| Advisory opinion request regarding whether Faye Morrison, an employee of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, would be required to disclose a reimbursement from the FBI of travel related expenses incurred in connection with attending the annual FBI CODIS meeting. |
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Faye Morrison is currently employed with the Department of Public Safety and Corrections (Department) as an Attorney 3 assigned to the Louisiana State Police (State Police). Her job duties include representing the State Police Crime Lab. Ms. Morrison, as well as the other legal representatives of State CODIS Administrators, have been invited to attend the annual FBI CODIS meeting in Norman, OK, to discuss the constitutional privacy issues that may arise with the use of Rapid DNA collection and testing. The FBI will provide meal vouchers and reimbursement of travel and lodging expenses to all of the legal representatives of the State CODIS Administrators. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 531, the FBI is part of the United States Department of Justice.
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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. 42:1123(41) 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, provided an affidavit is filed with the Board of Ethics within sixty days after such acceptance.
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Adopt the proposed advisory opinion.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
Haley Williams |
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