Securities and Exchange Commission chairwoman Mary Schapiro said that the regular is considering new proxy disclosure rules to improve shareholders’ knowledge of companies’ compensation practices.

The SEC “is actively considering a package of new proxy disclosure rules that will provide further sunshine on compensation decisions,” Schapiro said. “While these proposals would not dictate particular compensation decisions, they would lead companies to analyze how compensation impacts risk taking and the implications for long-term corporate health.”

She reported that it will be considering several proposals requiring greater disclosure about: how a company, and its board, manages risks; a company’s overall compensation approach; potential conflicts of interest by compensation consultants; and, director nominees, including their experience and qualifications to serve on the board or particular committees.

While more disclosure is better, Schapiro added that disclosure itself isn’t enough, and that’s why it has recently proposed rules to improve proxy access. “Knowing this kind of information can be of great benefit to investors, but even disclosure only takes us so far. If investors don’t like what they learn, they have two choices: sell their shares or use the proxy process to vote for change. Unfortunately, neither of these options is easy,” she noted.

“It is for this reason that last month the SEC proposed rules that would enhance the ability of shareholders to exercise their legal rights to nominate directors on corporate boards,” she said. “I believe the meaningful ability of shareholders to nominate directors is intricately linked to the ability of shareholders to hold directors accountable for their compensation decisions.”