SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On June 21, 2001, NCUA issued a proposed rule on definitions and technical corrections. 66 FR 33211, June 21, 2001. The proposed rule resulted from NCUA's policy of continually reviewing its regulations to “update, clarify and simplify existing regulations and eliminate redundant and unnecessary provisions.” Interpretive Rulings and Policy Statement (IRPS) 87-2, Developing and Reviewing Government Regulations. The NCUA Board is issuing the final rule unchanged from the proposed rule.

The proposed rule replaced obsolete references in two parts of NCUA's regulations related with new references to prompt corrective action, section 216 of the Federal Credit Union Act. 12 CFR 700.1, 701.14. In the definitions part of the regulations, the proposed rule added a scope section and definitions for “paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus” and “unimpaired capital and surplus.” 12 CFR part 700. The proposed rule conformed definitions of paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus in the CUSO and CLF rules to the proposed definitions in the definitions part. 12 CFR 712.2(d); 12 CFR 725.2(o). The proposed rule also corrected a citation in the supervisory committee audit rule and clarified the member business loan rule by changing a reference from “federally insured credit unions” to “federally insured state-chartered credit unions.” 12 CFR 715.2(l), 723.4. The proposed rule also updated NCUA's regulations by changing a reference in Part 790 from the “Office of Community Development Credit Unions” to the office's new name, the “Office of Credit Union Development.” The NCUA Board is adopting all the proposed changes in the final rule.

Summary of Comments

The NCUA Board requested comment on all aspects of the proposed rule and received three comment letters: One from a national trade association, one from a state trade association, and one from a federal credit union (FCU). The two trade associations supported the proposal without qualification. The FCU offered a substantive comment regarding the definition of “paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus,” discussed below. NCUA received no comment on the other provisions in the proposed rule. This preamble does not repeat discussions from the proposal for those provisions and the NCUA Board has adopted them as proposed.

“Paid-in and Unimpaired Capital and Surplus” and “Unimpaired Capital and Surplus”

To improve the clarity of NCUA's regulations, the Board proposed to include definitions for “paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus” and “unimpaired capital and surplus” in the general definitions part of the regulations. The proposed rule defined “unimpaired capital and surplus” as meaning the same as “paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus” and ( printed page 65623) cross-referenced its definition. The proposed definition for “paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus” was a refined statement of the definitions currently in the FCU Bylaws, but did not change the meaning of those definitions or the agency's long-standing interpretation.

The proposed definition for paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus was shares plus post-closing, undivided earnings. The preamble to the proposed rule stated that the term “post-closing” was simpler terminology that a credit union person, an examiner, and an accounting professional would understand to encompass the closing of the books and posting of all relevant and required period losses to undivided earnings. Post-closing undivided earnings incorporates and means the same as the language in the Bylaw provisions that define surplus (“after all losses have been provided for and net earnings or net losses have been added thereto or deducted therefrom”) and define unimpaired capital (“less any losses that may have been incurred for which there is no reserve or which have not been charged against undivided earnings”). The proposed definition further clarified the meaning of paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus by including the statement that: “This does not include regular reserves or special reserves required by law, regulation or special agreement between the credit union and its regulator or share insurer.”

Amendment to Definition of “Paid-in and Unimpaired Capital and Surplus” in the CLF Rule

As stated in the proposed rule, the CLF is a mixed-ownership government corporation created to improve the general financial stability of credit unions by meeting their liquidity needs. 12 CFR 725.1. Both state-chartered and federally-chartered credit unions may become members. 12 CFR 725.3. The Board proposed to revise the current definition in the CLF rule for paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus. The current CLF rule combines the definition for paid-in and unimpaired capital in the FCU Bylaws with the definition of surplus in the FCU Bylaws and is substantively identical to those provisions. 12 CFR 725.2(o). The current definition includes deposits because some state-chartered credit unions are authorized to accept deposits.

The proposed rule defined paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus in the CLF rule as shares and deposits plus post-closing, undivided earnings. The proposed definition further stated that the term does not include regular reserves or special reserves required by law, regulation or special agreement between the credit union and its regulator or share insurer.

Comments on the Definitions of “Paid-in and Unimpaired Capital and Surplus”

One commenter expressed the view that the NCUA should simplify the general definition of “paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus” to “shares and deposits plus unappropriated earnings,” in order to include the concept of “unrealized gains or losses on investments” as part of “unappropriated earnings.” The Board disagrees. The Board's view is that “unappropriated earnings” are equivalent to “undivided earnings,” and neither term includes unrealized gains or losses on investments, since these amounts are not yet earned or realized. Thus, the final rule uses the term “undivided earnings.”

Regarding the commenter's suggestion that the general definition include deposits, for the reasons stated in the proposed rule, only the CLF definition of “paid-in and unimpaired capital and surplus” includes deposits. The general definition does not include them in the final rule.

Regulatory Procedures

Regulatory Flexibility Act

The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires NCUA to prepare an analysis to describe any significant economic impact a rule may have on a substantial number of small entities (primarily those under one million dollars in assets). The final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small credit unions, and therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required.

Paperwork Reduction Act

NCUA has determined that the final rule would not increase paperwork requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and regulations of the Office of Management and Budget.

Executive Order 13132

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

The Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 1999—Assessment of Federal Regulations and Policies on Families

The NCUA has determined that this final rule will not affect family well-being within the meaning of section 654 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 1999, Pub. L. 105-277, 112 Stat. 2681 (1998).

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

The Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121) provides generally for congressional review of agency rules. A reporting requirement is triggered in instances where NCUA issues a final rule as defined by Section 551 of the Administrative Procedures Act. 5 U.S.C. 551. The Office of Management and Budget concurred with NCUA's opinion that the final rule does not constitute a major rule, for purposes of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996.

Agency Regulatory Goal

NCUA's goal is to promulgate clear and understandable regulations that impose minimal regulatory burden. NCUA requested comments on whether its proposed rule was understandable and minimally intrusive, but received no comments in response to this request.

Accordingly, the NCUA amends 12 CFR parts 700, 701, 715, 723, 725, and 790 as follows:

1. The authority citation for part 700 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1752, 1757(6), 1766.

2. Redesignate current § 700.1 as § 700.2 and add a new § 700.1 to read as follows:

3. In newly redesignated § 700.2:

A. Remove paragraphs (h) and (j);

B. Redesignate paragraphs (e), (f), (g), and (i), as paragraphs (g), (h), (i), and (e) respectively; and

C. Add new paragraphs (f) and (j), to read as follows:

4. The authority citation for part 701 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1752(5), 1755, 1756, 1757, 1759, 1761a, 1761b, 1766, 1767, 1782, 1784, 1787, and 1789. Section 701.6 is also authorized by 31 U.S.C. 3717. Section 701.31 is also authorized by 15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq., 42 U.S.C. 1861 and 42 U.S.C. 3601-3610. Section 701.35 is also authorized by 42 U.S.C. 4311-4312.

5. In § 701.14, revise paragraphs (b)(3)(ii) and (b)(4)(ii) to read as follows:

6. The authority citation for part 712 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1756, 1757(5)(d) and (7)(I), 1766, 1782, 1784, 1785, and 1786.

7. Amend § 712.2 by revising paragraph (d) to read as follows:

8. Revise the authority citation for part 715 to read as follows:

Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1761(b), 1761d, 1782(a)(6).

9. Amend § 715.2(l) by revising the first sentence to read as follows:

10. The authority citation for part 723 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1756, 1757, 1757A, 1766, 1785, 1789.

11. Amend § 723.4 by revising the second sentence to read as follows:

12. The authority citation for part 725 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1795-1795f.

13. Amend § 725.2 by revising paragraph (o) to read as follows:

14. The authority citation for part 790 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1766, 1789, 1795f.

15. Amend § 790.2(b)(13) by revising the heading to read as follows: