1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Basel III Commonsense Approach for Small Entities Act” or the “Basel III CASE Act”.
Basel III Commonsense Approach for Small Entities Act
A BILL
To require the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to conduct an empirical impact study on proposed rules relating to the International Basel III agreement on general risk-based capital requirements, as they apply to smaller financial institutions.
2. Final rules pending Impact Study
In general— The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (in this Act collectively referred to as the “Federal banking agencies”) shall conduct an empirical study in accordance with subsection (b) prior to issuing any final rule in relation to proposals issued by the Federal banking agencies for the International Basel III agreement on general risk-based capital requirements.
Issues To be studied— The study required by this section shall include—
a quantitative analysis of the impact of such rule on the financial services sector of the United States, specifically community, mid-size, and regional financial institutions; and
a determination of the long-term impact of such rule, including changes to the current risk weight framework.
3. Voluntary Participation
Any financial institution may voluntarily provide information for the study upon the request of the Federal banking agencies, but may not be required to provide such information.
4. Final report
Availability to the public— A final report on the completed study required by this Act shall be made available to the public for notice and comment for a period of not less than 3 months.
Review— The Federal banking agencies shall review any comments submitted under subsection (a), and following such review, shall prescribe new rules, if appropriate, based on the results of the study and such comments. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a new rulemaking following such comment period shall include an additional comment period of not less than 3 months.