[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 119 (Tuesday, June 21, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 40152-40158]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-14719]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION

12 CFR Part 747

RIN 3133-AE59


Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustment

AGENCY: National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).

ACTION: Interim final rule with request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The NCUA Board (Board) is amending its regulations to adjust 
the maximum amount of each civil monetary penalty (CMP) within its 
jurisdiction to account for inflation. This action, including the 
amount of the adjustments, is required under the Federal Civil 
Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended by the Debt 
Collection Improvement Act of 1996 and the Federal Civil Penalties 
Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015.

DATES: This interim final rule is effective July 21, 2016. Comments 
must be received on or before July 21, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods 
(Please send comments by one method only):
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     NCUA Web site: https://www.ncua.gov/regulation-supervision/Pages/rules/proposed.aspx. Follow the instructions for 
submitting comments.
     Email: Address to [email protected]. Include ``[Your 
name] Comments on ``Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustment'' in 
the email subject line.
     Fax: (703) 518-6319. Use the subject line described above 
for email.
     Mail: Address to Gerard Poliquin, Secretary of the Board, 
National Credit Union Administration, 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, 
Virginia 22314-3428.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Same as mail address.
    Public Inspection: All public comments are available on the 
agency's Web site at http://www.ncua.gov/RegulationsOpinionsLaws/comments as submitted, except as may not be possible for technical 
reasons. Public comments will not be edited to remove any identifying 
or contact information. Paper copies of comments may be inspected in 
NCUA's law library at 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, by 
appointment weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. To make an 
appointment, call (703) 518-6546 or send an email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ian Marenna, Senior Trial Attorney, at 
1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, or telephone: (703) 518-6540.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Legal Background
II. Calculation of Adjustments
III. Regulatory Procedures

I. Legal Background

A. Statutory Requirements and Overview of Changes Enacted in 2015

    The Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 \1\ (DCIA) amended the 
Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 \2\ (FCPIA 
Act) to require every federal agency to enact regulations that adjust 
each CMP provided by law under its jurisdiction by the rate of 
inflation at least once every four years. The Board most recently 
adjusted CMPs within its jurisdiction in September 2015.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Public Law 104-134, sec. 31001(s), 110 Stat. 1321-373 (Apr. 
26, 1996). The law is codified at 28 U.S.C. 2461 note.
    \2\ Public Law 101-410, 104 Stat. 890 (Oct. 5, 1990), also 
codified at 28 U.S.C. 2461 note.
    \3\ 80 FR 57284 (Sept. 23, 2015).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In November 2015, Congress further amended the CMP inflation 
requirements in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015,\4\ which contains 
the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act 
of 2015 (the 2015 amendments).\5\ This

[[Page 40153]]

legislation provides for an initial ``catch-up'' adjustment of CMPs in 
2016, followed by annual adjustments. The catch-up adjustment will 
generally re-set CMP maximum amounts by setting aside the inflation 
adjustments that agencies made in prior years and instead calculating 
inflation with reference to the year when each CMP was enacted or last 
modified by Congress.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ Public Law 114-74, 129 Stat. 584 (Nov. 2, 2015).
    \5\ 129 Stat. 599.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The 2015 amendments made several procedural changes including: (1) 
Starting in 2016, each agency must adjust its CMPs for inflation 
annually by the date set forth in the 2015 amendments; (2) the rounding 
ranges and procedure that applied before the 2015 amendments no longer 
apply, and agencies instead must round increases to the nearest dollar; 
(3) the ten percent cap on the first adjustment of any CMP has been 
eliminated; (4) the amount of the 2016 adjustment is limited to 150 
percent of the amount of each CMP on the date that the 2015 amendments 
were enacted; and (5) October, rather than June, will be the relevant 
month for determining the percentage increase in inflation between 
relevant years.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ Public Law 114-74, 129 Stat. 584 (Nov. 2, 2015).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The legislation also modified the process by making the following 
additional changes: (1) In 2016, agencies will make the required 
adjustments through an interim final rule by July 1, 2016, to be 
effective by August 1, 2016; (2) in 2017 and subsequent years, agencies 
will make the required adjustments through direct final rules published 
and effective by January 15 of each year; (3) the adjusted maximum 
amounts will apply to CMPs issued after the adjustment takes effect, 
including cases in which the associated violation predates the 
adjustment; (4) the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will publish 
annual guidance for agencies; (5) agencies must publish information 
regarding CMPs in their annual financial reports; and (6) the 
Government Accountability Office will report to Congress annually on 
agencies' compliance with the statute.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The basic framework for the inflation calculation process remains 
the same in that agencies must calculate the increase in inflation 
according to a cost-of-living index and apply this percentage to each 
CMP to establish a new maximum amount. The resulting adjustment permits 
but does not require assessment at the new maximum level. Agencies must 
publish the adjusted maximum amounts in the Federal Register, as they 
did prior to the 2015 amendments.
    However, the 2015 amendments do make a significant change to the 
calculations for the first year by requiring an initial catch-up 
adjustment to re-set penalty levels.\8\ In 2016, agencies must measure 
inflation by comparing the cost-of-living index for the year in which 
each CMP was established or last adjusted under a provision other than 
the FCPIA Act with the index for 2015.\9\ That is, agencies must 
disregard the inflation adjustments that they have made under the FCPIA 
Act since 1996, determine when Congress initially established or last 
modified each CMP, and adjust for inflation between that year and 2015. 
This calculation is based on the amount of the CMP as Congress set it, 
not the adjustments that agencies have made since 1996 under the FCPIA 
Act. The amount of the catch-up adjustment is separately limited to 150 
percent of the CMP maximum in effect as of November 2, 2015, when the 
2015 amendments became effective.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ Public Law 114-74, sec. 701(b)(2)(B), 129 Stat. 600, 
codified at 28 U.S.C. 2461 note.
    \9\ Id.
    \10\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The next section provides more detail on the revised inflation 
procedures.

B. Statutory Procedures for Calculating Adjustments and OMB Guidance

    This section provides a detailed explanation of the inflation 
adjustment procedures under the 2015 amendments, including the 150 
percent cap on the 2016 adjustment, the discretionary exception that 
agencies may invoke to limit the required increases based on negative 
economic impact or social costs, and an exception that agencies may 
apply when a CMP has been increased by a greater amount than the 
current calculation within the preceding 12 months. The 150 percent cap 
applies to one CMP within NCUA's jurisdiction, namely the CMP for 
violating NCUA security requirements.\11\ The Board does not seek to 
invoke the discretionary exception based on negative economic impact or 
social costs or the exception for greater increases in the preceding 12 
months.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ 12 U.S.C. 1785(e)(3).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In the FCPIA Act, the term ``this Act'' is used throughout to refer 
to the entire FCPIA Act as amended, not merely the 2015 amendments or 
prior amendments. In 2016, agencies must determine the percentage 
increase in inflation by comparing the October 2015 CPI-U with the CPI-
U for October in the year ``during which the amount of such civil 
monetary penalty was established or adjusted pursuant to a provision of 
law other than this Act.'' \12\ Also, the 2015 amendments provide that 
the percentage increase in inflation must be applied to the CMP ``as it 
was most recently established or adjusted under a provision of law 
other than this Act.'' \13\ The increase must be rounded to the nearest 
dollar.\14\ The new maximum CMP is calculated by dividing the October 
2015 CPI-U by the CPI-U for October of the year when Congress 
established or last modified the CMP. The resulting multiplier is 
applied to the original or modified maximum amount set by Congress to 
find the new maximum amount.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ Public Law 114-74, sec. 701(b)(2)(A), 129 Stat. 600, 
codified at 28 U.S.C. 2461 note. The CPI-U is published by the 
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and is available at 
its Web site: http://www.bls.gov/cpi/.
    \13\ Public Law 114-74, sec. 701(b)(2)(B), 129 Stat. 600, 
codified at 28 U.S.C. 2461 note.
    \14\ Public Law 114-74, sec. 701(b)(2)(A), 129 Stat. 600, 
codified at 28 U.S.C. 2461 note.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In making the calculations, the Board refers to the year in which 
the statute establishing the CMP was enacted, even if the statute 
provided that the CMP would not go into effect until a later year. In 
2015, the Board referred to the year in which the statutes establishing 
the CMPs became effective.\15\ The Board has determined that 
disregarding delayed effective dates is more consistent with the FCPIA 
Act's language, as well as OMB's guidance.\16\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ The CMPs for senior examiner conflicts of interest, 
appraisal independence standards, and display of the NCUA insurance 
logo were enacted with delayed effective dates.
    \16\ Office of Mgmt. & Budget, Exec. Office of the President, 
OMB Memorandum No. M-16-06, Implementation of the Federal Civil 
Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, at 3, 6 
(2016).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After completing this calculation for each CMP, agencies must also 
consider the 150 percent cap, the exception based on a greater increase 
within the preceding 12 months of the required adjustment, and the 
exception based on negative economic impact or social costs. These 
considerations are described in detail below.
    First, ``the amount of the increase in a civil monetary penalty . . 
. shall not exceed 150 percent of the amount of that civil monetary 
penalty on the date of enactment'' of the 2015 amendments.\17\ This 
mandatory cap applies only to the 2016 initial catch-up adjustment. The 
150 percent cap applies to the amount of the increase in the CMP. 
Accordingly, the final maximum amount for each CMP is capped at 250

