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In March 2015, the CFPB issued a report to Congress as required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act concerning the use of agreements providing for arbitration of any future dispute between covered persons and consumers in connection with the offering or providing of consumer financial products or services.  The report expanded on preliminary results of arbitration research that had been released by the Bureau in December 2013.  Following release of the report, the CFPB analyzed whether rules governing pre-dispute arbitration agreements are warranted, and, if so, what types of rules would be appropriate.  The Bureau has preliminarily determined that it should proceed with a rulemaking regarding pre-dispute arbitration agreements.  To begin the rulemaking process, the Bureau intends to convene a panel in fall 2015 under the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act and in conjunction with the Office of Management and Budget and the Small Business Administration’s Chief Counsel for Advocacy, to consult with small business that may be affected by the policy proposals under consideration.