Agency Information Collection Activities; Information Collection Renewal; Comment Request for OGE Form 450 Executive Branch Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, 14073-14074 [2024-03813]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 38 / Monday, February 26, 2024 / Notices specifically seeks comments on whether the proposed changes will change the burden of completing the form. 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: February 20, 2024. Shelley K. Finlayson, Acting Director, U.S. Office of Government Ethics. [FR Doc. 2024–03814 Filed 2–23–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6345–03–P OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT ETHICS Agency Information Collection Activities; Information Collection Renewal; Comment Request for OGE Form 450 Executive Branch Confidential Financial Disclosure Report AGENCY: Office of Government Ethics (OGE). Notice and request for comments. ACTION: After this first round notice and public comment period, the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) plans to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) renew its approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act for a modified version of an existing information collection, entitled the OGE Form 450 Executive Branch Confidential Financial Disclosure Report. DATES: Written comments by the public and agencies on this proposed modification and extension are invited and must be received by April 26, 2024. ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted to OGE by any of the following methods: Email: usoge@oge.gov (Include reference to ‘‘OGE Form 450 paperwork comment’’ in the subject line of the message.) Mail: Office of Government Ethics, Attention: Jennifer Matis, Associate Counsel, 250 E Street SW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20024–3249. Instructions: Comments may be posted on OGE’s website, 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. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Matis at the U.S. Office of Government Ethics; telephone: 202– khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:23 Feb 23, 2024 Jkt 262001 482–9216; TTY: 800–877–8339; Email: jmatis@oge.gov. A copy of the form with proposed changes marked in red is available here: https://oge.box.com/s/ vm33qroo5vbbvg542xr4mvqzacyz36fx. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Executive Branch Confidential Financial Disclosure Report. Agency Form Number: OGE Form 450. Abstract: The OGE Form 450 collects information from covered executive branch employees as required under OGE’s executive branch wide regulatory provisions in subpart I of 5 CFR part 2634. The basis for the OGE reporting regulation is section 201(d) of Executive Order 12674 of April 12, 1989 (as modified by Executive Order 12731 of October 17, 1990) and 5 U.S.C. 13109. The purpose of collecting this information is to allow agencies to identify and address potential financial conflicts of interest among covered employees. The information collected relates to: assets and income; liabilities; outside positions; agreements and arrangements; and gifts, reimbursements and travel expenses—all subject to various reporting thresholds and exclusions. OGE currently maintains the form in three formats on its website: a PDF version, a 508 compliant PDF version accessible to users who use screen readers to access and interact with digital information, and an Excel version. OGE seeks renewal of the OGE Form 450 with several modifications. OGE sought and received input from a variety of stakeholders before proposing these modifications. Comments submitted by the public in response to the Federal Register notices published during the last renewal in 2021 were reconsidered. In addition, OGE solicited and received additional comments from OGE employees, agency ethics officials (who are the individuals responsible for reviewing the completed forms for potential conflicts of interest), interested Congressional offices, and the public. On January 19, 2023, OGE held a public meeting to discuss potential changes to the OGE Forms 450 and 278e and accepted written comments in lieu of appearing in-person. See 87 FR 73766 (Dec. 1, 2022). OGE considered each comment submitted. The proposed modifications discussed below incorporate the suggested changes that OGE believes will provide added clarity and value to the financial disclosure process. OGE is declining to make other suggested changes at this time due to OGE’s lack of regulatory authority to make such changes, lack of interest by the affected PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 14073 agencies, and/or the associated costs to agencies’ electronic financial disclosure filing systems. The proposed modifications are described below: On the instruction page, OGE simplified the navigation to OGEs website for filers who need instructions on completing the form and added a hyperlink. On the cover page, OGE proposes to delete the field for mailing address and to add a question regarding whether the filer has a spouse who has paid employment outside the federal government. The yes/no question would be added to the current list of yes/no questions. Filers are required by regulation to report their spouses’ employment income. In OGE’s listening sessions with agency ethics officials, they felt strongly that the addition of this yes/no question would permit agency reviewers to better identify potential inadvertent omissions elsewhere on the form. OGE believes that the minor impact to the filers of answering this additional yes/no question is outweighed by the benefit to the efficiency and effectiveness of the financial disclosure review process. OGE also clarified the definition of ‘‘special government employee’’ on the cover page based on feedback regarding the current explanatory language. In the main body of the form, OGE proposes to make a number of changes to the instructions to increase their clarity. Guidance would be added to make it clearer what is and is not reportable. A note would be added indicating that the reporting thresholds for gifts are applicable for calendar years 2023–2025 and that the amounts are adjusted every three years. Additional examples would be added to the Examples page and each section, further demonstrating how particular information should be reported, and some definitions would be removed to make room for additional examples and other clarifying changes. The information that had been provided in the removed definitions is more clearly addressed on other parts of the form. These changes would not modify the confidential financial disclosure reporting requirements in any way. They are intended to help ensure that filers report all required information in the proper manner, without overreporting unnecessary personally identifiable information. Finally, OGE plans to discontinue use of the PDF version of the form that is not accessible to users who use screen readers (i.e. it is not ‘‘508 compliant’’). This version has a feature that allows users to add additional blank pages. E:\FR\FM\26FEN1.SGM 26FEN1 14074 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 38 / Monday, February 26, 2024 / Notices This feature is no longer technologically supported. OGE proposes to discontinue use of the nonaccessible PDF version and instead add additional blank lines to the 508 compliant PDF version. Going forward, therefore, OGE seeks approval only for two versions of the form—the 508 compliant PDF version and the Excel version. OMB Control Number: 3209–0006. Type of Information Collection: Extension of a currently approved collection. Type of Review Request: Regular. Affected public: Prospective Government employees, including special Government employees, whose positions are designated for confidential disclosure filing and whose agencies require that they file new entrant confidential disclosure reports prior to assuming Government responsibilities. Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 31,654. Estimated Time per Response: 3 hours. Estimated Total Annual Burden: 94,962 hours. Request for Comments: OGE is publishing this first round notice of its intent to request paperwork clearance renewal for the OGE Form 450. Public comment is 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). OGE specifically seeks comments on whether the proposed changes will change the burden of completing the form. 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: February 20, 2024. Shelley K. Finlayson, Acting Director, U.S. Office of Government Ethics. [FR Doc. 2024–03813 Filed 2–23–24; 8:45 am] khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES BILLING CODE 6345–03–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:23 Feb 23, 2024 Jkt 262001 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [Docket No. CDC–2024–0015] Proposed Updates for Developing, Implementing, and Evaluating Infection Control Programs for Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers, Andes Virus, and Nipah Virus: Appendix A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). ACTION: Notice with comment period. AGENCY: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces the opening of a docket to obtain comment on Draft Proposed Updates for Viral hemorrhagic fevers, Andes virus, and Nipah virus: Appendix A (‘‘Draft Updates: Appendix A’’). The updated recommendations in the Draft Updates: Appendix A are intended for use by frontline healthcare personnel, as well as infection control personnel and other persons responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating infection control programs for healthcare settings across the continuum of care. DATES: Written comments must be received on or before April 26, 2024. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CDC–2024– 0015 by either of the methods listed below. Do not submit comments by email. CDC does not accept comments by email. • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • Mail: Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) Secretariat, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop H16–3, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, Attn: Docket Number CDC–2024–0015. Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name and Docket Number. All relevant comments received will be posted without change to https://regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to https://www.regulations.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Wells, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop H16–2, Atlanta, SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Georgia 30329; Telephone: (404) 639– 4000. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public Participation Interested persons or organizations are invited to participate by submitting written views, recommendations, and data related to Draft Updates: Appendix A. Please note that comments received, including attachments and other supporting materials, are part of the public record and are subject to public disclosure. Comments will be posted on https://www.regulations.gov. Therefore, do not include any information in your comment or supporting materials that you consider confidential or inappropriate for public disclosure. If you include your name, contact information, or other information that identifies you in the body of your comments, that information will be on public display. CDC will review all submissions and may choose to redact, or withhold, submissions containing private or proprietary information such as Social Security numbers, medical information, inappropriate language, or duplicate/near duplicate examples of a mass-mail campaign. Do not submit comments by email. CDC does not accept comment by email. Background The Draft Updates: Appendix A, located in the ‘‘Supporting and Related Material’’ tab of the docket, updates the recommendations in Appendix A of the Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings (2007) on the type and duration of isolation precautions for Viral hemorrhagic fevers, Andes virus, and Nipah virus. The Draft Updates: Appendix A provides recommendations to prevent transmission, focusing primarily on types and durations of precautions available to frontline healthcare personnel. The recommendations are being updated to include additional viruses with potential for importation to the United States. The Draft Updates: Appendix A is intended for use by frontline healthcare personnel, as well as infection control personnel and other persons responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating infection control programs for healthcare settings across the continuum of care. Once the Draft Updates: Appendix A is finalized, the corresponding content in Appendix A of the Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings (2007) will be updated on the CDC E:\FR\FM\26FEN1.SGM 26FEN1

Agencies

Office of Government Ethics

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 38 (Monday, February 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14073-14074]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03813]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT ETHICS


Agency Information Collection Activities; Information Collection 
Renewal; Comment Request for OGE Form 450 Executive Branch Confidential 
Financial Disclosure Report

AGENCY: Office of Government Ethics (OGE).

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: After this first round notice and public comment period, the 
Office of Government Ethics (OGE) plans to request that the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) renew its approval under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act for a modified version of an existing information 
collection, entitled the OGE Form 450 Executive Branch Confidential 
Financial Disclosure Report.

DATES: Written comments by the public and agencies on this proposed 
modification and extension are invited and must be received by April 
26, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted to OGE by any of the following 
methods:
    Email: [email protected] (Include reference to ``OGE Form 450 paperwork 
comment'' in the subject line of the message.)
    Mail: Office of Government Ethics, Attention: Jennifer Matis, 
Associate Counsel, 250 E Street SW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20024-
3249.
    Instructions: Comments may be posted on OGE's website, 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Matis at the U.S. Office of 
Government Ethics; telephone: 202-482-9216; TTY: 800-877-8339; Email: 
[email protected]. A copy of the form with proposed changes marked in red 
is available here: https://oge.box.com/s/vm33qroo5vbbvg542xr4mvqzacyz36fx.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Executive Branch Confidential Financial Disclosure Report.
    Agency Form Number: OGE Form 450.
    Abstract: The OGE Form 450 collects information from covered 
executive branch employees as required under OGE's executive branch 
wide regulatory provisions in subpart I of 5 CFR part 2634. The basis 
for the OGE reporting regulation is section 201(d) of Executive Order 
12674 of April 12, 1989 (as modified by Executive Order 12731 of 
October 17, 1990) and 5 U.S.C. 13109. The purpose of collecting this 
information is to allow agencies to identify and address potential 
financial conflicts of interest among covered employees. The 
information collected relates to: assets and income; liabilities; 
outside positions; agreements and arrangements; and gifts, 
reimbursements and travel expenses--all subject to various reporting 
thresholds and exclusions. OGE currently maintains the form in three 
formats on its website: a PDF version, a 508 compliant PDF version 
accessible to users who use screen readers to access and interact with 
digital information, and an Excel version.
    OGE seeks renewal of the OGE Form 450 with several modifications. 
OGE sought and received input from a variety of stakeholders before 
proposing these modifications. Comments submitted by the public in 
response to the Federal Register notices published during the last 
renewal in 2021 were reconsidered. In addition, OGE solicited and 
received additional comments from OGE employees, agency ethics 
officials (who are the individuals responsible for reviewing the 
completed forms for potential conflicts of interest), interested 
Congressional offices, and the public. On January 19, 2023, OGE held a 
public meeting to discuss potential changes to the OGE Forms 450 and 
278e and accepted written comments in lieu of appearing in-person. See 
87 FR 73766 (Dec. 1, 2022).
    OGE considered each comment submitted. The proposed modifications 
discussed below incorporate the suggested changes that OGE believes 
will provide added clarity and value to the financial disclosure 
process. OGE is declining to make other suggested changes at this time 
due to OGE's lack of regulatory authority to make such changes, lack of 
interest by the affected agencies, and/or the associated costs to 
agencies' electronic financial disclosure filing systems.
    The proposed modifications are described below:
    On the instruction page, OGE simplified the navigation to OGEs 
website for filers who need instructions on completing the form and 
added a hyperlink.
    On the cover page, OGE proposes to delete the field for mailing 
address and to add a question regarding whether the filer has a spouse 
who has paid employment outside the federal government. The yes/no 
question would be added to the current list of yes/no questions. Filers 
are required by regulation to report their spouses' employment income. 
In OGE's listening sessions with agency ethics officials, they felt 
strongly that the addition of this yes/no question would permit agency 
reviewers to better identify potential inadvertent omissions elsewhere 
on the form. OGE believes that the minor impact to the filers of 
answering this additional yes/no question is outweighed by the benefit 
to the efficiency and effectiveness of the financial disclosure review 
process. OGE also clarified the definition of ``special government 
employee'' on the cover page based on feedback regarding the current 
explanatory language.
    In the main body of the form, OGE proposes to make a number of 
changes to the instructions to increase their clarity. Guidance would 
be added to make it clearer what is and is not reportable. A note would 
be added indicating that the reporting thresholds for gifts are 
applicable for calendar years 2023-2025 and that the amounts are 
adjusted every three years. Additional examples would be added to the 
Examples page and each section, further demonstrating how particular 
information should be reported, and some definitions would be removed 
to make room for additional examples and other clarifying changes. The 
information that had been provided in the removed definitions is more 
clearly addressed on other parts of the form.
    These changes would not modify the confidential financial 
disclosure reporting requirements in any way. They are intended to help 
ensure that filers report all required information in the proper 
manner, without overreporting unnecessary personally identifiable 
information.
    Finally, OGE plans to discontinue use of the PDF version of the 
form that is not accessible to users who use screen readers (i.e. it is 
not ``508 compliant''). This version has a feature that allows users to 
add additional blank pages.

[[Page 14074]]

This feature is no longer technologically supported. OGE proposes to 
discontinue use of the nonaccessible PDF version and instead add 
additional blank lines to the 508 compliant PDF version. Going forward, 
therefore, OGE seeks approval only for two versions of the form--the 
508 compliant PDF version and the Excel version.
    OMB Control Number: 3209-0006.
    Type of Information Collection: Extension of a currently approved 
collection.
    Type of Review Request: Regular.
    Affected public: Prospective Government employees, including 
special Government employees, whose positions are designated for 
confidential disclosure filing and whose agencies require that they 
file new entrant confidential disclosure reports prior to assuming 
Government responsibilities.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 31,654.
    Estimated Time per Response: 3 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 94,962 hours.
    Request for Comments: OGE is publishing this first round notice of 
its intent to request paperwork clearance renewal for the OGE Form 450. 
Public comment is 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). OGE specifically seeks comments on 
whether the proposed changes will change the burden of completing the 
form. 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: February 20, 2024.
Shelley K. Finlayson,
Acting Director, U.S. Office of Government Ethics.
[FR Doc. 2024-03813 Filed 2-23-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6345-03-P

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