2017-01483. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Proposed Collection; Comment Request for a Modified OGE Form 278e Executive Branch Personnel Public Financial Disclosure Report

AGENCY:

Office of Government Ethics (OGE).

ACTION:

Notice of request for agency and public comments.

SUMMARY:

After publication of this second round notice, OGE intends to submit a modified OGE Form 278e Executive Branch Personnel Public Financial Disclosure Report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval of a three-year extension under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES:

Written comments by the public and the agencies on this proposed extension are invited and must be received by February 23, 2017.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments on this paperwork notice to the Office of Management and Budget, Attn: Desk Officer for OGE, via fax at 202-395-6974 or email at [e-mail]. (Include reference to “OGE Form 278e paperwork comment” in the subject line of the message.)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Brandon Steele at the U.S. Office of Government Ethics; telephone: [phone]; TTY: 800-877-8339; FAX: [phone]; Email: [e-mail]. An electronic copy of the OGE Form 278e is available in the Forms Library section of OGE's Web site at http://www.oge.gov. A paper copy may also be obtained, without charge, by contacting Mr. Steele.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Executive Branch Personnel Public Financial Disclosure Report.

Form Number: OGE Form 278e.

OMB Control Number: 3209-0001.

Type of Information Collection: Extension with modifications of a currently approved collection.

Type of Review Request: Regular.

Respondents: Private citizen Presidential nominees to executive branch positions subject to Senate confirmation; other private citizens who are potential (incoming) Federal employees whose positions are designated for public disclosure filing; those who file termination reports from such positions after their Government service ends; and Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates.

Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 4,884.

Estimated Time per Response: 3 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 14,652 hours.

Abstract: The OGE Form 278 collects information from certain officers and high-level employees in the executive branch for conflicts of interest review and public disclosure. The form is also completed by individuals who are nominated by the President for high-level executive branch positions requiring Senate confirmation and new entrants to other public reporting positions in the executive branch. The financial information collected relates to: Assets and income; transactions; gifts, reimbursements and travel expenses; liabilities; agreements or arrangements; outside positions; and compensation over $5,000 paid by a source—all subject to various reporting thresholds and exclusions. The information is collected in accordance with section 102 of the Ethics in Government Act, 5 U.S.C. app. section 102, as amended by the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-105) (STOCK Act) and OGE's implementing financial disclosure regulations at 5 CFR part 2634.

OGE published a first round notice of its intent to request paperwork clearance for a modified OGE Form 278e Executive Branch Personnel Public Financial Disclosure Report. See 81 FR 71503 (October 17, 2016). OGE received two responses, one of which did not actually address the information collection. The other response suggested that the form require additional information and opposes the changes on the grounds that they would “streamline” the form and reduce transparency. OGE declined to adopt these recommendations. The information required on the form is dictated by the Ethics in Government Act, as amended, and OGE's implementing regulations. With regard to the changes made to the form, OGE believes that they make the form more user-friendly and more clear and therefore improve, not impede, transparency.

Request for Comments: Agency and public comment is again invited specifically on the need for and practical utility of this information collection, the accuracy of OGE's burden estimate, the enhancement of quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected, and the minimization of burden (including the use of information technology). Comments received in response to this notice will be summarized for, and may be included with, the OGE request for extension of OMB paperwork approval. The comments will also become a matter of public record.

Approved: January 17, 2017.

Walter M. Shaub, Jr.,

Director, Office of Government Ethics.