[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 230 (Thursday, December 1, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73766-73767]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-26130]


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OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT ETHICS


Potential Improvements to the OGE Form 278e (Executive Branch 
Personnel Public Financial Disclosure Report) and the OGE Form 450 
(Executive Branch Confidential Financial Disclosure Report)

AGENCY: Office of Government Ethics (OGE).

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) is hosting a public 
meeting to obtain input from interested parties regarding potential 
improvements to the OGE Form 278e and the OGE Form 450 as part of a 
form revision planning process that will precede the next requested 
renewal of these forms under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The next 
scheduled renewal is in 2024; however, OGE may decide to make changes 
earlier.

DATES: 
    Public Meeting Date: The public meeting will be held on January 19, 
2023, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., eastern time.
    Registration: By close of business on January 17, 2023.
    Written Comment Period Dates: Written comments must be received by 
January 6, 2023. Information on how to register for this meeting and to 
submit a written comment may be found in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 
section of this notice.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held via Cisco Webex Meetings.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jody Keegan; Program Analyst, General 
Counsel and Legal Policy Division, Office of Government Ethics, Suite 
500, 1201 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005-3917; Telephone: 
(202) 482-9300; TTY: (800) 877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520, and the Ethics in Government Act 
(EIGA), 5 U.S.C. app. section 102, as amended, OGE is seeking feedback 
on the OGE Form 278e and the OGE Form 450. On July 13, 2022 and July 
20, 2022, OGE held listening sessions to seek agency input on issues 
specifically related to potential language and formatting changes to 
the OGE Form 278e and the OGE Form 450. OGE is now inviting all 
interested members of the public to share ideas, provide information, 
and express concerns about potential changes to the forms. This meeting 
will both allow interested groups to hear and respond to the concerns 
of other affected persons and allow OGE to further develop its 
understanding of the views of various constituencies. The goal of these 
meetings is to exchange ideas rather than come to a consensus.
    Commenters may make any suggestions that they believe will improve 
the OGE Form 278e or the OGE Form 450. However, the public financial 
disclosure requirements are dictated by the Ethics in Government Act 
(EIGA), 5 U.S.C. app. section 102, as amended, and OGE's regulations at 
5 CFR part 2634. OGE will be unable to consider any suggested change 
that would require a statutory change or regulatory change in this form 
revision cycle. Additionally, when considering suggested changes, OGE 
will consider any potential cost burden, particularly if the change 
will require reprogramming of agency or Government-wide electronic 
filing systems. Generally, text changes within the instructions impose 
substantially fewer costs than changes to the look or order of the data 
entry grids. Commenters should consider and explain how the changes 
they are proposing provide concrete benefits, such as easier 
identification of potential conflicts of interest or ease of use of the 
forms.
    To facilitate discussion at the public meeting, OGE welcomes input 
on issues related to suggested changes to the OGE Form 278e and the OGE 
Form 450 including, but not limited to, the following topics on which 
OGE has previously received comments:

Potential Areas for Comment on the OGE Form 278e

    1. General information fields:
    The OGE Form 278e includes certain general information fields on 
the first page, such as the filer's name and position. These fields are 
not specifically authorized in the controlling statutory and regulatory 
authorities but are deemed permissible because they are necessary to 
provide an adequate understanding and processing of the form and do not 
impose any

[[Page 73767]]

undue privacy or data entry burdens on filers.
    (a) Filer identification number:
    OGE received a suggestion for assigning each filer an 
identification number that would stay with the individual in 
perpetuity. Commenters advocating for such an identification number are 
advised to include the specific benefits of the number and to address 
the competing costs, privacy, and burden concerns. Commenters who 
oppose this identification number should identify any privacy concerns, 
costs, or administrative burdens, or any other concerns.
    (b) Type of appointment:
    OGE received a comment requesting that the OGE Form 278e display 
information regarding a filer's type of appointment. (i.e., Career SES, 
Non-Career SES, Senate-confirmed Presidential appointees (PAS), 
Schedule C, Uniformed Services, Other). OGE is interested in views on 
whether the provision of this information on the face of the form would 
assist the public in understanding the filer's risk of potential 
conflicts without undue burden or privacy concerns.
    2. Excepted Investment Fund (EIF) Field:
    OGE is considering changing the EIF field. The EIF field currently 
contains three choices: Yes (the item is an asset with underlying 
portfolio holdings but the item qualifies as an excepted investment 
fund); No (the item is an asset with underlying portfolio holdings and 
the asset does not qualify as an excepted investment fund); and N/A 
(the item is a source of non-investment income or the item is an asset 
without underlying portfolio assets). OGE is considering providing just 
two choices for the EIF field: Yes (the item is an asset with 
underlying portfolio holdings but the item qualifies as an excepted 
investment fund); or No (the item is an asset with underlying portfolio 
holdings and the asset does not qualify as an excepted investment fund; 
or the item is a source of non-investment income; or the item is an 
asset without underlying portfolio assets). OGE is interested in views 
on whether such a change would make the form more understandable.
    3. Definitions:
    OGE received comments requesting clarification to the instructions 
concerning the EIF field. OGE is interested in views on specific text 
suggestions on how the definition of ``excepted investment fund'' might 
be improved in the instructions. OGE also seeks comments on whether the 
instructions to any part of the form should include additional 
definitions of key terms and whether there are specific terms that need 
further definition.
    4. Examples:
    The OGE Form 450 includes a page of examples to assist filers in 
completing the form. OGE is considering adding a similar list of 
examples to the OGE Form 278e. OGE is interested in views on whether 
there are specific topic areas for which an example would be 
particularly useful.

Potential Areas for Comment on the OGE Form 450

    1. Form types:
    OGE currently makes the OGE Form 450 available in three different 
form types: (1) a dynamic Adobe Acrobat PDF version that has an 
automated Add-Page button; (2) an accessible, 508-compliant Adobe 
Acrobat PDF version that lacks an automated Add-Page button; and (3) a 
dynamic Microsoft Excel version that has an automated Add-Page button. 
Unfortunately, OGE has been unable to find any contractor that is able 
to support the dynamic PDF version and it is becoming less and less 
stable. OGE is considering retiring the dynamic PDF version. Feedback 
is requested as to whether the dynamic PDF version should be retained, 
despite its technical limitations.
    2. Definitions and examples:
    The last page of the OGE Form 450 includes examples for each Part. 
OGE seeks comments on whether any of these examples should be revised 
or removed, what new examples would be of value for the average filer, 
and whether any new definitions should be added to the instructions.
    Registration: Individuals wishing to attend the public meeting must 
register at https://dcnet.webex.com/weblink/register/rc97caed77fdf3f1ce2e2158480a47425. Meeting information will be provided 
at the time of registration.
    Written Comments: You may submit comments in writing to OGE by use 
of the following methods:
    Email: [email protected]. Include ``OGE PRA Form 278e and OGE Form 450 
Review'' in the subject line.
    Mail: Office of Government Ethics, Suite 500, 1201 New York Avenue 
NW, Washington, DC 20005-3917, Attention: ``OGE PRA Form 278e and OGE 
Form 450 Review.''
    Instructions: Comments may be posted on OGE's website, https://www.oge.gov. Sensitive personal information, such as account numbers or 
Social Security numbers, should not be included. Comments generally 
will not be edited to remove any identifying or contact information.

    Approved: November 28, 2022.
Emory Rounds,
Director, U.S. Office of Government Ethics.
[FR Doc. 2022-26130 Filed 11-30-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6345-03-P