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STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> o.�'oF�ou�s,,, DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> ,tic.°� �y'•. <br /> �r � �_ LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> n li' \\�'j11I' �' P.O. BOX 4368 <br /> (Ian;, <br /> 114Z14•.: BATON ROUGE,LA 70821 <br /> `04:,0 ,6• (225)219-5600 <br /> .. FAX:(225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> wwwethicsstate.a.us <br /> November 21, 2012 <br /> Andrew Gressett <br /> Property Rights Commission, LLC <br /> 5225 Chestnut Street <br /> New Orleans, LA 70115 <br /> RE: Ethics Docket No. 2012-1799 <br /> Dear Mr. Gressett: <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics at its November 16,2012 meeting, considered your request for an <br /> advisory opinion regarding whether you, as the owner of Property Rights Commission, LLC, are <br /> required to file campaign reports or any other reports under the jurisdiction of the Board of Ethics, <br /> where you and your company dispense materials regarding candidates. You state that you do not <br /> accept money from anyone or any entity of any nature whatsoever for the pamphlets that are <br /> published by your company. You pay for everything yourself and publish your opinions,political <br /> opinions,and factual information to the voting and the general public. Attached to your request is <br /> a sample copy of a pamphlet that was issued by your company eight years ago. The pamphlet <br /> appears to state your personal opinion regarding candidates, restate opinions that were made by <br /> individuals regarding candidates, and give facts regarding the candidates. <br /> The Board concluded and instructed me to inform you that the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act <br /> will require you to file as an"any other person."The definition of"a political committee"in Section <br /> 1483(14)of the CFDA includes two or more persons and any corporation organized for the primary <br /> purpose of supporting or opposing one or more candidates and accepting contributions or making <br /> expenditures in excess of$500 within any calendar year. Section 1501.1 of the CFDA provides that <br /> any person other than a committee who expends more than$500 to oppose a candidate is required <br /> to file disclosure reports as a political committee. In review of the pamphlets that are published by <br /> your company it does not appear that you are required to register as a political committee.There are <br /> not two or more persons or a corporation that appears to be in support or opposition of more than <br /> one candidate. Although you do not specifically make statements opposing or supporting a <br /> candidate,the flier does appear to be in opposition of the candidate.As such,you would be required <br /> to file under Section 1501.1, if you expend more than $500 on pamphlets or any other materials <br /> where information regarding candidates is dispensed. <br /> This advisory opinion is based solely on the facts as set forth herein. Changes to the facts as <br /> presented may result in a different application of the provisions of the Code of Ethics. The Board <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />