| Advisory Opinion request of Alex Suffrin, a member of the St. Charles Parish School Board, regarding the employment of his daughter-in-law with the school board. |
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Alex Suffrin has been a member of the St. Charles Parish School Board since 2006. He was most recently re-elected in 2014.
Kayla Brady Suffrin was first hired by the St. Charles Parish School Board as a certified teacher in August 2014, where she remained until September 2015. On June 11, 2016, Kayla became the daughter-in-law of Alex Suffrin, when she married Alex's son, Andrew. Kayla was rehired by the School Board in August 2016.
Kayla is returning from maternity leave for the upcoming school year and would like to accept a paraprofessional or a permanent substitute position.
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La. R.S. 42:1119A states that no member of the immediate family of an agency head shall be employed in his agency.
La. R.S. 42:1119B(2)(a)(i) provides an exception that any local school board may employ any member of the immediate family of any board member as a classroom teacher provide that such family member is certified to teach.
La. R.S. 42:1119B(2)(a)(iii) requires that, within thirty days of the beginning of each school year, any school board member whose immediate family member is employed by the school board shall file a disclosure statement with the Board of Ethics stating the facts of such employment.
La. R.S. 42:1112B(1) states that no public servant shall participate in a transaction involving the governmental entity in which, to his actual knowledge, any member of his immediate family has a substantial economic interest.
La. R.S.42:1120
provides that if an elected official, in the discharge of a duty or responsibility of his office or position, would be required to vote on a matter which would be a violation of R.S. 42:1112, he shall recuse himself from voting. An elected official who recuses himself from voting pursuant to this Section shall not be prohibited from participating in discussion and debate concerning the matter, provided that he makes the disclosure of his conflict or potential conflict a part of the record of his agency prior to his participation in the discussion and debate and prior to the vote that is the subject of discussion or debate.
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Adopt the proposed advisory opinion.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
David Bordelon |
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