Meetings
 
Agenda Item
Docket No. 14-310
 
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RE:
Advisory opinion regarding whether members of the New Orleans Access Television, Inc. Board of Directors are required to file annual personal financial disclosure statements.
Facts:
The New Orleans Access Television, Inc. (NOATV) was incorporated on October 24, 2002 as a private non-profit corporation by Valeri LeBlanc, an advisor to the New Orleans City Council. NOATV was not specifically created by statute or ordinance. NOATV oversees the programmatic and technical aspects of the Public, Educational and Government Access Television and serves as the New Orleans City Council's Designated Community Access Group provided for in the Cox Cable Franchise. Such role as Designated Community Access Group was set forth in a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement signed by the Mayor and NOATV and approved by Ordinance of the City Council.

Law:
La. R.S. 42:1124.2.1 requires financial disclosure for each member and designee of a board or commission which has the authority to expend, disburse or invest $10,000 or more of funds in a fiscal year on or before May 15th of each year during which the person holds office and the year following termination of the holding of such office.

La. R.S. 42:1124.2.1(D)(1)(a) defines a board or commission as (i) each board, commission, and like entity created by law or executive order that is made a part of the executive branch of state government by the provisions of Title 36 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, or that is placed in an executive branch department or in the office of the governor or lieutenant governor by law or executive order, or that exercises any authority or performs any function of the executive branch of state government; (ii) each board, commission, and like entity created by the constitution, by law, by a political subdivision, except as provided in Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph, or jointly by two or more political subdivisions as a governing authority of a political subdivision of the state or of a local government.

La. R.S. 42:1124.2.1D(1)(b) states that a "board or commission" shall not mean (i) the governing authority of a parish, (ii) any board or commission or like entity that governs a political subdivision created by a single parish governing authority of a parish with a population of two hundred thousand or less, or any subdistrict of such a political subdivision, (iii) the governing authority of a municipality, (iv) any board or commission or like entity that governs a political subdivision created by a single municipal governing authority of a municipality with a population of twenty-five thousand or less, or any subdistrict of such a political subdivision, or (v) a board of directors of a private nonprofit corporation that is not specifically created by law.

Recommendations:
Adopt proposed advisory opinion.

Assigned Attorney: Tracy Barker
 
 
ATTACHMENTS:
Description:
2014-310: Advisory Opinion Request
2014-310 Draft Opinion