| Advisory opinion regarding whether Michelle Haj-Broussard, professor for McNeese State University, is required to file a disclosure form with the Board of Ethics in connection with her acceptance of lodging and meals from La Main a la Pate Foundation. |
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Ms. Haj-Broussard has received an invitation to attend a seminar in France with from the La Main a la Pate Foundation. The Foundation is dedicated to the teaching of science for K-12 students. Ms. Haj-Broussard states that she teaches science methods at McNeese State University and has created an immersion concentration for the Masters in Education that will require her to teach science methods to classes in the French Immersion program.
The Foundation has no contracts or pending contracts with McNeese or with Louisiana. The Foundation is a non-profit organization.
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Section 1115 of the Code prohibits public employees from soliciting or accepting a thing of economic value from persons that have or are seeking to have a business, financial or contractual relationship with their public agency; persons regulated by their agency; and persons that have substantial economic interests which can be substantially affected by the performance of the employee's duties.
An exception to section 1115 of the Code is provided in Section 1123(41)(a) of the Code which allows the acceptance by a public servant of complimentary admission to, lodging reasonably related to, and reasonable transportation to and from an educational or professional development seminar or conference held in any state of the US or Canada, provided that (1)the public servant is requested or invited to attend by the sponsoring nonprofit organization, (2) the sponsor is not a person seeking to have legislation passed, (3) the seminar or conference is related to the public service of the servant and (4) the public servants agency head approves the acceptance.
Any public servant who accepts the complimentary lodging, transportation, and admission must file an affidavit with the Board of Ethics within 60 days after such acceptance.
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Adopt the proposed advisory opinion.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
Aneatra Boykin |
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