2025-255 - Laserfiche WebLink

STATE OF LOUISIANA oF Lot� DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE 4�o"'��Srl`f'r ��'r; � �\'°�9,y LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS h �`�,,` �'�q� > P.0.BOX 4368 * /"��.�� * BATON ROUGE,LA 70821 � `°N�oEN`� (225)219-5600 •.,,o,...� FAX:(225)381-7271 1-800-842-6630 www.ethics.la.gov July 7, 2025 Mary Jane Walker Executive Director, Tei-rebonne Council on Aging P.O. Box 8036 Houma, Louisiana 70361 Re: Docket No. 2025-255 Advisory Opinion Dear Ms. Walker: The Louisiana Board of Ethics, at its meeting on July 3, 2025, considered your request for an advisory opinion on behalf of the Terrebonne Council on Aging regarding whether the Code of Governmental Ethics ("Code") permits an employee of a publicly funded Senior Center to accept gifts on behalf of her baby from clients at the Senior Center. FACTS PROVIDED The clients at a publicly funded Senior Center want to give gifts to the Senior Center's Manager For her new haby. The Senior Center's employees are public servants, and the agency's policy prohibits its employees from accepting gratuities from clients and vendors. However, the clients argue that the gifts are for the baby, not the employee. LAW La.R.S.42:1111A(1)(a)provides that no public servant shall receive anything of economic value, other than compensation and benefits from the governmental entity to which he is duly entitled, for the performance of the duties and responsibilities of his office or position. La. R.S. 42:1115A provides that no public servant shall solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any thing of economic value as a gift or gratuity from any person or from any officer, director, agent, or employee of such person, if such public servant knows or reasonably should know that such person: (1) Has or is seeking to obtain contractual or other business or financial relationships with the public servant's agency. La. R.S. 42:1115B provides that no public employee shall solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any thing of economic value as a gift or gratuity from any person or from any officer, director, agent, or employee of such person, if such public employee knows or reasonably should know that such person: (1) Conducts operations or activities which are regulated by the public einployee's agency. (2) Has substantial economic interests which may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance of the public employee's official duty. i��:r�' i � '` _ � �:s`;`.� 7;`` AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER