1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Investor Choice Act of 2019”.
Investor Choice Act of 2019
A BILL
To amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to prohibit mandatory predispute arbitration agreements, and for other purposes.
2. Findings
Congress makes the following findings:
Investor confidence in fair and equitable recourse is essential to the health and stability of the securities markets and to the participation of retail investors in such markets.
Brokers, dealers, and investment advisers hold powerful advantages over investors, and mandatory arbitration clauses, including contracts that force investors to submit claims to arbitration or to waive their right to participate in a class action, leverage these advantages to severely restrict the ability of defrauded investors to seek redress.
Investors should be free to choose arbitration to resolve disputes if they judge that arbitration truly offers them the best opportunity to efficiently and fairly settle disputes, and investors should also be free to pursue remedies in court should they view that option as superior to arbitration.
3. Arbitration agreements in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
In general— The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is amended—
by amending section 15(o) (15 U.S.C. 78o(o)) to read as follows:
“(o) Limitations on pre-Dispute agreements—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, it shall be unlawful for any broker, dealer, funding portal, or municipal securities dealer to enter into, modify, or extend an agreement with customers or clients of such entity with respect to a future dispute between the parties that—
“(1) mandates arbitration for such dispute;
“(2) restricts, limits, or conditions the ability of a customer or client of such entity to select or designate a forum for resolution of such dispute; or
“(3) restricts, limits, or conditions the ability of a customer or client to pursue a claim relating to such dispute in an individual or representative capacity or on a class action or consolidated basis.”
in section 6(b) (15 U.S.C. 78f(b)), by adding at the end the following:
“(11) Mandatory arbitration—The rules of the exchange prohibit the listing of any security if such issuer, in its bylaws, other governing documents, or any contract with a shareholder related to the parties as issuer and shareholder mandates arbitration for any disputes between the issuer and the shareholders of the issuer.”
Application to existing agreements—
In general— With respect to an agreement described in section 15(o) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that was entered before the date of the enactment of this Act, any provision prohibited by section 15(o) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is void.
Ongoing arbitration— A provision prohibited by section 15(o) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 shall not be void under paragraph (1) if arbitration required by such provision was initiated by any party on or before the date of the enactment of this subsection.
4. Arbitration agreements in the Securities Act of 1933
Section 6 of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77f) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(f) Limitation on arbitration requirements—A security may not be registered with the Commission if the issuer of such security, in its bylaws, or other governing documents, or any contract with a shareholder related to the parties as issuer and shareholder mandates arbitration for any disputes between the issuer and the shareholders of the issuer.”
5. Arbitration agreements in the Investment Advisers Act of 1940
In general— Section 205(f) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b–5(f)) is amended to read as follows:
“(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, it shall be unlawful for any investment adviser to enter into, modify, or extend an agreement with customers or clients of such entity with respect to a future dispute between the parties to such agreement that—
“(1) mandates arbitration for such dispute;
“(2) restricts, limits, or conditions the ability of a customer or client of such entity to select or designate a forum for resolution of such dispute; or
“(3) restricts, limits, or conditions the ability of a customer or client to pursue a claim relating to such dispute in an individual or representative capacity or on a class action or consolidated basis.”
Application to existing agreements—
In general— With respect to an agreement described in section 205(f) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 that was entered before the date of the enactment of this Act, any provision prohibited by section 205(f) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 is void.
Ongoing arbitration— A provision prohibited by section 205(f) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 shall not be void under paragraph (1) if arbitration required by such provision was initiated by any party on or before the date of the enactment of this subsection.
6. Application
Except as otherwise stated, the amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to any agreement entered into, modified, or extended after the date of the enactment of this Act.