2022-747 - Laserfiche WebLink

STATE OF LOUISIANA oF.L�U1sr DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS " /\�!,G•, 9 P.0. BOX 4368 " % * BATON ROUGE,LA 70821 NA, (225)219-5600 »o» ' FAX:(225)381-7271 1-800-842-6630 www.ethics.1a.gov Tuesday, December 6, 2022 Gregory Gormanous, Ph.D. Chairman- Louisiana State Board of Examiners& Psychologists 4334 S. Sherwood Forest Boulevard Schriever, Louisiana 70395 RE: Docket No.2022-747 Advisory Opinion Dear Dr. Gormanous: The Louisiana Board of Ethics("Board"), at its December 2, 2022 meeting,considered your request for an advisory opinion as to whether the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics ("Code") would require the Louisiana State Board of Examiners and Psychologists ("LSBEP") to file a disclosure to report when a registration fee waiver results in net savings for LSBEP. FACTS PROVIDED The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards ("ASPPB") is a non-profit association of psychology licensing boards. The LSBEP, which is a self-funded state regulatory state agency, has been a member of the ASPPB since the 1960's. ASPPB, the alliance of U.S. psychology licensing boards, is holding its 62nd Annual Meeting in Maryland. The LSBEP's membership and attendance at these conferences is a direct benefit to LSBEP. Travel for our attendees is funded by LSBEP, in accordance with PPM 49. For this meeting ASPPB again invited a Louisiana board member to participate in a panel on "Defining the Regulatory Role in Social Justice Matters." This year ASPPB offers a waiver of registration fees as a direct benefit to all jurisdictions for board members presentations and board member serving as delegates. For LSBEP, this potentially results in savings of reimbursable travel funds to two (2)attendees ($ 280 each; $ 560 total) in registration fees. If LSBEP realizes a savings as a result of the waiver of registration fees, is the LSBEP required to disclose that to the Board. LAW La.R.S. 42:1111(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. 42:1123(13) provides an exception which allows the acceptance by a public servant of complimentary admission to a civic, non-profit, educational, or political event when the public servant is giving a speech at the event or is a panel member for a discussion at the event. AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER