Louisiana state seal Louisiana Ethics Administration Program
Home Charges Search EAB Decisions Search
STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> oF.LOpJ�l DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> P.O.BOX 4368 <br /> BATON ROUGE, LA 70821 <br /> �ONumfl,� (225)219-5600 <br /> «o» FAX:(225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> www.ethics.Ia.gov <br /> January 11, 2023 <br /> Chief Bill Salmeron <br /> Emergency Medical Services <br /> City of New Orleans <br /> New Orleans, Louisiana 70125 <br /> RE: Docket No. 2022-665 <br /> Advisory Opinion <br /> Dear Chief Salmeron: <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics, at its January 6, 2023 meeting, considered your request for an <br /> Advisory Opinion as to whether the Code of Governmental Ethics prohibits New Orleans <br /> Emergency Medical Services (NOEMS) from reimbursing an employee for the use of her service <br /> dog. <br /> FACTS PROVIDED <br /> NOEMS seeks a dog trained as an ADA compliant service animal that will be used for mental <br /> health and/or comfort outreach for the NOEMS staff, other safety department employees and <br /> eventually all City of New Orleans employees. The dog would have a trained handler and be <br /> treated similar to a police dog. A NOEMS employee recently purchased a qualified dog that has <br /> undergone ADA service dog and handler training and has offered to employ the dog for mental <br /> health and/or comfort outreach for staff,other safety department employees and eventually all City <br /> of New Orleans employees. NOEMS would like to employ the use of the employee's service dog. <br /> NOEMS proposes reimbursing the expenses of the employee in exchange for the dog's services. <br /> NOMMS would only reimburse expenses that occur in the future. The purchase price of the dog or <br /> any cost associated with training will not be included. <br /> LAw <br /> La. R.S. 42:1123(30)provides that a public servant, a legal entity in which he has a controlling <br /> interest, or a member of his immediate family may donate services, movable property, or funds <br /> to his agency. <br /> La. R.S. 42:1113A states that no public servant, or a member of such a public servant's <br /> immediate family, or a legal entity in which he has a controlling interest shall bid on or enter into <br /> Page 1 of 2 (BD 2022-665) <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />