82_FR_2927 82 FR 2921 - Supplemental Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection

82 FR 2921 - Supplemental Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection

BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 6 (January 10, 2017)

Page Range2921-2929
FR Document2016-31596

The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (CFPB or Bureau), with the concurrence of the Office of Government Ethics (OGE), is issuing this notice of proposed rulemaking for employees of the Bureau. This proposal would amend the existing Supplemental Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (CFPB Ethics Regulations) involving: Outside employment for covered employees; Bureau employees' ownership or control of certain securities; restrictions on seeking, obtaining, or renegotiating credit or indebtedness; and disqualification requirements based on existing credit or indebtedness. Additionally, the proposed regulation would clarify and make minor revisions to certain definitions.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 6 (Tuesday, January 10, 2017) 
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 10, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 2921-2929]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31596]


========================================================================
Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 6 / Tuesday, January 10, 2017 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 2921]]



BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION

5 CFR Part 9401

[Docket No. CFPB-2016-0050]
RIN 3209-AA15


Supplemental Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the 
Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection

AGENCY: Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.

ACTION: Proposed rule with request for public comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (CFPB or Bureau), 
with the concurrence of the Office of Government Ethics (OGE), is 
issuing this notice of proposed rulemaking for employees of the Bureau. 
This proposal would amend the existing Supplemental Standards of 
Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Bureau of Consumer Financial 
Protection (CFPB Ethics Regulations) involving: Outside employment for 
covered employees; Bureau employees' ownership or control of certain 
securities; restrictions on seeking, obtaining, or renegotiating credit 
or indebtedness; and disqualification requirements based on existing 
credit or indebtedness. Additionally, the proposed regulation would 
clarify and make minor revisions to certain definitions.

DATES: Comments are invited and must be received on or before February 
9, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CFPB-2016-
0050 or Regulatory Information Number (RIN) number 3209-AA15, by any of 
the following methods:
     Electronic: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
     Email: [email protected]. Include Docket 
No. CFPB-2016-0050 or RIN number 3209-AA15 in the subject line of the 
message.
     Mail: Monica Jackson, Office of the Executive Secretary, 
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 1700 G Street NW., Washington, DC 
20552.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Monica Jackson, Office of the 
Executive Secretary, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 1275 First 
Street NE., Washington, DC 20002.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and 
docket number or RIN for this rulemaking. Because paper mail in the 
Washington, DC area and at the Bureau is subject to delay, commenters 
are encouraged to submit comments electronically. In general, all 
comments received will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. In 
addition, comments will be available for public inspection and copying 
at 1275 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20002, on official business 
days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. eastern time. You can make 
an appointment to inspect the documents by telephoning (202) 435-7275.
    All comments, including attachments and other supporting materials, 
will become part of the public record and subject to public disclosure. 
Sensitive personal information, such as account numbers or Social 
Security numbers, should not be included. Comments will not be edited 
to remove any identifying or contact information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amber Vail, Senior Ethics Counsel, at 
(202) 435-7305 or Amy Mertz Brown, Alternate Designated Agency Ethics 
Official, at (202) 435-7256 at the Legal Division, Consumer Financial 
Protection Bureau.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    Section 2635.105 of the OGE Standards of Ethical Conduct for 
Executive Branch Employees (OGE Standards) authorizes an agency, with 
the concurrence of OGE, to adopt agency-specific supplemental 
regulations that are necessary to properly implement its ethics 
program. On April 27, 2012, the Bureau, with OGE's concurrence, 
published in the Federal Register an interim final rule to establish 
the CFPB Ethics Regulations (77 FR 25019, April 27, 2012), effective 
June 27, 2012. The Bureau received one comment on the interim final 
rule, which did not prompt a change, and the interim final rule went 
into effect as proposed. The Bureau, with OGE's concurrence, now 
proposes to amend the CFPB Ethics Regulations.

II. Description of Proposed Amended Sections of the CFPB Ethics 
Regulations

Proposed Amended Sec.  9401.102--Definitions

    Section 9401.102 defines terms and phrases used throughout the CFPB 
Ethics Regulations. The Bureau proposes to amend the definitions 
section to add and revise certain useful definitions and delete others.
    The proposed regulation replaces the phrase ``debt and equity 
interest'' with the term ``security'' throughout the CFPB Ethics 
Regulations. The Bureau has found that the term ``debt interest'' has 
caused confusion among some employees. This revision would help 
distinguish between those instances when an individual owns or controls 
a debt ownership interest in an entity (e.g., owns a corporate bond) 
from those in which an individual is indebted to an entity (e.g., has a 
loan or existing credit). The term ``security'' would have the same 
definition as the phrase ``debt and equity interest'' in the current 
regulations.
    The proposed regulation amends the term ``employee'' to exclude 
special Government employees (SGEs). During CFPB's initial stand-up 
period, the Bureau appointed several CFPB executives, subject matter 
experts, and other Bureau officials with significant policy-making 
authority to short-term SGE positions. At that time, the Bureau 
determined it was essential that the CFPB Ethics Regulations apply to 
these employees to assure the public that the Bureau created and 
administered the Bureau's programs in an impartial and objective 
manner. It is no longer the practice for the Bureau to fill such 
positions with SGEs, and the Bureau currently does not have any 
employees designated as SGEs. As a result, the Bureau has determined 
this provision is no longer needed. Therefore, the proposed regulation 
excludes SGEs from the definition of ``employee.'' This treatment of 
SGEs is consistent with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
System and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, both of which 
exclude SGEs from the definition of ``employee'' in their supplemental 
standards of ethical conduct. The proposed regulation would not relax 
or

[[Page 2922]]

otherwise affect how the criminal conflict of interest statutes and OGE 
Standards apply to SGEs. The Bureau will continue to provide ethics 
guidance and assistance to SGEs on compliance with the conflict of 
interest statutes and OGE Standards. In addition, the Bureau's Office 
of Human Capital will continue to identify and designate individuals as 
SGEs at the time the individual is appointed or retained, and will 
continue to maintain an internal tracking system of individuals who are 
designated as SGEs.
    The proposed regulation also adds the phrase ``practice of law'' to 
the definitions section. The Bureau has received multiple inquiries 
from employees as to whether a proposed outside activity would fall 
within the prohibition in Sec.  9401.105. To ensure consistency and for 
the ease of administration, the phrase ``practice of law'' would have 
the same meaning as in Rule 49 of the Rules of the District of Columbia 
Court of Appeals as of November 2016. The Bureau opted to borrow the 
definition utilized by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals 
because the majority of attorneys employed by the Bureau have a duty 
station located in the District of Columbia.
    The proposed regulation also amends the term ``spouse'' by removing 
the reference to ``legally'' in the phrase ``legally separated.'' The 
current definition explains that for purposes of the CFPB Ethics 
Regulations, an individual is not considered to be an employee's spouse 
if: (1) The employee and the employee's spouse are legally separated; 
(2) the employee and the employee's spouse live apart; (3) there is an 
intention to end the marriage or separate permanently; and (4) the 
employee has no control over the legally separated spouse's debt or 
equity interests. On several occasions the Bureau encountered confusion 
as to what constituted a ``legal separation'' because this is a 
standard defined by State law and varies depending on the State in 
which an employee resides. The proposed revision to the definition of 
``spouse'' eliminates the reference to ``legally'' in the phrase 
``legally separated.'' This proposed amendment is consistent with how 
OGE determines whether an employee is required to report information 
concerning a spouse from whom the employee is separated for purposes of 
the financial disclosure reporting requirements at 5 CFR 
2634.309(c)(2). OGE does not require a reporting individual to report 
any information about a spouse from whom the reporting individual is 
``permanently separated.'' OGE only requires the employee to be 
``permanently separated'' from the employee's spouse and does not 
require the two individuals to be ``legally separated.''
    The proposed regulation also adds the phrase ``vested legal or 
beneficial interest'' to the definitions section to clarify several 
provisions. This new definition is meant to help interpret the proposed 
amendments in Sec. Sec.  9401.106, 9401.108, and 9401.109, where the 
Bureau proposes to narrow the disqualification and reporting 
requirements with respect to trusts in which the employee or the 
employee's spouse or minor child has a vested legal or beneficial 
interest. A vested legal or beneficial interest in a trust means that 
the individual has a present legal right to its property or income, 
even though the right to possession or enjoyment may be postponed to 
some unknown time in the future. In defining this phrase, the Bureau 
relied upon 5 CFR 2634.310, where OGE explains what constitutes a 
vested beneficial interest in the principal or income of an estate or 
trust.
    The Bureau is republishing all the definitions in this section, 
including those not proposed for revision, for ease of reference.

Proposed Amended Sec.  9401.104--Additional Rules Concerning Outside 
Employment for Covered Employees

    The proposed amendments to Sec.  9401.104 are designed to balance 
several important ethical principles against an employee's right to 
engage in outside activities. Proposed Sec.  9401.104 would retain the 
existing prohibition that precludes a covered employee from engaging in 
compensated outside employment for any entity supervised by the Bureau 
or for any officer, director, or employee of such entity. The proposed 
rule adds a new prohibition on covered employees using a professional 
license related to real estate, mortgage brokerage, property 
appraisals, or property insurance for compensation. The proposed 
amendment would permit covered employees to retain these professional 
licenses but would prohibit them from engaging in outside compensated 
employment as real estate agents, mortgage brokers, property 
appraisers, real property insurance agents, or in other similar 
positions.
    The Bureau has determined this new prohibition is necessary to 
ensure that a reasonable person would not question the impartiality and 
objectivity with which covered employees perform their official Bureau 
duties in connection with financial institutions that are involved in 
real estate-related transactions. Continuing to allow covered employees 
to use these licenses for compensation would hinder CFPB in fulfilling 
its mission if members of the public question whether these employees 
are using their public office or Bureau connections for private gain by 
advancing their outside real estate-related business activities.
    The proposed rule authorizes the Designated Agency Ethics Official 
(DAEO), in consultation with senior management in the Division in which 
the employee works, to grant a limited waiver to this prohibition based 
on a written determination that a specific transaction requiring the 
use of the license would not create an appearance of loss of 
impartiality or use of public office for private gain.
    The proposed regulation expands the term ``covered employee'' to 
include all employees who work in a Bureau office where employees 
participate in the examination, investigation, or supervision of 
entities offering or providing a consumer financial product or service. 
For example, all employees in the Division of Supervision, Enforcement, 
and Fair Lending (SEFL) would be ``covered employees'' under the 
proposed rule, whereas only certain SEFL positions are covered under 
the current definition.

Proposed Amended Sec.  9401.106--Prohibited Financial Interests

    This proposed rule would amend 5 CFR 9401.106, which provides in 
paragraph (a), with certain exceptions set forth in paragraph (b), that 
no CFPB employee, or an employee's spouse or minor child, may own or 
control a security in an entity supervised by the Bureau. The proposed 
amendment of this section would clarify the scope of the prohibited 
financial interests by more clearly defining the types of financial 
interests covered by this prohibition and the exceptions to the general 
rule. The intent of the proposed amendment is to make this section 
easier for employees to understand and follow.
    The prohibited financial interests are defined in paragraph (a). 
The proposed regulation would not change the scope of financial 
interests that currently are prohibited under this section. The purpose 
of the proposed amendment is to more clearly define prohibited 
financial interests by dividing the prohibited holdings into two 
categories. The first would refer to a security in, or bonds issued by, 
an entity supervised by the Bureau. The second would refer to 
securities in a collective investment fund, such as a mutual fund, if 
the fund

