U.S. Office of Government Ethics
1201 New York Avenue, NW., Suite 500
Washington, DC  20020     

						November 19, 2002
						DO-02-028                                        



MEMORANDUM

TO:       Designated Agency Ethics Officials and General Counsels 

FROM:     Jack Covaleski
          Deputy Director
          Office of Agency Programs

SUBJECT:  Reporting Payments Accepted Under 31 U.S.C. § 1353


     Section 1353 of title 31, United States Code, authorizes the acceptance by executive branch
agencies of payments for travel, subsistence, and related expenses from non-Federal sources in
connection with the attendance of employees at certain meetings or similar functions.  The statute
provides that the head of each agency shall submit to the Director of the Office of Government
Ethics (OGE) semiannual reports of payments of more than $250 accepted under this authority.  The
next semiannual report should be submitted to OGE not later than November 30, 2002, concerning
payments received during the period beginning on April 1, 2002, and ending on September 30, 2002. 
Agencies are required to submit negative reports.

     The General Services Administration's regulation implementing 31 U.S.C. § 1353 and its
reporting requirement are codified at 41 C.F.R. part 304-1.  Additionally, the standard forms for
reporting this information, SF 326, "Semiannual Report of Payments Accepted from a Non-Federal
Source" and SF 326A, "Continuation Sheet,"can be downloaded in various formats from the GSA
Web site at www.gsa.gov/forms under the standard forms.  One such format is a screen fillable
version, which can be electronically transmitted to OGE.  We strongly encourage the use of this
format in that it facilitates a more efficient transmittal.  This report may be forwarded via email 
to 1353Travel@oge.gov. 

     However,  mandatory use of the standard forms is not required at this time.  You may
continue to use other reporting formats designed in accordance with the criteria set forth in the
regulation.