| Advisory opinion request regarding whether Jerri LeDoux, a member of the Committee on Parole, may accept complimentary lodging, transportation, and meals from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee to attend an educational seminar in Israel for Southwest Christian Leaders. |
|
Jerri LeDoux serves as a member for the Louisiana Committee on Parole (Parole Committee), which was created within the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, pursuant to La. R.S. 15:574.2. She has been offered complimentary lodging, transportation, and meals from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) to attend an educational seminar in Israel for Southwest Christian Leaders. She stated that the American Israel Education Foundation (AIEF), a non-profit organization affiliated with AIPAC, approached her about participating in the trip to Israel to learn about American-Israeli relations.
She also stated that her participation in this trip was not influenced in any way by her service on the Parole Committee. Furthermore, neither AIPAC nor AIEF has a contractual or other business or financial relationship with the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections and/or the Parole Committee. Finally, she explained that the trip is strictly a personal opportunity and is not related in any way to her work for the State of Louisiana or the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.
|
|
La. R.S. 42:1111A prohibits a public servant from receiving anything of economic value, other than compensation and benefits from the governmental entity to which she is duly entitled, for the performance of the duties and responsibilities of her office or position.
La. R.S. 42:1115A prohibits a public servant from soliciting or accepting, directly or indirectly, any thing of economic value as a gift or gratuity from any person or from any officer, director, agent, or employee of such person, if such public servant knows or reasonably should know that such person: (1) Has or is seeking to obtain contractual or other business or financial relationships with the public servant's agency, or (2) Is seeking, for compensation, to influence the passage or defeat of legislation by the public servant's agency.
La. R.S. 42:1115B prohibits a public employee from soliciting or accepting, directly or indirectly, anything of economic value as a gift or gratuity from any person or from any officer, director, agent, or employee of such person, if such public employee knows or reasonably should know that such person: (1) Conducts operations or activities which are regulated by the public employee's agency, or (2) Has substantial economic interests which may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance of the public employee's official duty.
|
|
|
Adopt the proposed advisory opinion.
|
|
| Assigned Attorney: |
Haley Williams |
|
|