[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 45, Volume 1]
[Revised as of October 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 45CFR73.735-707]

[Page 176-177]
 
                        TITLE 45--PUBLIC WELFARE
 
                           AND HUMAN SERVICES
 
PART 73--STANDARDS OF CONDUCT--Table of Contents
 
                      Subpart G--Outside Activities
 
Sec. 73.735-707  Holding office in professional societies.

    (a) Employees may be members of professional societies and be 
elected or appointed to office in such a society. Activity in 
professional associations is generally desirable from the point of view 
of both the Department and the employee. Employees shall avoid, however, 
any real or apparent conflict of interest in connection with such 
membership. For example, they must not:
    (1) Directly or indirectly commit the Department or any portion of 
it on any matter unless such action is taken in an official capacity;
    (2) Permit their names to be attached to documents the distribution 
of which

[[Page 177]]

would be likely to embarrass the Department; or
    (3) Serve in capacities involving them as representatives of non-
Government organizations in dealing with the Government.
    (b) In undertaking any office or function beyond ordinary membership 
in a professional association, a Department employee must obtain advance 
approval in accordance with Sec. 73.735-708 of this subpart in any 
situation in which his or her responsibilities as an officer would 
relate to his or her official duties or would create a real or apparent 
conflict of interest with responsibilities as a Department employee. For 
example, advance administrative approval must be obtained:
    (1) Before an employee who is responsible for review and approval of 
grants or contracts, or is in a supervisory position over those who 
conduct review and approval, may hold office, or be a trustee or member 
of the governing board, or the chairman or member of a committee, in any 
organization which has or is seeking a grant or contract with the bureau 
or comparable organizational unit in which he or she is employed;
    (2) Before an employee may hold office in an organization which 
customarily expresses publicly views on matters of legislative or 
administrative policy within the specific areas of concern to the 
Department.