Meetings
 
Agenda Item
Docket No. 17-736
 
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RE:
Advisory opinion request regarding whether the Code of Governmental Ethics would prohibit Southern University employee, Ellen McKnight and/or her business, the Maxine Firm, from participating in nutrition education.
Facts:
Advisory opinion request regarding whether the Code of Governmental Ethics would prohibit Southern University employee, Ellen McKnight, and her business, the Maxine Firm, from participating in nutrition education. Ms. McKinght provided that she is employed by the Southern University Agricultural and Research Extension Center as an Extension Associate for the University's SNAP-Ed Program. The SNAP-Ed program is offered through a collaborative contract with the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services and operates in (13) thirteen parishes throughout the State of Louisiana. The parishes are Ascension, Avoyelles, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, East Carroll, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Jefferson Davis, Madison, Morehouse, St. James, Richland, and West Carroll. The Snap-Ed Program teaches people using or eligible for SNAP benefits about proper nutrition and how to make their food dollars stretch further.
The Maxine Firm is a nutrition and wellness firm. It is composed of a network of healthcare professionals. Ms. McKnight provided that the Maxine Firm has not and does not ever intend to transact with the SNAP-Ed Program. Ms. McKnight owns 100% of the Maxine Firm. She provided that the Maxine Firm will not provide any compensated services to persons eligible for Snap Ed benefit. The clientele will be completely different. She stated that she does not provide the same services through the Maxine Firm as she does in her public capacity.
Law:
La. R.S. 42:1111C(1)(a) prohibits a public servant from receiving any thing of economic value for any service, the subject matter of which is devoted substantially to the responsibilities, programs, or operations of the agency of the public servant and in which the public servant has participated
Recommendations:
Adopt draft advisory opinion.
Assigned Attorney: Suzanne Mooney
 
 
ATTACHMENTS:
Description:
2017-736- Draft Opinion (3)
2017-736 AOR
2017-736- Additional information