(a) Purpose. In accordance with 5 CFR 2635.105, the regulations in this part apply to employees of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), other than special government employees as defined in 5 CFR 2635.102(l) and supplement the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch contained in 5 CFR part 2635 (Office of Government Ethics (OGE) Standards).
(b) Other regulations, guidance and procedures. In addition to 5 CFR part 2635 and this part, NCUA employees are required to comply with implementing guidance and procedures issued by the NCUA in accordance with 5 CFR 2635.105(c). NCUA employees are also subject to other government-wide ethics regulations including, but not limited to: Regulations concerning financial disclosure contained in 5 CFR part 2634, regulations concerning executive branch financial interests and conflicts contained in 5 CFR part 2640, and regulations concerning post-employment restrictions contained in 5 CFR part 2641. Certain senior NCUA examiners are also subject to post-employment restrictions contained in NCUA's Regulation found at 12 CFR part 796. Employees should contact an NCUA ethics official if they have questions about any provision of this regulation or other ethics-related matters.
The following definitions apply to this part:
(a) Employment. (1) For purposes of this section, “employment” means any form of non-Federal employment, business relationship, or activity involving the provision of personal services by the employee, whether or not for compensation. It includes, but is not limited to, services as an officer, director, employee, agent, advisor, attorney, consultant, contractor, general partner, trustee, teacher, or speaker. It includes a writing when done under an arrangement with another person for production or publication of the written product.
(2) The definition of employment does not include participation in the activities of a nonprofit charitable, religious, professional, social, fraternal, educational, recreational, public service or civic organization, unless:
(i) The employee will receive compensation other than reimbursement of expenses; or
(ii) The organization's activities are devoted substantially to matters relating to the employee's official duties as defined in 5 CFR 2635.807(a)(2)(i)(B) through (E).
Note to paragraph (a):
There is a special approval requirement set out in both 18 U.S.C. 203(d) and 205(e), respectively, for certain representational activities otherwise covered by the conflict of interest restrictions on compensation and activities of employees in claims against and other matters affecting the Government. Thus, an employee who wishes to act as agent or attorney for, or otherwise represent his parents, spouse, child, or any person for whom, or any estate for which, he is serving as guardian, executor, administrator, trustee, or other personal fiduciary in such matters must obtain the approval required by law of the Government official responsible for the employee's appointment in addition to the regulatory approval of this section.
(b) Credit union-related entities. (1) Credit union includes insured and non-insured credit unions as defined in Section 102(7) of the Federal Credit Union Act (the Act), 12 U.S.C. 1752(7).
(2) Credit union service organization as defined in § 741.222(a) of the NCUA Regulations, 12 CFR 741.222(a).
(3) Credit union trade groups include credit union trade organizations whose membership is comprised of credit union, CUSO, state credit union regulators, state credit union organizations, and officials and employees of such organizations.
(4) Other credit union-related entities may be defined pursuant to Agency Instruction.
No employee may engage in outside employment, with or without compensation, with any credit union, credit union trade group, credit union service organization, or other credit union-related entity, in any capacity.
(a) General requirement. (1) Before engaging in any outside employment, with or without compensation, other than prohibited employment in § 9601.103, an NCUA employee, other than a special government employee, must obtain written approval from the employee's supervisor and the concurrence of the Designated Agency Ethics Official (DAEO), except to the extent that the DAEO has issued an instruction pursuant to § 9601.105 exempting an activity or class of activities from this requirement.
(2) Any employee, other than a special government employee, who, before the effective date of this part or commencement of employment with NCUA, began engaging in outside employment must, within 30 calendar days of the effective date of this part or 30 days of commencement of employment with NCUA, either terminate such employment if it is in violation of § 9601.103 or request written approval from his or her supervisor and the concurrence of the DAEO in accordance with this section. The employee may continue engaging in the outside employment while the request for approval is under review.
(b) Procedure for requesting approval. (1) Employees shall request the approval required by paragraph (a) of this section by email or other form of written correspondence in advance of engaging in outside employment as defined in § 9601.102. The employee requesting approval shall submit the request to his/her supervisor.
(2) The request for approval to engage in outside employment shall set forth, at a minimum:
(i) The name of the employer or organization;
(ii) The nature of the activity or other work to be performed;
(iii) The title of the position; and
(iv) The estimated duration of the outside employment.
(3) Upon a significant change in the nature or scope of the outside employment or in the employee's official position with the NCUA, the employee must, within 7 calendar days of the change, submit a revised request for approval.
(c) Standard for approval. Approval shall be granted only upon a determination that the outside employment is not expected to involve conduct prohibited by statute or Federal regulation, including 5 CFR part 2635.
[78 FR 22769, Apr. 17, 2013, as amended at 79 FR 12657, Mar. 6, 2014]
The NCUA DAEO may issue Instructions governing the submission of requests for approval of outside employment. The Instructions may exempt categories of employment from prior approval requirement of this section based on a determination that employment within those categories of employment would generally be approved and is not likely to involve conduct prohibited by statute or Federal regulation, including 5 CFR part 2635. The DAEO may include in these Instructions examples of outside employment that are permissible or impermissible consistent with this part and 5 CFR part 2635, including examples of other credit union-related entities.