On July 17, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) published in the Federal Register proposed changes in proxy statement disclosure rules affecting executive compensation as well as other matters. On July 31 the House of Representatives passed the Corporate and Financial Institution Compensation Fairness Act of 2009 (H.R. 3269) (the Compensation Fairness Act or the act). The bill, received in the Senate Aug. 3, has been referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. It is not known when, after the recess, the committee plans to take up consideration of the bill. This column will examine both of these developments (discussion of the SEC proposals is limited to those involving executive compensation).

Proposed Disclosure Rules

The proposed new rules affecting disclosure of executive compensation by companies subject to the disclosure rules of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the 1934 Act) concern (a) disclosure of the impact of compensation policies and practices generally on risks of the employer, (b) the reporting of stock option and other equity awards in the Summary Compensation Table and (c) the reporting on compensation consultants.