[[Page 40154]]

percent of its current level.\18\ Based on the Board's calculations, 
this cap applies only to NCUA's security requirements CMP.\19\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ Public Law 114-74, sec. 701(b)(2)(B), 129 Stat. 600, 
codified at 28 U.S.C. 2461 note.
    \18\ For consistency, the Board refers to this limitation as the 
150 percent cap throughout this rule.
    \19\ 12 U.S.C. 1785(e)(3).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Second, if a CMP ``is, during the 12 months preceding a required 
cost-of-living adjustment, increased by an amount greater than the 
amount of the adjustment required . . ., the head of the agency is not 
required'' to make the adjustment.\20\ The Board has compared the 
projected increases with the increases that it made in 2015.\21\ The 
only CMP that was increased by a greater amount in 2015 than it would 
be under the current adjustments is the appraisal independence 
standards CMP.\22\ The Board will not invoke the exception in this case 
because: (1) The difference between the existing maximum and the new 
maximum under the current adjustments is immaterial; and (2) setting 
the new maximum without invoking this exception will place NCUA's CMP 
at the same level as the federal banking regulators and the Consumer 
Financial Protection Bureau, which will be adjusting this CMP for the 
first time this year.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ Public Law 114-74, sec. 701(b)(1)(D), 129 Stat. 600, 
codified at 28 U.S.C. 2461 note.
    \21\ The Board notes that this exception is not limited to the 
initial catch-up adjustment and could apply in the future.
    \22\ 15 U.S.C. 1639e(k).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Third, only for the 2016 adjustment, an agency may seek to limit 
the amount of an adjustment if it determines that the otherwise-
required adjustment would have a ``negative economic impact'' or that 
``the social costs'' of the increase ``outweigh the benefits.'' \23\ To 
invoke this discretionary exception in 2016, an agency must first 
publish a notice of proposed rulemaking with an opportunity to comment 
on the proposed invocation of the exception, and the Director of OMB 
must concur with the agency's determination.\24\ OMB's guidance states 
that agencies should consult with OMB before proposing to invoke this 
limitation and must submit the proposal to OMB by May 2, 2016.\25\ The 
memorandum also states that OMB expects ``determination concurrences'' 
to be rare.\26\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ Public Law 114-74, sec. 701(b)(1)(D), 129 Stat. 599-600, 
codified at 28 U.S.C. 2461 note.
    \24\ Id.
    \25\ Office of Mgmt. & Budget, Exec. Office of the President, 
OMB Memorandum No. M-16-06, Implementation of the Federal Civil 
Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, at 3 
(2016).
    \26\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The statute does not define ``negative economic impact'' or 
``social costs.'' Given these statutory criteria and historical trends 
in NCUA's CMP assessments, the Board will not seek to invoke this 
exception for any of its CMP authorities.
    In addition to the statute, the Board has reviewed OMB's guidance. 
On February 24, 2016, as required by the 2015 amendments, OMB published 
guidance for agencies to implement the new procedures, including the 
2016 catch-up adjustment.\27\ OMB's guidance covers the following 
issues: (1) Identifying CMPs to which the law applies; (2) completing 
the 2016 catch-up adjustment; (3) making future inflation adjustments; 
and (4) performing agency oversight of inflation adjustments. The Board 
has reviewed the guidance and finds that the Board's calculations of 
the increases and the 150 percent cap are wholly consistent with the 
guidance. Further, the Board finds that it has appropriately identified 
CMPs subject to adjustment under the FCPIA Act. All of the adjusted 
CMPs are set by federal law at specific maximums, are assessed by NCUA 
under the Federal Credit Union Act or other federal statutes, and are 
assessed or enforced through agency proceedings or civil actions in the 
federal courts.\28\ The Board will also review OMB's guidance in 
connection with future adjustments and its annual financial reporting 
requirement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ Office of Mgmt. & Budget, Exec. Office of the President, 
OMB Memorandum No. M-16-06, Implementation of the Federal Civil 
Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (2016).
    \28\ 28 U.S.C. 2461 note, Sec.  3(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In sum, under the statute, the Board must determine: (1) When 
Congress established or most recently modified each CMP; (2) the amount 
of each CMP as set by Congress at that time; (3) the increase in each 
CMP based on the CPI-U; (4) whether the increase must be limited by the 
150 percent cap; (5) whether the Board will invoke the exception based 
on a greater increase in a CMP maximum amount in the preceding 12 
months; and (6) whether the Board will seek to invoke the exception to 
limit the increases based on negative economic impact or social costs.
    Accordingly, the Board has reviewed the CMPs within its 
jurisdiction to determine when Congress established or last modified 
each CMP and to determine the amount set by Congress. Next, the Board 
applied the appropriate inflationary multiplier to the maximum amount 
of each CMP as it was established or last modified by Congress in order 
to determine the new maximum. Finally, the Board considered the 150 
percent cap, the exception based on greater increases in the preceding 
12 months, and the exception based on negative economic impact or 
social costs. The next section presents the calculations and applies 
the 150 percent cap and the two exceptions in detail to arrive at the 
new maximum CMP amounts to be published in the Federal Register.

II. Calculation of Adjustments

A. Penalty Adjustment Calculations

    Consistent with the NCUA's September 2015 CMP adjustments, the 
Board provides the inflation calculations in table format immediately 
below. The separate table included in the regulatory text section to be 
published at 12 CFR 747.1001 shows only the adjusted CMPs, not the 
calculations leading to the adjusted levels. The table below calculates 
the projected increase by carrying out the steps described above. The 
multiplier, which is the quotient of the October 2015 CPI-U divided by 
the CPI-U for October of the year noted in parentheses, is applied to 
the maximum amount as originally established or last modified by 
Congress to calculate the new maximum. The final maximum amount is the 
lesser of the calculated maximum and the 150 percent cap.

[[Page 40155]]



                                                      Table--Calculation of Maximum CMP Adjustments
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                    Adjusted maximum ($)
                                                                                                     Projected new    150 Percent   (lesser of projected
             Citation                Description/tier \29\    Original maximum ($)    Multiplier        maximum      cap  ($) \30\   new maximum and 150
                                                                                                                                        percent cap)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 U.S.C. 1782(a)(3).............  Inadvertent failure to     2,000...............         1.89631           3,787           8,000  3,787.
                                    submit a report or the                                  (1989)
                                    inadvertent submission
                                    of a false or misleading
                                    report.
12 U.S.C. 1782(a)(3).............  Non-inadvertent failure    20,000..............         1.89631          37,872          80,000  37,872.
                                    to submit a report or                                   (1989)
                                    the non-inadvertent
                                    submission of a false or
                                    misleading report.
12 U.S.C. 1782(a)(3).............  Failure to submit a        Lesser of 1,000,000          1.89631       1,893,610      3,562,500.  Lesser of 1,893,610
                                    report or the submission   or 1% of total CU            (1989)                                   or 1% of total CU
                                    of a false or misleading   assets.                                                               assets.
                                    report done knowingly or
                                    with reckless disregard.
12 U.S.C. 1782(d)(2)(A)..........  Tier 1 CMP for             2,000...............         1.73099           3,462           8,000  3,462.
                                    inadvertent failure to                                  (1991)
                                    submit certified
                                    statement of insured
                                    shares and charges due
                                    to NCUSIF, or
                                    inadvertent submission
                                    of false or misleading
                                    statement.
12 U.S.C. 1782(d)(2)(B)..........  Tier 2 CMP for non-        20,000..............         1.73099          34,620          80,000  34,620.
                                    inadvertent failure to                                  (1991)
                                    submit certified
                                    statement or submission
                                    of false or misleading
                                    statement.
12 U.S.C. 1782(d)(2)(C)..........  Tier 3 CMP for failure to  Lesser of 1,000,000          1.73099       1,730,990       3,562,500  Lesser of 1,730,990
                                    submit a certified         or 1% of total CU            (1991)                                   or 1% of total CU
                                    statement or the           assets.                                                               assets.
                                    submission of a false or
                                    misleading statement
                                    done knowingly or with
                                    reckless disregard.
12 U.S.C. 1785(a)(3).............  Non-compliance with        100.................         1.17858             118             275  118.
                                    insurance logo                                          (2006)
                                    requirements.
12 U.S.C. 1785(e)(3).............  Non-compliance with NCUA   100.................         6.03650             554             275  275.
                                    security requirements.                                  (1970)
12 U.S.C. 1786(k)(2)(A)..........  Tier 1 CMP for violations  5,000...............         1.89631           9,468          21,250  9,468.
                                    of law, regulation, and                                 (1989)
                                    other orders or
                                    agreements.
12 U.S.C. 1786(k)(2)(B)..........  Tier 2 CMP for violations  25,000..............         1.89631          47,340         106,250  47,340.
                                    of law, regulation, and                                 (1989)
                                    other orders or
                                    agreements and for
                                    recklessly engaging in
                                    unsafe or unsound
                                    practices or breaches of
                                    fiduciary duty.
12 U.S.C. 1786(k)(2)(C)..........  Tier 3 CMP for knowingly   1,000,000...........         1.89631       1,893,610       3,812,500  1,893,610.
                                    committing the                                          (1989)
                                    violations under Tier 1
                                    or 2 (natural person).
12 U.S.C. 1786(k)(2)(C)..........  Tier 3 (same) (CU).......  Lesser of 1,000,000          1.89631       1,893,610       3,812,500  Lesser of 1,893,610
                                                               or 1% of total CU            (1989)                                   or 1% of total CU
                                                               assets.                                                               assets.
12 U.S.C. 1786(w)(5)(A)(ii)......  Non-compliance with        250,000.............         1.24588         311,470         687,500  311,470.
                                    senior examiner post-                                   (2004)
                                    employment restrictions.
15 U.S.C. 1639e(k)...............  Non-compliance with        10,000..............         1.08745          10,875          27,500  10,875.
                                    appraisal independence                                  (2010)
                                    standards (first
                                    violation).
15 U.S.C. 1639e(k)...............  Subsequent violations of   20,000..............         1.08745          21,749          50,000  21,749.
                                    the same.                                               (2010)
42 U.S.C. 4012a(f)(5)............  Non-compliance with flood  2,000...............         1.02819           2,056           5,000  2,056.
                                    insurance requirements.                                 (2012)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\29\ The table uses condensed descriptions of CMP tiers. Refer to the U.S. Code citations for complete descriptions.
\30\ This column displays 250 percent of the current maximums found at 12 CFR 747.1001.


[[Page 40156]]

B. Application of the 150 Percent Cap and Two Exceptions

    This section describes in detail the Board's consideration of the 
150 percent cap, the exception based on greater increases in the 
preceding 12 months, and the exception based on negative economic 
impact or social costs.
    First, as shown in the table above, the Board has applied the 150 
percent cap on the amount of the increase of the initial adjustments 
and has determined that it must limit the increase in the security 
requirements CMP.\31\ The other CMPs are not affected.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ 12 U.S.C. 1785(e)(3).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Second, the Board has compared the increases calculated above with 
the increases that it made in September 2015 \32\ to determine whether 
any of those increases are greater than the increases calculated for 
2016. In September 2015, the Board adjusted this CMP to $11,000.\33\ 
This occurred because under the pre-2015 amendments procedures, the 
Board rounded the amount of the increase to the nearest multiple of 
$1,000. Under the amended FCPIA Act, the Board could leave this 
adjustment in place because ``during the 12 months preceding [the] 
required cost-of-living adjustment,'' the Board increased the CMP ``by 
an amount greater than the amount of the adjustment required'' by the 
new calculation.\34\ Under these circumstances, the Board is ``not 
required'' to make the otherwise-required adjustment.\35\ The Board has 
determined that it will not invoke this exception, which is not 
mandatory. First, the difference between the maximum set in 2015 and 
the maximum calculated above is immaterial. Second, the Board expects 
the federal banking regulators and the Consumer Financial Protection 
Bureau, which also have jurisdiction to enforce this CMP, to make their 
first adjustment of this CMP this year. By declining to invoke this 
exception, the Board will set the maximum at the same level as those 
agencies, which means that parties subject to this CMP will not face 
differing maximums based on which agency has jurisdiction. This 
exception does not apply to the other CMPs because the adjustments 
required in 2016 exceed those made in 2015.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \32\ These increases are set forth at 80 FR 57285-286 (Sept. 23, 
2015).
    \33\ 80 FR 57285 (Sept. 23, 2015).
    \34\ Public Law 114-74, sec. 701(b)(1)(D), 129 Stat. 600, 
codified at 28 U.S.C. 2461 note.
    \35\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Finally, the Board does not seek to invoke the discretionary 
limitation tied to ``negative economic impact'' or ``social costs'' 
posed by the otherwise-required increases. The statute and the OMB 
guidance do not define these terms. In applying these criteria, the 
Board has considered the overall amount of its CMP assessments and 
their likely impact on credit unions and individuals. NCUA historically 
has not assessed CMPs frequently. They have averaged 10.6 a year, or 
less than one a month, over the past quarter century. Furthermore, when 
NCUA has assessed CMPs it has not usually assessed them at or near the 
maximum levels allowed by law, which would be most likely to invoke 
economic impact or social cost concerns. The Board reviewed the 281 CMP 
orders that it has issued since 1990 and found that they total 
approximately $665,000, with an average (mean) value of approximately 
$2,400. The table at the end of this section summarizes this 
information. Based on historical trends, third tier CMPs appear likely 
to remain rare. Moreover, NCUA considers the size of the credit union 
in determining the amount of a CMP assessment. These factors indicate 
that the increased maximums will not cause a negative economic impact 
or social costs. Also, for most of its CMPs, the Board is required by 
statute to consider potential mitigating factors in determining a CMP 
assessment amount.\36\ These considerations include the party's 
financial resources.\37\ Interagency policy on CMP assessments includes 
this consideration.\38\ This requirement applies to all of the CMPs 
that have maximum levels above $1,000,000. Thus, by their own terms, 
these CMPs account for the financial impact on the penalized party, 
which guards against negative economic impact or social costs. In 
addition, the Board is not required to assess at the new maximum 
amounts. Accordingly, the Board finds that the economic and social 
considerations under the statute do not warrant seeking to invoke this 
exception.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \36\ 12 U.S.C. 1786(k)(2)(G).
    \37\ 12 U.S.C. 1786(k)(2)(G)(i).
    \38\ Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council, 
Assessment of Civil Money Penalties, 63 FR 30226 (June 3, 1998).

                 Table--NCUA CMP Assessments (1990-2016)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of CMPs..........................................             281
Aggregate Amount of CMP Assessments.....................        $665,208
Average (Mean) Amount of Assessments....................          $2,367
------------------------------------------------------------------------

C. Effective Date for Adjusted Maximum Amounts

    Finally, the 2015 amendments changed the effective date provision 
for adjusted CMPs. Before the 2015 amendments, the statute provided: 
``Any increase under this Act in a civil monetary penalty shall apply 
only to violations which occur after the date the increase takes 
effect.'' \39\ Under that standard, the new maximums could only be 
assessed for violations that occurred after the date the adjustment 
took effect. The 2015 amendments changed this provision to read: ``Any 
increase under this Act in a civil monetary penalty shall apply only to 
civil monetary penalties, including those whose associated violation 
predated such increase, which are assessed after the date the increase 
takes effect.'' \40\ The OMB guidance notes this change.\41\ The 
adjusted maximums now apply to CMPs assessed after the effective date 
of the adjustment, even if the associated violation occurred before the 
adjustment took effect. The Board is amending 12 CFR 747.1001(b) to 
reflect this change.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \39\ Public Law 104-134, Sec.  31001(s)(1), 110 Stat. 1321-373 
(Apr. 26, 1996).
    \40\ Public Law 114-74, 129 Stat. 600 (Nov. 2, 2015), codified 
at 28 U.S.C. 2461 note.
    \41\ Office of Mgmt. & Budget, Exec. Office of the President, 
OMB Memorandum No. M-16-06, Implementation of the Federal Civil 
Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, at 4 
(2016).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Regulatory Procedures

A. Interim Final Rule Under the Administrative Procedure Act

    In the 2015 amendments to the FCPIA Act, Congress directed agencies 
to issue an interim final rule for the 2016 inflation adjustments.\42\ 
OMB's guidance reiterated this requirement and stated that agencies 
therefore do not need to solicit comments prior to promulgating the 
rule.\43\ The legislative directive provides an exception to the APA's 
ordinary notice-and-comment requirement.\44\ In addition, the Board 
finds that notice-and-comment procedures would be impracticable and 
unnecessary under the APA because of: (1) the legislative directive to 
issue an interim final rule; (2) the largely ministerial and technical 
nature of the rule, which affords agencies limited

[[Page 40157]]

discretion in promulgating the rule; and (3) the statutory deadlines 
for publishing and making the interim final rule effective.\45\ In 
these circumstances, the Board finds good cause to issue an interim 
final rule without issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking. 
Accordingly, this interim final rule is issued without prior notice. 
However, the Board invites comments on all aspects of the interim final 
rule. The interim final rule will become effective 30 days from 
publication in the Federal Register.\46\ The Board will review and 
consider all comments before issuing a final rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \42\ Public Law 114-74, 129 Stat. 600 (Nov. 2, 2015), codified 
at 28 U.S.C. 2461 note.
    \43\ Office of Mgmt. & Budget, Exec. Office of the President, 
OMB Memorandum No. M-16-06, Implementation of the Federal Civil 
Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, at 3 
(2016).
    \44\ See 5 U.S.C. 559; Asiana Airlines v. Fed. Aviation Admin., 
134 F.3d 393, 396-99 (D.C. Cir. 1998).
    \45\ 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B); see Mid-Tex Elec. Co-op., Inc. v. 
Fed. Energy Regulatory Comm'n, 822 F.2d 1123, 1133-34 (D.C. Cir. 
1987).
    \46\ See 5 U.S.C. 553(d).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires the Board to prepare an 
analysis to describe any significant economic impact a regulation may 
have on a substantial number of small entities.\47\ For purposes of 
this analysis, the Board considers small credit unions to be those 
having under $100 million in assets.\48\ This interim final rule would 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
credit unions because it only affects the maximum amounts of CMPs that 
may be assessed in individual cases, which are not numerous and 
generally do not involve assessments at the maximum level. In addition, 
several of the CMPs are limited to a percentage of a credit union's 
assets. Finally, in assessing CMPs, the Board generally must consider a 
party's financial resources.\49\ Because this interim final rule would 
affect few, if any, small entities, the Board certifies that the 
interim final rule will not have a significant economic impact on small 
entities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \47\ 5 U.S.C. 603(a).
    \48\ Interpretive Ruling and Policy Statement 15-1, 80 FR 57512 
(Sept. 24, 2015).
    \49\ 12 U.S.C. 1786(k)(2)(G)(i).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) applies to rulemakings in 
which an agency creates a new paperwork burden on regulated entities or 
modifies an existing burden.\50\ For purposes of the PRA, a paperwork 
burden may take the form of either a reporting or a recordkeeping 
requirement, both referred to as information collections. This interim 
final rule adjusts the maximum amounts of certain CMPs that the Board 
may assess against individuals, entities, or credit unions but does not 
require any reporting or recordkeeping. Therefore, this interim final 
rule will not create new paperwork burdens or modify any existing 
paperwork burdens.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \50\ 44 U.S.C. 3507(d); 5 CFR part 1320.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

D. 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 interim final rule adjusts the maximum 
amounts of certain CMPs that the Board may assess against individuals, 
entities, and federally insured credit unions, including state-
chartered credit unions. However, the interim final rule does not 
create any new authority or alter the underlying statutory authorities 
that enable the Board to assess CMPs. Accordingly, this interim final 
rule will not have a substantial direct effect on the states, on the 
connection between the national government and the states, or on the 
distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of 
government. The Board has determined that this interim final rule does 
not constitute a policy that has federalism implications for purposes 
of the executive order.

E. Assessment of Federal Regulations and Policies on Families

    The Board has determined that this interim final rule will not 
affect family well-being within the meaning of Section 654 of the 
Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 1999.\51\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \51\ Public Law 105-277, 112 Stat. 2681 (Oct. 21, 1998).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

F. Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

    The Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 \52\ 
(SBREFA) provides generally for congressional review of agency rules. A 
reporting requirement is triggered in instances where the Board issues 
a final rule as defined by Section 551 of the Administrative Procedure 
Act.\53\ The Board has submitted this interim final rule to OMB for it 
to determine whether it is a ``major rule'' within the meaning of the 
relevant sections of SBREFA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \52\ Public Law 104-121, 110 Stat. 857 (Mar. 29, 1996).
    \53\ 5 U.S.C. 551.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 747

    Credit unions, Civil monetary penalties.

    By the National Credit Union Administration Board on June 16, 
2016.
Gerard S. Poliquin,
Secretary of the Board.

