The Fiscal, Ethics and Administrative Law Division provides advice and assistance in several distinct practice areas: fiscal law, ethics, administrative law, civilian personnel, legislation, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Privacy Act, claims, and accident and safety investigations. Particular matters are identified below:
Fiscal Law
· The proper use of appropriated and non-appropriated funds
· Interpretation of the annual authorization act, annual appropriations act, and continuing resolutions
· Accounting and finance issues
· Anti-Deficiency Act Issues
· Use of Special Funds (including emergency and extraordinary expense funds and official representations funds)
Ethics
· Provides advice to the General Counsel in his capacity as the Air Force Designated Ethics Official and as the Air Force Gift Acceptance Authority
· Interpretation of the Joint Ethics Regulation (JER)
· Resolving conflict of interest questions from new Presidential appointees and other senior Secretariat officials
· Managing the financial disclosure reporting system for the Secretariat
· Counseling employees with respect to post-employment restrictions, official invitations, gifts, travel, outside activities, political activities and relations with non-federal entities
Administrative
· Authority of Air Force Officials
· Organizational Issues
· Delegation of Authority
· Memoranda of Agreements or Understanding; Interservice Support Agreements
· Pay and Entitlements
· Travel and Transportation
· Advisory Committees
· Conferences
· Publications (including Mission Directives)
· Tax Matters
Civilian Personnel
· General Civilian Personnel Issues (e.g. Title 5 Interpretations)
· Equal Employment Opportunity
· Adverse Actions
· Diversity Policy
· Senior Executive Service Matters
· Office of Special Counsel and Whistleblower Protection
· Labor-Management Relations
· Special Government Employees (Intergovernmental Personnel Act, Highly Qualified Experts)
Legislation
· Coordinate review of legislative proposal in the annual DoD/GC legislative program
· Coordinate review of legislative proposals in the USD (P&R) Unified Legislation & Budgeting process
· Coordinate review of legislative items (draft bills, reports, testimony, etc.) from within and outside DoD
Information Protection and Release
· FOIA (including appeals from lower level denials)
· Privacy Act
Claims
· Advises the Secretary of the Air Force and staff on various Federal claims statutes that that allow compensation for personal injury, death, or loss of property due to the acts or omissions of Air Force personnel
Accident and Safety Investigations
· Advises the Secretary of the Air Force and staff on the legal aspects on policy-related questions involving investigations of Air Force ground, air, and space mishaps (issues include compliance with public law, preserving confidentiality and executive privilege)