| A request for an advisory opinion from Deano A. Bonano, the newly elected councilman for District 2 of the Jefferson Parish Council, concerning whether the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics ("Code") would prohibit him from continuing to serve as a volunteer firefighter in Jefferson Parish while serving on the Jefferson Parish Council. |
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Councilman Bonano was elected to the Jefferson Parish Council ("Parish Council") as the Councilman for District 2 in the October 12, 2019 election. He stated that he had previously served as a volunteer firefighter in the past and would like to continue to serve as a volunteer firefighter while serving as a Jefferson Parish Councilman. He stated that the Parish Council sits as the governing body for each of the Parish's eight (8) fire districts. The Parish Council also contracts with volunteer companies to provide fire protection services to specific geographic areas and approves the budget for each of the companies.
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La. R.S. 42:1112(A) states that no public servant, except as provided in R.S. 42:1120, shall participate in a transaction in which he has a personal substantial economic interest of which he may be reasonably expected to know involving the governmental entity.
La. R.S. 42:1123(1) provides an exception for participation in the affairs of charitable, religious, nonprofit education, public service, or civic organizations when no compensation is received. La. R.S. 42:1123(1) also excludes from the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics participation in the affairs of bona fide organized public volunteer fire departments when no compensation is received.
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Adopt the proposed opinion.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
LaToya D. Jordan |
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