on a full-time, part-time, or intermittent basis.

(c) Where appropriate to the meaning and not explained in this part, the term "person" means an individual, a corporation, a company, an association, a firm, a partnership, a society, a joint stock company, or any other organization or institution.

§ 0.735-3 Informing employees.

(a) Each new employee and special Government employee will be furnished a copy of this part or a comprehensive summary at the time of his or her entrance on duty and will be notified at that time of the availability of counseling services on conduct matters and of how and where these services are available.

(b) Annually, and at such other times as circumstances warrant, this part will be brought to the attention of each employee and special Government employee.

(c) Each facility shall have available for review by employees and special Government employees, as appropriate, copies of Executive Order 11222 of May 8, 1965, and copies of laws and pertinent Department of Veterans Affairs and Civil Service Commission regulations and instructions relating to ethical and other conduct.

[31 FR 5828, Apr. 15, 1966, as amended at 33 FR 3173, Feb. 20, 1968]

§ 0.735-4 Interpretation and advisory service.

(a) An Assistant General Counsel of the Office of the General Counsel is designated by the Secretary to be Counselor for the Department of Veterans Affairs. In addition, an official of the same office is designated as Deputy to the Counselor to act for the Counselor in his or her absence. The Counselor will have responsibility for: (1) Interpreting for the Department of Veterans Affairs the laws, Executive Order 11222, Civil Service Commission regulations and instructions, and the regulations in this part.

(2) Representing the Department of Veterans Affairs before the Civil Service Commission on conduct matters.

(3) Coordinating counseling services on conduct for employees and special Government employees.

(4) Resolving questions of conflict or apparent conflict of interest and other matters covered in this part.

(5) Assuring that counseling and interpretations of a precedential nature are made available to deputy counselors designated in paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of this section.

(6) Reviewing statements of employment and financial interests in connection with unresolved questions of conflict of interest referred for the Secretary's decision, and recommending decision and remedial action to be taken.

(b) The General Counsel may designate one or more officials in his or her office as Deputy Counselors (legal) to assist the Counselor in any of the responsibilities listed in paragraph (a) of this section and to perform in Central Office the functions detailed in paragraph (c) of this section.

(c) Chief Attorneys are designated as Deputy Counselors (legal). They will review and render counsel and interpretations on questions of conflict of interest and other matters covered by the conduct regulations in this part at the request of Deputy Counselors (Personnel Officers) or at the specific request of employees or special Government employees. The Deputy Counselors (legal) will be guided by the interpretations of the Counselor on the pertinent laws and regulations. In case of doubt regarding any question, or disagreement of interpretation between deputy counselors and employees or special Government employees, the Deputy Counselor (legal) may submit the matter to the Counselor for consideration, furnishing a copy to the appropriate Department Head.

(d) Personnel Officers are designated as deputy counselors. They will give advice and guidance to employees (includes management officials; see definition of employee in § 0.735-2(a)) and special Government employees on conduct matters as requested. They may submit questions to the deputy counselors (legal) on their own initiative or at the specific request of an employee or special Government employee or may request interpretations by the Counselor through the deputy counselors (legal).