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STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> Lo DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> F LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> e � <br /> P.O. BOX 4368 <br /> * * BATON ROUGE,LA 70821 <br /> °pro iutr�E (225)219-5600 <br /> .,. FAX:(225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> www.ethics.1a.gov <br /> December 7, 2022 <br /> Dr. Shannon LaFargue <br /> Superintendent, Calcasieu Parish School Board <br /> 3310 Broad Street <br /> Lake Charles, Louisiana 70615 <br /> Re: Docket No. 2022-805 <br /> Advisory Opinion <br /> Dear Dr. LaFargue: <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics, at its December 2, 2022 meeting, considered your request, on <br /> behalf of the Calcasieu Parish School Board (the "School Board") for an advisory opinion, as to <br /> whether School Board employees may receive awards for their service from a local hospital. <br /> FACTS PROVIDED <br /> A local hospital ("Hospital") wants to sponsor a program by which teachers and other employees <br /> of the School Board have the opportunity to win an award for their service. Nominees for the <br /> awards would be selected via suggestions on social media. From the nominees,three persons each <br /> month would be chosen from the nominees at random to receive a$425 gift card.From the monthly <br /> award winners, an additional name would be randomly selected annually to receive an "Educator <br /> of the Year Award"and would receive approximately $2,000. The program would also involve an <br /> annual banquet. <br /> The Hospital has no contracts or business relationship with the School Board. <br /> LAW <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 /> La. R.S. 42:1102(19) defines "public servant"to mean a public employee or elected official. <br /> Page 1 of 2 (BD 2022-805) <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />