Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2006/08/10/E6-13087/standards-of-ethical-conduct-for-employees-of-the-executive-branch-amendments-to-clarify-the
Timestamp: 2017-08-22 10:39:49
Document Index: 415592267

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 2635', '§\u20092635', '§\u20092635', 'art 2635', 'art 2635', 'art 2641', 'art 2641', 'art 2635', '§\u20092635']

Federal Register :: Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch; Amendments To Clarify the Coverage of Detailees to an Agency Under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act
A Rule by the Government Ethics Office on 08/10/2006
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E6-13087 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E6-13087
Start Preamble Start Printed Page 45735
Richard M. Thomas, Associate General Counsel, Office of Government Ethics; telephone: 202-482-9300; TDD: 202-482-9293; FAX: 202-482-9237.
On May 11, 2006, the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) published proposed amendments to the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch (Standards), 5 CFR part 2635, to make clear that detailees from State and local governments and other organizations to an agency, pursuant to the Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA), 5 U.S.C. 3374, are subject to the Standards. 71 FR 27427-27429. OGE proposed amending the definition of “employee,” in § 2635.102(h) of the Standards, expressly to include “[e]mployees of a State or local government or other organization who are serving on detail to an agency, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 3371, et seq.” OGE also proposed adding a new paragraph (d) to § 2635.105 of the Standards, which deals with agency supplemental regulations, to provide that IPA detailees would be subject to any requirements in agency supplemental standards of conduct regulations to the extent that such regulations expressly provide.
OGE received two comments on the proposed amendatory rule, both from agency ethics officials. The first commenter simply concurred in the proposed rule. The second commenter did not raise any substantive issues with respect to the coverage of IPA detailees under the Standards, but instead noted that the commenter's agency was having difficulty applying the post-employment restrictions of 18 U.S.C. 207 to certain IPA detailees. This commenter requested “that when the OGE clarifies 5 CFR part 2635, [it] also address the post-employment restrictions at 18 U.S.C. 207 as it applies to IPA detailees.”
OGE did not change the proposed rule in response to this request. Part 2635 is not OGE's post-employment regulation. OGE's regulations addressing the post-employment restrictions of 18 U.S.C. 207 are found at 5 CFR part 2641, which is not the subject of this rulemaking. We note, moreover, that OGE already has proposed amendments to part 2641, some of which deal specifically with IPA detailees. See 68 FR 7845 (February 18, 2003), at 7870 (proposed definition of “employee” includes IPA detailees); and 7881 (application of 18 U.S.C. 207(c) to IPA detailees). Therefore, OGE is publishing the previously proposed amendments to part 2635 in the Federal Register as a final rule, with no changes.
As noted in the preamble to the proposed rule, 71 FR 27428, OGE is aware that some agencies already have required certain IPA detailees to agree to follow restrictions in agency supplemental regulations. Such agencies may continue to recognize any agreements in force as of the effective date of the final rule. Moreover, agencies that wish to amend their supplemental regulations to cover IPA detailees, consistent with new § 2635.105(d), may continue to use IPA agreements to obtain commitments to follow current supplemental regulations, pending the promulgation of amendments, for a reasonable period determined in consultation with OGE.
In promulgating this rule, OGE has adhered to the regulatory philosophy and the applicable principles of regulation set forth in section 1 of Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review. This final rule has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget under that Executive order, since it deals with agency organization, management and personnel matters, and is not deemed to be “significant” thereunder.
As Director of the Office of Government Ethics, I have reviewed this amendatory regulation in light of Start Printed Page 45736section 3 of Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform, and certify that it meets the applicable standards provided therein.
Approved: August 3, 2006.
[FR Doc. E6-13087 Filed 8-9-06; 8:45 am]