[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5857-5858]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-2703]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PEACE CORPS

22 CFR Part 307


Peace Corps Standards of Conduct

AGENCY: Peace Corps.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Peace Corps is proposing to remove regulations that set 
out the

[[Page 5858]]

ethical conduct and other responsibilities applicable to Peace Corps 
employees. These regulations have been superseded, in significant part, 
by government-wide regulations.

DATES: Comments must be received by March 7, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted to the Office of the General 
Counsel, 8th Floor, 1111 20th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20526.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl R. Sosebee, Designated Agency 
Ethics Official, 202-692-2150.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Part 307, which sets out Peace Corps' regulations regarding the 
ethical conduct and other responsibilities of Peace Corps employees was 
last revised in 1987, see 52 FR 30151, Aug. 13, 1987; 22 CFR part 307. 
The conduct and responsibilities covered in this part have been 
superseded by the Office of Government Ethics' (OGE) executive branch 
ethical standards and requirements codified at 5 CFR parts 2634, 2635, 
2636, 2637, 2638 and 2640. Further, rules governing partisan political 
activity by executive branch employees and rules governing gambling, 
betting and lotteries on government owned or leased property or while 
on duty are set forth at 5 CFR parts 734 and 735. Government-wide rules 
on procurement integrity are set forth in the Procurement Integrity 
Act, 41 U.S.C. 423, and the Federal Acquisition Regulations, 48 CFR 
3.104. Because Peace Corps employees are already subject to these 
various rules, the Peace Corps proposes to remove part 307 from the 
Code of Federal Regulations. Remaining portions of the Peace Corps' 
existing standards pertaining to economic and financial activities of 
employees abroad, information, and speeches and participation in 
conferences set forth in Sections 307.735, 308, 309 and 310, 
respectively, may be reissued as Agency internal regulations pursuant 
to the authority of the Director in 22 U.S.C. 2503. Also, to the extent 
part 307 covers organizational conflicts of interest in procurement and 
procurement related matters, the Peace Corps is considering whether to 
incorporate them into the Peace Corps' internal rules.

II. Matters of Regulatory Procedure

    Executive Order 12866. The Peace Corps has determined that this 
proposed rule does not constitute a ``significant regulatory action'' 
for the purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    Regulatory Flexibility Act. Pursuant to section 605(b) of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act, the Peace Corps certifies that this rule 
will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities within the meaning of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 
U.S.C. 601 et seq.). Accordingly, no regulatory flexibility analysis is 
required.
    Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995. Section 202 of the Unfunded 
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Unfunded Mandates Act) (2 U.S.C. Chs. 17A 
and 25) requires that an agency prepare a budgetary impact statement 
before promulgating a rule that includes a federal mandate that may 
result in expenditure by State, local, and tribal governments, in the 
aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 million or more in any one 
year. If a budgetary impact statement is required, agencies must also 
identify and consider a reasonable number of regulatory alternatives 
before promulgating a rule. The Peace Corps has determined that this 
rule will not result in expenditures by State, local, or tribal 
governments or by the private sector of $100 million or more. 
Accordingly, the Peace Corps has not prepared a budgetary impact 
statement or specifically addressed the regulatory alternatives 
considered.

List of Subjects in 22 CFR Part 307

    Political activities; Government employees; Ethical conduct; 
Financial disclosure, Conflicts of interest.
    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Peace Corps proposes 
to amend Title 22 of the CFR by removing part 307.

    Dated: January 31, 2003.
Tyler S. Posey,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 03-2703 Filed 2-4-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6015-01-M