| Advisory opinion regarding whether Senator Jonathan Perry, Representative Mike Johnson and Representative Alan Seabaugh may receive complimentary travel and lodging to attend an education trip to Israel from the American Israel Education Foundation. |
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Senator Jonathan Perry, Representative Mike Johnson and Representative Alan Seabaugh were invited to participate in the Educational Seminar in Israel for Southwest Christian Leaders being sponsored by the American Israel Education Foundation. The participants include political and religious leaders. The American Israel Education Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. It is the charitable organization affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a private entity. The American Israel Education Foundation would cover the costs of transportation, lodging, and meals during the program.
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La. R.S. 42:1111A prohibits a public employee from receiving anything of economic value, other than compensation and benefits from the governmental entity to which he is duly entitled, for the performance of the duties and responsibilities of his office or position.
La. R.S. 42:1123(41) provides an exception that allows a public servant to receive complimentary admission, and reasonable transportation and lodging for an educational or professional development seminar within the U.S. 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 from whom the public servant is prohibited from receiving or accepting a gift pursuant to R.S. 42:1115(A)(2), (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.
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Adopt the proposed advisory opinion.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
Tracy Barker |
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