CITE

    15 USC Sec. 78ccc                                           01/08/2008

EXPCITE

    TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
    CHAPTER 2B091 - SECURITIES INVESTOR PROTECTION

HEAD

    Sec. 78ccc. Securities Investor Protection Corporation

STATUTE

    (a) Creation and membership
      (1) Creation
        There is hereby established a body corporate to be known as the
      "Securities Investor Protection Corporation" (hereafter in this
      chapter referred to as "SIPC"). SIPC shall be a nonprofit
      corporation and shall have succession until dissolved by Act of
      the Congress. SIPC shall -
          (A) not be an agency or establishment of the United States
        Government; and
          (B) except as otherwise provided in this chapter, be subject
        to, and have all the powers conferred upon a nonprofit
        corporation by, the District of Columbia Nonprofit Corporation
        Act.
      (2) Membership
        (A) Members of SIPC
          SIPC shall be a membership corporation the members of which
        shall be all persons registered as brokers or dealers under
        section 78o(b) of this title, other than -
            (i) persons whose principal business, in the determination
          of SIPC, taking into account business of affiliated entities,
          is conducted outside the United States and its territories
          and possessions;
            (ii) persons whose business as a broker or dealer consists
          exclusively of (I) the distribution of shares of registered
          open end investment companies or unit investment trusts, (II)
          the sale of variable annuities, (III) the business of
          insurance, or (IV) the business of rendering investment
          advisory services to one or more registered investment
          companies or insurance company separate accounts; and
            (iii) persons who are registered as a broker or dealer
          pursuant to section 78o(b)(11)(A) of this title.
        (B) Commission review
          SIPC shall file with the Commission a copy of any
        determination made pursuant to subparagraph (A)(i). Within
        thirty days after the date of such filing, or within such
        longer period as the Commission may designate of not more than
        ninety days after such date if it finds such longer period to
        be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding, the
        Commission shall, consistent with the public interest and the
        purposes of this chapter, affirm, reverse, or amend any such
        determination of SIPC.
        (C) Additional members
          SIPC shall provide by rule that persons excluded from
        membership in SIPC under subparagraph (A)(i) may become members
        of SIPC under such conditions and upon such terms as SIPC shall
        require by rule, taking into account such matters as the
        availability of assets and the ability to conduct a liquidation
        if necessary.
        (D) Disclosure
          Any broker or dealer excluded from membership in SIPC under
        subparagraph (A)(i) shall, as required by the Commission by
        rule, make disclosures of its exclusion and other relevant
        information to the customers of such broker or dealer who are
        living in the United States or its territories and possessions.
    (b) Powers
      In addition to the powers granted to SIPC elsewhere in this
    chapter, SIPC shall have the power -
        (1) to sue and be sued, complain and defend, in its corporate
      name and through its own counsel, in any State, Federal, or other
      court;
        (2) to adopt, alter, and use a corporate seal, which shall be
      judicially noticed;
        (3) to adopt, amend, and repeal, by its Board of Directors,
      such bylaws as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the
      purposes of this chapter, including bylaws relating to -
          (A) the conduct of its business; and
          (B) the indemnity of its directors, officers, and employees
        (including any such person acting as trustee or otherwise in
        connection with a liquidation proceeding) for liabilities and
        expenses actually and reasonably incurred by any such person in
        connection with the defense or settlement of an action or suit
        if such person acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably
        believed to be consistent with the purposes of this chapter.
        (4) to adopt, amend, and repeal, by its Board of Directors,
      such rules as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the
      purposes of this chapter, including rules relating to -
          (A) the definition of terms used in this chapter, other than
        those terms for which a definition is provided in section 78lll
        of this title;
          (B) the procedures for the liquidation of members and direct
        payment procedures, including the transfer of customer
        accounts, the distribution of customer property, and the
        advance and payment of SIPC funds; and
          (C) the exercise of all other rights and powers granted to it
        by this chapter;
        (5) to conduct its business (including the carrying on of
      operations and the maintenance of offices) and to exercise all
      other rights and powers granted to it by this chapter in any
      State or other jurisdiction without regard to any qualification,
      licensing, or other statute in such State or other jurisdiction;
        (6) to lease, purchase, accept gifts or donations of or
      otherwise acquire, to own, hold, improve, use, or otherwise deal
      in or with, and to sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease,
      exchange or otherwise dispose of, any property, real, personal or
      mixed, or any interest therein, wherever situated;
        (7) subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this
      section, to elect or appoint such officers, attorneys, employees,
      and agents as may be required, to determine their qualifications,
      to define their duties, to fix their salaries, require bonds for
      them and fix the penalty thereof;
        (8) to enter into contracts, to execute instruments, to incur
      liabilities, and to do any and all other acts and things as may
      be necessary or incidental to the conduct of its business and the
      exercise of all other rights and powers granted to SIPC by this
      chapter; and
        (9) by bylaw, to establish its fiscal year.
    (c) Board of Directors
      (1) Functions
        SIPC shall have a Board of Directors which, subject to the
      provisions of this chapter, shall determine the policies which
      shall govern the operations of SIPC.
      (2) Number and appointment
        The Board of Directors shall consist of seven persons as
      follows:
          (A) One director shall be appointed by the Secretary of the
        Treasury from among the officers and employees of the
        Department of the Treasury.
          (B) One director shall be appointed by the Federal Reserve
        Board from among the officers and employees of the Federal
        Reserve Board.
          (C) Five directors shall be appointed by the President, by
        and with the advice and consent of the Senate, as follows -
            (i) three such directors shall be selected from among
          persons who are associated with, and representative of
          different aspects of, the securities industry, not all of
          whom shall be from the same geographical area of the United
          States, and
            (ii) two such directors shall be selected from the general
          public from among persons who are not associated with a
          broker or dealer or associated with a member of a national
          securities exchange, within the meaning of section 78c(a)(18)
          or section 78c(a)(21), respectively, of this title, or
          similarly associated with any self-regulatory organization or
          other securities industry group, and who have not had any
          such association during the two years preceding appointment.
      (3) Chairman and Vice Chairman
        The President shall designate a Chairman and Vice Chairman from
      among those directors appointed under paragraph (2)(C)(ii) of
      this subsection.
      (4) Terms
          (A) Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C), each
        director shall be appointed for a term of three years.
          (B) Of the directors first appointed under paragraph (2) -
            (i) two shall hold office for a term expiring on December
          31, 1971,
            (ii) two shall hold office for a term expiring on December
          31, 1972, and
            (iii) three shall hold office for a term expiring on
          December 31, 1973,
        as designated by the President at the time they take office.
        Such designation shall be made in a manner which will assure
        that no two persons appointed under the authority of the same
        clause of paragraph (2)(C) shall have terms which expire
        simultaneously.
          (C) A vacancy in the Board shall be filled in the same manner
        as the original appointment was made. Any director appointed to
        fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term
        for which his predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only
        for the remainder of such term. A director may serve after the
        expiration of his term until his successor has taken office.
      (5) Compensation
        All matters relating to compensation of directors shall be as
      provided in the bylaws of SIPC.
    (d) Meetings of Board
      The Board of Directors shall meet at the call of its Chairman, or
    as otherwise provided by the bylaws of SIPC.
    (e) Bylaws and rules
      (1) Proposed bylaw changes
        The Board of Directors of SIPC shall file with the Commission a
      copy of any proposed bylaw or any proposed amendment to or repeal
      of any bylaw of SIPC (hereinafter in this paragraph collectively
      referred to as a "proposed bylaw change"), accompanied by a
      concise general statement of the basis and purpose of such
      proposed bylaw change. Each such proposed bylaw change shall take
      effect thirty days after the date of the filing of a copy thereof
      with the Commission, or upon such later date as SIPC may
      designate or such earlier date as the Commission may determine,
      unless -
          (A) the Commission, by notice to SIPC setting forth the
        reasons therefor, disapproves such proposed bylaw change as
        being contrary to the public interest or contrary to the
        purposes of this chapter; or
          (B) the Commission finds that such proposed bylaw change
        involves a matter of such significant public interest that
        public comment should be obtained, in which case it may, after
        notifying SIPC in writing of such finding, require that the
        procedures set forth in paragraph (2) be followed with respect
        to such proposed bylaw change, in the same manner as if such
        proposed bylaw change were a proposed rule change within the
        meaning of such paragraph.
      (2) Proposed rule changes
        (A) Filing of proposed rule changes
          The Board of Directors of SIPC shall file with the
        Commission, in accordance with such rules as the Commission may
        prescribe, a copy of any proposed rule or any proposed
        amendment to or repeal of any rule of SIPC (hereinafter in this
        subsection collectively referred to as a "proposed rule
        change"), accompanied by a concise general statement of the
        basis and purpose of such proposed rule change. The Commission
        shall, upon the filing of any proposed rule change, publish
        notice thereof, together with the terms of substance of such
        proposed rule change or a description of the subjects and
        issues involved. The Commission shall give interested persons
        an opportunity to submit written data, views, and arguments
        with respect to such proposed rule change. No proposed rule
        change shall take effect unless approved by the Commission or
        otherwise permitted in accordance with the provisions of this
        paragraph.
        (B) Action by the Commission
          Within thirty-five days after the date of publication of
        notice of the filing of a proposed rule change, or within such
        longer period as the Commission may designate of not more than
        ninety days after such date if it finds such longer period to
        be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding, or as
        to which SIPC consents, the Commission shall -
            (i) by order approve such proposed rule change; or
            (ii) institute proceedings to determine whether such
          proposed rule change should be disapproved.
        (C) Proceedings
          Proceedings instituted with respect to a proposed rule change
        pursuant to subparagraph (B)(ii) shall include notice of the
        grounds for disapproval under consideration and opportunity for
        hearing, and shall be concluded within one hundred eighty days
        after the date of publication of notice of the filing of such
        proposed rule change. At the conclusion of such proceedings,
        the Commission shall, by order, approve or disapprove such
        proposed rule change. The Commission may extend the time for
        conclusion of such proceedings for not more than sixty days if
        it finds good cause for such extension and publishes its
        reasons for so finding, or for such longer period as to which
        SIPC consents.
        (D) Grounds for approval or disapproval
          The Commission shall approve a proposed rule change if it
        finds that such proposed rule change is in the public interest
        and is consistent with the purposes of this chapter, and any
        proposed rule change so approved shall be given force and
        effect as if promulgated by the Commission. The Commission
        shall disapprove a proposed rule change if it does not make the
        finding referred to in the preceding sentence. The Commission
        shall not approve any proposed rule change prior to thirty days
        after the date of publication of notice of the filing thereof,
        unless the Commission finds good cause for so doing and
        publishes its reasons for so finding.
        (E) Exception
          Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph, a
        proposed rule change may take effect -
            (i) upon the date of filing with the Commission, if such
          proposed rule change is designated by SIPC as relating solely
          to matters which the Commission, consistent with the public
          interest and the purposes of this subsection, determines by
          rule do not require the procedures set forth in this
          paragraph; or
            (ii) upon such date as the Commission shall for good cause
          determine. Any proposed rule change which takes effect under
          this clause shall be filed promptly thereafter and reviewed
          in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (A).
        At any time within sixty days after the date of filing of any
        rule change which has taken effect pursuant to this
        subparagraph, the Commission may summarily abrogate such rule
        change and require that it be refiled and reviewed in
        accordance with the provisions of this paragraph, if the
        Commission finds that such action is necessary or appropriate
        in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or
        otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of this chapter. Any
        action of the Commission pursuant to the preceding sentence
        shall not affect the validity or force of a rule change during
        the period it was in effect and shall not be reviewable under
        section 78y of this title or deemed to be final agency action
        for purposes of section 704 of title 5.
      (3) Action required by Commission
        The Commission may, by such rules as it determines to be
      necessary or appropriate in the public interest or to carry out
      the purposes of this chapter, require SIPC to adopt, amend, or
      repeal any SIPC bylaw or rule, whenever adopted.

SOURCE

    (Pub. L. 91-598, Sec. 3, Dec. 30, 1970, 84 Stat. 1637; Pub. L. 95-
    283, Secs. 2-5, May 21, 1978, 92 Stat. 249-251; Pub. L. 106-554,
    Sec. 1(a)(5) [title II, Sec. 203(d)(2)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat.
    2763, 2763A-424.)

REFERENCES IN TEXT

      This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a) to (c) and (e), was in
    the original "this Act", meaning Pub. L. 91-598, Dec. 30, 1970, 84
    Stat. 1636. For complete classification of this Act to the Code,
    see Tables.
      The District of Columbia Nonprofit Corporation Act, referred to
    in subsec. (a)(1)(B), is Pub. L. 87-569, Aug. 6, 1962, 76 Stat.
    265, as amended, which is not classified to the Code.

AMENDMENTS

      2000 - Subsec. (a)(2)(A)(iii). Pub. L. 106-554 added cl. (iii).
      1978 - Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95-283, Sec. 2(a), substituted
    "Creation and membership" for "Creation" in heading, redesignated
    introductory text and cls. (1) and (3) as par. (1), and added par.
    2 which incorporated provisions formerly contained in cl. (2) as
    par. (2)(A).
      Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95-283, Sec. 3, in par. (1) substituted
    "State, Federal, or other court" for "court, State, or Federal", in
    par. (3) substituted provisions relating to adoption, etc., of
    bylaws by the Board of Directors, for provisions relating to
    adoption, etc., of bylaws and rules by the Board of Directors,
    added par. (4), and redesignated former pars. (4) to (8) as (5) to
    (9), respectively.
      Subsec. (c)(2)(C)(ii). Pub. L. 95-283, Sec. 4(a), substituted "a
    broker or dealer or associated with a member of a national
    securities exchange, within the meaning of section 78c(a)(18) or
    section 78c(a)(21), respectively, of this title, or similarly
    associated with any self-regulatory organization or other
    securities industry group," for "any broker or dealer, within the
    meaning of paragraph (18) of section 78c(a) of this title, or
    similarly associated with a national securities exchange or other
    securities industry group".
      Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 95-283, Sec. 4(b), substituted
    "Compensation" for "Compensation, etc." in heading, and in text
    struck out provisions relating to determinations of dollar volume
    of trading on exchanges.
      Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 95-283, Sec. 5, inserted "and rules" after
    "Bylaws" in heading, and in text substituted provisions relating to
    procedures applicable to proposed changes in the bylaws and rules
    of SIPC and required action by the Commission with respect to any
    SIPC bylaw or rule, for provisions relating to procedures
    applicable to adoption of initial bylaws and rules of SIPC and any
    alteration, supplement, repeal, or addition, effective date of any
    such bylaw or rule, and required action by the Commission with
    respect to any SIPC bylaw or rule.
      Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 95-283, Sec. 2(b), struck out subsec. (f)
    which set forth qualifications for other members of SIPC.
Customized queries of TRAC's data TRAC FBI Web Site TRAC DEA Web Site TRAC Immigration Web Site TRAC DHS Web Site TRAC IRS Web Site TRAC ATF Web Site TRAC Reports Web Site
Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, Syracuse University
Copyright 2008
TRAC Web Site