ceeding under this title brought by or against the Commission in any court. VALIDITY OF CONTRACTS SEC. 215. [80b-15] (a) Any condition, stipulation, or provision binding any person to waive compliance with any provision of this title or with any rule, regulation, or order thereunder shall be void. (b) Every contract made in violation of any provision of this title and every contract heretofore or hereafter made, the performance of which involves the violation of, or the continuance of any relationship or practice in violation of any provision of this title, or any rule, regulation, or order thereunder, shall be void (1) as regards the rights of any person who, in violation of any such provision, rule, regulation, or order, shall have made or engaged in the performance of any such contract, and (2) as regards the rights of any person who, not being a party to such contract, shall have acquired any right thereunder with actual knowledge of the facts by reason of which the making or performance of such contract was in violation of any such provision. ANNUAL REPORTS OF COMMISSION SEC. 216. [80b-16] The Commission shall submit annually a report to the Congress covering the work of the Commission for the preceding year and including such information, data, and recommendations for further legislation in connection with the matters covered by this title as it may find advisable. SEC. 217. [80b-17] Any person who willfully violates any provision of this title, or any rule, regulation, or order promulgated by the Commission under authority thereof, shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than $10,000, imprisoned for not more than five years, or both. EMPLOYEES OF THE COMMISSION SEC. 218. [80b-18] For the purposes of this title, the Commission may select, employ, and fix the compensation of such attorneys, examiners, and other experts as shall be necessary for the transaction of the business of the Commission in respect of this title without regard to the provisions of other laws applicable to the employment and compensation of officers or employees of the United States; and the Commission may, subject to the civil-service laws, appoint such other officers and employees as are necessary in the execution of the functions of the Commission and fix their salaries in accordance with the Classification Act of 1923, as amended. SEPARABILITY OF PROVISIONS SEC. 219. [80b-19] If any provision of this title or the application of such provision to any person or circumstances shall be held 2 See also 18 U.S.C. 3623. [Printed in appendix to this volume.] invalid, the remainder of the title and the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid shall not be affected thereby. SHORT TITLE SEC. 220. [80b-20] This title may be cited as the "Investment Advisers Act of 1940". EFFECTIVE DATE SEC. 221. [80b-21] This title shall become effective on November 1, 1940. STATE CONTROL OF INVESTMENT ADVISERS SEC. 222. [80b-18a] Nothing in this title shall affect the jurisdiction of the securities commissioner (or any agency or officer performing like functions) of any State over any security or any person insofar as it does not conflict with the provisions of this title or the rules and regulations thereunder. |