[[Page 2923]]

has a stated policy of concentrating its investments in the financial 
services or banking industry. The Bureau always has interpreted the 
current rule to prohibit employees, as well as their spouses and minor 
children, from owning or controlling these collective investment funds 
(i.e., sector mutual funds), and is proposing to amend the rule to make 
this prohibition more explicit.
    The exceptions to the general prohibition are listed in paragraph 
(b). The purpose of the exceptions is to ease the restrictions on the 
financial interests of employees and their spouses and minor children 
by permitting interests of a character unlikely to raise questions 
regarding the objective and impartial performance of employees' 
official duties or the possible misuse of their positions. In 
promulgating the exemptions to the financial conflict of interest 
statute in 5 CFR part 2640, subpart B, OGE determined that certain 
financial interests are unlikely to affect an employee's official 
actions. The Bureau proposes to revise the exceptions in paragraph (b) 
to more closely conform to certain exemptions to the financial conflict 
of interest statute (18 U.S.C. 208) promulgated by OGE. The Bureau 
determined that these newly proposed exceptions will make it easier for 
Bureau employees to understand and comply with the CFPB Ethics 
Regulations, as well as the financial conflict of interest statutes.
    In paragraph (b)(1), the Bureau proposes to change the name of the 
first exception to ``collective investment funds'' to conform with the 
language of that exception but no substantive change is intended. 
Proposed paragraph (b)(2) replaces the current description for the 
widely held, diversified pension plan exception with new language that 
the Bureau intends to have the same meaning as OGE's regulatory 
exemption found at 5 CFR 2640.201(c)(iii) for diversified employee 
benefit plans. Proposed paragraph (b)(4) adds an exception for an 
interest held within a State pension plan. This exception would have 
the same meaning as OGE's exemption in 5 CFR 2640.201(c)(ii) for State 
government pension plans.
    In new paragraph (c), the proposed regulation would provide 
specific time frames for employees to notify the DAEO and divest a 
prohibited financial interest after: (1) An individual commences 
employment with the Bureau; (2) the Bureau adds a new financial 
institution to the list of entities supervised by the Bureau (i.e., the 
prohibited holdings list); or (3) an employee or an employee's spouse 
or minor child acquires a prohibited interest without specific intent, 
such as via inheritance. The proposed amendment would provide a uniform 
30-day period for notifying the DAEO, and consistent with 5 CFR 
2635.403(d), a uniform 90-day period for divestiture in each instance.
    Proposed paragraph (d) requires employees to immediately disqualify 
themselves if they or their spouses or minor children own or control a 
security prohibited by paragraph (a). Proposed paragraphs (d)(1) and 
(d)(2) explain the different disqualification standards for securities 
prohibited under proposed paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2), respectively. 
Proposed paragraph (d)(1) describes the disqualification requirements 
that apply when an employee or an employee's spouse or minor child owns 
or controls a security in an entity supervised by the Bureau. Whereas, 
proposed paragraph (d)(2) describes the more extensive disqualification 
requirements that apply when an employee or an employee's spouse or 
minor child owns or controls a security in a collective investment fund 
that has a stated policy of concentrating its investments in the 
financial services or banking industry.
    Proposed paragraph (e)(4) provides an additional factor for the 
DAEO to consider when an employee requests a waiver from the general 
prohibition in paragraph (a). It is expected that the DAEO will grant a 
waiver of the prohibitions in Sec.  9401.106 only in limited 
circumstances based on a case-by-case analysis, and only when the 
granting of the waiver would not unduly undermine the public's 
confidence in the impartiality and objectivity with which: (1) The 
employee performs his or her official duties; and (2) the Division in 
which the employee works executes its functions. Towards this end, 
proposed paragraph (e)(4) specifically includes public confidence and 
the appearance of impartiality as a factor for the DAEO to consider in 
granting a waiver.
    The CFPB Ethics Regulations currently require an employee to notify 
the DAEO in writing if a trust in which the employee or the employee's 
spouse or minor child has a legal or beneficial interest contains a 
security that the employee would be prohibited from owning or 
controlling under paragraph (a). The Bureau proposes to amend paragraph 
(f)(3) to clarify that the employee's reporting requirement only 
applies to trusts in which the employee or the employee's spouse or 
minor child has a vested legal or beneficial interest. The Bureau has 
determined that the reporting requirement in this section should apply 
only to those financial interests in which an employee or an employee's 
spouse or minor child has a present legal right to the property or 
income in the trust. As noted previously, the proposed rule would add a 
definition of ``vested legal or beneficial interest'' in Sec.  
9401.102.
    The Bureau has determined, under its authority in section 
2635.403(a) of the OGE Standards, that these proposed regulations are 
needed so that a reasonable person will not question the impartiality 
and objectivity with which the Bureau administers its agency programs.

Proposed Amended Sec.  9401.107--Prohibition on Acceptance of Credit or 
Indebtedness on Preferential Terms From an Entity Supervised by the 
Bureau

    The proposed rule would amend Sec.  9401.107, which provides that 
employees may accept credit, become indebted, or enter into other 
financial relationships with entities supervised by the Bureau, only if 
the credit, indebtedness or other financial service is offered on terms 
and conditions no more favorable than those offered to the general 
public. The proposed amendment is not intended to change the scope of 
this prohibition. The proposed rule is meant to clarify that the 
standard for entering into financial relationships with entities 
supervised by the Bureau as articulated in this section is the same 
standard that is referenced in Sec. Sec.  9401.108(b) and (e) and 
9401.109(b). The proposed rule also states that an employee or the 
employee's spouse or minor child may not accept credit from, become 
indebted to, or enter into a financial relationship with an entity 
supervised by the Bureau, if the credit, indebtedness, or financial 
relationship is otherwise prohibited by the Federal conflict of 
interest statutes, the OGE Standards, or the CFPB Ethics Regulations. 
This proposed language is intended to remind employees there are other 
government ethics rules that may affect their ability to secure credit 
or indebtedness or to enter into financial relationships.

Proposed Amended Sec.  9401.108--Restrictions on Seeking, Obtaining, or 
Renegotiating Credit From an Entity That Is or Represents a Party to a 
Matter to Which an Employee Is Assigned or May Be Assigned

    The proposed revision to 5 CFR 9401.108 would retain the existing 
general prohibitions on seeking, obtaining, or renegotiating credit or 
indebtedness, the disqualification provisions, and the exemptions from 
the disqualification requirements. The

[[Page 2924]]

Bureau proposes to restructure this section to clarify the prohibitions 
and to incorporate new exemptions.
    Under the proposed new paragraph (b), an employee or the employee's 
spouse or minor child would be permitted to seek, obtain, or 
renegotiate credit or indebtedness secured by a principal residence 
subject to five conditions. First, the credit or indebtedness must be 
secured by residential real property that is or will be the principal 
residence of the employee or the employee's spouse or minor child. 
Second, a minimum of three months must have elapsed since the employee 
stopped participating in each particular matter involving specific 
parties in which the entity from which the credit or indebtedness will 
be sought, obtained, or renegotiated was or represented a party to the 
matter. Third, the employee would be disqualified from participating in 
any particular matter involving specific parties in which the lender or 
creditor is or represents a party while the employee or the employee's 
spouse or minor child is actively seeking, obtaining, or renegotiating 
the loan or credit. Fourth, the party seeking, obtaining, or 
renegotiating the credit or indebtedness would have to satisfy all 
financial requirements that apply to applicants for the same type of 
credit or indebtedness for a residential real property. Fifth, the 
credit or indebtedness would have to be obtained on terms and 
conditions no more favorable than those offered to the general public.
    The Bureau determined that a different standard for a residential 
home loan or credit on the principal residence is necessary because the 
Bureau's general prohibition in paragraph (a) against seeking, 
obtaining, or renegotiating credit or indebtedness has been a 
significant burden on certain employees. The current prohibition 
substantially reduces the number of lending options available to 
employees when they attempt to secure funding for a principal residence 
and prevents them from full access to the competitive consumer 
financial marketplace. The five conditions upon which seeking, 
obtaining, or renegotiating a residential home loan or credit are 
contingent reduce the possibility that: (1) The employee is using the 
employee's public office for private gain; (2) a reasonable person 
would question the impartiality and objectivity with which the Bureau 
administers its programs; and (3) the borrower has obtained the loan or 
credit on more favorable terms due to the employee's work on a Bureau 
matter involving that lender.
    The Bureau notes that other financial regulatory agencies, 
including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Office of 
the Comptroller of the Currency, have similar exemptions for a home 
loan for an employee's principal residence. Additionally, this proposed 
amendment is consistent with the intent of the Preserving Independence 
of Financial Institution Examinations Act of 2003 (PIFIEA), which 
amended sections 212 and 213 of title 18 of the United States Code. 
These sections generally impose criminal penalties on national 
examiners borrowing from banks they examine. The PIFIEA modified those 
rules by decriminalizing extensions of credit to examiners for 
principal residential home loans from institutions that they examine or 
have authority to examine, if these loans are made on the same terms 
and conditions as are available to other borrowers. In amending 
sections 212 and 213, Congress explained that several factors supported 
the blanket residential loan exception, but most importantly, 
consolidation within the banking industry made it increasingly 
difficult for examiners to obtain nationally available mortgage loans 
and for the banking agencies to assign examiners work. Although Bureau 
employees are not subject to sections 212 and 213, the rationale for 
allowing Bureau employees, as well as their spouses and minor children, 
the ability to secure a residential home loan for their principal 
residence is the same.
    For the same reasons as stated in Sec.  9401.106, amended Sec.  
9401.108(d)(4) would limit the trust disqualification requirement to 
only those trusts in which the employee or the employee's spouse, 
domestic partner, or dependent child has a vested legal or beneficial 
interest.
    The exemptions to the general prohibition are listed in new 
paragraph (e). The proposed rule would modify the two existing 
exemptions by deleting the limitation related to insured depository 
institutions or credit unions. As a result, all consumer credit or 
charge cards regardless of the issuer, and all checking or similar 
accounts regardless of where held, would fall within an exemption.
    The proposed rule also would add a new exemption involving certain 
utility services. Under the current regulation, an employee and the 
employee's spouse and minor child are prohibited from seeking, 
obtaining, or renegotiating credit or indebtedness with any entity that 
is or was a party to a particular matter involving specific parties in 
which the employee: (1) Is currently participating; (2) is aware of the 
matter and believes it is likely the employee will participate; or (3) 
participated within the last two years. For purposes of this 
prohibition, the term ``credit'' includes ``the right granted by a 
person to a consumer to purchase property or services and defer payment 
of such.'' A number of courts have determined that this definition of 
``credit'' includes when a consumer receives gas, electricity, water, 
and cellular telephone services and receives periodic bills for the 
services used.\1\ When the Bureau originally promulgated the CFPB 
Ethics Regulations, it was not anticipated that the prohibition in this 
section would limit Bureau employees' ability to have these basic 
utility services and still be able to work on Bureau matters.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See, e.g., Murray v. New Cingular Wireless Servs., Inc., 523 
F.3d 719, 722 (7th Cir. 2008); Mays v. Buckeye Rural Elec. Coop., 
277 F.3d 873, 879 (6th Cir. 2002); Williams v. AT&T Wireless Servs., 
Inc., 5 F. Supp. 2d 1142, 1145 (W.D. Wash. 1998).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under proposed paragraph (e)(3), the Bureau would exempt certain 
types of basic utility services used by consumers from the prohibition 
in paragraph (a) and the disqualification requirement in paragraph (d). 
Specifically, the proposed rule would add an exemption for the 
provision of telephone, cable, gas, electricity, water, or other 
similar utility services provided on credit. The Bureau has determined 
that there is no need to limit an employee's ability to work on matters 
while holding these forms of credit because they tend to involve fairly 
standardized agreements and low credit amounts. The Bureau also has 
concluded that permitting employees to have adequate access to sources 
of credit involving these types of utility services to meet their 
personal needs outweighs the incremental benefit that may be gained by 
covering these forms of credit.

Proposed Amended Sec.  9401.109--Disqualification of Employees From 
Particular Matters Involving Existing Creditors

    In addition, the proposed rule would amend 5 CFR 9401.109, which 
generally provides that an employee is disqualified from participating 
in a particular matter involving specific parties if the employee is 
aware that the employee, the employee's spouse, domestic partner, or 
dependent child, or a specified third party has credit with or is 
indebted to an entity that is or represents a party to the matter. The 
Bureau proposes to narrow the disqualification requirement regarding 
trusts and to incorporate new exemptions.
    For the same reasons as stated in Sec. Sec.  9401.106 and 9401.108, 
amended Sec.  9401.109(a)(5) would impose a

[[Page 2925]]

disqualification requirement regarding a trust only if the employee or 
the employee's spouse, domestic partner, or dependent child has a 
vested legal or beneficial interest in the trust.
    The existing regulation in paragraph (b) exempts five forms of 
credit and indebtedness from the general disqualification requirement 
as long as the person with the credit or indebtedness is not in an 
adversarial position with the entity that extended the credit or to 
which the indebtedness is owed, and the credit or indebtedness was 
offered on terms and conditions no more favorable than those offered to 
the general public. The current exemptions include: (1) Revolving 
consumer credit or charge cards issued by insured depository 
institutions or insured credit unions; (2) overdraft protection on 
checking accounts and similar accounts at insured depository 
institutions or insured credit unions; (3) educational loans; (4) loans 
on residential homes; and (5) amortizing indebtedness on consumer goods 
(e.g., automobile loans). The proposed rule would modify the first two 
existing exemptions by deleting the limitation related to insured 
depository institutions or insured credit unions. As a result, all 
consumer credit or charge cards regardless of the issuer, and all 
checking or similar accounts regardless of where held, would fall 
within an exemption.
    The proposed amendment also would add two new exemptions. The 
proposed amendment at paragraph (b)(4) would create an exemption for 
automobile leases for primarily personal (consumer) use vehicles. The 
Bureau has determined that there is no need to limit an employee's 
ability to work on matters while holding this form of credit because 
automobile leases tend to involve fairly standardized agreements and 
automobile leases are similar in nature to automobile loans, which are 
already exempted. For the same reasons as stated for Sec.  9401.108, 
amended Sec.  9401.109 also would create a new exemption for the 
provision of telephone, cable, gas, electricity, water, or other 
similar utility services on credit.

