Source: https://oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/All%20Advisories%20by%20Year?OpenView&RestrictToCategory=1998
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 07:10:51+00:00

Document:
OGE discusses whether the two-year representation bar of 18 U.S.C. § 207(a)(2) applies to a former military officer who seeks to represent a client in connection with a particular matter that was not pending in his agency's office until after he had gone on terminal leave prior but before he had separated from the agency.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has issued its decision on remand in Sanjour v. Environmental Protection Agency. The decision impacts enforcement of 5 C.F.R. § 2635.807(a), and its prohibition on employee acceptance of travel expenses in connection with teaching, speaking, or writing relating to official duties.
This attachment, DO-98-031C, is the executive summary of the results of the field office ethics program survey (1998).
This attachment, DO-98-031A, is the field office ethics program survey questionnaire (1998).
OGE publishes the results of its 1998 survey of ethics officials about various facets of their field office ethics programs.
Discusses application of 18 USC 205 and 5 CFR 2635.702(b) to employees who wish to submit letters providing character reference in support of person subject to Federal criminal sentencing; also discusses need for OGE-approved supplemental standards of conduct regulation if agency wants to maintain additional ethics restriction.
Section 1353 of title 31, United States Code, authorizes the acceptance by executive branch agencies of payments for travel, subsistence, and related expenses from non-Federal sources in connection with the attendance of employees at certain meetings or similar functions. The statute provides that the head of each agency shall submit to the Director of the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) semiannual reports of payments of more than $250 accepted under this authority. The next semiannual report should be submitted to OGE not later than November 30, 1998, concerning payments received during the period beginning on April 1, 1998, and ending on September 30, 1998. Agencies are required to submit negative reports.
Employees were precluded from retaining purchase incentives, for personal use, from vendor in connection with official agency purchases.
Guidance on when employees may accept meal at event and proper disposition of prohibited gifts.
Guidance on when free attendance at a reception constitutes a gift and, if so, when various exceptions to the gift prohibitions may apply.
This attachment, DO-98-031B, is the full report of the results of the field office ethics program survey (1998).
OGE reminds agencies to use the OGE Form 202 (recently revised) to report to OGE referrals of potential violations of the criminal conflict of interest laws to the Attorney General.
The Office of Legal Counsel issues an opinion addressing the question of whether 18 U.S.C. § 208 prohibits employees of the executive branch from serving, in an official capacity, as a member of the board of a private voluntary standards organization.
OGE summarizes ethics provisions that are relevant when an employee speaks at a private conference in an official or unofficial capacity, and comments on policy considerations that are relevant when an agency is deciding whether to provide an official speaker.
OGE publishes the remaining installment of proposed minor amendments to the standards, affecting subpart F (Seeking Other Employment) and subpart H (Outside Activities).
OGE announces issuance of rule removing obsolete provisions concerning the former honoraria ban.
OGE publishes proposed minor amendments to subpart B (Gifts From Outside Sources) of the standards of conduct regulation.
(Legal) 98x11: "Personal and Substantial" as Modifier of "Participation"
Only "personal and substantial" participation in a particular Government matter is restricted by 5 C.F.R. §§ 2635.402(c) and 2635.604(a), but circumstances may warrant that an employee be disqualified from any participation in certain matters under 5 C.F.R. § 2635.502(a).
OGE will not issue a Certificate of Divestiture for a security received as a gift, although securities received through inheritance may be eligible for a Certificate of Divestiture.
Transportation received as part of official duties are accepted by the government, not the individual, and the Standards of Conduct do not apply. The matter must be resolved by the agency, determining if the transportation is a gift (or part of the contract) and whether the agency can accept a gift (generally prohibited without statutory authority).
The OGE poem, "A Different Point of View," summarizes key provisions of the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch and certain of the conflict of interest statutes in title 18 of the United States Code.
Inclusion of a federal employee organization's name on another organization's letterhead would not constitute representational activity by the Federal employee members of the organization even if the other organization made representations to the Government using the letterhead.
Under current law, the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) is required to submit biennially a report to Congress summarizing the actions taken in the ethics program during the previous two years and providing any other appropriate information. The report covering OGE's activities from January 1, 1996 through December 31, 1997 has just been issued, and a copy is attached.
OGE withdraws its request that agency reviewers add a statement to nominee financial disclosure reports noting that the information on the report has been updated in accordance with required time periods.
Neither the statute, 5 U.S.C. app., §§ 101-111, nor the controlling regulation at 5 C.F.R. part 2634 allowed agencies to require filers to add a certification of no conflict of interest to the SF 278 Public Financial Disclosure Report.
There is no per se ethics violation if a contractor uses a federal employee's resume in an agency procurement process. It is possible that use of that resume, in certain circumstances, could violate conflicts of interest statutes or standards of ethical conduct.
The material in the public financial disclosure report of a nominee must be made current by the nominee or the agency reviewer (pursuant to specific authorization from the nominee) prior to submitting the report to this Office in final form.
A minor clarifying amendment establishes that the agency head's (or his designee's) decision upon review of complaints regarding the designation of employee positions for filing confidential financial disclosure reports is final and conclusive for all purposes.
Guidelines to help an ADAEO determine whether a government employee may purchase a training script from his agency, and how he may use that script outside of his government responsibilities.
The basic rate of pay that makes an individual subject to "senior employee" restrictions of 18 U.S.C. § 207(c) refers to the employee's actual pay (salary), not the pay scale. The basic rate of pay that makes an individual subject to public financial disclosure requirements, refers to the minimum pay of a particular level on the pay scale.
Under 5 C.F.R. §§ 2635.201 and 2635.203, the government employee was allowed to accept gifts from his wife's employer, because it was not a prohibited source. Employee was not required to disclose the gifts because they were given to his wife totally independent of the employee.

References: § 207
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