Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Filings and Information Services, Washington, DC 20549.

Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget a request for extension of the previously approved collection of information discussed below.

Rule 17f-2(a) Fingerprinting Requirements for Securities Professionals

Rule 17f-2(a) requires that securities professionals be fingerprinted. This requirement serves to identify security risk personnel, to allow an employer to make fully informed employment decisions, and to deter possible wrongdoers from seeking employment in the securities industry. Partners, directors, officers, and employees of exchanges, broker, dealers, transfer agents, and clearing agencies are included.

It is estimated that approximately 10,000 respondents will submit fingerprint cards. It is also estimated that each respondent will submit 55 fingerprint cards. The staff estimates that the average number of hours necessary to comply with the Rule 17f-2(a) is one-half hour. The total burden is 275,000 hours for respondents, based upon past submissions. The average cost per hour is approximately $50. Therefore, the total cost of compliance for respondents is $13,750,000.

Fingerprint cards submitted under Rule 17f-2(a) must be retained for a period of not less than three years after termination of the person's employment relationship with the organization. Submitting fingerprint cards for all securities personnel is mandatory to obtain the benefit of identifying security risk personnel, allowing an employer to make fully informed employment decisions and deterring possible wrongdoers from seeking employment in the securities industry. Fingerprint cards submitted according to Rule 17f-2(a) will not be kept confidential.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number.

Written comments regarding the above information should be directed to the following persons:

(1) Desk Officer for the Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10102, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503; and

(ii) Michael E. Bartell, Associate Executive Director, Office of Information Technology, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549.

Comments must be submitted to OMB on or before September 7, 2000.