Proposed Amended Sec.  9401.111--Restrictions on Participating in 
Matters Involving Covered Entities

    The proposed rule would amend Sec.  9401.111 by reorganizing this 
section and expanding the definition of ``covered entity.'' Proposed 
paragraph (b)(1) would expand the definition to include any person for 
whom the employee is serving or seeking to serve, or has served within 
the last year, as an officer, director, trustee, general partner, 
agent, attorney, consultant, contractor, or employee. This proposal 
builds on OGE's impartiality rule at 5 CFR 2635.502(b)(iv), and is 
based on the Bureau's presumption that a reasonable person likely would 
question an employee's impartiality when the employee is participating 
in a particular matter involving specific parties in which a covered 
entity is a party or represents a party. Disqualification of the 
employee eliminates the potential for an appearance of preferential 
treatment in those instances where the employee's connection to a 
covered entity would likely raise questions regarding the 
appropriateness of actions taken by the employee or the Bureau.
    The current definition of ``covered entity'' includes, among 
others, a person for whom the employee is aware that the employee's 
parent, child, or sibling is serving or seeking to serve as an officer, 
director, trustee, general partner, agent, attorney, consultant, 
contractor, or employee. Employees have questioned whether this 
restriction extends to stepfamily members and half siblings. The 
proposed regulation in paragraph (b)(2) extends the restriction to 
stepfathers, stepmothers, stepsons, stepdaughters, stepbrothers, 
stepsisters, half-brothers, and half-sisters. The Bureau has determined 
that this proposed regulation is needed so that a reasonable person 
will not question the impartiality and objectivity with which the 
Bureau administers its agency programs.

III. Matters of Regulatory Procedure

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., as amended by 
the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (the 
RFA), requires each agency to consider the potential impact of its 
regulations on small entities, including small businesses, small 
governmental units, and small not-for-profit organizations, unless the 
head of the agency certifies that the rules will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The Director 
of the Bureau so certifies. The rule does not impose any obligations or 
standards of conduct for purposes of analysis under the RFA, and it 
therefore does not give rise to a regulatory compliance burden for 
small entities.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Bureau has determined that this proposed rule does not impose 
any new recordkeeping, reporting, or disclosure requirements on members 
of the public that would be collections of information requiring 
approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et 
seq.).

List of Subjects in 5 CFR Part 9401

    Conflict of interests, Government employees.

Authority and Issuance

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Bureau, in 
concurrence with OGE, proposes to amend part 9401 of title 5 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations to read as follows:

PART 9401--SUPPLEMENTAL STANDARDS OF ETHICAL CONDUCT FOR EMPLOYEES 
OF THE BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION

0
1. The authority citation for part 9401 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 7301; 5 U.S.C. App. (Ethics in Government 
Act of 1978); E.O. 12674, 54 FR 15159 (April 12, 1989); 3 CFR, 1898 
Comp., p.215, as modified by E.O. 12731, 55 FR 42547 (October 17, 
1990); 3 CFR, 1990 Comp., p. 306; 5 CFR 2635.105, 2635.403, 2635.502 
and 2635.803.

0
2. Section 9401.102 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  9401.102  Definitions.

    For purposes of this part:
    CFPB Ethics Regulations means the supplemental ethics standards set 
forth in this part.
    Control means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power or 
authority to manage, direct, or oversee.
    Credit has the meaning set forth in 12 U.S.C. 5481(7) and as 
further defined in regulations promulgated by the Bureau to implement 
that statute. A person may have credit without any outstanding balance 
owed.
    Dependent child has the meaning set forth in 5 CFR 2634.105(d). It 
includes an employee's son, daughter, stepson, or stepdaughter if:
    (1) Unmarried, under the age of 21, and living in the employee's 
household; or
    (2) Claimed as a ``dependent'' on the employee's income tax return.
    Designated Agency Ethics Official (DAEO) means the official within 
the Bureau that the Director has appointed to coordinate and manage the 
ethics program at the Bureau, under 5 CFR 2638.202(b). For purposes of 
this part, the term ``DAEO'' also includes the Alternate DAEO appointed 
under 5 CFR 2638.202(b), and a designee of the DAEO or Alternate DAEO 
unless a particular provision says an authority is reserved to the 
DAEO.
    Director means the Director of the Bureau.

[[Page 2926]]

    Domestic partner means a person with whom a Bureau employee:
    (1) Has a close and committed personal relationship and both 
parties are at least 18 years of age, are each other's sole domestic 
partner and intend to remain in the relationship indefinitely, and 
neither is married to, in a civil union with, or partnered with any 
other spouse or domestic partner;
    (2) Is not related by blood in a manner that would bar marriage 
under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the employee resides;
    (3) Is in a financially interdependent relationship in which both 
agree to be responsible for each other's common welfare and share in 
financial obligations; and
    (4) Has shared for at least six months the same regular and 
permanent residence in a committed relationship and both parties intend 
to do so indefinitely, or would maintain a common residence but for an 
assignment abroad or other employment-related, financial, or similar 
obstacle.
    Employee means an employee of the Bureau, other than a special 
Government employee.
    Entity supervised by the Bureau means a person that is subject to 
the Bureau's supervision authority pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 5514(a)(1) or 
5515(a) and in regulations promulgated thereunder, as identified on a 
list to be maintained by the Bureau.
    Indebted or indebtedness means a legal obligation under which an 
individual or borrower received money or assets on credit, and 
currently owes payment.
    Indebted to an entity means an obligation to make payments to an 
entity as a result of an indebtedness, whether originally made with 
that entity or with another entity. This includes without limitation, a 
servicer on a mortgage to whom payments are made.
    OGE Standards mean the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees 
of the Executive Branch contained in 5 CFR part 2635.
    Participate means personal and substantial participation and has 
the meaning set forth in 5 CFR 2635.402(b)(4). An employee participates 
when, for example, he or she makes a decision, gives approval or 
disapproval, renders advice, provides a recommendation, conducts an 
investigation or examination, or takes an official action in a 
particular matter, and such involvement is of significance to the 
matter. It requires more than official responsibility, knowledge, 
perfunctory involvement, or involvement on an administrative or 
peripheral issue.
    Particular matter has the meaning set forth in 5 CFR 
2635.402(b)(3). The term includes a matter that involves deliberation, 
decision, or action and is focused upon the interests of specific 
persons or a discrete and identifiable class of persons. It may include 
governmental action such as legislation, regulations, or policy-making 
that is narrowly focused on the interest of a discrete and identifiable 
class of persons.
    Particular matter involving specific parties has the meaning set 
forth in 5 CFR 2641.201(h). Such a matter typically involves a specific 
proceeding affecting the legal rights of the parties or an isolatable 
transaction or related set of transactions between identified parties. 
The term includes without limitation, a contract, audit, enforcement 
action, examination, investigation, litigation proceeding, or request 
for a ruling.
    Person has the same meaning set forth in 5 CFR 2635.102(k). It 
includes without limitation, an individual, corporation and 
subsidiaries it controls, company, association, firm, partnership, 
society, joint stock company, or any other organization or institution.
    Practice of law means the provision of legal advice or services 
where there is a client relationship of trust or reliance. One is 
presumed to be practicing law when engaging in any of the following 
conduct on behalf of another:
    (1) Preparing any legal document, including any deeds, mortgages, 
assignments, discharges, leases, trust instruments, or any other 
instruments intended to affect interests in real or personal property, 
wills, codicils, instruments intended to affect the disposition of 
property of decedents' estates, other instruments intended to affect or 
secure legal rights, and contracts except routine agreements incidental 
to a regular course of business;
    (2) Preparing or expressing legal opinions;
    (3) Appearing or acting as an attorney in any tribunal;
    (4) Preparing any claims, demands or pleadings of any kind, or any 
written documents containing legal argument or interpretation of law, 
for filing in any court, administrative agency, or other tribunal;
    (5) Providing advice or counsel as to how any of the activities 
described in subparagraphs (1) through (4) might be done, or whether 
they were done, in accordance with applicable law; or
    (6) Furnishing an attorney or attorneys, or other persons, to 
render the services described in subparagraphs (1) through (5) above.
    Security means an interest in debt or equity instruments. The term 
includes without limitation, secured and unsecured bonds, debentures, 
notes, securitized assets, commercial papers, and preferred and common 
stock. The term encompasses both current and contingent ownership 
interests; a beneficial or legal interest derived from a trust; a right 
to acquire or dispose of any long or short position in debt or equity 
interests; interests convertible into debt or equity interests; and 
options, rights, warrants, puts, calls, straddles, derivatives, and 
other similar interests. It does not include deposits; credit union 
shares; a future interest created by someone other than the employee or 
the employee's spouse or dependent child; or a right as a beneficiary 
of an estate that has not been settled.
    Special Government employee has the meaning set forth in 5 CFR 
2635.102(l).
    Spouse means an employee's husband or wife by lawful marriage, but 
does not include an employee's spouse if:
    (1) The employee and the employee's spouse are separated;
    (2) The employee and the employee's spouse live apart;
    (3) There is an intention to end the marriage or separate 
permanently; and
    (4) The employee has no control over the separated spouse's 
securities.
    Vested legal or beneficial interest means a present right or title 
to property, which carries with it an existing right of alienation, 
even though the right to possession or enjoyment may be postponed to 
some uncertain time in the future. This includes a future interest when 
one has a right, defeasible or indefeasible, to immediate possession or 
enjoyment of the property, upon the ceasing of another's interest.
0
3. Section 9401.104 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  9401.104  Additional rules concerning outside employment for 
covered employees.

    (a) Prohibited outside employment with an entity supervised by the 
Bureau. A covered employee shall not engage in compensated outside 
employment for an entity supervised by the Bureau or for an officer, 
director, or employee of such entity. For purposes of this section, 
``employment'' has the same meaning as set forth in Sec.  9401.103(b) 
of this part.
    (b) Use of professional licenses related to real estate. A covered 
employee who holds a license related to real estate, mortgage 
brokerage, property appraisals, or real property insurance is 
prohibited from using such license for the production of income. The 
DAEO, in consultation with senior management in

[[Page 2927]]

the Division in which the employee works, may grant a limited waiver to 
this prohibition based on a written finding that the specific 
transaction which requires use of the license will not create an 
appearance of loss of impartiality or use of public office for private 
gain.
    (c) Definition of covered employee. For purposes of this section, 
``covered employee'' means:
    (1) An employee in the Division of Supervision, Enforcement, and 
Fair Lending;
    (2) An employee serving in an attorney position;
    (3) An employee in the Office of Research, serving as a section 
chief at Bureau pay band 71 or above or as a senior economist in the 
Compliance Analytics and Policy Section;
    (4) An employee serving in the Office of Consumer Response in an 
investigations position;
    (5) An employee required to file a Public Financial Disclosure 
Report (OGE Form 278e) under 5 CFR part 2634; or
    (6) Any other Bureau employee specified in a Bureau order or 
directive whose duties and responsibilities, as determined by the DAEO, 
require application of the prohibition on outside employment contained 
in this section to ensure public confidence that the Bureau's programs 
are conducted impartially and objectively.
0
4. Section 9401.105 is amended by revising paragraphs (a) introductory 
text, (a)(1), (b)(1), and (b)(2) to read as follows:


Sec.  9401.105   Additional rules concerning outside employment for 
Bureau attorneys.

    (a) Prohibited outside practice of law. In addition to the prior 
approval requirements under Sec.  9401.103 and the outside employment 
restrictions under Sec.  9401.104 of this part, an employee serving in 
an attorney position shall not engage in the practice of law outside 
the employee's official Bureau duties that might require the attorney 
to:
    (1) Take a position that is or appears to be in conflict with the 
interests of the Bureau; or
* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) In those matters in which the attorney has participated 
personally and substantially as a Government employee; or
    (2) In those matters which are the subject of the attorney's 
official responsibility.
0
5. Section 9401.106 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  9401.106   Prohibited financial interests.

    (a) Prohibited interests. Except as permitted by this section, an 
employee or an employee's spouse or minor child shall not own or 
control a security in:
    (1) An entity supervised by the Bureau; or
    (2) A collective investment fund that has a stated policy of 
concentrating its investments in the financial services or banking 
industry. A collective investment fund includes, without limitation, 
mutual funds, unit investment trusts (UITs), exchange traded funds 
(ETFs), real estate investment trusts (REITs), and limited 
partnerships.
    (b) Exceptions. Interests prohibited in paragraph (a) of this 
section do not include the ownership or control of a security in:
    (1) Collective investment funds. A publicly traded or publicly 
available collective investment fund if:
    (i) The fund does not have a stated policy of concentrating its 
investments in the financial services or banking industry; and
    (ii) Neither the employee nor the employee's spouse or minor child 
exercises or has the ability to exercise control over or selection of 
the financial interests held by the fund.
    (2) Diversified employee benefit plans. A pension or other 
retirement fund, trust, or plan established or maintained by an 
employer or an employee organization, or both, to provide its 
participants with medical, disability, death, unemployment, or vacation 
benefits, training programs, day care centers, scholarship funds, 
prepaid legal services, deferred income, or retirement income (employee 
plan), provided:
    (i) The employee plan does not have a stated policy of 
concentrating its investments in any industry, business, single country 
other than the United States, or bonds of a single State within the 
United States;
    (ii) The investments of the employee plan are administered by an 
independent trustee\;\
    (iii) The employee plan's trustee has a written policy of varying 
the plan investments;
    (iv) Neither the employee nor the employee's spouse or minor child 
participates in the selection of the employee plan's investments or 
designates specific plan investments (except for directing that 
contributions be divided among several different categories of 
investments, such as stocks, bonds, or mutual funds, which are 
available to plan participants); and
    (v) The employee plan is not a profit-sharing or stock bonus plan.
    (3) Federal retirement and thrift savings plans. Funds administered 
by the Thrift Plan for Employees of the Federal Reserve System, the 
Retirement Plan for Employees of the Federal Reserve System, the Thrift 
Savings Plan, or a Federal government agency.
    (4) State pension plans. A pension plan established or maintained 
by a State government or any political subdivision of a State 
government for its employees.
    (c) Reporting and divestiture of prohibited interests--(1) New 
employees. Within 30 calendar days from the start of employment with 
the Bureau, an employee must notify the DAEO in writing of a financial 
interest prohibited under paragraph (a) of this section that the 
employee or the employee's spouse or minor child acquired prior to the 
start of the employee's employment with the Bureau. The employee or the 
employee's spouse or minor child shall divest prohibited securities 
within 90 days after the start of the employee's employment at the 
Bureau.
    (2) Newly prohibited interest. Within 30 days after the Bureau 
updates and internally publishes a new list of entities supervised by 
the Bureau, an employee who owns or controls, or whose spouse or minor 
child owns or controls, a security in an entity newly added to that 
list must notify the DAEO in writing. The employee or the employee's 
spouse or minor child shall divest prohibited securities within 90 days 
after internal publication of the new list.
    (3) Interests acquired without specific intent. If an employee or 
an employee's spouse or minor child acquires a financial interest 
prohibited under paragraph (a) of this section as a result of marriage, 
inheritance, or otherwise without specific intent to acquire, the 
employee must notify the DAEO in writing within 30 days of the 
acquisition. The employee or the employee's spouse or minor child shall 
divest prohibited securities within 90 days of the acquisition.
    (d) Disqualification and divestiture--(1) Securities in entities 
supervised by the Bureau. If an employee or an employee's spouse or 
minor child owns or controls a security in an entity that is prohibited 
under paragraph (a)(1) of this section, the employee shall immediately 
disqualify himself or herself from participating in all particular 
matters affecting that entity, unless and until the security is 
divested or the employee is granted a waiver pursuant to paragraph (e) 
of this section and the waiver includes an

[[Page 2928]]

authorization allowing the employee to participate in such matters.
    (2) Securities in collective investment funds. If an employee or an 
employee's spouse or minor child owns or controls a security in a 
collective investment fund that is prohibited under paragraph (a)(2) of 
this section, the employee shall immediately disqualify himself or 
herself from participating in all particular matters affecting one or 
more holdings of the collective investment fund if the affected holding 
is invested in the financial services or banking industry, unless and 
until the collective investment fund is divested or the employee is 
granted a waiver pursuant to paragraph (e) of this section and the 
waiver includes an authorization allowing the employee to participate 
in such matters.
    (e) Waivers. Upon request by the employee, the DAEO in the DAEO's 
sole discretion has the authority to grant an individual waiver under 
this paragraph. The DAEO's authority to grant an individual waiver 
under this paragraph may not be delegated to any person except the 
Alternate DAEO. The DAEO, in consultation with senior management in the 
Division in which the employee works, may issue a written waiver 
permitting the employee or the employee's spouse or minor child to own 
or control a particular security that otherwise would be prohibited by 
this section, after considering all relevant factors. Relevant factors 
include, without limitation, whether:
    (1) Mitigating circumstances exist due to the way the employee or 
the employee's spouse or minor child acquired ownership or control of 
the security. Mitigating circumstances may include without limitation:
    (i) The employee or the employee's spouse or minor child acquired 
the security through inheritance, merger, acquisition, or other change 
in corporate structure, or otherwise without specific intent on the 
part of the employee or the employee's spouse or minor child; or
    (ii) The employee's spouse received the security as part of a 
compensation package in connection with employment or prior to marriage 
to the employee;
    (2) The employee makes a prompt and complete written disclosure of 
the security to the DAEO;
    (3) The disqualification of the employee from participating in 
particular matters pursuant to paragraph (d) of this section, as 
specified in the written waiver, would not unduly interfere with the 
full performance of the employee's duties; and
    (4) The granting of the waiver would not unduly undermine the 
public's confidence in the impartiality and objectivity with which:
    (i) The employee performs the employee's official Bureau duties; 
and
    (ii) The Division in which the employee works executes its programs 
and functions.
    (f) Covered third party entities. Immediately after becoming aware 
that a covered third party entity owns or controls a security that an 
employee would be prohibited from owning or controlling under paragraph 
(a) of this section, the employee shall report the interest in writing 
to the DAEO. The DAEO may require the employee to terminate the 
relationship with the covered third party entity, disqualify himself or 
herself from certain particular matters, or take other action as 
necessary to avoid a statutory violation, a violation of the OGE 
Standards, or the CFPB Ethics Regulations, including an appearance of 
misuse of position or loss of impartiality. For purposes of this 
paragraph, ``covered third party entity'' includes:
    (1) A partnership in which the employee or the employee's spouse or 
minor child is a general partner;
    (2) A partnership or closely held corporation in which the employee 
or the employee's spouse or minor child individually or jointly holds 
more than a 10 percent equity interest;
    (3) A trust in which the employee or the employee's spouse or minor 
child has a vested legal or beneficial interest;
    (4) An investment club or similar informal investment arrangement 
between the employee or the employee's spouse or minor child, and 
others;
    (5) A qualified profit sharing, retirement, or similar plan in 
which the employee or the employee's spouse or minor child has an 
interest; or
    (6) An entity in which the employee or the employee's spouse or 
minor child individually or jointly holds more than a 25 percent equity 
interest.
0
6. Section 9401.107 and the section heading are revised to read as 
follows:


Sec.  9401.107  Prohibition on acceptance of credit or indebtedness on 
preferential terms from an entity supervised by the Bureau.

    An employee or the employee's spouse or minor child may not accept 
credit from, become indebted to, or enter into a financial relationship 
with an entity supervised by the Bureau, unless the credit, 
indebtedness, or other financial relationship:
    (1) Is offered on terms and conditions no more favorable than those 
offered to the general public; and
    (2) Is not otherwise prohibited by law or inconsistent with the OGE 
Standards or the CFPB Ethics Regulations.
0
7. Section 9401.108 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  9401.108  Restrictions on seeking, obtaining, or renegotiating 
credit from an entity that is or represents a party to a matter to 
which an employee is assigned or may be assigned.

    (a) General rules regarding seeking, obtaining, or renegotiating 
credit or indebtedness--(1) Prohibition. While an employee is assigned 
to participate in a particular matter involving specific parties, the 
employee or the employee's spouse or minor child shall not seek, 
obtain, or renegotiate credit or indebtedness with an entity that is a 
party or represents a party to the matter. This prohibition also 
applies to a particular matter involving specific parties pending at 
the Bureau in which the employee is not currently participating but of 
which the employee is aware and believes it is likely that the employee 
will participate.
    (2) Cooling off period. The prohibition in paragraph (a)(1) of this 
section continues for two years after the employee's participation in 
the particular matter has ended.
    (b) Rules regarding credit or indebtedness secured by principal 
residence. Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this section, an employee 
or an employee's spouse or minor child may seek, obtain, or renegotiate 
credit or indebtedness secured by residential real property with an 
entity, subject to the following conditions:
    (1) The residential real property is or will be the principal 
residence of the employee or the employee's spouse or minor child;
    (2) A minimum of three months have passed since the end of the 
employee's participation in each particular matter involving specific 
parties in which that entity was a party or represented a party;
    (3) The employee is disqualified from participating in particular 
matters involving specific parties in which that entity is a party or 
represents a party while the employee or the employee's spouse or minor 
child is seeking, obtaining, or renegotiating the credit or 
indebtedness;
    (4) The employee or the employee's spouse or minor child seeking, 
obtaining, or negotiating the credit or indebtedness must satisfy all 
financial requirements generally applicable to all applicants for the 
same type of credit or indebtedness for residential real property; and
    (5) The credit or indebtedness is obtained on terms and conditions 
no more favorable than those offered to the general public.

[[Page 2929]]

    (c) Specific rules for employee's spouse and minor child. The 
prohibitions in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section do not apply 
when the employee's spouse or minor child is seeking, obtaining, or 
renegotiating credit or indebtedness and:
    (1) The credit or indebtedness is supported only by the income or 
independent means of the spouse or minor child;
    (2) The credit or indebtedness is obtained on terms and conditions 
no more favorable than those offered to the general public; and
    (3) The employee does not participate in the negotiating for the 
credit or indebtedness or serve as co-maker, endorser or guarantor of 
the credit or indebtedness.
    (d) Disqualification requirement for credit sought by person 
related to an employee. An employee shall disqualify himself or herself 
from participating in a particular matter involving specific parties as 
soon as the employee learns that any of the following persons are 
seeking, obtaining, or renegotiating credit or indebtedness with an 
entity that is or represents a party to the matter:
    (1) The employee's spouse, domestic partner, or dependent child;
    (2) A partnership in which the employee or the employee's spouse, 
domestic partner, or dependent child is a general partner;
    (3) A partnership or closely held corporation in which the employee 
or the employee's spouse, domestic partner, or dependent child 
individually or jointly owns or controls more than a 10 percent equity 
interest;
    (4) A trust in which the employee or the employee's spouse, 
domestic partner, or dependent child has a vested legal or beneficial 
interest;
    (5) An investment club or similar informal investment arrangement 
between the employee or the employee's spouse, domestic partner, or 
dependent child, and others;
    (6) A qualified profit sharing, retirement, or similar plan in 
which the employee or the employee's spouse, domestic partner, or 
dependent child has an interest; or
    (7) An entity in which the employee or the employee's spouse, 
domestic partner, or dependent child individually or jointly holds more 
than a 25 percent equity interest.
    (e) Exemptions. The following forms of credit are exempted from the 
prohibitions in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section and the 
disqualification requirement in paragraph (d) of this section, provided 
the credit is offered on terms and conditions no more favorable than 
those offered to the general public:
    (1) Revolving consumer credit or charge cards;
    (2) Overdraft protection on checking accounts and similar accounts; 
and
    (3) The provision of telephone, cable, gas, electricity, water, or 
other similar utility services provided on credit (i.e., the service is 
provided before payment is due such that consumers incur debt as they 
use the service and receive periodic bills for the services used).
    (f) Waivers. The DAEO, after consultation with senior management in 
the Division in which the employee works, may grant a written waiver 
from the prohibition in paragraphs (a) or (b) of this section or the 
disqualification requirement in paragraph (d) of this section, based on 
a determination that participation in matters otherwise prohibited by 
this section would not be prohibited by law (18 U.S.C. 208) or create 
an appearance of loss of impartiality or use of public office for 
private gain, and would not otherwise be inconsistent with the OGE 
Standards or the CFPB Ethics Regulations.
0
8. Section 9401.109 is amended by:
0
a. Revising the section heading;
0
b. Revising paragraphs (a)(5) and (b)(1) through (5); and
0
c. Adding paragraphs (b)(6) and (7).
    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  9401.109  Disqualification of employees from particular matters 
involving existing creditors.

    (a) * * *
    (5) A trust in which the employee or the employee's spouse, 
domestic partner, or dependent child has a vested legal or beneficial 
interest;
* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) Revolving consumer credit or charge cards;
    (2) Overdraft protection on checking accounts and similar accounts;
    (3) Amortizing indebtedness on consumer goods (e.g., automobiles);
    (4) Automobile leases for primarily personal (consumer) use 
vehicles;
    (5) The provision of telephone, cable, gas, electricity, water, or 
other similar utility services provided on credit (i.e., the service is 
provided before payment is due such that consumers incur debt as they 
use the service and receive periodic bills for the services used);
    (6) Educational loans (e.g., student loans; loans taken out by a 
parent or guardian to pay for a child's education costs); and
    (7) Loans on residential homes (e.g., home mortgages; home equity 
lines of credit).
* * * * *
0
9. Section 9401.110 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  9401.110   Prohibited recommendations.

    An employee shall not make recommendations or suggestions, directly 
or indirectly, concerning the acquisition or sale or other divestiture 
of a security in an entity supervised by the Bureau, or an entity that 
is or represents a party to a particular matter involving specific 
parties to which the employee is assigned.
0
10. Section 9401.111 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  9401.111  Restriction on participating in matters involving 
covered entities.

    (a) Disqualification required. Absent an authorization pursuant to 
paragraph (c) of this section, an employee shall not participate in a 
particular matter involving specific parties if a covered entity is or 
represents a party to the matter.
    (b) ``Covered entity'' defined. For purposes of this section, a 
``covered entity'' includes:
    (1) Any person for whom the employee is serving or seeking to 
serve, or has served with the last year, as officer, director, trustee, 
general partner, agent, attorney, consultant, contractor, or employee; 
or
    (2) Any person for whom the employee is aware the employee's 
spouse, domestic partner, fianc[eacute], child, parent, sibling, 
stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, 
half-brother, half-sister, or member of the employee's household is 
serving or seeking to serve as an officer, director, trustee, general 
partner, agent, attorney, consultant, contractor, or employee.
    (c) Waivers. The DAEO may authorize the employee to participate in 
a matter that would require disqualification under paragraph (a) of 
this section, using the authorization process set forth in 5 CFR 
2635.502(d) of the OGE Standards. The DAEO will consult with senior 
management in the Division in which the employee works before issuing 
such an authorization.

    Dated: December 15, 2016.
Richard Cordray,
Director, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.
Walter M. Shaub, Jr.,
Director, Office of Government Ethics.
[FR Doc. 2016-31596 Filed 1-9-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-AM-P

2921 Proposed Rules Federal Register Vol. 82, No. 6 Tuesday, January 10, 2017 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER Financial Protection Bureau, 1700 G proposed. The Bureau, with OGE’s contains notices to the public of the proposed Street NW., Washington, DC 20552. concurrence, now proposes to amend issuance of rules and regulations. The • Hand Delivery/Courier: Monica the CFPB Ethics Regulations. purpose of these notices is to give interested Jackson, Office of the Executive persons an opportunity to participate in the II. Description of Proposed Amended Secretary, Consumer Financial rule making prior to the adoption of the final Sections of the CFPB Ethics Regulations Protection Bureau, 1275 First Street NE., rules. Washington, DC 20002. Proposed Amended § 9401.102— Instructions: All submissions must Definitions BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL include the agency name and docket Section 9401.102 defines terms and PROTECTION number or RIN for this rulemaking. phrases used throughout the CFPB Because paper mail in the Washington, Ethics Regulations. The Bureau 5 CFR Part 9401 DC area and at the Bureau is subject to proposes to amend the definitions delay, commenters are encouraged to section to add and revise certain useful [Docket No. CFPB–2016–0050] submit comments electronically. In definitions and delete others. RIN 3209–AA15 general, all comments received will be The proposed regulation replaces the posted without change to http:// phrase ‘‘debt and equity interest’’ with Supplemental Standards of Ethical www.regulations.gov, including any the term ‘‘security’’ throughout the Conduct for Employees of the Bureau personal information provided. In CFPB Ethics Regulations. The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection addition, comments will be available for has found that the term ‘‘debt interest’’ AGENCY: Bureau of Consumer Financial public inspection and copying at 1275 has caused confusion among some Protection. First Street NE., Washington, DC 20002, employees. This revision would help ACTION: Proposed rule with request for on official business days between the distinguish between those instances public comment. hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. eastern when an individual owns or controls a time. You can make an appointment to debt ownership interest in an entity SUMMARY: The Bureau of Consumer inspect the documents by telephoning (e.g., owns a corporate bond) from those Financial Protection (CFPB or Bureau), (202) 435–7275. in which an individual is indebted to an with the concurrence of the Office of All comments, including attachments entity (e.g., has a loan or existing credit). Government Ethics (OGE), is issuing and other supporting materials, will The term ‘‘security’’ would have the this notice of proposed rulemaking for become part of the public record and same definition as the phrase ‘‘debt and employees of the Bureau. This proposal subject to public disclosure. Sensitive equity interest’’ in the current would amend the existing Supplemental personal information, such as account regulations. Standards of Ethical Conduct for numbers or Social Security numbers, The proposed regulation amends the Employees of the Bureau of Consumer should not be included. Comments will term ‘‘employee’’ to exclude special Financial Protection (CFPB Ethics not be edited to remove any identifying Government employees (SGEs). During Regulations) involving: Outside or contact information. CFPB’s initial stand-up period, the employment for covered employees; FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bureau appointed several CFPB Bureau employees’ ownership or control Amber Vail, Senior Ethics Counsel, at executives, subject matter experts, and of certain securities; restrictions on (202) 435–7305 or Amy Mertz Brown, other Bureau officials with significant seeking, obtaining, or renegotiating Alternate Designated Agency Ethics policy-making authority to short-term credit or indebtedness; and Official, at (202) 435–7256 at the Legal SGE positions. At that time, the Bureau disqualification requirements based on Division, Consumer Financial determined it was essential that the existing credit or indebtedness. Protection Bureau. CFPB Ethics Regulations apply to these Additionally, the proposed regulation SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: employees to assure the public that the would clarify and make minor revisions Bureau created and administered the to certain definitions. I. Background Bureau’s programs in an impartial and DATES: Comments are invited and must Section 2635.105 of the OGE objective manner. It is no longer the be received on or before February 9, Standards of Ethical Conduct for practice for the Bureau to fill such 2017. Executive Branch Employees (OGE positions with SGEs, and the Bureau ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, Standards) authorizes an agency, with currently does not have any employees identified by Docket No. CFPB–2016– the concurrence of OGE, to adopt designated as SGEs. As a result, the 0050 or Regulatory Information Number agency-specific supplemental Bureau has determined this provision is (RIN) number 3209–AA15, by any of the regulations that are necessary to no longer needed. Therefore, the following methods: properly implement its ethics program. proposed regulation excludes SGEs from • Electronic: http:// the definition of ‘‘employee.’’ This pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with PROPOSALS On April 27, 2012, the Bureau, with www.regulations.gov. Follow the OGE’s concurrence, published in the treatment of SGEs is consistent with the instructions for submitting comments. Federal Register an interim final rule to Board of Governors of the Federal • Email: FederalRegisterComments@ establish the CFPB Ethics Regulations Reserve System and the Federal Deposit cfpb.gov. Include Docket No. CFPB– (77 FR 25019, April 27, 2012), effective Insurance Corporation, both of which 2016–0050 or RIN number 3209–AA15 June 27, 2012. The Bureau received one exclude SGEs from the definition of in the subject line of the message. comment on the interim final rule, ‘‘employee’’ in their supplemental • Mail: Monica Jackson, Office of the which did not prompt a change, and the standards of ethical conduct. The Executive Secretary, Consumer interim final rule went into effect as proposed regulation would not relax or VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:54 Jan 09, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\10JAP1.SGM 10JAP1

2922 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 6 / Tuesday, January 10, 2017 / Proposed Rules otherwise affect how the criminal requires the employee to be involved in real estate-related conflict of interest statutes and OGE ‘‘permanently separated’’ from the transactions. Continuing to allow Standards apply to SGEs. The Bureau employee’s spouse and does not require covered employees to use these licenses will continue to provide ethics guidance the two individuals to be ‘‘legally for compensation would hinder CFPB in and assistance to SGEs on compliance separated.’’ fulfilling its mission if members of the with the conflict of interest statutes and The proposed regulation also adds the public question whether these OGE Standards. In addition, the phrase ‘‘vested legal or beneficial employees are using their public office Bureau’s Office of Human Capital will interest’’ to the definitions section to or Bureau connections for private gain continue to identify and designate clarify several provisions. This new by advancing their outside real estate- individuals as SGEs at the time the definition is meant to help interpret the related business activities. individual is appointed or retained, and proposed amendments in §§ 9401.106, The proposed rule authorizes the will continue to maintain an internal 9401.108, and 9401.109, where the Designated Agency Ethics Official tracking system of individuals who are Bureau proposes to narrow the (DAEO), in consultation with senior designated as SGEs. disqualification and reporting management in the Division in which The proposed regulation also adds the requirements with respect to trusts in the employee works, to grant a limited phrase ‘‘practice of law’’ to the which the employee or the employee’s waiver to this prohibition based on a definitions section. The Bureau has spouse or minor child has a vested legal written determination that a specific received multiple inquiries from or beneficial interest. A vested legal or transaction requiring the use of the employees as to whether a proposed beneficial interest in a trust means that license would not create an appearance outside activity would fall within the the individual has a present legal right of loss of impartiality or use of public prohibition in § 9401.105. To ensure to its property or income, even though office for private gain. consistency and for the ease of the right to possession or enjoyment The proposed regulation expands the administration, the phrase ‘‘practice of may be postponed to some unknown term ‘‘covered employee’’ to include all law’’ would have the same meaning as time in the future. In defining this employees who work in a Bureau office in Rule 49 of the Rules of the District phrase, the Bureau relied upon 5 CFR where employees participate in the of Columbia Court of Appeals as of 2634.310, where OGE explains what examination, investigation, or November 2016. The Bureau opted to constitutes a vested beneficial interest supervision of entities offering or borrow the definition utilized by the in the principal or income of an estate providing a consumer financial product District of Columbia Court of Appeals or trust. or service. For example, all employees because the majority of attorneys The Bureau is republishing all the in the Division of Supervision, employed by the Bureau have a duty definitions in this section, including Enforcement, and Fair Lending (SEFL) station located in the District of those not proposed for revision, for ease would be ‘‘covered employees’’ under Columbia. of reference. the proposed rule, whereas only certain The proposed regulation also amends SEFL positions are covered under the Proposed Amended § 9401.104— the term ‘‘spouse’’ by removing the current definition. Additional Rules Concerning Outside reference to ‘‘legally’’ in the phrase Employment for Covered Employees Proposed Amended § 9401.106— ‘‘legally separated.’’ The current The proposed amendments to Prohibited Financial Interests definition explains that for purposes of the CFPB Ethics Regulations, an § 9401.104 are designed to balance This proposed rule would amend 5 individual is not considered to be an several important ethical principles CFR 9401.106, which provides in employee’s spouse if: (1) The employee against an employee’s right to engage in paragraph (a), with certain exceptions and the employee’s spouse are legally outside activities. Proposed § 9401.104 set forth in paragraph (b), that no CFPB separated; (2) the employee and the would retain the existing prohibition employee, or an employee’s spouse or employee’s spouse live apart; (3) there that precludes a covered employee from minor child, may own or control a is an intention to end the marriage or engaging in compensated outside security in an entity supervised by the separate permanently; and (4) the employment for any entity supervised Bureau. The proposed amendment of employee has no control over the legally by the Bureau or for any officer, this section would clarify the scope of separated spouse’s debt or equity director, or employee of such entity. the prohibited financial interests by interests. On several occasions the The proposed rule adds a new more clearly defining the types of Bureau encountered confusion as to prohibition on covered employees using financial interests covered by this what constituted a ‘‘legal separation’’ a professional license related to real prohibition and the exceptions to the because this is a standard defined by estate, mortgage brokerage, property general rule. The intent of the proposed State law and varies depending on the appraisals, or property insurance for amendment is to make this section State in which an employee resides. The compensation. The proposed easier for employees to understand and proposed revision to the definition of amendment would permit covered follow. ‘‘spouse’’ eliminates the reference to employees to retain these professional The prohibited financial interests are ‘‘legally’’ in the phrase ‘‘legally licenses but would prohibit them from defined in paragraph (a). The proposed separated.’’ This proposed amendment engaging in outside compensated regulation would not change the scope is consistent with how OGE determines employment as real estate agents, of financial interests that currently are whether an employee is required to mortgage brokers, property appraisers, prohibited under this section. The purpose of the proposed amendment is pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with PROPOSALS report information concerning a spouse real property insurance agents, or in from whom the employee is separated other similar positions. to more clearly define prohibited for purposes of the financial disclosure The Bureau has determined this new financial interests by dividing the reporting requirements at 5 CFR prohibition is necessary to ensure that a prohibited holdings into two categories. 2634.309(c)(2). OGE does not require a reasonable person would not question The first would refer to a security in, or reporting individual to report any the impartiality and objectivity with bonds issued by, an entity supervised by information about a spouse from whom which covered employees perform their the Bureau. The second would refer to the reporting individual is official Bureau duties in connection securities in a collective investment ‘‘permanently separated.’’ OGE only with financial institutions that are fund, such as a mutual fund, if the fund VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:54 Jan 09, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\10JAP1.SGM 10JAP1

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 6 / Tuesday, January 10, 2017 / Proposed Rules 2923 has a stated policy of concentrating its interest without specific intent, such as interests in which an employee or an investments in the financial services or via inheritance. The proposed employee’s spouse or minor child has a banking industry. The Bureau always amendment would provide a uniform present legal right to the property or has interpreted the current rule to 30-day period for notifying the DAEO, income in the trust. As noted prohibit employees, as well as their and consistent with 5 CFR 2635.403(d), previously, the proposed rule would spouses and minor children, from a uniform 90-day period for divestiture add a definition of ‘‘vested legal or owning or controlling these collective in each instance. beneficial interest’’ in § 9401.102. investment funds (i.e., sector mutual Proposed paragraph (d) requires The Bureau has determined, under its funds), and is proposing to amend the employees to immediately disqualify authority in section 2635.403(a) of the rule to make this prohibition more themselves if they or their spouses or OGE Standards, that these proposed explicit. minor children own or control a regulations are needed so that a The exceptions to the general security prohibited by paragraph (a). reasonable person will not question the prohibition are listed in paragraph (b). Proposed paragraphs (d)(1) and (d)(2) impartiality and objectivity with which The purpose of the exceptions is to ease explain the different disqualification the Bureau administers its agency the restrictions on the financial interests standards for securities prohibited programs. of employees and their spouses and under proposed paragraphs (a)(1) and Proposed Amended § 9401.107— minor children by permitting interests (a)(2), respectively. Proposed paragraph Prohibition on Acceptance of Credit or of a character unlikely to raise questions (d)(1) describes the disqualification Indebtedness on Preferential Terms regarding the objective and impartial requirements that apply when an From an Entity Supervised by the performance of employees’ official employee or an employee’s spouse or Bureau duties or the possible misuse of their minor child owns or controls a security positions. In promulgating the in an entity supervised by the Bureau. The proposed rule would amend exemptions to the financial conflict of Whereas, proposed paragraph (d)(2) § 9401.107, which provides that interest statute in 5 CFR part 2640, describes the more extensive employees may accept credit, become subpart B, OGE determined that certain disqualification requirements that apply indebted, or enter into other financial financial interests are unlikely to affect when an employee or an employee’s relationships with entities supervised an employee’s official actions. The spouse or minor child owns or controls by the Bureau, only if the credit, Bureau proposes to revise the a security in a collective investment indebtedness or other financial service exceptions in paragraph (b) to more fund that has a stated policy of is offered on terms and conditions no closely conform to certain exemptions concentrating its investments in the more favorable than those offered to the to the financial conflict of interest financial services or banking industry. general public. The proposed statute (18 U.S.C. 208) promulgated by Proposed paragraph (e)(4) provides an amendment is not intended to change OGE. The Bureau determined that these additional factor for the DAEO to the scope of this prohibition. The newly proposed exceptions will make it consider when an employee requests a proposed rule is meant to clarify that easier for Bureau employees to waiver from the general prohibition in the standard for entering into financial understand and comply with the CFPB paragraph (a). It is expected that the relationships with entities supervised Ethics Regulations, as well as the DAEO will grant a waiver of the by the Bureau as articulated in this financial conflict of interest statutes. prohibitions in § 9401.106 only in section is the same standard that is In paragraph (b)(1), the Bureau limited circumstances based on a case- referenced in §§ 9401.108(b) and (e) and proposes to change the name of the first by-case analysis, and only when the 9401.109(b). The proposed rule also exception to ‘‘collective investment granting of the waiver would not unduly states that an employee or the funds’’ to conform with the language of undermine the public’s confidence in employee’s spouse or minor child may that exception but no substantive the impartiality and objectivity with not accept credit from, become indebted change is intended. Proposed paragraph which: (1) The employee performs his to, or enter into a financial relationship (b)(2) replaces the current description or her official duties; and (2) the with an entity supervised by the Bureau, for the widely held, diversified pension Division in which the employee works if the credit, indebtedness, or financial plan exception with new language that executes its functions. Towards this relationship is otherwise prohibited by the Bureau intends to have the same end, proposed paragraph (e)(4) the Federal conflict of interest statutes, meaning as OGE’s regulatory exemption specifically includes public confidence the OGE Standards, or the CFPB Ethics found at 5 CFR 2640.201(c)(iii) for and the appearance of impartiality as a Regulations. This proposed language is diversified employee benefit plans. factor for the DAEO to consider in intended to remind employees there are Proposed paragraph (b)(4) adds an granting a waiver. other government ethics rules that may exception for an interest held within a The CFPB Ethics Regulations affect their ability to secure credit or State pension plan. This exception currently require an employee to notify indebtedness or to enter into financial would have the same meaning as OGE’s the DAEO in writing if a trust in which relationships. exemption in 5 CFR 2640.201(c)(ii) for the employee or the employee’s spouse State government pension plans. or minor child has a legal or beneficial Proposed Amended § 9401.108— In new paragraph (c), the proposed interest contains a security that the Restrictions on Seeking, Obtaining, or regulation would provide specific time employee would be prohibited from Renegotiating Credit From an Entity frames for employees to notify the owning or controlling under paragraph That Is or Represents a Party to a Matter (a). The Bureau proposes to amend to Which an Employee Is Assigned or pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with PROPOSALS DAEO and divest a prohibited financial interest after: (1) An individual paragraph (f)(3) to clarify that the May Be Assigned commences employment with the employee’s reporting requirement only The proposed revision to 5 CFR Bureau; (2) the Bureau adds a new applies to trusts in which the employee 9401.108 would retain the existing financial institution to the list of entities or the employee’s spouse or minor child general prohibitions on seeking, supervised by the Bureau (i.e., the has a vested legal or beneficial interest. obtaining, or renegotiating credit or prohibited holdings list); or (3) an The Bureau has determined that the indebtedness, the disqualification employee or an employee’s spouse or reporting requirement in this section provisions, and the exemptions from the minor child acquires a prohibited should apply only to those financial disqualification requirements. The VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:54 Jan 09, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\10JAP1.SGM 10JAP1

2924 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 6 / Tuesday, January 10, 2017 / Proposed Rules Bureau proposes to restructure this The Bureau notes that other financial will participate; or (3) participated section to clarify the prohibitions and to regulatory agencies, including the within the last two years. For purposes incorporate new exemptions. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation of this prohibition, the term ‘‘credit’’ Under the proposed new paragraph and the Office of the Comptroller of the includes ‘‘the right granted by a person (b), an employee or the employee’s Currency, have similar exemptions for a to a consumer to purchase property or spouse or minor child would be home loan for an employee’s principal services and defer payment of such.’’ A permitted to seek, obtain, or renegotiate residence. Additionally, this proposed number of courts have determined that credit or indebtedness secured by a amendment is consistent with the intent this definition of ‘‘credit’’ includes principal residence subject to five of the Preserving Independence of when a consumer receives gas, conditions. First, the credit or Financial Institution Examinations Act electricity, water, and cellular telephone indebtedness must be secured by of 2003 (PIFIEA), which amended services and receives periodic bills for residential real property that is or will sections 212 and 213 of title 18 of the the services used.1 When the Bureau be the principal residence of the United States Code. These sections originally promulgated the CFPB Ethics employee or the employee’s spouse or generally impose criminal penalties on Regulations, it was not anticipated that minor child. Second, a minimum of national examiners borrowing from the prohibition in this section would three months must have elapsed since banks they examine. The PIFIEA limit Bureau employees’ ability to have the employee stopped participating in modified those rules by decriminalizing these basic utility services and still be each particular matter involving specific extensions of credit to examiners for able to work on Bureau matters. parties in which the entity from which principal residential home loans from Under proposed paragraph (e)(3), the the credit or indebtedness will be institutions that they examine or have Bureau would exempt certain types of sought, obtained, or renegotiated was or authority to examine, if these loans are basic utility services used by consumers represented a party to the matter. Third, made on the same terms and conditions from the prohibition in paragraph (a) the employee would be disqualified as are available to other borrowers. In and the disqualification requirement in from participating in any particular amending sections 212 and 213, paragraph (d). Specifically, the matter involving specific parties in Congress explained that several factors proposed rule would add an exemption which the lender or creditor is or supported the blanket residential loan for the provision of telephone, cable, represents a party while the employee exception, but most importantly, gas, electricity, water, or other similar or the employee’s spouse or minor child consolidation within the banking utility services provided on credit. The is actively seeking, obtaining, or industry made it increasingly difficult Bureau has determined that there is no renegotiating the loan or credit. Fourth, for examiners to obtain nationally need to limit an employee’s ability to the party seeking, obtaining, or available mortgage loans and for the work on matters while holding these renegotiating the credit or indebtedness banking agencies to assign examiners forms of credit because they tend to would have to satisfy all financial work. Although Bureau employees are involve fairly standardized agreements requirements that apply to applicants not subject to sections 212 and 213, the and low credit amounts. The Bureau for the same type of credit or rationale for allowing Bureau also has concluded that permitting indebtedness for a residential real employees, as well as their spouses and employees to have adequate access to property. Fifth, the credit or minor children, the ability to secure a sources of credit involving these types indebtedness would have to be obtained residential home loan for their principal of utility services to meet their personal on terms and conditions no more residence is the same. needs outweighs the incremental benefit favorable than those offered to the For the same reasons as stated in that may be gained by covering these general public. § 9401.106, amended § 9401.108(d)(4) forms of credit. The Bureau determined that a would limit the trust disqualification different standard for a residential home Proposed Amended § 9401.109— requirement to only those trusts in loan or credit on the principal residence Disqualification of Employees From which the employee or the employee’s is necessary because the Bureau’s Particular Matters Involving Existing spouse, domestic partner, or dependent general prohibition in paragraph (a) Creditors child has a vested legal or beneficial against seeking, obtaining, or interest. In addition, the proposed rule would renegotiating credit or indebtedness has The exemptions to the general amend 5 CFR 9401.109, which generally been a significant burden on certain prohibition are listed in new paragraph provides that an employee is employees. The current prohibition (e). The proposed rule would modify the disqualified from participating in a substantially reduces the number of two existing exemptions by deleting the particular matter involving specific lending options available to employees limitation related to insured depository parties if the employee is aware that the when they attempt to secure funding for institutions or credit unions. As a result, employee, the employee’s spouse, a principal residence and prevents them all consumer credit or charge cards domestic partner, or dependent child, or from full access to the competitive regardless of the issuer, and all checking a specified third party has credit with or consumer financial marketplace. The or similar accounts regardless of where is indebted to an entity that is or five conditions upon which seeking, held, would fall within an exemption. represents a party to the matter. The obtaining, or renegotiating a residential The proposed rule also would add a Bureau proposes to narrow the home loan or credit are contingent new exemption involving certain utility disqualification requirement regarding reduce the possibility that: (1) The services. Under the current regulation, trusts and to incorporate new an employee and the employee’s spouse exemptions. pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with PROPOSALS employee is using the employee’s public office for private gain; (2) a reasonable and minor child are prohibited from For the same reasons as stated in person would question the impartiality seeking, obtaining, or renegotiating §§ 9401.106 and 9401.108, amended and objectivity with which the Bureau credit or indebtedness with any entity § 9401.109(a)(5) would impose a administers its programs; and (3) the that is or was a party to a particular 1 See, e.g., Murray v. New Cingular Wireless borrower has obtained the loan or credit matter involving specific parties in Servs., Inc., 523 F.3d 719, 722 (7th Cir. 2008); Mays on more favorable terms due to the which the employee: (1) Is currently v. Buckeye Rural Elec. Coop., 277 F.3d 873, 879 (6th employee’s work on a Bureau matter participating; (2) is aware of the matter Cir. 2002); Williams v. AT&T Wireless Servs., Inc., involving that lender. and believes it is likely the employee 5 F. Supp. 2d 1142, 1145 (W.D. Wash. 1998). VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:54 Jan 09, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\10JAP1.SGM 10JAP1

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 6 / Tuesday, January 10, 2017 / Proposed Rules 2925 disqualification requirement regarding a agent, attorney, consultant, contractor, requiring approval under the Paperwork trust only if the employee or the or employee. This proposal builds on Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 employee’s spouse, domestic partner, or OGE’s impartiality rule at 5 CFR et seq.). dependent child has a vested legal or 2635.502(b)(iv), and is based on the List of Subjects in 5 CFR Part 9401 beneficial interest in the trust. Bureau’s presumption that a reasonable The existing regulation in paragraph person likely would question an Conflict of interests, Government (b) exempts five forms of credit and employee’s impartiality when the employees. indebtedness from the general employee is participating in a particular Authority and Issuance disqualification requirement as long as matter involving specific parties in the person with the credit or which a covered entity is a party or For the reasons set forth in the indebtedness is not in an adversarial represents a party. Disqualification of preamble, the Bureau, in concurrence position with the entity that extended the employee eliminates the potential with OGE, proposes to amend part 9401 the credit or to which the indebtedness for an appearance of preferential of title 5 of the Code of Federal is owed, and the credit or indebtedness treatment in those instances where the Regulations to read as follows: was offered on terms and conditions no employee’s connection to a covered more favorable than those offered to the PART 9401—SUPPLEMENTAL entity would likely raise questions general public. The current exemptions STANDARDS OF ETHICAL CONDUCT regarding the appropriateness of actions include: (1) Revolving consumer credit FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE BUREAU taken by the employee or the Bureau. or charge cards issued by insured OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL The current definition of ‘‘covered depository institutions or insured credit PROTECTION entity’’ includes, among others, a person unions; (2) overdraft protection on for whom the employee is aware that ■ 1. The authority citation for part 9401 checking accounts and similar accounts the employee’s parent, child, or sibling is revised to read as follows: at insured depository institutions or is serving or seeking to serve as an insured credit unions; (3) educational Authority: 5 U.S.C. 7301; 5 U.S.C. App. officer, director, trustee, general partner, (Ethics in Government Act of 1978); E.O. loans; (4) loans on residential homes; agent, attorney, consultant, contractor, and (5) amortizing indebtedness on 12674, 54 FR 15159 (April 12, 1989); 3 CFR, or employee. Employees have 1898 Comp., p.215, as modified by E.O. consumer goods (e.g., automobile loans). questioned whether this restriction 12731, 55 FR 42547 (October 17, 1990); 3 The proposed rule would modify the extends to stepfamily members and half CFR, 1990 Comp., p. 306; 5 CFR 2635.105, first two existing exemptions by siblings. The proposed regulation in 2635.403, 2635.502 and 2635.803. deleting the limitation related to insured paragraph (b)(2) extends the restriction ■ 2. Section 9401.102 is revised to read depository institutions or insured credit to stepfathers, stepmothers, stepsons, as follows: unions. As a result, all consumer credit stepdaughters, stepbrothers, stepsisters, or charge cards regardless of the issuer, half-brothers, and half-sisters. The § 9401.102 Definitions. and all checking or similar accounts Bureau has determined that this For purposes of this part: regardless of where held, would fall proposed regulation is needed so that a CFPB Ethics Regulations means the within an exemption. reasonable person will not question the supplemental ethics standards set forth The proposed amendment also would in this part. impartiality and objectivity with which add two new exemptions. The proposed Control means the possession, direct the Bureau administers its agency amendment at paragraph (b)(4) would or indirect, of the power or authority to programs. create an exemption for automobile manage, direct, or oversee. leases for primarily personal (consumer) III. Matters of Regulatory Procedure Credit has the meaning set forth in 12 use vehicles. The Bureau has U.S.C. 5481(7) and as further defined in Regulatory Flexibility Act determined that there is no need to limit regulations promulgated by the Bureau an employee’s ability to work on matters The Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 to implement that statute. A person may while holding this form of credit U.S.C. 601 et seq., as amended by the have credit without any outstanding because automobile leases tend to Small Business Regulatory Enforcement balance owed. involve fairly standardized agreements Fairness Act of 1996 (the RFA), requires Dependent child has the meaning set and automobile leases are similar in each agency to consider the potential forth in 5 CFR 2634.105(d). It includes nature to automobile loans, which are impact of its regulations on small an employee’s son, daughter, stepson, or already exempted. For the same reasons entities, including small businesses, stepdaughter if: as stated for § 9401.108, amended small governmental units, and small (1) Unmarried, under the age of 21, § 9401.109 also would create a new not-for-profit organizations, unless the and living in the employee’s household; exemption for the provision of head of the agency certifies that the or telephone, cable, gas, electricity, water, rules will not have a significant (2) Claimed as a ‘‘dependent’’ on the or other similar utility services on economic impact on a substantial employee’s income tax return. credit. number of small entities. The Director of Designated Agency Ethics Official the Bureau so certifies. The rule does (DAEO) means the official within the Proposed Amended § 9401.111— not impose any obligations or standards Bureau that the Director has appointed Restrictions on Participating in Matters of conduct for purposes of analysis to coordinate and manage the ethics Involving Covered Entities under the RFA, and it therefore does not program at the Bureau, under 5 CFR The proposed rule would amend pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with PROPOSALS give rise to a regulatory compliance 2638.202(b). For purposes of this part, § 9401.111 by reorganizing this section burden for small entities. the term ‘‘DAEO’’ also includes the and expanding the definition of Alternate DAEO appointed under 5 CFR ‘‘covered entity.’’ Proposed paragraph Paperwork Reduction Act 2638.202(b), and a designee of the (b)(1) would expand the definition to The Bureau has determined that this DAEO or Alternate DAEO unless a include any person for whom the proposed rule does not impose any new particular provision says an authority is employee is serving or seeking to serve, recordkeeping, reporting, or disclosure reserved to the DAEO. or has served within the last year, as an requirements on members of the public Director means the Director of the officer, director, trustee, general partner, that would be collections of information Bureau. VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:54 Jan 09, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\10JAP1.SGM 10JAP1

2926 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 6 / Tuesday, January 10, 2017 / Proposed Rules Domestic partner means a person Particular matter has the meaning set Security means an interest in debt or with whom a Bureau employee: forth in 5 CFR 2635.402(b)(3). The term equity instruments. The term includes (1) Has a close and committed includes a matter that involves without limitation, secured and personal relationship and both parties deliberation, decision, or action and is unsecured bonds, debentures, notes, are at least 18 years of age, are each focused upon the interests of specific securitized assets, commercial papers, other’s sole domestic partner and intend persons or a discrete and identifiable and preferred and common stock. The to remain in the relationship class of persons. It may include term encompasses both current and indefinitely, and neither is married to, governmental action such as legislation, contingent ownership interests; a in a civil union with, or partnered with regulations, or policy-making that is beneficial or legal interest derived from any other spouse or domestic partner; narrowly focused on the interest of a a trust; a right to acquire or dispose of (2) Is not related by blood in a manner discrete and identifiable class of any long or short position in debt or that would bar marriage under the laws persons. equity interests; interests convertible of the jurisdiction in which the Particular matter involving specific into debt or equity interests; and employee resides; parties has the meaning set forth in 5 options, rights, warrants, puts, calls, (3) Is in a financially interdependent CFR 2641.201(h). Such a matter straddles, derivatives, and other similar relationship in which both agree to be typically involves a specific proceeding interests. It does not include deposits; responsible for each other’s common affecting the legal rights of the parties or credit union shares; a future interest welfare and share in financial an isolatable transaction or related set of created by someone other than the obligations; and transactions between identified parties. employee or the employee’s spouse or (4) Has shared for at least six months The term includes without limitation, a dependent child; or a right as a the same regular and permanent contract, audit, enforcement action, beneficiary of an estate that has not been residence in a committed relationship examination, investigation, litigation settled. and both parties intend to do so proceeding, or request for a ruling. Special Government employee has the indefinitely, or would maintain a Person has the same meaning set forth meaning set forth in 5 CFR 2635.102(l). common residence but for an in 5 CFR 2635.102(k). It includes Spouse means an employee’s husband assignment abroad or other without limitation, an individual, or wife by lawful marriage, but does not employment-related, financial, or corporation and subsidiaries it controls, include an employee’s spouse if: similar obstacle. company, association, firm, partnership, (1) The employee and the employee’s Employee means an employee of the spouse are separated; society, joint stock company, or any Bureau, other than a special (2) The employee and the employee’s other organization or institution. Government employee. spouse live apart; Entity supervised by the Bureau Practice of law means the provision of legal advice or services where there is (3) There is an intention to end the means a person that is subject to the marriage or separate permanently; and Bureau’s supervision authority pursuant a client relationship of trust or reliance. One is presumed to be practicing law (4) The employee has no control over to 12 U.S.C. 5514(a)(1) or 5515(a) and in the separated spouse’s securities. regulations promulgated thereunder, as when engaging in any of the following conduct on behalf of another: Vested legal or beneficial interest identified on a list to be maintained by means a present right or title to the Bureau. (1) Preparing any legal document, including any deeds, mortgages, property, which carries with it an Indebted or indebtedness means a existing right of alienation, even though legal obligation under which an assignments, discharges, leases, trust instruments, or any other instruments the right to possession or enjoyment individual or borrower received money may be postponed to some uncertain or assets on credit, and currently owes intended to affect interests in real or personal property, wills, codicils, time in the future. This includes a payment. future interest when one has a right, Indebted to an entity means an instruments intended to affect the disposition of property of decedents’ defeasible or indefeasible, to immediate obligation to make payments to an possession or enjoyment of the property, entity as a result of an indebtedness, estates, other instruments intended to affect or secure legal rights, and upon the ceasing of another’s interest. whether originally made with that entity ■ 3. Section 9401.104 is revised to read or with another entity. This includes contracts except routine agreements incidental to a regular course of as follows: without limitation, a servicer on a mortgage to whom payments are made. business; § 9401.104 Additional rules concerning OGE Standards mean the Standards of (2) Preparing or expressing legal outside employment for covered Ethical Conduct for Employees of the opinions; employees. Executive Branch contained in 5 CFR (3) Appearing or acting as an attorney (a) Prohibited outside employment part 2635. in any tribunal; with an entity supervised by the Bureau. Participate means personal and (4) Preparing any claims, demands or A covered employee shall not engage in substantial participation and has the pleadings of any kind, or any written compensated outside employment for meaning set forth in 5 CFR documents containing legal argument or an entity supervised by the Bureau or 2635.402(b)(4). An employee interpretation of law, for filing in any for an officer, director, or employee of participates when, for example, he or court, administrative agency, or other such entity. For purposes of this section, she makes a decision, gives approval or tribunal; ‘‘employment’’ has the same meaning as disapproval, renders advice, provides a (5) Providing advice or counsel as to pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with PROPOSALS set forth in § 9401.103(b) of this part. recommendation, conducts an how any of the activities described in (b) Use of professional licenses related investigation or examination, or takes an subparagraphs (1) through (4) might be to real estate. A covered employee who official action in a particular matter, and done, or whether they were done, in holds a license related to real estate, such involvement is of significance to accordance with applicable law; or mortgage brokerage, property appraisals, the matter. It requires more than official (6) Furnishing an attorney or or real property insurance is prohibited responsibility, knowledge, perfunctory attorneys, or other persons, to render the from using such license for the involvement, or involvement on an services described in subparagraphs (1) production of income. The DAEO, in administrative or peripheral issue. through (5) above. consultation with senior management in VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:54 Jan 09, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\10JAP1.SGM 10JAP1

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 6 / Tuesday, January 10, 2017 / Proposed Rules 2927 the Division in which the employee § 9401.106 Prohibited financial interests. (3) Federal retirement and thrift works, may grant a limited waiver to (a) Prohibited interests. Except as savings plans. Funds administered by this prohibition based on a written permitted by this section, an employee the Thrift Plan for Employees of the finding that the specific transaction or an employee’s spouse or minor child Federal Reserve System, the Retirement which requires use of the license will shall not own or control a security in: Plan for Employees of the Federal not create an appearance of loss of (1) An entity supervised by the Reserve System, the Thrift Savings Plan, impartiality or use of public office for Bureau; or or a Federal government agency. private gain. (2) A collective investment fund that (4) State pension plans. A pension (c) Definition of covered employee. has a stated policy of concentrating its plan established or maintained by a For purposes of this section, ‘‘covered investments in the financial services or State government or any political employee’’ means: banking industry. A collective subdivision of a State government for its (1) An employee in the Division of investment fund includes, without employees. Supervision, Enforcement, and Fair limitation, mutual funds, unit (c) Reporting and divestiture of Lending; investment trusts (UITs), exchange prohibited interests—(1) New (2) An employee serving in an traded funds (ETFs), real estate employees. Within 30 calendar days attorney position; investment trusts (REITs), and limited from the start of employment with the (3) An employee in the Office of partnerships. Bureau, an employee must notify the Research, serving as a section chief at (b) Exceptions. Interests prohibited in DAEO in writing of a financial interest Bureau pay band 71 or above or as a paragraph (a) of this section do not prohibited under paragraph (a) of this senior economist in the Compliance include the ownership or control of a section that the employee or the Analytics and Policy Section; security in: employee’s spouse or minor child (4) An employee serving in the Office (1) Collective investment funds. A acquired prior to the start of the of Consumer Response in an publicly traded or publicly available employee’s employment with the investigations position; collective investment fund if: Bureau. The employee or the (i) The fund does not have a stated employee’s spouse or minor child shall (5) An employee required to file a policy of concentrating its investments divest prohibited securities within 90 Public Financial Disclosure Report in the financial services or banking days after the start of the employee’s (OGE Form 278e) under 5 CFR part industry; and employment at the Bureau. 2634; or (ii) Neither the employee nor the (2) Newly prohibited interest. Within (6) Any other Bureau employee 30 days after the Bureau updates and employee’s spouse or minor child specified in a Bureau order or directive internally publishes a new list of exercises or has the ability to exercise whose duties and responsibilities, as entities supervised by the Bureau, an control over or selection of the financial determined by the DAEO, require employee who owns or controls, or interests held by the fund. application of the prohibition on whose spouse or minor child owns or (2) Diversified employee benefit plans. outside employment contained in this controls, a security in an entity newly A pension or other retirement fund, section to ensure public confidence that added to that list must notify the DAEO trust, or plan established or maintained the Bureau’s programs are conducted in writing. The employee or the by an employer or an employee impartially and objectively. employee’s spouse or minor child shall organization, or both, to provide its ■ 4. Section 9401.105 is amended by participants with medical, disability, divest prohibited securities within 90 revising paragraphs (a) introductory death, unemployment, or vacation days after internal publication of the text, (a)(1), (b)(1), and (b)(2) to read as benefits, training programs, day care new list. follows: centers, scholarship funds, prepaid legal (3) Interests acquired without specific § 9401.105 Additional rules concerning services, deferred income, or retirement intent. If an employee or an employee’s outside employment for Bureau attorneys. income (employee plan), provided: spouse or minor child acquires a (a) Prohibited outside practice of law. (i) The employee plan does not have financial interest prohibited under In addition to the prior approval a stated policy of concentrating its paragraph (a) of this section as a result requirements under § 9401.103 and the investments in any industry, business, of marriage, inheritance, or otherwise outside employment restrictions under single country other than the United without specific intent to acquire, the § 9401.104 of this part, an employee States, or bonds of a single State within employee must notify the DAEO in serving in an attorney position shall not the United States; writing within 30 days of the engage in the practice of law outside the (ii) The investments of the employee acquisition. The employee or the employee’s official Bureau duties that plan are administered by an employee’s spouse or minor child shall might require the attorney to: independent trustee; divest prohibited securities within 90 (iii) The employee plan’s trustee has days of the acquisition. (1) Take a position that is or appears to be in conflict with the interests of the a written policy of varying the plan (d) Disqualification and divestiture— Bureau; or investments; (1) Securities in entities supervised by (iv) Neither the employee nor the the Bureau. If an employee or an * * * * * employee’s spouse or minor child employee’s spouse or minor child owns (b) * * * participates in the selection of the or controls a security in an entity that (1) In those matters in which the is prohibited under paragraph (a)(1) of pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with PROPOSALS employee plan’s investments or attorney has participated personally and designates specific plan investments this section, the employee shall substantially as a Government (except for directing that contributions immediately disqualify himself or employee; or be divided among several different herself from participating in all (2) In those matters which are the categories of investments, such as particular matters affecting that entity, subject of the attorney’s official stocks, bonds, or mutual funds, which unless and until the security is divested responsibility. are available to plan participants); and or the employee is granted a waiver ■ 5. Section 9401.106 is revised to read (v) The employee plan is not a profit- pursuant to paragraph (e) of this section as follows: sharing or stock bonus plan. and the waiver includes an VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:54 Jan 09, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\10JAP1.SGM 10JAP1

