[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 45, Volume 1]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 45CFR73.735-805]

[Page 174]
 
                        TITLE 45--PUBLIC WELFARE
 
                           AND HUMAN SERVICES
 
PART 73--STANDARDS OF CONDUCT--Table of Contents
 
                      Subpart H--Financial Interest
 
Sec. 73.735-805  Advice and guidance on conflicts matters.

    (a) Whenever an employee has a question about the appropriate course 
of conduct to be followed in a matter that may involve an actual or 
apparent conflict of interest, he or she should immediately consult with 
his or her supervisor or a deputy ethics counselor, or both. If a 
supervisor who is consulted determines that the matter warrants further 
consideration, he or she may, in conjunction with the employee, submit 
the details of the matter, in writing, to the appropriate deputy ethics 
counselor. These details should include a description of:
    (1) The activity, relationship, or interest giving rise to the 
question posed by the employee;
    (2) The duties or official responsibilities of the employee(s) 
involved;
    (3) The nature of the actual or apparent conflict of interest; and
    (4) Any other information that may be helpful in reviewing the 
problem.
    (b) Upon receiving the submission of an employee or a supervisor, 
the deputy ethics counselor will develop any additional information 
about the matter as necessary, and will confer with the Department 
Ethics Counselor as appropriate. The Department Ethics Counselor and the 
head of the principal operating component or his or her designee will be 
informed of any serious violation of the standards of this subpart or 
any other conflict of interest law. Questions of first impression or 
other unusual matters shall be brought to the attention of the 
Department Ethics Counselor and the head of the principal operating 
component or his or her designee.
    (c) On the basis of all information gathered including, where 
appropriate, the advice of the Department Ethics Counselor, the deputy 
ethics counselor will:
    (1) Decide that there is no violation or potential violation of the 
standards of this subpart or any other law and so notify the employee 
and his or her supervisor in writing; or
    (2) Decide that a violation or potential violation of the standards 
of this subpart or other law has occurred or may occur, and that the 
employee involved shall take one or more of the steps set forth in 
Sec. 731.735-904 to resolve the problem and notify the employee and his 
or her supervisor in writing; or
    (3) Decide that, although no violation of this subpart or other law 
has occurred, the nature of the matter is such that the employee should 
periodically report any additional information that would require 
reconsideration of the initial submission.