| Advisory opinion request, submitted on behalf of the Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus Foundation, regarding whether it can award a scholarship to an adult child of an employee of the Louisiana House of Representatives or Senate. |
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The Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus ( LLWC) created the "Women of Excellence Awards" in 2008 to recognize and honor extraordinary women of outstanding professional excellence across the state for their remarkable achievements and contributions. The awards are administered through the LLWC Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was created by the women legislators. The LLWC Foundation awards a scholarship to the winners of the High School Woman of Excellence Award and the College Woman of Excellence Award. Any female resident of Louisiana who is either a high school or college student and maintains at least a 3.0 grade point average can apply for the awards and scholarships. However, family members of the LLWC and its staff are ineligible for the awards and scholarships.
The selection of award and scholarship recipients is made by an award and scholarship committee through the LLWC Foundation. Members of the LLWC and its staff do not serve on the committee, which works independently of the women legislators. The committee's decisions are based on defined criteria to select recipients that exhibit characteristics of excellence in integrity and professionalism, personify excellence in their area of specialty, and are committed to community services to better society as a whole.
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La. R.S. 42:1111A prohibits a public servant from receiving anything of economic value, other than compensation and benefits from the governmental entity to which she is duly entitled, for the performance of the duties and responsibilities of her office or position.
La. R.S. 42:1115 prohibits a public employee from soliciting or accepting, directly or indirectly, any thing of economic value as a gift or gratuity from any person or from any officer, director, agent, or employee of such person, if the public employee knows or reasonably should know that such person: (1) has or is seeking to obtain contractual or other business or financial relationships with the public employee's agency; (2) is seeking, for compensation, to influence the passage or defeat of legislation by the public employee's agency; (3) conducts operations or activities which are regulated by the public employee's agency; or, (4) has substantial economic interests which may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance of the public employee's official duty.
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Adopt the proposed advisory opinion.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
Haley Williams |
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