2928 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 6 / Tuesday, January 10, 2017 / Proposed Rules authorization allowing the employee to confidence in the impartiality and ■ 7. Section 9401.108 is revised to read participate in such matters. objectivity with which: as follows: (2) Securities in collective investment (i) The employee performs the funds. If an employee or an employee’s employee’s official Bureau duties; and § 9401.108 Restrictions on seeking, spouse or minor child owns or controls (ii) The Division in which the obtaining, or renegotiating credit from an entity that is or represents a party to a a security in a collective investment employee works executes its programs matter to which an employee is assigned or fund that is prohibited under paragraph and functions. may be assigned. (a)(2) of this section, the employee shall (f) Covered third party entities. Immediately after becoming aware that (a) General rules regarding seeking, immediately disqualify himself or a covered third party entity owns or obtaining, or renegotiating credit or herself from participating in all controls a security that an employee indebtedness—(1) Prohibition. While an particular matters affecting one or more would be prohibited from owning or employee is assigned to participate in a holdings of the collective investment fund if the affected holding is invested controlling under paragraph (a) of this particular matter involving specific in the financial services or banking section, the employee shall report the parties, the employee or the employee’s industry, unless and until the collective interest in writing to the DAEO. The spouse or minor child shall not seek, investment fund is divested or the DAEO may require the employee to obtain, or renegotiate credit or employee is granted a waiver pursuant terminate the relationship with the indebtedness with an entity that is a to paragraph (e) of this section and the covered third party entity, disqualify party or represents a party to the matter. waiver includes an authorization himself or herself from certain This prohibition also applies to a allowing the employee to participate in particular matters, or take other action particular matter involving specific such matters. as necessary to avoid a statutory parties pending at the Bureau in which (e) Waivers. Upon request by the violation, a violation of the OGE the employee is not currently employee, the DAEO in the DAEO’s sole Standards, or the CFPB Ethics participating but of which the employee discretion has the authority to grant an Regulations, including an appearance of is aware and believes it is likely that the individual waiver under this paragraph. misuse of position or loss of employee will participate. The DAEO’s authority to grant an impartiality. For purposes of this (2) Cooling off period. The prohibition individual waiver under this paragraph paragraph, ‘‘covered third party entity’’ in paragraph (a)(1) of this section may not be delegated to any person includes: continues for two years after the except the Alternate DAEO. The DAEO, (1) A partnership in which the employee’s participation in the in consultation with senior management employee or the employee’s spouse or particular matter has ended. in the Division in which the employee minor child is a general partner; (b) Rules regarding credit or works, may issue a written waiver (2) A partnership or closely held indebtedness secured by principal permitting the employee or the corporation in which the employee or residence. Notwithstanding paragraph employee’s spouse or minor child to the employee’s spouse or minor child (a) of this section, an employee or an own or control a particular security that individually or jointly holds more than employee’s spouse or minor child may otherwise would be prohibited by this a 10 percent equity interest; seek, obtain, or renegotiate credit or (3) A trust in which the employee or indebtedness secured by residential real section, after considering all relevant the employee’s spouse or minor child property with an entity, subject to the factors. Relevant factors include, has a vested legal or beneficial interest; following conditions: without limitation, whether: (4) An investment club or similar (1) Mitigating circumstances exist due (1) The residential real property is or informal investment arrangement will be the principal residence of the to the way the employee or the between the employee or the employee’s employee or the employee’s spouse or employee’s spouse or minor child spouse or minor child, and others; minor child; acquired ownership or control of the (5) A qualified profit sharing, security. Mitigating circumstances may (2) A minimum of three months have retirement, or similar plan in which the passed since the end of the employee’s include without limitation: employee or the employee’s spouse or (i) The employee or the employee’s participation in each particular matter minor child has an interest; or involving specific parties in which that spouse or minor child acquired the (6) An entity in which the employee security through inheritance, merger, entity was a party or represented a or the employee’s spouse or minor child party; acquisition, or other change in corporate individually or jointly holds more than structure, or otherwise without specific (3) The employee is disqualified from a 25 percent equity interest. participating in particular matters intent on the part of the employee or the ■ 6. Section 9401.107 and the section employee’s spouse or minor child; or involving specific parties in which that heading are revised to read as follows: entity is a party or represents a party (ii) The employee’s spouse received the security as part of a compensation § 9401.107 Prohibition on acceptance of while the employee or the employee’s package in connection with credit or indebtedness on preferential terms spouse or minor child is seeking, employment or prior to marriage to the from an entity supervised by the Bureau. obtaining, or renegotiating the credit or employee; An employee or the employee’s indebtedness; (2) The employee makes a prompt and spouse or minor child may not accept (4) The employee or the employee’s complete written disclosure of the credit from, become indebted to, or spouse or minor child seeking, security to the DAEO; enter into a financial relationship with obtaining, or negotiating the credit or pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with PROPOSALS (3) The disqualification of the an entity supervised by the Bureau, indebtedness must satisfy all financial employee from participating in unless the credit, indebtedness, or other requirements generally applicable to all particular matters pursuant to paragraph financial relationship: applicants for the same type of credit or (d) of this section, as specified in the (1) Is offered on terms and conditions indebtedness for residential real written waiver, would not unduly no more favorable than those offered to property; and interfere with the full performance of the general public; and (5) The credit or indebtedness is the employee’s duties; and (2) Is not otherwise prohibited by law obtained on terms and conditions no (4) The granting of the waiver would or inconsistent with the OGE Standards more favorable than those offered to the not unduly undermine the public’s or the CFPB Ethics Regulations. general public. VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:54 Jan 09, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\10JAP1.SGM 10JAP1

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 6 / Tuesday, January 10, 2017 / Proposed Rules 2929 (c) Specific rules for employee’s terms and conditions no more favorable ■ 9. Section 9401.110 is revised to read spouse and minor child. The than those offered to the general public: as follows: prohibitions in paragraphs (a) and (b) of (1) Revolving consumer credit or this section do not apply when the charge cards; § 9401.110 Prohibited recommendations. employee’s spouse or minor child is (2) Overdraft protection on checking An employee shall not make seeking, obtaining, or renegotiating accounts and similar accounts; and (3) The provision of telephone, cable, recommendations or suggestions, credit or indebtedness and: directly or indirectly, concerning the (1) The credit or indebtedness is gas, electricity, water, or other similar utility services provided on credit (i.e., acquisition or sale or other divestiture of supported only by the income or a security in an entity supervised by the independent means of the spouse or the service is provided before payment is due such that consumers incur debt Bureau, or an entity that is or represents minor child; as they use the service and receive a party to a particular matter involving (2) The credit or indebtedness is periodic bills for the services used). specific parties to which the employee obtained on terms and conditions no (f) Waivers. The DAEO, after is assigned. more favorable than those offered to the consultation with senior management in ■ 10. Section 9401.111 is revised to read general public; and the Division in which the employee as follows: (3) The employee does not participate works, may grant a written waiver from in the negotiating for the credit or the prohibition in paragraphs (a) or (b) § 9401.111 Restriction on participating in indebtedness or serve as co-maker, of this section or the disqualification matters involving covered entities. endorser or guarantor of the credit or requirement in paragraph (d) of this indebtedness. (a) Disqualification required. Absent section, based on a determination that (d) Disqualification requirement for participation in matters otherwise an authorization pursuant to paragraph credit sought by person related to an prohibited by this section would not be (c) of this section, an employee shall not employee. An employee shall disqualify prohibited by law (18 U.S.C. 208) or participate in a particular matter himself or herself from participating in create an appearance of loss of involving specific parties if a covered a particular matter involving specific impartiality or use of public office for entity is or represents a party to the parties as soon as the employee learns private gain, and would not otherwise matter. that any of the following persons are be inconsistent with the OGE Standards (b) ‘‘Covered entity’’ defined. For seeking, obtaining, or renegotiating or the CFPB Ethics Regulations. credit or indebtedness with an entity purposes of this section, a ‘‘covered ■ 8. Section 9401.109 is amended by: entity’’ includes: that is or represents a party to the ■ a. Revising the section heading; matter: ■ b. Revising paragraphs (a)(5) and (1) Any person for whom the (1) The employee’s spouse, domestic (b)(1) through (5); and employee is serving or seeking to serve, partner, or dependent child; ■ c. Adding paragraphs (b)(6) and (7). or has served with the last year, as (2) A partnership in which the The revisions and additions read as officer, director, trustee, general partner, employee or the employee’s spouse, follows: agent, attorney, consultant, contractor, domestic partner, or dependent child is or employee; or § 9401.109 Disqualification of employees a general partner; from particular matters involving existing (2) Any person for whom the (3) A partnership or closely held creditors. employee is aware the employee’s corporation in which the employee or (a) * * * spouse, domestic partner, fiancé, child, the employee’s spouse, domestic (5) A trust in which the employee or parent, sibling, stepfather, stepmother, partner, or dependent child individually the employee’s spouse, domestic or jointly owns or controls more than a stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, partner, or dependent child has a vested stepsister, half-brother, half-sister, or 10 percent equity interest; legal or beneficial interest; (4) A trust in which the employee or member of the employee’s household is * * * * * serving or seeking to serve as an officer, the employee’s spouse, domestic (b) * * * partner, or dependent child has a vested director, trustee, general partner, agent, (1) Revolving consumer credit or attorney, consultant, contractor, or legal or beneficial interest; charge cards; (5) An investment club or similar employee. (2) Overdraft protection on checking informal investment arrangement accounts and similar accounts; (c) Waivers. The DAEO may authorize between the employee or the employee’s (3) Amortizing indebtedness on the employee to participate in a matter spouse, domestic partner, or dependent consumer goods (e.g., automobiles); that would require disqualification child, and others; (4) Automobile leases for primarily under paragraph (a) of this section, (6) A qualified profit sharing, personal (consumer) use vehicles; using the authorization process set forth retirement, or similar plan in which the (5) The provision of telephone, cable, in 5 CFR 2635.502(d) of the OGE employee or the employee’s spouse, gas, electricity, water, or other similar Standards. The DAEO will consult with domestic partner, or dependent child utility services provided on credit (i.e., senior management in the Division in has an interest; or the service is provided before payment which the employee works before (7) An entity in which the employee is due such that consumers incur debt issuing such an authorization. or the employee’s spouse, domestic as they use the service and receive partner, or dependent child individually periodic bills for the services used); Dated: December 15, 2016. pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with PROPOSALS or jointly holds more than a 25 percent (6) Educational loans (e.g., student Richard Cordray, equity interest. loans; loans taken out by a parent or Director, Bureau of Consumer Financial (e) Exemptions. The following forms guardian to pay for a child’s education Protection. of credit are exempted from the costs); and Walter M. Shaub, Jr., prohibitions in paragraphs (a) and (b) of (7) Loans on residential homes (e.g., home mortgages; home equity lines of Director, Office of Government Ethics. this section and the disqualification credit). [FR Doc. 2016–31596 Filed 1–9–17; 8:45 am] requirement in paragraph (d) of this section, provided the credit is offered on * * * * * BILLING CODE 4810–AM–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:54 Jan 09, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\10JAP1.SGM 10JAP1


Document Created: 2018-02-01 14:54:13
Document Modified: 2018-02-01 14:54:13
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionProposed rule with request for public comment.
DatesComments are invited and must be received on or before February 9, 2017.
ContactAmber Vail, Senior Ethics Counsel, at (202) 435-7305 or Amy Mertz Brown, Alternate Designated Agency Ethics Official, at (202) 435-7256 at the Legal Division, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
FR Citation82 FR 2921 
RIN Number3209-AA15
CFR AssociatedConflict of Interests and Government Employees
2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR