7 CFR 1900.155: Designating the processing/servicing official.

(a) Designating an official with equivalent authority. The State Director (or Administrator, under § 1900.253(e) of this subpart or this paragraph) designates a nonrelated or nonassociated Rural Development official authorized to conduct the activity under program regulations, established delegation of authority and approval authority under subpart A of part 1901 of this chapter, and whose duty station is most convenient to the recipient and to the security property. A type and/or amount of assistance processed or serviced by a County Supervisor or at a County Office should be assigned only to another County Supervisor or County Office. A type and/or amount of assistance processed or serviced by a District Director or at a District Office should be assigned only to another District Director or District Office.

(b) County Committee. For processing or servicing decisions to be made by a County Committee, if the recipient is a member, a different County Committee is designated. If the recipient is related to or associated with the member, notwithstanding the provisions of § 1900.151(a)(3) of this subpart, the State Director may permit the decision to be made by the local committee, if the related/associated member abstains.

(c) [Reserved]