    For the reasons stated above, the NCUA Board amends 12 CFR part 747 
as follows:

PART 747--ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS, ADJUDICATIVE HEARINGS, RULES OF 
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE, AND INVESTIGATIONS

0
1. The authority citation for Part 747 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority:  12 U.S.C. 1766, 1782, 1784, 1785, 1786, 1787, 1790a, 
1790d; 15 U.S.C. 1639e; 42 U.S.C. 4012a; Pub. L. 101-410; Pub. L. 
104-134; Pub. L. 109-351; Pub. L. 114-74.

Subpart K--Inflation Adjustment of Civil Monetary Penalties

0
2. Revise Sec.  747.1001 to read as follows:


Sec.  747.1001   Adjustment of civil monetary penalties by the rate of 
inflation.

    (a) NCUA is required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation 
Adjustment Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-410, 104 Stat. 890, as amended (28 
U.S.C. 2461 note)) to adjust the maximum amount of each civil monetary 
penalty within its jurisdiction by the rate of inflation. The following 
chart displays those adjusted amounts, as calculated pursuant to the 
statute:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
     U.S. Code citation          CMP Description     New maximum amount
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) 12 U.S.C. 1782(a)(3)....  Inadvertent failure   $3,787.
                               to submit a report
                               or the inadvertent
                               submission of a
                               false or misleading
                               report.
(2) 12 U.S.C. 1782(a)(3)....  Non-inadvertent       37,872.
                               failure to submit a
                               report or the non-
                               inadvertent
                               submission of a
                               false or misleading
                               report.

[[Page 40158]]

 
(3) 12 U.S.C. 1782(a)(3)....  Failure to submit a   1,893,610 or 1
                               report or the         percent of the
                               submission of a       total assets of the
                               false or misleading   credit union,
                               report done           whichever is less.
                               knowingly or with
                               reckless disregard.
(4) 12 U.S.C. 1782(d)(2)(A).  Tier 1 CMP for        3,462.
                               inadvertent failure
                               to submit certified
                               statement of
                               insured shares and
                               charges due to
                               NCUSIF, or
                               inadvertent
                               submission of false
                               or misleading
                               statement.
(5) 12 U.S.C. 1782(d)(2)(B).  Tier 2 CMP for non-   34,620.
                               inadvertent failure
                               to submit certified
                               statement or
                               submission of false
                               or misleading
                               statement.
(6) 12 U.S.C. 1782(d)(2)(C).  Tier 3 CMP for        1,730,990 or 1
                               failure to submit a   percent of the
                               certified statement   total assets of the
                               or the submission     credit union,
                               of a false or         whichever is less.
                               misleading
                               statement done
                               knowingly or with
                               reckless disregard.
(7) 12 U.S.C. 1785(a)(3)....  Non-compliance with   118.
                               insurance logo
                               requirements.
(8) 12 U.S.C. 1785(e) (3)...  Non-compliance with   275.
                               NCUA security
                               requirements.
(9) 12 U.S.C. 1786(k)(2)(A).  Tier 1 CMP for        9,468.
                               violations of law,
                               regulation, and
                               other orders or
                               agreements.
(10) 12 U.S.C. 1786(k)(2)(A)  Tier 2 CMP for        47,340.
                               violations of law,
                               regulation, and
                               other orders or
                               agreements and for
                               recklessly engaging
                               in unsafe or
                               unsound practices
                               or breaches of
                               fiduciary duty.
(11) 12 U.S.C. 1786(k)(2)(A)  Tier 3 CMP for        For a person other
                               knowingly             than an insured
                               committing the        credit union:
                               violations under      $1,893,610;
                               Tier 1 or 2          For an insured
                               (natural person).     credit union:
                                                     $1,893,610 or 1
                                                     percent of the
                                                     total assets of the
                                                     credit union,
                                                     whichever is less.
(12) 12 U.S.C.                Non-compliance with   311,470.
 1786(w)(5)(ii).               senior examiner
                               post-employment
                               restrictions.
(13) 15 U.S.C. 1639e(k).....  Non-compliance with   First violation:
                               appraisal             $10,875
                               independence         Subsequent
                               requirements.         violations:
                                                     $21,749.
(14) 42 U.S.C. 4012a(f)(5)..  Non-compliance with   2,056.
                               flood insurance
                               requirements.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (b) The adjusted amounts displayed in paragraph (a) of this section 
apply to civil monetary penalties that are assessed after the date the 
increase takes effect, including those whose associated violation or 
violations predate the increase.

[FR Doc. 2016-14719 Filed 6-20-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7535-01-P