District of Columbia Code Division I. Government of District. § 1-1162.19. Advisory opinions.

(a-1)(1) The Director of Government Ethics may issue, on his or her own initiative, an advisory opinion on any general question of law he or she considers of sufficient public importance concerning a provision of the Code of Conduct over which the Board has primary jurisdiction.

(2) Before an advisory opinion is issued under this subsection, the Director of Government Ethics shall publish a notice of the proposed advisory opinion in the District of Columbia Register and provide a public-comment period of at least 30 days, during which a person may submit information or comment on the proposed advisory opinion. An advisory opinion that does not meet the procedural requirements of this paragraph shall be void ab initio.

(c)(1) If an advisory opinion is issued by the Director of Government Ethics in response to a request for an advisory opinion, the requesting employee or public official may appeal the opinion for consideration by the Board.

(2) If the Director of Government Ethics issues an advisory opinion on his or her own initiative, an employee or public official aggrieved by the opinion may appeal the opinion for consideration by the Board.