August 8, 2002
						DO-02-019



MEMORANDUM

TO:		Designated Agency Ethics Officials

FROM:		Jack Covaleski
		Deputy Director for Agency Programs

SUBJECT:	Technical Amendments to Regulations Governing
		Filing Extensions and Late Filing Fee Waivers


The Office of Government Ethics (OGE) has issued a final rule amending the regulations governing the granting
of filing extensions and late filing fee waivers under the public financial disclosure system.  See 67 FR
49856-49857, August 1, 2002.  Currently, only the OGE Director can grant late filing fee waivers and
additional extensions of time beyond the maximum 45 days that can be granted by agencies.  Effective
September 3, 2002, agencies will have the authority to (1) grant public filers the additional extensions of
time currently granted by the OGE Director, which shall not exceed 45 days, to file their public financial
disclosure reports; and (2) waive the late filing fee for public filers who submit their reports more than 30
days after the due date.

The late filing fee waiver amendment expands the definition of extraordinary circumstances to include
administrative oversight culminating in the failure to notify a new entrant, first-time annual, or
termination public filer of the filing requirement.  The amended provision also provides for agency
consultation with OGE prior to approving any waiver of the late filing fee, if the designated agency ethics
official desires to do so.

These delegations of authority will expedite both processes, grant agencies additional authority to make
determinations affecting their employees, and free up OGE resources to pursue other important Government
ethics responsibilities.  Filing extension and late filing fee waiver requests dated by close of business
September 2, 2002, will be processed by OGE using current procedures.