12 USC 5491 - Establishment of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection

Collapse to view only § 5491. Establishment of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection

§ 5491. Establishment of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection
§ 5492. Executive and administrative powers
§ 5493. Administration
§ 5494. Consumer Advisory Board
§ 5495. Coordination
§ 5496. Appearances before and reports to Congress
§ 5496a. Annual audits
§ 5496b. GAO study of financial regulations
§ 5497. Funding; penalties and fines
§ 5498. Data standards
§ 5499. Open data publication

§ 5491. Establishment of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection

(a) Bureau established

(b) Director and Deputy Director

(1) In general

(2) Appointment

(3) Qualification

(4) Compensation

(5) Deputy Director

There is established the position of Deputy Director, who shall—

(A) be appointed by the Director; and

(B) serve as acting Director in the absence or unavailability of the Director.

(1) In general

(2) Expiration of term

(3) Removal for cause

(d) Service restriction

(e) Offices

(Pub. L. 111–203, title X, § 1011, July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 1964.)

§ 5492. Executive and administrative powers

(a) Powers of the Bureau

The Bureau is authorized to establish the general policies of the Bureau with respect to all executive and administrative functions, including—

(1) the establishment of rules for conducting the general business of the Bureau, in a manner not inconsistent with this title; 1

1 See References in Text note below.

(2) to bind the Bureau and enter into contracts;

(3) directing the establishment and maintenance of divisions or other offices within the Bureau, in order to carry out the responsibilities under the Federal consumer financial laws, and to satisfy the requirements of other applicable law;

(4) to coordinate and oversee the operation of all administrative, enforcement, and research activities of the Bureau;

(5) to adopt and use a seal;

(6) to determine the character of and the necessity for the obligations and expenditures of the Bureau;

(7) the appointment and supervision of personnel employed by the Bureau;

(8) the distribution of business among personnel appointed and supervised by the Director and among administrative units of the Bureau;

(9) the use and expenditure of funds;

(10) implementing the Federal consumer financial laws through rules, orders, guidance, interpretations, statements of policy, examinations, and enforcement actions; and

(11) performing such other functions as may be authorized or required by law.

(b) Delegation of authority

(1) Coordination with the Board of Governors

(2) Autonomy

Notwithstanding the authorities granted to the Board of Governors under the Federal Reserve Act [12 U.S.C. 221 et seq.], the Board of Governors may not—

(A) intervene in any matter or proceeding before the Director, including examinations or enforcement actions, unless otherwise specifically provided by law;

(B) appoint, direct, or remove any officer or employee of the Bureau; or

(C) merge or consolidate the Bureau, or any of the functions or responsibilities of the Bureau, with any division or office of the Board of Governors or the Federal reserve banks.

(3) Rules and orders

(4) Recommendations and testimony

(5) Clarification of autonomy of the Bureau in legal proceedings

(Pub. L. 111–203, title X, § 1012, July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 1965.)

§ 5493. Administration

(a) Personnel

(1) Appointment

(A) In general

(B) Employees of the Bureau

(i) In generalIn making any appointment under subparagraph (A), the Director may waive the requirements of chapter 33 of title 5, and the regulations implementing such chapter, to the extent necessary to appoint employees on terms and conditions that are consistent with those set forth in section 11(1) of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 248(1)),1

1 See References in Text note below.

while providing for—(I) fair, credible, and transparent methods of establishing qualification requirements for, recruitment for, and appointments to positions;(II) fair and open competition and equitable treatment in the consideration and selection of individuals to positions;(III) fair, credible, and transparent methods of assigning, reassigning, detailing, transferring, and promoting employees.

(ii) Veterans preferences

(2) CompensationNotwithstanding any otherwise applicable provision of title 5 concerning compensation, including the provisions of chapter 51 and chapter 53, the following provisions shall apply with respect to employees of the Bureau:

(A) The rates of basic pay for all employees of the Bureau may be set and adjusted by the Director.

(B) The Director shall at all times provide compensation (including benefits) to each class of employees that, at a minimum, are comparable to the compensation and benefits then being provided by the Board of Governors for the corresponding class of employees.

(C) All such employees shall be compensated (including benefits) on terms and conditions that are consistent with the terms and conditions set forth in section 248(l) of this title.

(3) Bureau participation in Federal Reserve System Retirement Plan and Federal Reserve System Thrift Plan

(A) Employee electionEmployees appointed to the Bureau may elect to participate in either—

(i) both the Federal Reserve System Retirement Plan and the Federal Reserve System Thrift Plan, under the same terms on which such participation is offered to employees of the Board of Governors who participate in such plans and under the terms and conditions specified under section 5584(i)(1)(C) of this title; or

(ii) the Civil Service Retirement System under chapter 83 of title 5 or the Federal Employees Retirement System under chapter 84 of title 5, if previously covered under one of those Federal employee retirement systems.

(B) Election period

(D) Controlled group status

(4) Labor-management relations

(5) Agency ombudsman

(A) Establishment required

(B) Duties of ombudsmanThe ombudsman appointed in accordance with subparagraph (A) shall—

(i) act as a liaison between the Bureau and any affected person with respect to any problem that such party may have in dealing with the Bureau, resulting from the regulatory activities of the Bureau; and

(ii) assure that safeguards exist to encourage complainants to come forward and preserve confidentiality.

(b) Specific functional units

(1) ResearchThe Director shall establish a unit whose functions shall include researching, analyzing, and reporting on—

(A) developments in markets for consumer financial products or services, including market areas of alternative consumer financial products or services with high growth rates and areas of risk to consumers;

(B) access to fair and affordable credit for traditionally underserved communities;

(C) consumer awareness, understanding, and use of disclosures and communications regarding consumer financial products or services;

(D) consumer awareness and understanding of costs, risks, and benefits of consumer financial products or services;

(E) consumer behavior with respect to consumer financial products or services, including performance on mortgage loans; and

(F) experiences of traditionally underserved consumers, including un-banked and under-banked consumers.

(2) Community affairs

(3) Collecting and tracking complaints

(A) In general

(B) Routing calls to StatesTo the extent practicable, State agencies may receive appropriate complaints from the systems established under subparagraph (A), if—

(i) the State agency system has the functional capacity to receive calls or electronic reports routed by the Bureau systems;

(ii) the State agency has satisfied any conditions of participation in the system that the Bureau may establish, including treatment of personally identifiable information and sharing of information on complaint resolution or related compliance procedures and resources; and

(iii) participation by the State agency includes measures necessary to provide for protection of personally identifiable information that conform to the standards for protection of the confidentiality of personally identifiable information and for data integrity and security that apply to the Federal agencies described in subparagraph (D).

(D) Data sharing required

(1) Establishment

(2) FunctionsThe Office of Fair Lending and Equal Opportunity shall have such powers and duties as the Director may delegate to the Office, including—

(A) providing oversight and enforcement of Federal laws intended to ensure the fair, equitable, and nondiscriminatory access to credit for both individuals and communities that are enforced by the Bureau, including the Equal Credit Opportunity Act [15 U.S.C. 1691 et seq.] and the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act [12 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.];

(B) coordinating fair lending efforts of the Bureau with other Federal agencies and State regulators, as appropriate, to promote consistent, efficient, and effective enforcement of Federal fair lending laws;

(C) working with private industry, fair lending, civil rights, consumer and community advocates on the promotion of fair lending compliance and education; and

(D) providing annual reports to Congress on the efforts of the Bureau to fulfill its fair lending mandate.

(3) Administration of OfficeThere is established the position of Assistant Director of the Bureau for Fair Lending and Equal Opportunity, who—

(A) shall be appointed by the Director; and

(B) shall carry out such duties as the Director may delegate to such Assistant Director.

(d) Office of Financial Education

(1) Establishment

(2) Other dutiesThe Office of Financial Education shall develop and implement a strategy to improve the financial literacy of consumers that includes measurable goals and objectives, in consultation with the Financial Literacy and Education Commission, consistent with the National Strategy for Financial Literacy, through activities including providing opportunities for consumers to access—

(A) financial counseling, including community-based financial counseling, where practicable;

(B) information to assist with the evaluation of credit products and the understanding of credit histories and scores;

(D) activities intended to—

(i) prepare the consumer for educational expenses and the submission of financial aid applications, and other major purchases;

(ii) reduce debt; and

(iii) improve the financial situation of the consumer;

(E) assistance in developing long-term savings strategies; and

(F) wealth building and financial services during the preparation process to claim earned income tax credits and Federal benefits.

(3) CoordinationThe Office of Financial Education shall coordinate with other units within the Bureau in carrying out its functions, including—

(A) working with the Community Affairs Office to implement the strategy to improve financial literacy of consumers; and

(B) working with the research unit established by the Director to conduct research related to consumer financial education and counseling.

(4) ReportNot later than 24 months after the designated transfer date, and annually thereafter, the Director shall submit a report on its financial literacy activities and strategy to improve financial literacy of consumers to—

(A) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate; and

(B) the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives.

(5), (6) Omitted

(7) Study and report on financial literacy program

(A) In generalThe Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study to identify—

(i) the feasibility of certification of persons providing the programs or performing the activities described in paragraph (2), including recognizing outstanding programs, and developing guidelines and resources for community-based practitioners, including—(I) a potential certification process and standards for certification;(II) appropriate certifying entities;(III) resources required for funding such a process; and(IV) a cost-benefit analysis of such certification;

(ii) technological resources intended to collect, analyze, evaluate, or promote financial literacy and counseling programs;

(iii) effective methods, tools, and strategies intended to educate and empower consumers about personal finance management; and

(iv) recommendations intended to encourage the development of programs that effectively improve financial education outcomes and empower consumers to make better informed financial decisions based on findings.

(B) Report

(e) Office of Service Member Affairs

(1) In generalThe Director shall establish an Office of Service Member Affairs, which shall be responsible for developing and implementing initiatives for service members and their families intended to—

(A) educate and empower service members and their families to make better informed decisions regarding consumer financial products and services;

(B) coordinate with the unit of the Bureau established under subsection (b)(3), in order to monitor complaints by service members and their families and responses to those complaints by the Bureau or other appropriate Federal or State agency; and

(C) coordinate efforts among Federal and State agencies, as appropriate, regarding consumer protection measures relating to consumer financial products and services offered to, or used by, service members and their families.

(2) Coordination

(A) Regional services

(B) Agreements

(3) Definition

(f) Timing

(g) Office of Financial Protection for Older Americans

(1) Establishment

(2) Assistant director

(3) DutiesThe Office shall—

(A) develop goals for programs that provide seniors financial literacy and counseling, including programs that—

(i) help seniors recognize warning signs of unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices, protect themselves from such practices;

(ii) provide one-on-one financial counseling on issues including long-term savings and later-life economic security; and

(iii) provide personal consumer credit advocacy to respond to consumer problems caused by unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices;

(B) monitor certifications or designations of financial advisors who advise seniors and alert the Commission and State regulators of certifications or designations that are identified as unfair, deceptive, or abusive;

(C) not later than 18 months after the date of the establishment of the Office, submit to Congress and the Commission any legislative and regulatory recommendations on the best practices for—

(i) disseminating information regarding the legitimacy of certifications of financial advisers who advise seniors;

(ii) methods in which a senior can identify the financial advisor most appropriate for the senior’s needs; and

(iii) methods in which a senior can verify a financial advisor’s credentials;

(D) conduct research to identify best practices and effective methods, tools, technology and strategies to educate and counsel seniors about personal finance management with a focus on—

(i) protecting themselves from unfair, deceptive, and abusive practices;

(ii) long-term savings; and

(iii) planning for retirement and long-term care;

(E) coordinate consumer protection efforts of seniors with other Federal agencies and State regulators, as appropriate, to promote consistent, effective, and efficient enforcement; and

(F) work with community organizations, non-profit organizations, and other entities that are involved with educating or assisting seniors (including the National Education and Resource Center on Women and Retirement Planning).

(h) Application of chapter 10 of title 5

(Pub. L. 111–203, title X, § 1013, July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 1966; Pub. L. 114–113, div. O, title VII, § 704, Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 3025; Pub. L. 117–286, § 4(a)(59), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4311.)

§ 5494. Consumer Advisory Board

(a) Establishment required

(b) Membership

(d) Compensation and travel expenses

Members of the Consumer Advisory Board who are not full-time employees of the United States shall—

(1) be entitled to receive compensation at a rate fixed by the Director while attending meetings of the Consumer Advisory Board, including travel time; and

(2) be allowed travel expenses, including transportation and subsistence, while away from their homes or regular places of business.

(Pub. L. 111–203, title X, § 1014, July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 1974.)

§ 5495. Coordination

The Bureau shall coordinate with the Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, and other Federal agencies and State regulators, as appropriate, to promote consistent regulatory treatment of consumer financial and investment products and services.

(Pub. L. 111–203, title X, § 1015, July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 1974.)

§ 5496. Appearances before and reports to Congress

(a) Appearances before Congress

(b) Reports required

The reports required by subsection (b) shall include—

(1) a discussion of the significant problems faced by consumers in shopping for or obtaining consumer financial products or services;

(2) a justification of the budget request of the previous year;

(3) a list of the significant rules and orders adopted by the Bureau, as well as other significant initiatives conducted by the Bureau, during the preceding year and the plan of the Bureau for rules, orders, or other initiatives to be undertaken during the upcoming period;

(4) an analysis of complaints about consumer financial products or services that the Bureau has received and collected in its central database on complaints during the preceding year;

(5) a list, with a brief statement of the issues, of the public supervisory and enforcement actions to which the Bureau was a party during the preceding year;

(6) the actions taken regarding rules, orders, and supervisory actions with respect to covered persons which are not credit unions or depository institutions;

(7) an assessment of significant actions by State attorneys general or State regulators relating to Federal consumer financial law;

(8) an analysis of the efforts of the Bureau to fulfill the fair lending mission of the Bureau; and

(9) an analysis of the efforts of the Bureau to increase workforce and contracting diversity consistent with the procedures established by the Office of Minority and Women Inclusion.

(Pub. L. 111–203, title X, § 1016, July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 1974.)

§ 5496a. Annual audits

(a) Annual independent audit

(b) Annual GAO audit

(Pub. L. 111–203, title X, § 1016A, as added Pub. L. 112–10, div. B, title V, § 1573(a), Apr. 15, 2011, 125 Stat. 138.)

§ 5496b. GAO study of financial regulations

(a) Study

Not later than the end of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study of financial services regulations, including activities of the Bureau. Such study shall include an analysis of—

(1) the impact of regulation on the financial marketplace, including the effects on the safety and soundness of regulated entities, cost and availability of credit, savings realized by consumers, reductions in consumer paperwork burden, changes in personal and small business bankruptcy filings, and costs of compliance with rules, including whether relevant Federal agencies are applying sound cost-benefit analysis in promulgating rules;

(2) efforts to avoid duplicative or conflicting rulemakings, including an evaluation of the consultative process under subparagraphs (B) and (C) of section 5512(b)(2) of this title, information requests, and examinations; and

(3) other matters related to the operations of financial services regulations deemed by the Comptroller General to be appropriate.

(b) Report

(Pub. L. 111–203, title X, § 1016B, as added Pub. L. 112–10, div. B, title V, § 1573(a), Apr. 15, 2011, 125 Stat. 138.)

§ 5497. Funding; penalties and fines

(a) Transfer of funds from Board Of Governors

(1) In general

(2) Funding cap

(A) In general

Notwithstanding paragraph (1), and in accordance with this paragraph, the amount that shall be transferred to the Bureau in each fiscal year shall not exceed a fixed percentage of the total operating expenses of the Federal Reserve System, as reported in the Annual Report, 2009, of the Board of Governors, equal to—

(i) 10 percent of such expenses in fiscal year 2011;

(ii) 11 percent of such expenses in fiscal year 2012; and

(iii) 12 percent of such expenses in fiscal year 2013, and in each year thereafter.

(B) Adjustment of amount

(3) Transition period

(4) Budget and financial management

(A) Financial operating plans and forecasts

(B) Financial statements

The Bureau shall prepare annually a statement of—

(i) assets and liabilities and surplus or deficit;

(ii) income and expenses; and

(iii) sources and application of funds.

(D) Assertion of internal controls

(E) Rule of construction

(F) Financial statements

(5) Audit of the Bureau

(A) In general

(B) Report

(b) Consumer Financial Protection Fund

(1) Separate fund in Federal Reserve established

(2) Fund receipts

(3) Investment authority

(A) Amounts in Bureau Fund may be invested

(B) Eligible investments

(1) In general

(2) Funds that are not Government funds

(3) Amounts not subject to apportionment

(d) Penalties and fines

(1) Establishment of victims relief fund

(2) Payment to victims

(e) Authorization of appropriations; annual report

(1) Determination regarding need for appropriated funds

(A) In general

(B) Report required

(2) Authorization of appropriations

(3) Apportionment

(4) Annual report

(Pub. L. 111–203, title X, § 1017, July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 1975.)

§ 5498. Data standards

(a) Requirement

(b) Consistency

(Pub. L. 111–203, title X, § 1018, as added Pub. L. 117–263, div. E, title LVIII, § 5851(a)(2), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3433.)

§ 5499. Open data publication

All public data assets published by the Bureau shall be—

(1) made available as an open Government data asset (as defined in section 3502 of title 44);

(2) freely available for download;

(3) rendered in a human-readable format; and

(4) accessible via application programming interface where appropriate.

(Pub. L. 111–203, title X, § 1019, as added Pub. L. 117–263, div. E, title LVIII, § 5851(a)(2), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3433.)