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DE RUEHC #6792/01 0550111
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O 240108Z FEB 10
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI IMMEDIATE 2849
RUEHRY/AMEMBASSY CONAKRY IMMEDIATE 3700
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE IMMEDIATE 0944

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 016792 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: APER
SUBJECT: INCUMBENT PUBLIC FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORTS 
 
STATE 00016792  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶1.  Most senior employees and political appointees must 
annually file an "incumbent" Public Financial Disclosure 
Report (SF 278).  Although the statutory filing deadline 
is May 15, 2010, the Department is asking each public 
filer to submit his or her completed SF 278 to you by 
April 15 to help ensure that the intermediate and final 
review of forms is accomplished within the timeframes 
established by law. 
 
¶2.  Your Role.  We need your help in making sure that 
these reports are completed correctly and on time.  We 
request that you: 
 
*       Identify all employees assigned to your bureau or 
post who are filers (see "Who Must File" below); 
 
*       Forward the names of all filers to L/Ethics/FD by 
March 16, 2010,by email, fax, cable or mail; 
 
*       Provide to each filer a copy of the Guidance for 
All Incumbent SF 278 Filers, a blank SF-278, and a 
Checklist to Avoid Common Errors (For Incumbent SF 
278 Filers). These documents are available on the 
Department of State ethics program website on the 
intranet, 
at:http://l.s.state.sbu/sites/emp/Pages/Finan cialDi 
sclosure.aspx. 
 
 
*       Employees may use the SF-278 Wizard that can be 
found on the Department's Intranet Ethics and 
Political Activities Webpage under Public Financial 
Disclosure.  The guidance and links to the SF-278 
Wizard and Training Manual can be found here. 
Employees also may access the SF-278 from their 
home computers using the internet (http: 
forms.cerenade.com/sf278).  Even if a person uses 
the Wizard and has completed an electronic version 
of the report, they are still required to provide a 
signed and dated copy of the form to L/Ethics/FD. 
This is because there is no approved electronic 
signature program within the Department; 
 
*       Accept, date, and initial receipt of each completed 
report in the "Agency Use Only" space; 
 
*       Ensure "senior review" of each report in accordance 
with 2 FAM 714.7 (Note:  Senior Reviews would sign 
in the block that says, "Signature of Other 
Reviewer"); and 
 
*       Ensure that you or the senior reviewer transmits 
each report to L/Ethics/FD by April 15, 2010 (but 
not later than May 15, 2010).  An extension past 
May 15, 2010 may be obtained from L/Ethics/FD. 
Guidance for senior reviewers is available on the 
Department's Intranet Ethics and Political 
Activities website 
under:http://l.s.state.sbu/sites/emp/Pages/Bu reauan 
dPostResponsibilities.aspx. 
 
 
 
¶3. Who Must File.  The term "public filer" means any 
employee of the Department (including a "special 
Government employee," individuals serving in a "stretch 
assignment," or an individual on leave without pay) who 
held, was detailed or otherwise assigned to, or who 
served in an "acting" capacity in the following 
"covered" positions for more than 60 days during 
calendar year 2009: 
 
      (a)  An Executive Schedule, Senior Executive 
Service, or Senior Foreign Service position (or in the 
case of any individual whose pay is not fixed under the 
General Schedule and who does not serve in the Foreign 
Service, in a position for which the rate of basic pay 
is equal to or greater than $155,440.50); or 
 
      (b) A position not specified above that is excluded 
from the competitive service because it is of a 
confidential or policy-making character (all Schedule C 
employees and any limited non-career appointee in the 
Foreign Service who is a political appointee.) 
 
 
STATE 00016792  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
Exclusion:  Certain employees in confidential or 
policy-making positions may be excluded from the 
filing requirement.  Individuals qualifying under 
the exclusion may include chauffeurs, private 
secretaries, stenographers, and others holding 
positions of a similar nature.  Contact L/Ethics/FD 
if you believe that an employee should be excused 
from the filing requirement under this provision. 
This exclusion must be requested every year; 
exclusions that may have been recognized in past 
years are no longer considered current. 
 
60-day rule:  An employee need not file an 
incumbent SF 278 if he or she worked in a covered 
position for 60 days or less in calendar year 2009. 
A full-time employee would not be required to file 
a report, therefore, if he or she began to serve in 
a covered position on or after November 2, 2009. 
This includes employee who have recently been 
promoted to the Senior Foreign Service and were not 
in a stretch position previously.  To determine if 
a part-time or temporary employee served more than 
60 days in calendar year 2009, you should count the 
days on which the person actually worked, even if 
that work was performed on a Saturday, Sunday, or 
holiday. 
 
 
 
¶4. Submitting reports.   Filers may submit a report by 
mail, fax, or email.  Reports that are mailed should be 
sent to: L/Ethics/FD, H-228, 2401 E Street, NW, 
Washington, D.C. 20522.  Reports that are faxed should 
be sent to (202) 663-3339.  Reports that are scanned and 
L-EMP-FD Financial Staff.  Remember L/Ethics/FD still 
needs an original copy of the report. 
 
¶5.  For Help.   You may direct any questions to the 
ethics staff in the Financial Disclosure Division, 
Ethics Office (L/Ethics/FD) by phone at (202)663-3339 or 
by e-mail to L-EMP-FD Financial Staff. 
 
 
¶6.  Minimize considered. 
CLINTON