August 25, 1992


MEMORANDUM FOR DESIGNATED AGENCY ETHICS OFFICIALS

FROM:     STEPHEN D. POTTS
          DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  New confidential financial disclosure form (SF 450)

     The new standard form for confidential financial disclosure
has been approved by OMB and GSA.  A copy of this form, SF 450, is
attached.  The official version should be available through
Government supply centers by late September or early October.  It
will be identical to the attached copy, except that the two
instruction pages will be printed back-to-back, portions of the
instructions and form will be shaded green, and the pages will be
attached and perforated for tear-off at the left margin.

     The standard forms branch at GSA advises us that local
reproduction of the SF 450 is not authorized.  Multiple copies
should be obtained through Government supply centers, where
sufficient quantities will be stocked and available for sale.  The
Government price on standard forms is typically more economical
than local copying.  Additionally, use of the Government stocked
form assures that each copy is fully legible and bears the standard
form's distinctive colors.  Color shading will be particularly
useful in distinguishing the SF 450 from the public disclosure form
(SF 278), since the size and general format of the two documents
are similar.  Once we are informed by GSA that the SF 450 is
available for requisition, we will let you know how to obtain a
supply.

     The new confidential disclosure system becomes effective
October 5, 1992, under the terms of the interim regulation which
was published at 57 FR 11800-11830 on April 7, 1992.  Use of the SF
450 begins on that date for new entrants, and the first annual
collection is set for October 31 (unless your agency has, in
accordance with the DAEO-gram of April 9, 1992, recently collected
under your old system and decided to waive the October 31
collection under the new system for 1992).

     Because this is a new form which will not be available for
requisition until very near the due date, we recognize that some
agencies may experience difficulty in obtaining adequate supplies
and making timely distribution.  Therefore, pursuant to OGE's
general authority over this uniform system, we are authorizing
agencies to delay the first collection deadline for both new
entrant and annual filers for up to 30 days, if necessary because
of form availability problems.  This is in addition to your
authority under § 2634.903(d) of the new regulation to grant
extensions to confidential filers totaling 90 days, for good cause          
shown. An agency's inability to obtain and distribute adequate              
supplies of the SF 450 would consitute good cause to grant a blanket
extension for all its confidential filers under that regulatory             
authority, in addition to the 30-day delay which OGE has authorized         
herein.

     For additional information on implementing the new confidential
system, see our DAEO-gram of June 25, 1992, which discussed                 
designation of position and establishment of internal written               
procedures.  It also reminded agencies that they should be taking           
appropriate steps to revoke or amend any financial disclosure               
regulations which they may currently have, since the new uniform            
regulation supersedes them.  If you have any other questions, please        
contact your OGE desk officer or the OGE general counsel staff.