On September
12, 2005, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (“MSRB”) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) a technical amendment to Rule
A-8(a), on adoption of proposed rules and submission to Commission.[1]
In November 2004, the SEC’s Electronic Form 19b-4 Filing System became
operative. Self-regulatory organizations are required to use this electronic
filing system for submitting rule filings to the SEC instead of submitting
paper filings. As part of the process for using this electronic filing system,
the person submitting the filing is required to “sign” the filing with an
electronic signature and such signature is associated with a particular
computer. Due to the procedural steps involved in submitting filings to the
SEC through its electronic system, the MSRB is revising Rule A-8(a) to delete
the Chairman of the Board from the list of persons authorized to sign rule
filings. Thus, rule filings will be signed by one of the staff members
designated by the Board to perform this function. The amendment became
effective upon filing with the SEC.
Questions
about this filing may be directed to Ronald W. Smith, Senior Legal Associate.
September 12, 2005
* * * * *
TEXT OF AMENDMENT[2]
Rule A-8: Rulemaking
Procedures
(a)Adoption
of Proposed Rules and Submission to Commission. The Board shall adopt such
proposed rules as the Board shall deem necessary or appropriate to effect the
purposes of the Act with respect to transactions in municipal securities
effected by brokers, dealers and municipal securities dealers, including, as a
minimum, proposed rules relating to those matters prescribed in section
15B(b)(2)(A) through (K) of the Act. Upon their adoption by the Board, the
Board shall submit proposed rules to the Commission in accordance with the
procedures set forth in section 19(b) of the Act and shall file such proposed
rules with the appropriate regulatory agencies in accordance with the
provisions of section 17(c) of the Act. A proposed rule of the Board shall
become a rule of the Board upon its approval by the Commission, pursuant to
section 19(b)(2) of the Act, or upon filing with the Commission in accordance with
the provisions of section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act, or upon the determination of
the Commission in accordance with the provisions of section 19(b)(3)(B) of the
Act. Documents required to be submitted to the Commission in connection with
the proposed rules of the Board shall be signed on behalf of the Board by the [Chairman
or] Secretary of the Board, or by any person designated by the Board for
that purpose by resolution.
(b) – (d) No
changes.