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(35) The prohibition against failing to account for public money (18 U.S.C. 643);

(36) The prohibition against misuse of public funds by custodian (18 U.S.C. 648);

(37) The prohibition against custodian failing to deposit money in his or her possession (18 U.S.C. 649);

(38) The prohibition against disbursing officers falsely certifying full payment (18 U.S.C. 651);

(39) The prohibition against disbursing officers paying less than lawful amount (18 U.S.C. 652);

(40) The prohibition against disbursing officers misusing public funds (18 U.S.C. 653);

(41) The prohibition against embezzlement of the money or property of another person in the possession of an employee by reason of his or her employment (18 U.S.C. 654);

(42) The prohibition against the embezzlement of money or property of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation and the Farmers Home Administration, and of pledged or entrusted property (18 U.S.C. 657);

(43) The prohibition against the conversion of property mortgaged or pledged to the Farmers Home Administration and the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, with intent to defraud (18 U.S.C. 658);

(44) The prohibitions against the disclosure of classified information (18 U.S.C. 798, 50 U.S.C. 783);

(45) The prohibition against extortion by Government employees (18 U.S.C. 872);

(46) The prohibition against fraud or false statements in a Government matter (18 U.S.C. 1001);

(47) The prohibition against the making of false entries, or participation in any benefit through any transaction in connection with Departmental activities concerned with agricultural loans (18 U.S.C. 1006);

(48) The prohibition against the making of false statements or reports, or wilfully overvaluing land, property or security to influence action in connection with agricultural loans (18 U.S.C. 1014);

(49) The prohibition against depredation of Government property (18 U.S.C. 1361);

(50) The prohibition against the misuse of the franking privilege (18 U.S.C. 1719);

(51) The prohibition against the wilful disclosure of official information which might influence or affect the market value of crops prior to authorized publication. An employee acquiring by reason of his or her employment, information as to the market value of agricultural crops, which information is required to be withheld, is prohibited from speculating in such product (18 U.S.C. 1902);

(52) The prohibition against the disclosure of confidential information (18 U.S.C. 1905);

(53) The prohibition against speculation in agricultural commodities to which the Federal Crop Insurance Act applies or to contracts relating thereto, or stock or membership interests of corporations or associations handling such commodities by any person administering such law (18 U.S.C. 1903);

(54) The prohibition against lobbying with appropriated funds (18 U.S.C. 1913);

(55) The prohibition against the use of deceit in an examination or personnel action in connection with Government employment (18 U.S.C. 1917);

(56) The prohibition against mutilating or destroying a public record (18 U.S.C. 2071);

(57) The prohibition against the compilation of issuance of false crop reports (18 U.S.C. 2072);

(58) The prohibition against employee making false or fictitious entry or

engaging in the merchandising of grain, or be employed by or accept gratuities from any such entity (7 U.S.C. 87(a));

(12) The prohibition against the unauthorized release of information, in the Packers and Stockyards Act (7 U.S.C. 222);

(13) The prohibition against the release of information in an employee's possession concerning cotton standards, estimates, tests, and analyses unless authorized by the Secretary (7 U.S.C. 472);

(14) The prohibitions against the release of information acquired from parties to any marketing agreement, and handlers subject to marketing agreement orders, except as authorized by the Secretary for the purposes of suit or administrative hearings (7 U.S.C. 608d(2));

(15) The prohibition against persons administering activities concerned with cotton option contracts and commodity benefits as provided by the Agricultural Adjustment Act, speculating in agricultural commodities or products to which such contracts or benefits apply, or in contracts relating thereto, or in the stock or memberships interest of any association or corporation handling such commodities or products (7 U.S.C. 610(g));

(16) Limitations on the use or availability of information furnished in connection with marketing agreements and orders (7 U.S.C. 610(i));

(17) The availability of information furnished in connection with marketing agreements and orders, and applicable to marketing agreements for anti-hog-cholera serum and hog-cholera virus is restricted (7 U.S.C. 855);

(18) Information furnished in connection with collection of peanut statistics shall be used only for statistical purposes for which supplied. No publication shall be made where the data furnished by any establishment can be identified (7 U.S.C. 955);

(19) Information furnished in connection with the establishment and adjustment of farm marketing quotas shall be disclosed only as authorized by the Secretary for the purpose of suit or administrative hearing (7 U.S.C. 1373(c));

(20) The prohibition against an officer or employee being the beneficiary of or receiving any fee, commission or gift for or in connection with any transaction or business under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, other than such salary, fee or compensation as he or she may receive as an officer or employee. In addition, members of an FmHA County Committee are prohibited from making any certification with respect to a loan to purchase any land in which they or any person related to them have any financial interest (7 U.S.C. 1986);

(21) The prohibition against unauthorized release of information relating to the production and marketing of cotton (7 U.S.C. 2105(c));

(22) The prohibition against unauthorized release of information relating to plant variety protection (7 U.S.C. 2426);

(23) The prohibition against unauthorized release of information relating to the production and marketing of eggs (7 U.S.C. 2706(c));

(24) The prohibition against the unauthorized prediction as to cotton prices in a Governmental publication (12 U.S.C. 1141j(d));

(25) The prohibition against the making of false statements in connection with activities of the Commodity Credit Corporation or embezzlement or conversion of anything of value belonging or pledged to the Corporation, or conspiring to commit such acts (15 U.S.C. 714m);

(26) The prohibition against the acceptance of any fee, gift, or other consideration for compromise, adjustment, or cancellation of farm indebtedness (18 U.S.C. 217);

(27) The prohibition against an employee acting as an agent of a foreign principal registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (18 U.S.C. 219);

(28) The prohibition against unauthorized use of documents relating to claims from or by the Government (18 U.S.C. 285);

(29) The prohibition against an employee contracting with a Member of Congress (18 U.S.C. 432);

(30) The prohibition against paying a larger sum than appropriated for

(4) Lending funds at usurious interest rates;

(5) Provoking or harassing other employees, or making unwarranted criticism or accusations against other employees;

(6) Except as authorized by the Inspector General with the consent of a party to the conversation when necessary in criminal investigations, monitoring or recording, or authorizing or permitting others under their administrative control to monitor or record, telephone conversations for the purpose of taking a verbatim transcript of all or part of the conversation unless such monitoring or recording is agreed to in advance by all participants in the conversation;

(7) Except as authorized by the Inspector General with the consent of a party to the conversation when necessary in criminal investigations, utilizing a mechanical or electronic device to monitor or record nontelephone conversations, unless such monitoring or recording is agreed to in advance by all participants in the conversation;

(8) Soliciting, making collections, canvassing for the sale of any article, or distributing or posting literature, advertising matter, or any other graphic matter, in any space occupied by the Department, except as authorized in writing by the Director of Personnel;

(9) Soliciting money from, or selling tickets to, persons outside the Government for the benefit of any organization of the Department;

(10) Taking any action which might prejudice the Government's interest in a criminal or civil case;

(11) Giving aid or assistance, other than in the discharge of official duties, to any claimant in prosecuting any claim against the United States; or

(12) Distributing through the Department's mail and messenger service, or otherwise distributing or posting, in any space occupied by the Department, any circulars, flyers, announcements, pictures, or other graphic matters, etc., that:

(i) Directly or indirectly attack or adversely reflect on the integrity of any official, officer or employee of any branch of the Government; or

(ii) Directly or indirectly condemn or criticize the policies of any Government department or agency.

(13) Discriminating against any person on the grounds of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental handicap, or political affiliation;

(14) Engaging in sexual harassment by participating in coercive or repeated unsolicited and unwelcome verbal comments, gestures, or physical contacts of a sexual nature or by using implicit or explicit coercive sexual behavior in the process of conducting agency business, or to control, influence or affect the career, salary, or job of an employee. Supervisors and managers who fail to take appropriate action on complaints of sexual harassment will be subject to disciplinary action;

(15) Displaying discourtesy or disrespect to a member of the public when acting in an official capacity.

[43 FR 43431, Sept. 26, 1978, as amended at 46 FR 22559, Apr. 20, 1981]

§ 0.735-12 Gifts, gratuities, entertainment, and favors.

(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (c) and (f) of this section, employees shall not solicit or accept, for themselves or another person, directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan, unusual discount, special consideration or any other thing of monetary value (including complimentary meals and beverages, tangible items, tickets and passes) from any interested party. An "interested party" is any person, firm, corporation, other entity, or an individual acting in behalf thereof, which:

(1) Has or is seeking to engage in, procurement activities or other contractual, business, or financial relations with the Department;

(2) Conducts operations or activities that are regulated by the Department;

or

(3) Has interests that may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance of the official duty of the employee concerned.

(b) Gifts, gratuities, favors, entertainment, loans, unusual discounts, special considerations and any other

thing of monetary value bestowed upon members of the employee's immediate family are considered to be the same as if bestowed upon the employee. Acceptance of items, no matter how innocently offered or accepted from "interested parties" may be a source of embarrassment to the Department and the employee involved, may affect the objective and impartial judgment of the employee, and may impair confidence of the public in the integrity of the employee and the Department.

(c) The restrictions in paragraph (a) of this section do not prohibit:

(1) Exchange of social gifts in an obvious family or personal relationship (such as those between the employee and parents, spouse, children, or close personal friends of the employee) when the circumstances make it clear that it is those relationships rather than the business of the "interested party" which are the motivating factors;

(2) Exchange of customary social courtesies which are wholly free of any embarrassing or improper implications, and which are of trivial value (e.g., soft drink or cup of coffee);

(3) Acceptance of loans from banks or other financial institutions on customary terms to finance proper and usual activities of employees, such as automobile and home mortgage loans;

(4) Acceptance of unsolicited advertising or promotional material of clearly trivial value, such as: pens, pencils, note pads, calendars, and other things of nominal or trifling value. Acceptance of gifts, such as meat products, alcoholic beverages, fruit baskets, boxes of candy, wallets, jewelry, and cuff links is, however, strictly prohibited; or

(5) Acceptance of food and refreshments of nominal value on infrequent occasions when the interest of the Government is served by participation of Department employees in industrysponsored activities at which a luncheon or dinner may be served, and where the discussion of matters of mutual interest to the Government and industry will take place.

(d) An employee shall not solicit a contribution from another employee for a gift to an official superior, make

a donation as a gift to an official superior, or accept a gift from an employee receiving less pay than himself or herself (5 U.S.C. 7351). However, this paragraph does not prohibit the voluntary giving or acceptance of a gift of nominal value or donation in a nominal amount made on a special occasion such as marriage, illness, or retirement.

(e) Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 7342, the acceptance by an employee of a gift, present, decoration or other thing from a foreign government or agent thereof (including an international organization whose membership includes a unit of foreign government, or any agent of a foreign government) is subject to the following conditions:

(1) An employee may not request or otherwise encourage the tender of a decoration or gift (including travel and travel expenses);

(2) An employee may accept and retain a gift that is tendered and received as a souvenir or a mark of courtesy if the gift has a retail value in the United States of $100 or less at the time of acceptance;

(3) An employee may accept a gift of more than $100 when such gift is in the nature of an educational scholarship or medical treatment or when it appears that to refuse the gift would likely cause offense or embarrassment or otherwise adversely affect the foreign relations of the United States. An employee may also accept gifts of travel or expenses for travel entirely outside the United States provided the employee obtains prior approval from the Head of the employing Agency or his or her designee;

(4) The acceptance of a tangible gift of more than $100 is deemed to have been accepted on behalf of the United States and becomes the property of the United States. It must be deposited by the employee within 60 calendar days with his or her employing Agency's Property Management Officer with a statement indicating:

ee;

(i) Name and position of the employ

(ii) Brief description of the gift and the circumstances justifying acceptance;

(iii) Identity, if known, of the foreign government and name and posi

tion of the individual who presented the gift;

(iv) Date of acceptance of gift;

(v) Estimated value in the United States of the gift at time of acceptance; and

(vi) Disposition and current location of the gift.

If the gift is for travel or travel expenses, the employee must file a statement with his or her employing Agency Head within 30 calendar days after acceptance indicating: Name and position of the employee, brief description of the gift and the circumstances justifying acceptance, and identity, if known, of the foreign government and name and position of the individual who presented the gift;

(5) An employee may accept, retain, and wear a foreign decoration, if tendered in recognition of active field service or unusually meritorious service and if supported by a statement from the donor, preferably in the form of a citation, which shows the basis for tender of the award. A request from the Head of the employing Agency for approval of the acceptance of the decoration will be forwarded to the Administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service or his or her designee for concurrence or disapproval. The request from the employing Agency must contain a recommendation as to whether or not the acceptance, retention, and wearing of the foreign decoration by the employee would be in the best interest of the United States. The Administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service shall notify the employing Agency of his or her concurrence or disapproval of the retention of the foreign decoration. Disapprovals by the Foreign Agricultural Service shall constitute acceptance on behalf of the United States and the decoration shall be deposited by the employee with the Agency's Property Management Officer within 60 calendar days. The Property Management Officer shall report the decoration as required by the Agriculture Property Management Regulations;

(6) Violation of the provisions of the law including the failure by an employee to report such a gift may result in a civil penalty against the employee

for the value of the gift plus $5,000; and

(7) The definition of "employee" includes all employees of the Department, experts, or consultants under contract with the United States, spouses of all such individuals, and blood and in-law relations who are residents of the employee's household. (f) Neither this section nor § 0.73513(a) precludes an employee from receipt of bona fide reimbursement, unless prohibited by law, for expenses of travel, and such other necessary subsistence as is compatible with this part for which no Government payment or reimbursement is made. However, this paragraph does not allow an employee to be reimbursed, or payment to be made on his or her behalf, for excessive personal living expenses, gifts, entertainment, or other personal benefits; nor does it allow an employee to be reimbursed for travel on official business under Agency orders when reimbursement is proscribed by decision B-128527 of the Comptroller General dated March 7, 1967 (46 Comp. Gen. 689).

§ 0.735-13 Outside employment and activities.

(a) An employee shall not engage in outside employment or other outside activity not compatible with the full and proper discharge of the duties and responsibilities of his or her Government employment whether on his or her behalf, or for private individuals, firms, companies, institutions, professional societies, or State or local governments. Incompatible activities include but are not limited to:

(1) Outside employment or activity (including the acceptance of a fee, compensation, gift, payment of expenses or any other thing of monetary value) which may result in, or create the appearance of a conflict-of-interest;

(2) Outside employment or activity which tends to impair the employee's mental or physical capacity to perform his or her Government duties and responsibilities in an acceptable manner; (3) Outside employment or activity that takes the employee's time and at

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