83_FR_1977 83 FR 1968 - Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

83 FR 1968 - Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 9 (January 12, 2018)

Page Range1968-1972
FR Document2017-28241

The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (CFPB or Bureau) is publishing this agenda as part of the Fall 2017 Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. The CFPB reasonably anticipates having the regulatory matters identified below under consideration during the period from November 1, 2017 to October 31, 2018. The next agenda will be published in spring 2018 and will update this agenda through fall 2018. Publication of this agenda is in accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 9 (Friday, January 12, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 9 (Friday, January 12, 2018)]
[Unknown Section]
[Pages 1968-1972]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-28241]



[[Page 1967]]

Vol. 83

Friday,

No. 9

January 12, 2018

Part XXI





 Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection





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 Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

Federal Register / Vol. 83 , No. 9 / Friday, January 12, 2018 / 
Unified Agenda

[[Page 1968]]


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BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION

12 CFR CH. X


Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

AGENCY: Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.

ACTION: Semiannual regulatory agenda.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (CFPB or Bureau) 
is publishing this agenda as part of the Fall 2017 Unified Agenda of 
Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. The CFPB reasonably 
anticipates having the regulatory matters identified below under 
consideration during the period from November 1, 2017 to October 31, 
2018. The next agenda will be published in spring 2018 and will update 
this agenda through fall 2018. Publication of this agenda is in 
accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).

DATES: This information is current as of September 28, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, 1700 G Street NW, 
Washington, DC 20552.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A staff contact is included for each 
regulatory item listed herein.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The CFPB is publishing its Fall 2017 Agenda 
as part of the Fall 2017 Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and 
Deregulatory Actions, which is coordinated by the Office of Management 
and Budget under Executive Order 12866. The agenda lists the regulatory 
matters that the CFPB reasonably anticipates having under consideration 
during the period from November 1, 2017, to October 31, 2018, as 
described further below.\1\ The CFPB's participation in the Unified 
Agenda is voluntary. The complete Unified Agenda is available to the 
public at the following website: http://www.reginfo.gov.
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    \1\ The listing does not include certain routine, frequent, or 
administrative matters. Further, certain of the information fields 
for the listing are not applicable to independent regulatory 
agencies, including the CFPB, and, accordingly, the CFPB has 
indicated responses of ``no'' for such fields.
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    Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer 
Protection Act, Public Law 111-203, 124 Stat. 1376 (Dodd-Frank Act), 
the CFPB has rulemaking, supervisory, enforcement, and other 
authorities relating to consumer financial products and services. These 
authorities include the ability to issue regulations under more than a 
dozen Federal consumer financial laws, which transferred to the CFPB 
from seven Federal agencies on July 21, 2011. The Bureau's general 
purpose, as specified in section 1021 of the Dodd-Frank Act, is to 
implement and enforce Federal consumer financial law consistently for 
the purpose of ensuring that all consumers have access to markets for 
consumer financial products and services and that markets for consumer 
financial products and services are fair, transparent, and competitive.
    The CFPB is working on a wide range of initiatives to address 
issues in markets for consumer financial products and services that are 
not reflected in this notice because the Unified Agenda is limited to 
rulemaking activities. Section 1021 of the Dodd-Frank Act specifies the 
objectives of the Bureau, including providing consumers with timely and 
understandable information to make responsible decisions about 
financial transactions; protecting consumers from unfair, deceptive, or 
abusive acts and practices and from discrimination; addressing 
outdated, unnecessary, or unduly burdensome regulations; enforcing 
Federal consumer financial law consistently in order to promote fair 
competition, without regard to the status of a covered person as a 
depository institution; and promoting the transparent and efficient 
operation of markets for consumer financial products and services to 
facilitate access and innovation. The CFPB's regulatory work in pursuit 
of those objectives can be grouped into three main categories: (1) 
Implementing statutory directives; (2) other efforts to address market 
failures, facilitate fair competition among financial services 
providers, and improve consumer understanding; and (3) modernizing, 
clarifying, and streamlining consumer financial regulations to reduce 
unwarranted regulatory burdens.

Implementing Statutory Directives

    Much of the Bureau's rulemaking work is focusing on implementing 
directives mandated in the Dodd-Frank Act and other statutes. As part 
of these rulemakings, the Bureau is working to achieve the consumer 
protection objectives of the statutes while minimizing regulatory 
burden on financial services providers and facilitating a smooth 
implementation process for both industry and consumers.
    For example, the Bureau is continuing efforts to facilitate 
implementation of critical consumer protections under the Dodd-Frank 
Act that guard against mortgage market practices that contributed to 
the nation's most significant financial crisis in several decades. 
Since 2013, the Bureau has issued regulations as directed by the Dodd-
Frank Act to implement certain protections for mortgage originations 
and servicing, integrate various Federal mortgage disclosures, and 
amend mortgage reporting requirements under the Home Mortgage 
Disclosure Act (HMDA). The Bureau is conducting follow-up rulemakings 
as warranted to address issues that have arisen during the 
implementation process for these rules and to provide greater 
clarification and certainty to financial services providers. The Bureau 
has three such efforts underway at this time:
     In August, the Bureau finalized amendments to Regulation C 
to facilitate implementation of a rule it issued in 2015 to effectuate 
Dodd-Frank Act amendments to HMDA. The amendments included a number of 
clarifications, technical corrections, and minor changes to the HMDA 
regulation, which largely takes effect in 2018, as well as temporarily 
changing the reporting threshold for open-end lines of credit. The 
Bureau issued a final rule in September amending Regulation B, which 
implements the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), that also concerns 
data collection. The Bureau is also continuing to work closely with 
industry and other regulators to streamline and modernize HMDA data 
collection and reporting in conjunction with implementation of the 
Dodd-Frank amendments. For example, the Bureau in September sought 
comment on draft guidance for what HMDA information will be released to 
the general public in light of privacy concerns as specified in the 
Dodd-Frank Act.
     The Bureau is expecting to issue a proposed rule and an 
interim final rule in early October to address narrow issues concerning 
the timing of certain mortgage servicing disclosure requirements. The 
proposed rule and interim final rule relate to concerns raised by 
industry participants in connection with the mortgage servicing rule 
that the Bureau issued in August 2016, under Regulation X, which 
implements the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) and 
Regulation Z, which implements the Truth in Lending Act (TILA).
     The Bureau is seeking comment on a follow up rulemaking 
concerning certain consolidated mortgage disclosures that consumers 
receive in connection with applying for and closing on a mortgage loan 
under the TILA and RESPA. The proposed amendments relate to when a 
creditor may compare charges paid by or imposed on the consumer to 
amounts disclosed on a Closing Disclosure, instead of a Loan Estimate, 
to determine

[[Page 1969]]

if an estimated closing cost was disclosed in good faith. The 
consolidated disclosures rule is the cornerstone of the Bureau's 
broader ``Know Before You Owe'' mortgage initiative.
    The Bureau is also working to implement section 1071 of the Dodd-
Frank Act, which amends ECOA to require financial institutions to 
report information concerning credit applications made by women-owned, 
minority-owned, and small businesses. This rulemaking could provide 
critical information about how these businesses--which are critical 
engines for economic growth--access credit. The Bureau held a public 
hearing on this subject in spring 2017, and released a white paper 
summarizing preliminary research on the small business lending market. 
In May 2017, the Bureau also issued a Request for Information seeking 
public comment on, among other things, the types of credit products 
offered and the types of data currently collected by lenders in this 
market and the potential complexity, cost of, and privacy issues 
related to, small business data collection. The comment period closed 
on September 14, 2017. The information received will help the Bureau 
determine how to implement the rule efficiently while minimizing 
burdens on lenders.

