, an independent regulatory agency, as defined in 44 U.S.C. 
3502(5), voluntarily complies with the executive order to adhere to 
fundamental federalism principles. Because the occupancy and incidental 
powers regulations apply only to FCUs, the proposed rule would not have 
a substantial direct effect on the states, on the relationship between 
the national government and the states, or on the distribution of power 
and responsibilities among the various levels of government. As such, 
NCUA has determined that this rule does not constitute a policy that 
has federalism implications for purposes of the executive order.

D. Assessment of Federal Regulations and Policies on Families

    NCUA has determined that this rule will not affect family well-
being within the meaning of Section 654 of the Treasury and General 
Government Appropriations Act of 1999.\35\
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    \35\ Public Law 105-277, 112 Stat. 2681 (1998).
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List of Subjects

12 CFR Part 701

    Credit unions, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

12 CFR Part 721

    Credit unions, functions, implied powers.

    By the National Credit Union Administration Board, on April 21, 
2016.
Gerard Poliquin,
Secretary of the Board.
    For the reasons stated above, NCUA proposes to amend 12 CFR parts 
701 and 721 as follows:

PART 701--ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION OF FEDERAL CREDIT UNIONS

0
1. The authority for part 701 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1752(5), 1757, 1765, 1766, 1781, 1782, 
1787, 1789; Title V, Pub. L. 109-351, 120 Stat. 1966.

0
2. Amend the title of Sec.  701.36 and amend Sec. Sec.  701.36(a) and 
(b) to read as follows:


Sec.  701.36  Federal credit union occupancy and disposal of acquired 
and abandoned premises.

    (a) Scope. Section 107(4) of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 
U.S.C. 1757(4)) authorizes a federal credit union to purchase, hold, 
and dispose of property necessary or incidental to its operations. This 
section interprets and implements that provision by establishing 
occupancy and disposal requirements for acquired and abandoned 
premises, and by prohibiting certain transactions. This section applies 
only to federal credit unions.
    (b) * * *
    Abandoned premises means premises previously used to transact 
credit union business but no longer used for that purpose. It also 
means premises originally acquired to transact future credit union 
business but no longer intended for that purpose.
* * * * *
    Partially occupy means occupation and use, on a full-time basis, of 
at least fifty percent of each of the premises by the federal credit 
union, or the federal credit union and a credit union service 
organization in which the federal credit union has a controlling 
interest in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles 
(GAAP).
* * * * *
0
3. Remove Sec.  701.36(c)(1); redesignate Sec.  701.36(c)(2) as Sec.  
701.36(c)(1) and amend it to read as follows:
    (c) Premises not currently used to transact credit union business. 
(1) If a federal credit union acquires premises, including unimproved 
land or unimproved real property, it must partially occupy each of them 
within a reasonable period, but no later than six years after the date 
of acquisition. NCUA may waive the partial occupation requirements. To 
seek a waiver, a federal credit union must submit a written request to 
its Regional Office and fully explain why it needs the waiver. The 
Regional Director will provide the federal credit union a written 
response, either approving or disapproving the request. The Regional 
Director's decision will be based on safety and soundness 
considerations.
0
4. Redesignate Sec.  701.36(c)(3) as Sec.  701.36(c)(2).

PART 721--INCIDENTAL POWERS

0
5. The authority for part 721 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  12 U.S.C. 1757(17), 1766 and 1789.

0
6. Amend Sec.  721.3 to read as follows:


Sec.  721.3  What categories of activities are preapproved as 
incidental powers necessary or requisite to carry on a credit union's 
business?

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (b) * * *
    (c) * * *
    (d) * * *
    (e) Excess capacity. Excess capacity is the excess use or capacity 
remaining in facilities, equipment, or services that you properly 
invested in or established, in good faith, with the intent of serving 
your members or supporting your business operations. You may sell or 
lease the excess capacity in facilities, such as office space and other 
premises. You may sell or lease the excess capacity in equipment or 
services, such as employees and data processing, if you reasonably 
anticipate that the excess capacity will be taken up by the future 
expansion of services to your members.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2016-09867 Filed 4-26-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7535-01-P