| Advisory opinion request regarding whether the North Caddo Hospital Service District Board of Commissioners (Hospital District) may use public funds to offer free meals to all police officers. |
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Advisory opinion request regarding whether the North Caddo Hospital Service District Board of Commissioners (Hospital District) may use public funds to offer free meals to all police officers. This request was submitted by the Hospital District's attorney Walter White. Mr. White represents the Hospital District, which operates the North Caddo Medical Center (Hospital). He stated that the Hospital District believes that the complementary meals are de minimis and offer a great benefit, as the presence of the officers act as a deterrent to misbehavior. He provided that all police officers in uniform are welcome and that hospital staff are always present when the officers consume the meals. He provided that each individual meal costs approximately $8. He added that no meal is over the $61 limit on food and drink as provided for in La. R.S. 42:1115.1. The pertinent question presented herein is whether it is the appropriate use of Hospital District funds to offer complementary meals to police officers.
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La. R.S. 42:1115.1 No person from whom a public servant is prohibited by R.S. 42:1111 or 1115(A) from receiving a thing of economic value shall give such public servant any food, drink or refreshment the total value of which exceeds 61 dollars for a single event...
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Decline to render and refer to the District Attorney.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
Suzanne Mooney |
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