Other Efforts To Address Market Failures, Facilitate Fair Competition 
Among Financial Services Providers, and Improve Consumer Understanding

    The Bureau is considering rules in places where there are 
substantial market failures that make it difficult for consumers to 
engage in informed decision making and otherwise protect their own 
interests. In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act directs the Bureau to focus 
on activities that promote fair competition among financial services 
providers, which itself has substantial benefits for consumers.
    For example, the Bureau released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in 
June 2016, building on several years of research documenting consumer 
harms from practices related to payday loans, auto title loans, and 
other similar credit products. In particular, the Bureau is concerned 
that product structure, lack of underwriting, and certain other lender 
practices are interfering with consumer decision making with regard to 
such products and trapping large numbers of consumers in extended 
cycles of debt that they do not expect. The Bureau is also concerned 
that certain lenders' payment collection practices are causing 
substantial harm to consumers, including substantial unexpected fees 
and heightened risk of losing their checking accounts. The Bureau 
received more than one million comments in response to the proposal and 
is carefully considering how best to address concerns raised in the 
proposal in a manner consistent with the Bureau's objectives under the 
Dodd-Frank Act.
    The Bureau is also engaged in rulemaking activities regarding the 
debt collection market, which continues to be a top source of 
complaints to the Bureau. The Bureau is concerned that because 
consumers cannot choose their debt collectors or ``vote with their 
feet,'' they have less ability to protect themselves from harmful 
practices. In January 2017, the Bureau published the results of a 
survey of consumers about their experiences with debt collection. The 
Bureau has also received encouragement from industry to engage in 
rulemaking to resolve conflicts in case law and address issues of 
concern under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), such as 
the application of the 40-year-old statute to modern communication 
technologies. The Bureau released an outline of proposals under 
consideration in July 2016 concerning practices by companies that are 
``debt collectors'' under the FDCPA, in advance of convening a panel 
under the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) 
in conjunction with the Office of Management and Budget and the Small 
Business Administration's Chief Counsel for Advocacy to consult with 
representatives of small businesses that might be affected by the 
rulemaking. The Bureau expects to release a proposed rule concerning 
FDCPA collectors' communications practices and consumer disclosures. 
The Bureau intends to follow up separately at a later time about 
concerns regarding information flows between creditors and FDCPA 
collectors and about potential rules to govern creditors that collect 
their own debts.
    The Bureau is also engaged in policy analysis and further research 
initiatives in preparation for a potential rulemaking regarding 
overdraft programs on checking accounts. After several years of 
research, the Bureau believes that there are consumer protection 
concerns with regard to these programs. Consumers do not shop based on 
overdraft fee amounts and policies, and the market for overdraft 
services does not appear to be competitive. Under the current 
regulatory regime consumers can opt in to permit their financial 
institution to charge fees for ATM and point-of-sale debit overdrafts, 
but the complexity of the system may complicate consumer decision 
making. Despite widespread use of disclosure forms, the regime produces 
substantially different opt-in rates across different depository 
institutions and the Bureau's supervisory and enforcement work 
indicates that some institutions are aggressively steering consumers to 
opt in. The CFPB is engaged in consumer testing of revised opt-in forms 
and considering whether other regulatory changes may be warranted to 
enhance consumer decision making.
    In addition, the Bureau is continuing rulemaking activities that 
will ensure meaningful supervision of non-bank financial services 
providers in order to create a more level playing field for depository 
and non-depository institutions. Under section 1024 of the Dodd-Frank 
Act, the CFPB is authorized to supervise ``larger participants'' of 
markets for various consumer financial products and services as defined 
by Bureau rule. The Bureau has defined the threshold for larger 
participants in several markets in past rulemakings, and is now working 
to develop a proposed rule that would define non-bank ``larger 
participants'' in the market for personal loans, including consumer 
installment loans and vehicle title loans. The Bureau is also 
considering whether rules to require registration of these or other 
non-depository lenders would facilitate supervision, as has been 
suggested to the Bureau by both consumer advocates and industry groups.
    The Bureau's October 2016 rulemaking concerning prepaid financial 
products also advanced fairness and consistency objectives by creating 
a uniform disclosure regime and providing basic protections similar to 
those enjoyed by users of debit cards and credit cards. In April 2017, 
the Bureau extended the general effective date of the rule to April 1, 
2018. In June 2017, the Bureau issued a proposal that would make 
targeted changes to the 2016 prepaid rule to reduce implementation and 
compliance burdens on the industry and ensure consumer understanding of 
and access to these products. The Bureau expects to issue a final rule 
in fall 2017.

Modernizing, Streamlining, and Clarifying Consumer Financial 
Regulations

    The Bureau's third group of activities concerns modernizing, 
streamlining, and clarifying consumer financial regulations and other 
activities to reduce unwarranted regulatory burdens and facilitate 
consumer-friendly innovation and increased access to consumer financial 
markets as directed by the Dodd-Frank Act. Since most of

[[Page 1970]]

the Federal consumer financial laws that the Bureau administers were 
enacted in the 1960s and 1970s, there is often substantial demand for 
these activities from both industry and consumer advocates alike.
    In addition to some of the projects mentioned above that advance 
these objectives, such as the HMDA processes modernization and debt 
collection rulemaking, the Bureau is pursuing a number of other 
research, policy, and rulemaking initiatives. For example, section 
1022(d) of the Dodd-Frank Act specifically directs the Bureau to assess 
the effectiveness of significant rules five years after they are 
implemented, including seeking public comment. In spring and summer 
2017, the Bureau published requests for comment on its plans to assess 
the effectiveness of mortgage servicing rules, rules implementing 
portions of the Dodd-Frank Act requiring mortgage lenders to assess 
consumers' ability to repay, and rules implementing provisions of the 
Dodd-Frank Act regulating remittance transfers sent by consumers 
located in the United States to international recipients. The Bureau 
has received comments on all three section 1022(d) assessment plans. 
The comments also included recommendations for modifying, expanding, or 
eliminating various aspects of the three rules at issue. The Bureau is 
conducting substantial research for each of the section 1022(d) 
assessments, collecting and analyzing quantitative data where feasible. 
It will publish reports of these section 1022(d) assessments by the 
statutory deadlines (October 2018 for remittance transfers, January 
2019 for the mortgage rules described above). The findings in these 
reports will help the Bureau and the public evaluate the 
recommendations the Bureau received and inform the Bureau's decisions 
whether adjustments to rules are warranted.
    The Bureau is also beginning work this fall on the first in a 
series of reviews of existing regulations that it inherited from other 
agencies through the transfer of authorities under the Dodd-Frank Act. 
The Bureau had previously sought feedback on the inherited rules as a 
whole,\2\ and identified and executed several burden reduction projects 
from that undertaking.\3\ The Bureau has largely completed those 
initial projects,\4\ and believes that the next logical step is to 
review individual regulations--or portions of large regulations--in 
more detail to identify opportunities to clarify ambiguities, address 
developments in the marketplace, or modernize or streamline provisions. 
The Bureau notes that other Federal financial services regulators have 
engaged in these types of reviews over time, and believes that such an 
initiative would be a natural complement to its work to facilitate 
implementation of new regulations.
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    \2\ 76 FR 75825 (Dec. 5, 2011).
    \3\ See 79 FR 64057 (Oct. 28, 2014); 78 FR 25818 (May 3, 2013); 
78 FR 18221 (Mar. 26, 2013). In some cases Congress took action 
related to the same topics identified as part of the Bureau's 
streamlining initiative. See, e.g., 81 FR 44801 (July 11, 2016); 78 
FR 18221 (Mar. 26, 2013).
    \4\ The Bureau expects to complete work later this year on a 
final rule amending certain requirements concerning annual privacy 
notices under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. The Bureau conducted a 
prior rulemaking to create an exception to facilitate the ability of 
financial services providers to deliver such notices via their 
websites. 79 FR 64057 (Oct. 28, 2014). Congress then amended the 
underlying law to create a broader exception. That amendment took 
effect in December 2015, and the Bureau is completing certain 
conforming regulatory amendments to reflect the statutory change.
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    For its first review, the Bureau expects to focus primarily on 
subparts B and G of Regulation Z, which implement TILA with respect to 
open-end credit generally and credit cards in particular. As part of 
this general effort, the Bureau is considering rules to modernize the 
Bureau's database of credit card agreements to reduce burden on issuers 
that submit credit card agreements to the Bureau and make the database 
more useful for consumers and the general public. The Credit Card 
Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (CARD Act) 
requires credit card issuers to post their credit card agreements to 
their internet site, and submit those agreements to the Bureau to be 
posted on an internet site maintained by the Bureau. The Bureau 
believes an improved submission process and database would be more 
efficient for both industry and the Bureau and would allow consumers 
and the general public to access and analyze information more easily.
    The Bureau has also launched several initiatives focusing on ways 
to facilitate technological and product innovation that could benefit 
consumers. These include the CFPB's Trial Disclosure Waiver Program, 
which is designed to implement the Bureau's authority under section 
1032 of the Dodd-Frank Act to grant financial services providers 
temporary waivers to conduct controlled field experiments of consumer 
disclosures. In addition, the Bureau has published a policy to 
facilitate the issuance of ``No Action Letters'' indicating that Bureau 
staff has no present intention to recommend enforcement or supervisory 
action with respect to specific applicants who wish to provide 
innovative financial products or services that promise substantial 
consumer benefit but raise substantial uncertainty as to application of 
existing consumer financial laws.\5\ The Bureau has also recently 
published two ``Requests for Information'' (RFI) seeking to explore the 
potential benefits and risks to consumers of recent developments in the 
marketplace relating to use of consumer data. Specifically, one RFI 
focused on gathering information about the consumer benefits and risks 
associated with market developments related to the provision of 
products and services, based on the aggregation of a consumer's 
financial information maintained by multiple financial institutions 
that a consumer uses (e.g., personal financial management services) and 
that rely on third-party entities referred to as data aggregators 
acting with consumer permission to collect consumer financial account 
and account-related information.\6\ The other concerned use of so-
called ``alternative data'' in the credit process, including to assess 
the creditworthiness of consumers who do not have substantial 
traditional credit histories.\7\
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    \5\ See, e.g., Press Release, Bureau of Consumer Fin. Prot., 
CFPB Announces First No-Action Letter to Upstart Network (Sept. 14, 
2017), https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/newsroom/cfpb-announces-first-no-action-letter-upstart-network/.
    \6\ 81 FR 83806 (Nov. 22, 2016).
    \7\ 82 FR 11183 (Feb. 17, 2017).
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    In light of the feedback received in response to the RFIs and 
various other outreach to industry, consumer advocates, and other 
stakeholders, the Bureau has decided to add two new entries to its 
long-term regulatory agenda.\8\ This portion of the agenda, which 
focuses on potential regulatory actions that an agency may engage in 
beyond the current fiscal year, already contains entries concerning 
consumer reporting and student loan servicing. The Bureau is now adding 
entries concerning potential rulemakings to modernize Regulation E, 
which implements the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA), and to 
address issues of concern in connection with data aggregators, either 
under existing regulatory regimes such as EFTA and the Fair Credit 
Reporting Act or under the Dodd-Frank Act more generally. In both 
cases, the Bureau believes that technological and market developments 
may warrant rulemaking application to clarify the application of 
existing statutes and regulations, modernize and

[[Page 1971]]

streamline those laws, and address emerging consumer protection 
concerns.
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    \8\ Further, the Bureau is moving Amendments to FIRREA 
Concerning Appraisals (Automated Valuation Models) into the Long-
Term Actions based on continuing interagency discussions.
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    The Bureau has also launched an internal task force to coordinate 
and bolster the agency's continuing effort to fulfill its mandate to 
identify and relieve regulatory burdens, including with regard to small 
businesses, consistent with the Bureau's other objectives under section 
1021 of the Dodd-Frank Act. The task force is currently engaged in 
reviewing ideas for reduction of regulatory burden that have been 
suggested by Bureau stakeholders.

Further Planning

    Finally, the Bureau is continuing to conduct outreach and research 
to assess issues in various other markets for consumer financial 
products and services beyond those discussed above. As this work 
continues, the Bureau will evaluate possible policy responses, 
including possible rulemaking actions, taking into account the critical 
need for and effectiveness of various policy tools. The Bureau will 
update its regulatory agenda in spring 2018, to reflect the results of 
this further prioritization and planning.

    Dated: September 28, 2017.
 Kelly Thompson Cochran,
Assistant Director for Regulations, Bureau of Consumer Financial 
Protection.

