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.

Extension:

Rule 17f-2(d), SEC File No. 270-36, OMB Control No. 3235-0028

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 approval of extension on the following previously approved information collection.

Rule 17f-2(d) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) was adopted on March 16, 1976, and was last amended on November 18, 1982. Paragraph (d) of the rule (i) requires that records produced pursuant to the fingerprinting requirements of Section 17(f)(2) of the Exchange Act be maintained, (ii) permits the designating examining authorities of broker-dealers or members of exchanges, under certain circumstances, to store and to maintain records required to be kept by this rule, and (iii) permits the required records to be maintained on microfilm.

The general purposes for Rule 17f-2 are: (i) To identify security risk personnel; (ii) to provide criminal record information so that employers can make fully informed employment decisions; and (iii) to deter persons with criminal records from seeking employment or association with covered entities.

Retention of fingerprint records, as required under paragraph (d) of the Rule, enables the Commission or other examining authority to ascertain whether all required persons are being fingerprinted and whether proper procedures regarding fingerprinting are being followed. Retention of these records for the term of employment of all personnel plus three years ensures that law enforcement officials will have easy access to fingerprint cards on a timely basis. This in turn acts as an effective deterrent to employee misconduct.

Approximately 9,468 respondents are subject to the recordkeeping requirements of the rule. Each respondent keeps approximately 32 new records per year, which takes approximately 2 minutes per record for the respondent to maintain, for an annual burden of 64 minutes per respondent. All records subject to the rule must be retained for the term of employment plus 3 years. The Commission estimates that the total annual cost to submitting entities is approximately $196,850. This figure reflects estimated costs of labor and storage of records.

Written comments regarding the above information should be directed to the following persons: (i) Desk Officer for the Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th St., NW., 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 within 30 days of this notice.