| Advisory opinion request by Zheng Zheng Fu of the Department of Transportation and Development regarding whether she may accept complimentary admission lodging reasonably related to, and reasonable transportation provided by Precast/prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) and the American Segmental Bridge Institute (ASBI) for conventions and seminars for educational and professional development. |
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Ms. Fu is an assistant bridge design administrator within the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD). She is a member of American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) T-10 technical committee who was appointed by her agency head, Paul Fossier. Serving on this committee is part of her job description. This committee is responsible for revisions to the current AASHTO load and resistant factor design and bridge design specs used by all bridge designers nationwide. This committee meets several times a year and meetings are held at the PCI and ASBI Convention. These conventions help members gain the most updated knowledge.
PCI and ASBI are considered not-for-profit entities. She has her agency head's written approval to attend the seminars which are located in the United States.
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La. R.S. 42:1123(41) provides that a public servant may accept 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 United Stated or Canada provided that (I) the public servant is requested or invited to attend by the sponsoring civic, nonprofit, educational, or political group or organization, (II) the sponsor is not a person who is seeking, for compensation, to influence the passage or defeat of legislation by the public servant's agency, (III) the seminar or conference is related to the public service of the public servant and is designed to enhance the knowledge or skill of the public servant as it relates to the performance of his public service, and (IV) the public servant's agency head approves the acceptance.
An affidavit must be filed with Board within sixty days after such acceptance of complimentary admission, lodging, or transportation to and from educational or professional development seminars or conferences disclosing (I) the name of the person or organization who gave, provided, or paid in whole or in part for the admission, lodging, or transportation, (II) the person or organization that hosted the seminar or conference, and (III) the amount expended on his behalf by the person or organization or admission, lodging, and transportation.
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Adopt the proposed advisory opinion.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
Brett Robinson |
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