Search Results for keywords:"compliance"

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has issued a final rule to adjust civil penalty amounts for inflation, fulfilling the requirements under the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act. These adjustments ensure that penalties continue to serve as a deterrent and encourage compliance with the law. The new penalty amounts will take effect on January 15, 2025, and apply to violations occurring after November 2, 2015. This rulemaking process does not require public notice or comment due to its technical nature and statutory obligations.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has approved a rule change proposed by MIAX Sapphire, LLC, concerning fines for minor rule violations on its Trading Floor. The amended rule, called Exchange Rule 1014, introduces new penalties for several types of minor infractions. The changes aim to prevent disruptive behaviors and ensure the smooth operation of the Trading Floor. These adjustments are in line with the rules of a similar exchange and are intended to help enforce compliance with established regulations while shielding investors and the public interest.

The Department of Energy (DOE) is requesting a three-year extension for collecting information under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The extension involves gathering data and maintaining records related to energy or water conservation standards for various consumer products and industrial equipment. The DOE received comments from stakeholders like the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), expressing concerns about the burden of reporting requirements and the late release of reporting templates. The DOE aims to improve these processes and ensure collected data is necessary for compliance and protected as confidential business information.

The United States Department of Justice, along with several states, filed a lawsuit against RealPage, Inc. and several landlord companies, claiming they violated antitrust laws. The lawsuit alleges that these companies used RealPage's software to share sensitive rental information to influence and align rental prices, reducing competition and leading to higher rents for tenants. As part of a proposed settlement, Cortland Management, one of the defendants, agreed to stop using RealPage's software and instead use its own revenue management system without sharing sensitive data. The settlement aims to prevent Cortland from engaging in similar anticompetitive behavior in the future.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has released a final version of its updated Third-Party Contracting Guidance Circular (C 4220.1G), which replaces the old version (C 4220.1F). The update includes changes brought about by new laws and regulations and provides additional guidance for FTA's assistance programs. The FTA also addressed various public comments, making adjustments where needed, but mostly ensuring the guidelines align with existing federal standards. Most suggestions from stakeholders were acknowledged but not incorporated, as they often went beyond the scope of the federal requirements.

The Department of Justice, specifically the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, is seeking public comments on a revised information collection related to specific transactions among licensees and permit holders. This notice aims to collect feedback on whether the information collection is necessary, its estimated public burden, and ways to improve its quality while minimizing the burden on respondents. Interested individuals can submit their comments on the proposed revisions until March 10, 2025. The updated information collection includes a significant decrease in the number of respondents but an increase in total burden hours, reflecting added considerations like the monetized cost of the burden.

The Department of the Treasury is seeking public feedback on their information collection requests related to the sale of financial instruments like bank checks and money orders. These rules are part of efforts to comply with the Bank Secrecy Act, which requires record-keeping for transactions involving $3,000 or more to prevent illegal activities. The public is invited to provide comments by January 2, 2025. This collection primarily impacts businesses and aims to track large cash transactions more effectively.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is proposing new rules to improve accessibility for video conferencing services, focusing on features such as text-to-speech and automatic sign-language interpretation. They are seeking input on how these services can better support individuals with disabilities, including those who are blind, have low vision, or have cognitive or mobility disabilities. The FCC also wants to know if the telecommunications relay services (TRS) Fund should support team interpreting for video conferences. They are considering how to integrate TRS effectively with video conferencing platforms to ensure seamless communication for everyone involved.

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is asking for public comments on its plan to renew an information collection related to State regulatory authority on coal mining inspections. This is part of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, which aims to minimize the burden of reporting by the public. They are gathering feedback on whether the information collection is necessary, if it will be processed timely, and ways to improve its quality and clarity. Comments are due by February 4, 2025, and the information gathered will help ensure compliance with the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has made a final rule that changes how butterfat testing records are handled for the Dairy Grading and Inspection Program. The rule allows plants to do butterfat tests in-house or at approved third-party labs and obligates them to keep these records available for inspection by the USDA. This change aims to streamline processes by aligning with current industry practices and providing a more accurate picture of the butter's quality over time. The rule is expected to help butter plants save between $4,560 and $31,560 annually by eliminating the need for duplicate USDA inspections.