FINRA Rulemaking Process

FINRA’s rulemaking process consists of 10 deliberate steps to establish an official rule. This rulemaking process requires internal and external reviews to ensure new guidelines protect investors and market integrity:

  1. New Rule Proposals: 
    New rule proposals are generated from a number of sources, including, but not limited to:
  2. FINRA Internal Review
    Once a possible rule proposal is identified, the FINRA subject matter experts research and develop the proposal and present it to FINRA management for review. In addition, FINRA staff works closely with FINRA's Office of the Chief Economist and other FINRA departments to assess the economic impact of potential rulemakings.  The assessment helps to ensure that FINRA's rules are better designed to protect the investing public and maintain market integrity while minimizing unnecessary burdens. 
     
  3. Presentation to FINRA Committees
    FINRA staff typically presents the rule proposal (or an idea for a rule proposal) to various FINRA Advisory and District Committees.  It may also present the proposal to the NAC for review and input.  The SFAC and the Large Firm Advisory Committee review rule proposals before they are submitted to the FINRA Board for approval.
     
  4. Submission to FINRA Board
    FINRA staff prepares an “Action Item” for the FINRA Board that describes the rule proposal in detail, including FINRA Committees’ and the SFAC’s views on the proposal.  Depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding the rule proposal, the FINRA Board may authorize the publication of a Regulatory Notice soliciting comment on the proposal or the filing of the proposal with the SEC for notice and comment.
     
  5. Regulatory Notice Process
    If FINRA determines to issue a Regulatory Notice soliciting comment on a proposal, the comment period typically is open for one to two months. FINRA accepts comments by hard copy or electronically, and all comments become part of the “official record” of the rule proposal. Since December 1, 2003, FINRA posts all comment letters on its website. 

    Depending on the comments received in response to the Regulatory Notice and any changes made to the proposal, FINRA staff will either return to the FINRA Board with a revised proposal or will file the rule proposal with the SEC for notice and comment. 
     
  6. Filing with the SEC
    Since November 2004, FINRA and other SRO rule filings are filed electronically with the SEC, rather than in paper form.  FINRA posts all of its rule filings on the FINRA website within two business days after filing with the SEC.  Once the proposal is filed with the SEC, SEC staff reviews the rule proposal to determine whether it is consistent with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act).  The SEC staff may request changes or amendments to the rule proposal. 
     
  7. SEC Notice of the Proposal in the Federal Register
    The SEC publishes the rule for comment in the Federal Register.  In general, the comment period is open for 21 days following publication.  (Note: Most proposed rule changes are filed for a 21-day notice and comment period; however, the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder provide that in certain limited circumstances, a proposed rule change may be filed for immediate effectiveness, with the SEC having 60 days to consider whether to summarily temporarily suspend the rule change or allow it to remain in effect.  If the SEC suspends the rule change, it will institute proceedings to determine whether the rule change should be approved or disapproved.)
     
  8. Response to Comments
    Depending on the types of comments received, the SEC staff typically requests that FINRA respond to the comments received.  FINRA may decide to propose amendments to the rule proposal as a result of the comments.  (Note: If the comments prompt a substantial change to the original rule proposal, the staff will return to the FINRA Board for authorization to make the changes.  The staff also may discuss the changes with various Committees prior to returning to the FINRA Board.  Depending on the nature of the changes, the SEC also may choose to republish the revised rule proposal for comment in the Federal Register.)
     
  9. SEC Approval of the Proposal
    If the SEC approves the final rule, it places an official announcement in the Federal Register.
     
  10. Regulatory Notices
    Following SEC approval, FINRA issues a Regulatory Notice announcing SEC approval of the rule change.  This notice summarizes the new rule or rule amendments, includes the text of the rule or amendments, and announces the effective date.  In many cases, the effective date will be a set number of days following publication of the Regulatory Notice, such as 30 days after publication.

For additional information on the SRO rulemaking process, please see Section 19 of the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder.  These provisions are available at: http://www.sec.gov/about/laws/sea34.pdf.