2025-488 - Laserfiche WebLink

performance of a governmental function; (iv) under the supervision or authority of an elected offi:.ial or another employee of the governmental entity. La. R.S. 42.1102(19) defines"public servant"to mean a public employee or elected official. ANALYSIS As a member of the Task Force, you are a public employee pursuant to La. R.S. 42:1102(18), and a public serva:lt pursuant to La. R.S. 42:1102(19). Your agency is the Task Force DCFS pursuant to La. R.S. 42:1102(2)(a)(i). La. R.S. 42:1111 A prohibits a public servant from receiving compensation to which he is duly not entitled for the performance of his duties. For compensation to be considered duly entitled, it must be (1) approved by the agency, and (2) an appropriate use of public funds. In the present case, as the Task Force would be approving the payment of your airfare, such compensation would be approved by the agency. As to whether the airfare would be an appropriate use of public funds, such question is not under the jurisdiction of the Louisiana Board of Ethics. That question may be answered by the Louisiana Attorney General's Office. Accordingly, your receipt of airfare from the Task Force to perform Task Force services would not be prohibited by La. R.S. 42:1111A, so long; as such airfare is deemed an appropriate use of public funds. CONCLUSION The Board concluded, and instructed me to inform you, that, to the extent the purchase of airfare is an appropriate use of public funds, the Code permits you to receive compensation for airfare which has been approved by the Task Force to perform services for the Task Force. Changes to the facts as presented may result in a different application of the provisions of the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics. The Board issues no opinion as to past conduct or as to laws other tham the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics, the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act,the Lobbyist Disclosure Acts,and the conflict of interest provisions contained in the Louisiana Gaming Control Law. If you have any questions, please contact me at(800) 842-6630 or(225) 219-5600. Sincerely, :LOU-11SI A BOARD OF ETHICS Chzxles E. R e,.-ves, Jr. For the BoEu.-d Page 2 of 2 (BD 2025-488)