           Consumer Financial Protection Bureau--Prerule Stage
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                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
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391.......................  Business Lending Data              3170-AA09
                             (Regulation B).
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         Consumer Financial Protection Bureau--Completed Actions
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                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
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392.......................  Payday, Vehicle Title, and         3170-AA40
                             Certain High-Cost
                             Installment Loans.
393.......................  Arbitration...............         3170-AA51
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CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU (CFPB)

Prerule Stage

391. Business Lending Data (Regulation B)

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Independent agency.
    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1691c-2
    Abstract: Section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and 
Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) amends the Equal Credit 
Opportunity Act (ECOA) to require financial institutions to report 
information concerning credit applications made by women-owned, 
minority-owned, and small businesses. The amendments to ECOA made by 
the Dodd-Frank Act require that certain data be collected, maintained, 
and reported, including the number of the application and date the 
application was received; the type and purpose of the loan or credit 
applied for; the amount of credit applied for and approved; the type of 
action taken with regard to each application and the date of such 
action; the census tract of the principal place of business; the gross 
annual revenue of the business; and the race, sex, and ethnicity of the 
principal owners of the business. The Dodd-Frank Act also provides 
authority for the CFPB to require any additional data that the CFPB 
determines would aid in fulfilling the purposes of this section. The 
Bureau is focusing on outreach and research to develop its 
understanding of the players, products, and practices in the small 
business lending market and of the potential ways to implement section 
1071. The CFPB then expects to begin developing proposed regulations 
concerning the data to be collected, potential ways to minimize burdens 
on lenders, and appropriate procedures and privacy protections needed 
for information-gathering and public disclosure.
    Timetable:

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               Action                    Date            FR Cite
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Prerule Activities..................   05/00/18  .......................
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    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: James Wylie, Office of Regulations, Consumer 
Financial Protection Bureau, Phone: 202 435-7700.
    RIN: 3170-AA09

CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU (CFPB)

Completed Actions

392. Payday, Vehicle Title, and Certain High-Cost Installment Loans

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Independent agency.
    Legal Authority: 12 U.S.C. 5531; 12 U.S.C. 5532; 12 U.S.C. 5512; 12 
U.S.C. 5551
    Abstract: The Bureau is conducting a rulemaking to address consumer 
harms from practices related to payday loans and other similar credit 
products, including failure to determine whether consumers have the 
ability to repay without default or re-borrowing and certain payment 
collection practices. The Bureau released a Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking in June 2016 that would identify it as an abusive and unfair 
practice for a lender to make a covered loan without reasonably 
determining that the consumer has the ability to repay the loan. Among 
other things, the proposal would require that, before making a covered 
loan, a lender must reasonably determine that the consumer has the 
ability to repay the loan. The Bureau received more than 1 million 
comments on the proposal.
    Timetable:

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               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   07/22/16  81 FR 47863
Request For Information.............   07/22/16  81 FR 47781
NPRM Comment Period End.............   10/07/16  .......................
Request For Information Comment        11/07/16  .......................
 Period End.
Final Rule..........................   11/17/17  82 FR 54472
Final Action Effective..............   01/16/18  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Mark Morelli, Office of Regulations, Consumer 
Financial Protection Bureau, Phone: 202 435-7700.
    RIN: 3170-AA40

[[Page 1972]]

393. Arbitration

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Independent agency.
    Legal Authority: 12 U.S.C. 5512(b); 12 U.S.C. 5518(b)
    Abstract: In July 2016, the Bureau finalized a rulemaking 
concerning the use of agreements providing for arbitration of any 
future dispute between covered persons and consumers in connection with 
the offering or providing of certain consumer financial products or 
services. The rulemaking followed on a report that the Bureau issued to 
Congress in March 2015 as required by the Dodd-Frank Act, as well as on 
preliminary results of arbitration research that were released by the 
Bureau in December 2013, and a May 2016 Notice of Proposed rulemaking. 
The Bureau received more than 110,000 comments in response to the 
proposal. The rule prohibited covered providers of certain consumer 
financial products and services from using an arbitration agreement to 
bar the consumer from filing or participating in a class action. Under 
the rule companies would still have been able to include arbitration 
clauses in their contracts. However, for contracts subject to the rule, 
the clauses would have had to say explicitly that they cannot be used 
to stop consumers from being part of a class action in court. The rule 
also required a covered provider that has an arbitration agreement and 
that is involved in arbitration pursuant to a pre-dispute arbitration 
agreement to submit specified arbitral records to the Bureau. Congress 
passed a joint resolution under the Congressional Review Act 
disapproving the arbitration rule; the President signed the joint 
resolution on November 1, 2017. Under the resolution, the arbitration 
rule shall have no force or effect.''
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   05/24/16  81 FR 32830
NPRM Comment Period End.............   08/22/16  .......................
Final Rule..........................   07/19/17  82 FR 33210
Final Rule Effective................   09/18/17  .......................
Notice of CRA Revocation............   11/22/17  82 FR 55500
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Eric Goldberg, Consumer Financial Protection 
Bureau, Office of Regulations, Phone: 202 435-7700.
    RIN: 3170-AA51

[FR Doc. 2017-28241 Filed 1-11-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4810-AM-P



                                                  1968                      Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 9 / Friday, January 12, 2018 / Unified Agenda

                                                  BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL                            July 21, 2011. The Bureau’s general                    issued regulations as directed by the
                                                  PROTECTION                                              purpose, as specified in section 1021 of               Dodd-Frank Act to implement certain
                                                                                                          the Dodd-Frank Act, is to implement                    protections for mortgage originations
                                                  12 CFR CH. X                                            and enforce Federal consumer financial                 and servicing, integrate various Federal
                                                                                                          law consistently for the purpose of                    mortgage disclosures, and amend
                                                  Semiannual Regulatory Agenda                            ensuring that all consumers have access                mortgage reporting requirements under
                                                  AGENCY:  Bureau of Consumer Financial                   to markets for consumer financial                      the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act
                                                  Protection.                                             products and services and that markets                 (HMDA). The Bureau is conducting
                                                  ACTION: Semiannual regulatory agenda.                   for consumer financial products and                    follow-up rulemakings as warranted to
                                                                                                          services are fair, transparent, and                    address issues that have arisen during
                                                  SUMMARY:    The Bureau of Consumer                      competitive.                                           the implementation process for these
                                                  Financial Protection (CFPB or Bureau) is                   The CFPB is working on a wide range                 rules and to provide greater clarification
                                                  publishing this agenda as part of the                   of initiatives to address issues in                    and certainty to financial services
                                                  Fall 2017 Unified Agenda of Federal                     markets for consumer financial products                providers. The Bureau has three such
                                                  Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions.                    and services that are not reflected in this            efforts underway at this time:
                                                  The CFPB reasonably anticipates having                  notice because the Unified Agenda is                      • In August, the Bureau finalized
                                                  the regulatory matters identified below                 limited to rulemaking activities. Section              amendments to Regulation C to facilitate
                                                  under consideration during the period                   1021 of the Dodd-Frank Act specifies                   implementation of a rule it issued in
                                                  from November 1, 2017 to October 31,                    the objectives of the Bureau, including                2015 to effectuate Dodd-Frank Act
                                                  2018. The next agenda will be published                 providing consumers with timely and                    amendments to HMDA. The
                                                  in spring 2018 and will update this                     understandable information to make                     amendments included a number of
                                                  agenda through fall 2018. Publication of                responsible decisions about financial                  clarifications, technical corrections, and
                                                  this agenda is in accordance with the                   transactions; protecting consumers from                minor changes to the HMDA regulation,
                                                  Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601                unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts and                 which largely takes effect in 2018, as
                                                  et seq.).                                               practices and from discrimination;                     well as temporarily changing the
                                                  DATES: This information is current as of                addressing outdated, unnecessary, or                   reporting threshold for open-end lines
                                                  September 28, 2017.                                     unduly burdensome regulations;                         of credit. The Bureau issued a final rule
                                                  ADDRESSES: Bureau of Consumer
                                                                                                          enforcing Federal consumer financial                   in September amending Regulation B,
                                                  Financial Protection, 1700 G Street NW,                 law consistently in order to promote fair              which implements the Equal Credit
                                                                                                          competition, without regard to the                     Opportunity Act (ECOA), that also
                                                  Washington, DC 20552.
                                                                                                          status of a covered person as a                        concerns data collection. The Bureau is
                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A
                                                                                                          depository institution; and promoting                  also continuing to work closely with
                                                  staff contact is included for each                      the transparent and efficient operation                industry and other regulators to
                                                  regulatory item listed herein.                          of markets for consumer financial                      streamline and modernize HMDA data
                                                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The CFPB                     products and services to facilitate access             collection and reporting in conjunction
                                                  is publishing its Fall 2017 Agenda as                   and innovation. The CFPB’s regulatory                  with implementation of the Dodd-Frank
                                                  part of the Fall 2017 Unified Agenda of                 work in pursuit of those objectives can                amendments. For example, the Bureau
                                                  Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory                     be grouped into three main categories:                 in September sought comment on draft
                                                  Actions, which is coordinated by the                    (1) Implementing statutory directives;                 guidance for what HMDA information
                                                  Office of Management and Budget under                   (2) other efforts to address market                    will be released to the general public in
                                                  Executive Order 12866. The agenda lists                 failures, facilitate fair competition                  light of privacy concerns as specified in
                                                  the regulatory matters that the CFPB                    among financial services providers, and                the Dodd-Frank Act.
                                                  reasonably anticipates having under                     improve consumer understanding; and                       • The Bureau is expecting to issue a
                                                  consideration during the period from                    (3) modernizing, clarifying, and                       proposed rule and an interim final rule
                                                  November 1, 2017, to October 31, 2018,                  streamlining consumer financial                        in early October to address narrow
                                                  as described further below.1 The CFPB’s                 regulations to reduce unwarranted                      issues concerning the timing of certain
                                                  participation in the Unified Agenda is                  regulatory burdens.                                    mortgage servicing disclosure
                                                  voluntary. The complete Unified                                                                                requirements. The proposed rule and
                                                  Agenda is available to the public at the                Implementing Statutory Directives                      interim final rule relate to concerns
                                                  following website: http://                                 Much of the Bureau’s rulemaking                     raised by industry participants in
                                                  www.reginfo.gov.                                        work is focusing on implementing                       connection with the mortgage servicing
                                                     Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall                      directives mandated in the Dodd-Frank                  rule that the Bureau issued in August
                                                  Street Reform and Consumer Protection                   Act and other statutes. As part of these               2016, under Regulation X, which
                                                  Act, Public Law 111–203, 124 Stat. 1376                 rulemakings, the Bureau is working to                  implements the Real Estate Settlement
                                                  (Dodd-Frank Act), the CFPB has                          achieve the consumer protection                        Procedures Act (RESPA) and Regulation
                                                  rulemaking, supervisory, enforcement,                   objectives of the statutes while                       Z, which implements the Truth in
                                                  and other authorities relating to                       minimizing regulatory burden on                        Lending Act (TILA).
                                                  consumer financial products and                         financial services providers and                          • The Bureau is seeking comment on
                                                  services. These authorities include the                 facilitating a smooth implementation                   a follow up rulemaking concerning
                                                  ability to issue regulations under more                 process for both industry and                          certain consolidated mortgage
                                                  than a dozen Federal consumer                           consumers.                                             disclosures that consumers receive in
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                                                  financial laws, which transferred to the                   For example, the Bureau is continuing               connection with applying for and
                                                  CFPB from seven Federal agencies on                     efforts to facilitate implementation of                closing on a mortgage loan under the
                                                                                                          critical consumer protections under the                TILA and RESPA. The proposed
                                                     1 The listing does not include certain routine,      Dodd-Frank Act that guard against                      amendments relate to when a creditor
                                                  frequent, or administrative matters. Further, certain   mortgage market practices that                         may compare charges paid by or
                                                  of the information fields for the listing are not
                                                  applicable to independent regulatory agencies,
                                                                                                          contributed to the nation’s most                       imposed on the consumer to amounts
                                                  including the CFPB, and, accordingly, the CFPB has      significant financial crisis in several                disclosed on a Closing Disclosure,
                                                  indicated responses of ‘‘no’’ for such fields.          decades. Since 2013, the Bureau has                    instead of a Loan Estimate, to determine


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                                                                           Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 9 / Friday, January 12, 2018 / Unified Agenda                                            1969

                                                  if an estimated closing cost was                        losing their checking accounts. The                    Despite widespread use of disclosure
                                                  disclosed in good faith. The                            Bureau received more than one million                  forms, the regime produces substantially
                                                  consolidated disclosures rule is the                    comments in response to the proposal                   different opt-in rates across different
                                                  cornerstone of the Bureau’s broader                     and is carefully considering how best to               depository institutions and the Bureau’s
                                                  ‘‘Know Before You Owe’’ mortgage                        address concerns raised in the proposal                supervisory and enforcement work
                                                  initiative.                                             in a manner consistent with the                        indicates that some institutions are
                                                     The Bureau is also working to                        Bureau’s objectives under the Dodd-                    aggressively steering consumers to opt
                                                  implement section 1071 of the Dodd-                     Frank Act.                                             in. The CFPB is engaged in consumer
                                                  Frank Act, which amends ECOA to                            The Bureau is also engaged in                       testing of revised opt-in forms and
                                                  require financial institutions to report                rulemaking activities regarding the debt               considering whether other regulatory
                                                  information concerning credit                           collection market, which continues to                  changes may be warranted to enhance
                                                  applications made by women-owned,                       be a top source of complaints to the                   consumer decision making.
                                                  minority-owned, and small businesses.                   Bureau. The Bureau is concerned that                      In addition, the Bureau is continuing
                                                  This rulemaking could provide critical                  because consumers cannot choose their                  rulemaking activities that will ensure
                                                  information about how these                             debt collectors or ‘‘vote with their feet,’’           meaningful supervision of non-bank
                                                  businesses—which are critical engines                   they have less ability to protect                      financial services providers in order to
                                                  for economic growth—access credit. The                  themselves from harmful practices. In                  create a more level playing field for
                                                  Bureau held a public hearing on this                    January 2017, the Bureau published the                 depository and non-depository
                                                  subject in spring 2017, and released a                  results of a survey of consumers about                 institutions. Under section 1024 of the
                                                  white paper summarizing preliminary                     their experiences with debt collection.                Dodd-Frank Act, the CFPB is authorized
                                                  research on the small business lending                  The Bureau has also received                           to supervise ‘‘larger participants’’ of
                                                  market. In May 2017, the Bureau also                    encouragement from industry to engage                  markets for various consumer financial
                                                  issued a Request for Information seeking                in rulemaking to resolve conflicts in                  products and services as defined by
                                                  public comment on, among other things,                  case law and address issues of concern                 Bureau rule. The Bureau has defined the
                                                  the types of credit products offered and                under the Fair Debt Collection Practices               threshold for larger participants in
                                                  the types of data currently collected by                Act (FDCPA), such as the application of                several markets in past rulemakings,
                                                  lenders in this market and the potential                the 40-year-old statute to modern                      and is now working to develop a
                                                  complexity, cost of, and privacy issues                 communication technologies. The                        proposed rule that would define non-
                                                  related to, small business data                         Bureau released an outline of proposals                bank ‘‘larger participants’’ in the market
                                                  collection. The comment period closed                   under consideration in July 2016                       for personal loans, including consumer
                                                  on September 14, 2017. The information                  concerning practices by companies that                 installment loans and vehicle title loans.
                                                  received will help the Bureau determine                 are ‘‘debt collectors’’ under the FDCPA,               The Bureau is also considering whether
                                                  how to implement the rule efficiently                   in advance of convening a panel under                  rules to require registration of these or
                                                  while minimizing burdens on lenders.                    the Small Business Regulatory                          other non-depository lenders would
                                                                                                          Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) in                   facilitate supervision, as has been
                                                  Other Efforts To Address Market
                                                                                                          conjunction with the Office of                         suggested to the Bureau by both
                                                  Failures, Facilitate Fair Competition
                                                                                                          Management and Budget and the Small                    consumer advocates and industry
                                                  Among Financial Services Providers,
                                                                                                          Business Administration’s Chief                        groups.
                                                  and Improve Consumer Understanding                                                                                The Bureau’s October 2016
                                                                                                          Counsel for Advocacy to consult with
                                                     The Bureau is considering rules in                   representatives of small businesses that               rulemaking concerning prepaid
                                                  places where there are substantial                      might be affected by the rulemaking.                   financial products also advanced
                                                  market failures that make it difficult for              The Bureau expects to release a                        fairness and consistency objectives by
                                                  consumers to engage in informed                         proposed rule concerning FDCPA                         creating a uniform disclosure regime
                                                  decision making and otherwise protect                   collectors’ communications practices                   and providing basic protections similar
                                                  their own interests. In addition, the                   and consumer disclosures. The Bureau                   to those enjoyed by users of debit cards
                                                  Dodd-Frank Act directs the Bureau to                    intends to follow up separately at a later             and credit cards. In April 2017, the
                                                  focus on activities that promote fair                   time about concerns regarding                          Bureau extended the general effective
                                                  competition among financial services                    information flows between creditors and                date of the rule to April 1, 2018. In June
                                                  providers, which itself has substantial                 FDCPA collectors and about potential                   2017, the Bureau issued a proposal that
                                                  benefits for consumers.                                 rules to govern creditors that collect                 would make targeted changes to the
                                                     For example, the Bureau released a                   their own debts.                                       2016 prepaid rule to reduce
                                                  Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in June                      The Bureau is also engaged in policy                implementation and compliance
                                                  2016, building on several years of                      analysis and further research initiatives              burdens on the industry and ensure
                                                  research documenting consumer harms                     in preparation for a potential                         consumer understanding of and access
                                                  from practices related to payday loans,                 rulemaking regarding overdraft                         to these products. The Bureau expects to
                                                  auto title loans, and other similar credit              programs on checking accounts. After                   issue a final rule in fall 2017.
                                                  products. In particular, the Bureau is                  several years of research, the Bureau
                                                  concerned that product structure, lack                  believes that there are consumer                       Modernizing, Streamlining, and
                                                  of underwriting, and certain other                      protection concerns with regard to these               Clarifying Consumer Financial
                                                  lender practices are interfering with                   programs. Consumers do not shop based                  Regulations
                                                  consumer decision making with regard                    on overdraft fee amounts and policies,                   The Bureau’s third group of activities
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                                                  to such products and trapping large                     and the market for overdraft services                  concerns modernizing, streamlining,
                                                  numbers of consumers in extended                        does not appear to be competitive.                     and clarifying consumer financial
                                                  cycles of debt that they do not expect.                 Under the current regulatory regime                    regulations and other activities to
                                                  The Bureau is also concerned that                       consumers can opt in to permit their                   reduce unwarranted regulatory burdens
                                                  certain lenders’ payment collection                     financial institution to charge fees for               and facilitate consumer-friendly
                                                  practices are causing substantial harm to               ATM and point-of-sale debit overdrafts,                innovation and increased access to
                                                  consumers, including substantial                        but the complexity of the system may                   consumer financial markets as directed
                                                  unexpected fees and heightened risk of                  complicate consumer decision making.                   by the Dodd-Frank Act. Since most of


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                                                  1970                      Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 9 / Friday, January 12, 2018 / Unified Agenda

                                                  the Federal consumer financial laws                     largely completed those initial projects,4               to provide innovative financial products
                                                  that the Bureau administers were                        and believes that the next logical step is               or services that promise substantial
                                                  enacted in the 1960s and 1970s, there is                to review individual regulations—or                      consumer benefit but raise substantial
                                                  often substantial demand for these                      portions of large regulations—in more                    uncertainty as to application of existing
                                                  activities from both industry and                       detail to identify opportunities to clarify              consumer financial laws.5 The Bureau
                                                  consumer advocates alike.                               ambiguities, address developments in                     has also recently published two
                                                     In addition to some of the projects                  the marketplace, or modernize or                         ‘‘Requests for Information’’ (RFI)
                                                  mentioned above that advance these                      streamline provisions. The Bureau notes                  seeking to explore the potential benefits
                                                                                                          that other Federal financial services                    and risks to consumers of recent
                                                  objectives, such as the HMDA processes
                                                                                                          regulators have engaged in these types                   developments in the marketplace
                                                  modernization and debt collection
                                                                                                          of reviews over time, and believes that                  relating to use of consumer data.
                                                  rulemaking, the Bureau is pursuing a
                                                                                                          such an initiative would be a natural                    Specifically, one RFI focused on
                                                  number of other research, policy, and
                                                                                                          complement to its work to facilitate                     gathering information about the
                                                  rulemaking initiatives. For example,                    implementation of new regulations.                       consumer benefits and risks associated
                                                  section 1022(d) of the Dodd-Frank Act                      For its first review, the Bureau                      with market developments related to the
                                                  specifically directs the Bureau to assess               expects to focus primarily on subparts B                 provision of products and services,
                                                  the effectiveness of significant rules five             and G of Regulation Z, which                             based on the aggregation of a
                                                  years after they are implemented,                       implement TILA with respect to open-                     consumer’s financial information
                                                  including seeking public comment. In                    end credit generally and credit cards in                 maintained by multiple financial
                                                  spring and summer 2017, the Bureau                      particular. As part of this general effort,              institutions that a consumer uses (e.g.,
                                                  published requests for comment on its                   the Bureau is considering rules to                       personal financial management services)
                                                  plans to assess the effectiveness of                    modernize the Bureau’s database of                       and that rely on third-party entities
                                                  mortgage servicing rules, rules                         credit card agreements to reduce burden                  referred to as data aggregators acting
                                                  implementing portions of the Dodd-                      on issuers that submit credit card                       with consumer permission to collect
                                                  Frank Act requiring mortgage lenders to                 agreements to the Bureau and make the                    consumer financial account and
                                                  assess consumers’ ability to repay, and                 database more useful for consumers and                   account-related information.6 The other
                                                  rules implementing provisions of the                    the general public. The Credit Card                      concerned use of so-called ‘‘alternative
                                                  Dodd-Frank Act regulating remittance                    Accountability Responsibility and                        data’’ in the credit process, including to
                                                  transfers sent by consumers located in                  Disclosure Act of 2009 (CARD Act)                        assess the creditworthiness of
                                                  the United States to international                      requires credit card issuers to post their               consumers who do not have substantial
                                                  recipients. The Bureau has received                     credit card agreements to their internet                 traditional credit histories.7
                                                  comments on all three section 1022(d)                   site, and submit those agreements to the                    In light of the feedback received in
                                                  assessment plans. The comments also                     Bureau to be posted on an internet site                  response to the RFIs and various other
                                                  included recommendations for                            maintained by the Bureau. The Bureau                     outreach to industry, consumer
                                                  modifying, expanding, or eliminating                    believes an improved submission                          advocates, and other stakeholders, the
                                                  various aspects of the three rules at                   process and database would be more                       Bureau has decided to add two new
                                                  issue. The Bureau is conducting                         efficient for both industry and the                      entries to its long-term regulatory
                                                  substantial research for each of the                    Bureau and would allow consumers and                     agenda.8 This portion of the agenda,
                                                  section 1022(d) assessments, collecting                 the general public to access and analyze                 which focuses on potential regulatory
                                                  and analyzing quantitative data where                   information more easily.                                 actions that an agency may engage in
                                                  feasible. It will publish reports of these                 The Bureau has also launched several                  beyond the current fiscal year, already
                                                  section 1022(d) assessments by the                      initiatives focusing on ways to facilitate               contains entries concerning consumer
                                                  statutory deadlines (October 2018 for                   technological and product innovation                     reporting and student loan servicing.
                                                  remittance transfers, January 2019 for                  that could benefit consumers. These                      The Bureau is now adding entries
                                                  the mortgage rules described above).                    include the CFPB’s Trial Disclosure                      concerning potential rulemakings to
                                                  The findings in these reports will help                 Waiver Program, which is designed to                     modernize Regulation E, which
                                                  the Bureau and the public evaluate the                  implement the Bureau’s authority under                   implements the Electronic Fund
                                                  recommendations the Bureau received                     section 1032 of the Dodd-Frank Act to                    Transfer Act (EFTA), and to address
                                                  and inform the Bureau’s decisions                       grant financial services providers                       issues of concern in connection with
                                                  whether adjustments to rules are                        temporary waivers to conduct                             data aggregators, either under existing
                                                  warranted.                                              controlled field experiments of                          regulatory regimes such as EFTA and
                                                                                                          consumer disclosures. In addition, the                   the Fair Credit Reporting Act or under
                                                     The Bureau is also beginning work                    Bureau has published a policy to                         the Dodd-Frank Act more generally. In
                                                  this fall on the first in a series of reviews           facilitate the issuance of ‘‘No Action                   both cases, the Bureau believes that
                                                  of existing regulations that it inherited               Letters’’ indicating that Bureau staff has               technological and market developments
                                                  from other agencies through the transfer                no present intention to recommend                        may warrant rulemaking application to
                                                  of authorities under the Dodd-Frank                     enforcement or supervisory action with                   clarify the application of existing
                                                  Act. The Bureau had previously sought                   respect to specific applicants who wish                  statutes and regulations, modernize and
                                                  feedback on the inherited rules as a
                                                  whole,2 and identified and executed                       4 The Bureau expects to complete work later this         5 See, e.g., Press Release, Bureau of Consumer

                                                  several burden reduction projects from                  year on a final rule amending certain requirements       Fin. Prot., CFPB Announces First No-Action Letter
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                                                  that undertaking.3 The Bureau has                       concerning annual privacy notices under the              to Upstart Network (Sept. 14, 2017), https://
                                                                                                          Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. The Bureau conducted a           www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/newsroom/
                                                                                                          prior rulemaking to create an exception to facilitate    cfpb-announces-first-no-action-letter-upstart-
                                                    2 76 FR 75825 (Dec. 5, 2011).                         the ability of financial services providers to deliver   network/.
                                                    3 See                                                                                                            6 81 FR 83806 (Nov. 22, 2016).
                                                          79 FR 64057 (Oct. 28, 2014); 78 FR 25818        such notices via their websites. 79 FR 64057 (Oct.
                                                  (May 3, 2013); 78 FR 18221 (Mar. 26, 2013). In some     28, 2014). Congress then amended the underlying            7 82 FR 11183 (Feb. 17, 2017).

                                                  cases Congress took action related to the same          law to create a broader exception. That amendment          8 Further, the Bureau is moving Amendments to

                                                  topics identified as part of the Bureau’s               took effect in December 2015, and the Bureau is          FIRREA Concerning Appraisals (Automated
                                                  streamlining initiative. See, e.g., 81 FR 44801 (July   completing certain conforming regulatory                 Valuation Models) into the Long-Term Actions
                                                  11, 2016); 78 FR 18221 (Mar. 26, 2013).                 amendments to reflect the statutory change.              based on continuing interagency discussions.



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                                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 9 / Friday, January 12, 2018 / Unified Agenda                                                                                               1971

                                                  streamline those laws, and address                                       reviewing ideas for reduction of                                            including possible rulemaking actions,
                                                  emerging consumer protection concerns.                                   regulatory burden that have been                                            taking into account the critical need for
                                                     The Bureau has also launched an                                       suggested by Bureau stakeholders.                                           and effectiveness of various policy tools.
                                                  internal task force to coordinate and                                    Further Planning                                                            The Bureau will update its regulatory
                                                  bolster the agency’s continuing effort to                                                                                                            agenda in spring 2018, to reflect the
                                                                                                                              Finally, the Bureau is continuing to                                     results of this further prioritization and
                                                  fulfill its mandate to identify and relieve                              conduct outreach and research to assess
                                                  regulatory burdens, including with                                                                                                                   planning.
                                                                                                                           issues in various other markets for
                                                  regard to small businesses, consistent                                   consumer financial products and                                               Dated: September 28, 2017.
                                                  with the Bureau’s other objectives under                                 services beyond those discussed above.                                      Kelly Thompson Cochran,
                                                  section 1021 of the Dodd-Frank Act. The                                  As this work continues, the Bureau will                                     Assistant Director for Regulations, Bureau of
                                                  task force is currently engaged in                                       evaluate possible policy responses,                                         Consumer Financial Protection.

                                                                                                    CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU—PRERULE STAGE
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Regulation
                                                    Sequence No.                                                                                            Title                                                                                    Identifier No.

                                                  391 ....................   Business Lending Data (Regulation B) ............................................................................................................                          3170–AA09


                                                                                                CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU—COMPLETED ACTIONS
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Regulation
                                                    Sequence No.                                                                                            Title                                                                                    Identifier No.

                                                  392 ....................   Payday, Vehicle Title, and Certain High-Cost Installment Loans ....................................................................                                        3170–AA40
                                                  393 ....................   Arbitration .........................................................................................................................................................      3170–AA51



                                                  CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION                                            the potential ways to implement section                                     consumers have the ability to repay
                                                  BUREAU (CFPB)                                                            1071. The CFPB then expects to begin                                        without default or re-borrowing and
                                                                                                                           developing proposed regulations                                             certain payment collection practices.
                                                  Prerule Stage
                                                                                                                           concerning the data to be collected,                                        The Bureau released a Notice of
                                                  391. Business Lending Data (Regulation                                   potential ways to minimize burdens on                                       Proposed Rulemaking in June 2016 that
                                                  B)                                                                       lenders, and appropriate procedures and                                     would identify it as an abusive and
                                                     E.O. 13771 Designation: Independent                                   privacy protections needed for                                              unfair practice for a lender to make a
                                                  agency.                                                                  information-gathering and public                                            covered loan without reasonably
                                                     Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1691c–2                                    disclosure.                                                                 determining that the consumer has the
                                                     Abstract: Section 1071 of the Dodd-                                     Timetable:                                                                ability to repay the loan. Among other
                                                  Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer                                                                                                                things, the proposal would require that,
                                                  Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act)                                                   Action                     Date                FR Cite             before making a covered loan, a lender
                                                  amends the Equal Credit Opportunity                                                                                                                  must reasonably determine that the
                                                                                                                           Prerule Activities                05/00/18
                                                  Act (ECOA) to require financial                                                                                                                      consumer has the ability to repay the
                                                  institutions to report information                                         Regulatory Flexibility Analysis                                           loan. The Bureau received more than 1
                                                  concerning credit applications made by                                   Required: Yes.                                                              million comments on the proposal.
                                                  women-owned, minority-owned, and                                           Agency Contact: James Wylie, Office                                         Timetable:
                                                  small businesses. The amendments to                                      of Regulations, Consumer Financial
                                                  ECOA made by the Dodd-Frank Act                                          Protection Bureau, Phone: 202 435–                                                    Action                     Date         FR Cite
                                                  require that certain data be collected,                                  7700.
                                                  maintained, and reported, including the                                    RIN: 3170–AA09                                                             NPRM ..................           07/22/16    81 FR 47863
                                                  number of the application and date the                                                                                                                Request For Infor-                07/22/16    81 FR 47781
                                                  application was received; the type and                                                                                                                  mation.
                                                  purpose of the loan or credit applied for;                                                                                                            NPRM Comment                      10/07/16
                                                  the amount of credit applied for and                                     CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION                                                  Period End.
                                                  approved; the type of action taken with                                  BUREAU (CFPB)                                                                Request For Infor-                11/07/16
                                                                                                                                                                                                          mation Com-
                                                  regard to each application and the date                                  Completed Actions                                                              ment Period
                                                  of such action; the census tract of the                                                                                                                 End.
                                                  principal place of business; the gross                                   392. Payday, Vehicle Title, and Certain                                      Final Rule ............           11/17/17    82 FR 54472
                                                  annual revenue of the business; and the                                  High-Cost Installment Loans                                                  Final Action Effec-               01/16/18
                                                  race, sex, and ethnicity of the principal                                   E.O. 13771 Designation: Independent                                         tive.
                                                  owners of the business. The Dodd-Frank                                   agency.
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                                                  Act also provides authority for the CFPB                                    Legal Authority: 12 U.S.C. 5531; 12                                        Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
                                                  to require any additional data that the                                  U.S.C. 5532; 12 U.S.C. 5512; 12 U.S.C.                                      Required: Yes.
                                                  CFPB determines would aid in fulfilling                                  5551
                                                  the purposes of this section. The Bureau                                    Abstract: The Bureau is conducting a                                       Agency Contact: Mark Morelli, Office
                                                  is focusing on outreach and research to                                  rulemaking to address consumer harms                                        of Regulations, Consumer Financial
                                                  develop its understanding of the                                         from practices related to payday loans                                      Protection Bureau, Phone: 202 435–
                                                  players, products, and practices in the                                  and other similar credit products,                                          7700.
                                                  small business lending market and of                                     including failure to determine whether                                        RIN: 3170–AA40


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                                                  1972                     Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 9 / Friday, January 12, 2018 / Unified Agenda

                                                  393. Arbitration                                        prohibited covered providers of certain                resolution, the arbitration rule shall
                                                     E.O. 13771 Designation: Independent                  consumer financial products and                        have no force or effect.’’
                                                  agency.                                                 services from using an arbitration                       Timetable:
                                                     Legal Authority: 12 U.S.C. 5512(b); 12               agreement to bar the consumer from
                                                                                                          filing or participating in a class action.                      Action            Date        FR Cite
                                                  U.S.C. 5518(b)
                                                     Abstract: In July 2016, the Bureau                   Under the rule companies would still
                                                                                                                                                                 NPRM ..................   05/24/16   81 FR 32830
                                                  finalized a rulemaking concerning the                   have been able to include arbitration                  NPRM Comment              08/22/16
                                                  use of agreements providing for                         clauses in their contracts. However, for                 Period End.
                                                  arbitration of any future dispute                       contracts subject to the rule, the clauses             Final Rule ............   07/19/17   82 FR 33210
                                                  between covered persons and                             would have had to say explicitly that                  Final Rule Effec-         09/18/17
                                                  consumers in connection with the                        they cannot be used to stop consumers                    tive.
                                                  offering or providing of certain                        from being part of a class action in                   Notice of CRA             11/22/17   82 FR 55500
                                                  consumer financial products or services.                court. The rule also required a covered                  Revocation.
                                                  The rulemaking followed on a report                     provider that has an arbitration
                                                  that the Bureau issued to Congress in                   agreement and that is involved in                        Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
                                                  March 2015 as required by the Dodd-                     arbitration pursuant to a pre-dispute                  Required: Yes.
                                                  Frank Act, as well as on preliminary                    arbitration agreement to submit                          Agency Contact: Eric Goldberg,
                                                  results of arbitration research that were               specified arbitral records to the Bureau.              Consumer Financial Protection Bureau,
                                                  released by the Bureau in December                      Congress passed a joint resolution under               Office of Regulations, Phone: 202 435–
                                                  2013, and a May 2016 Notice of                          the Congressional Review Act                           7700.
                                                  Proposed rulemaking. The Bureau                         disapproving the arbitration rule; the                   RIN: 3170–AA51
                                                  received more than 110,000 comments                     President signed the joint resolution on               [FR Doc. 2017–28241 Filed 1–11–18; 8:45 am]
                                                  in response to the proposal. The rule                   November 1, 2017. Under the                            BILLING CODE 4810–AM–P
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS




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Document Created: 2018-10-26 09:52:24
Document Modified: 2018-10-26 09:52:24
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionUnknown Section
ActionSemiannual regulatory agenda.
DatesThis information is current as of September 28, 2017.
ContactA staff contact is included for each regulatory item listed herein.
FR Citation83 FR 1968 

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