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Senator Jackson raised the questions whether public disclosure of the Statements as practiced in the three branches of government, would enhance the Smithsonian's protection from criticism. Mr. Powers then discussed the Institution's lack of legal authority to impose such a requirement on its employees. 

It was noted that under current procedures the Personnel Committee of the Board of Regents reviews the annual Confidential Statements of Employment and Financial Interests of the Smithsonian's Executive Staff (12 persons) and reports its findings in writing to the Board. Statements for approximately 350 additional persons in key professional and other positions are reviewed by the General Counsel's Office, where real, apparent, or potential conflicts of interest are to be resolved. To enhance this process, the Committee, acting jointly with the Personnel Committee, adopted the following additional steps:

(1) The Personnel Committee will review and give general approval to the forms, procedures and criteria established for the filing and review of Employment and Financial Interest reports of the Smithsonian staff.

(2) The Secretary/Under Secretary will participate in the review by the General Counsel's Office of the reports of directors of museums and other principal program units listed below. 

(3) The Secretary/Under Secretary will spot check additional individual staff reports to the extent they deem appropriate. 

(4) The Personnel Committee will receive from the General Counsel, as of June 30, an annual status report on the review of staff reports by his office for the preceding year, covering the following matters: