Louisiana state seal Louisiana Ethics Administration Program
Home Charges Search EAB Decisions Search
STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> pOp Lop DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> =SON J�`ST CSI <br /> LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> P.O.BOX 4368 <br /> BATON ROUGE,LA 70821 <br /> cOroriocNc (225)219-5600 <br /> .o.• FAX:(225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> www.ethics.1a.gov <br /> June 9, 2025 <br /> Whitney Breaux <br /> Patterson Housing Authority <br /> P.O. Box 1568 <br /> Patterson, Louisiana 70392 <br /> Re: Docket No. 2025-222 <br /> Advisory Opinion <br /> Dear Chairperson Breaux: <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics,at its June 6,2025 meeting,considered your request for an advisory <br /> opinion regarding whether issuing a $25 gas Card to each Patterson Housing Authority <br /> Commissioner each month would violate the Code of Governmental Ethics. (Code) <br /> FACTS <br /> You are currently serving as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners. The Patterson Housing <br /> Authority is considering giving each commissioner a $25 gas card for attending each regular <br /> meeting. The Patterson Housing Authority Board of Commissioners meets once a month. <br /> LAW <br /> La. R.S. 42:1111(A)(1)(a) prohibits a public employee from receiving anything of economic <br /> value, other than compensation and benefits from the governmental entity to which he is duly <br /> entitled, for the performance of the duties and responsibilities of his office or position. <br /> La. R.S. 42:1102(18)(a) defines"public employee"to mean any person, whether compensated or <br /> not who is: (i) an administrative officer or official of a governmental entity who is not filling an <br /> elective office; (ii) appointed by any elected official when acting in an official capacity, and the <br /> appointment is to a post or position wherein the appointee is to serve the governmental entity or <br /> an agency thereof, either as a member of an agency,or as an employee thereof; (iii) engaged in the <br /> performance of a governmental function; (iv) under the supervision or authority of an elected <br /> official or another employee of the governmental entity <br /> ANALYSIS <br /> As commissioners serving on the Patterson Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, you are <br /> public employees pursuant to La. R.S. 42:1102(18)(a). The Commissioners "agency" for the <br /> purposes of the Code is the Patterson Housing Authority. La. R.S. 42:1111(A)(1)(a) prohibits a <br /> Page 1 of 2 (BD 2025-222) <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />