| Advisory Opinion Request from Dr. Shannon LaFargue, Superintendent of the Calcasieu Parish School Board (the "School Board") as to whether School Board employees may receive awards for their service from a local hospital. |
|
A local hospital ("Hospital") wants to sponsor a program by which teachers and other employees of the School Board have the opportunity to win an award for their service. Nominees for the awards would be selected via suggestions on social media. From the nominees, three persons each month would be chosen from the nominees at random to receive a $425 gift card. From the monthly award winners, an additional name would be randomly selected annually to receive an "Educator of the Year Award" and would receive approximately $2,000. The program would also involve an annual banquet.
The Hospital has no contracts or business relationship with the School Board.
|
|
La. R.S. 42:1102(18)(a) defines "public employee" to mean any person, whether compensated or not who is: (i) an administrative officer or official of a governmental entity who is not filling an elective office; (ii) appointed by any elected official when acting in an official capacity, and the appointment is to a post or position wherein the appointee is to serve the governmental entity or an agency thereof, either as a member of an agency, or as an employee thereof; (iii) engaged in the performance of a governmental function; (iv) under the supervision or authority of an elected official or another employee of the governmental entity.
La. R.S. 42:1102(19) defines "public servant" to mean a public employee or elected official.
La. R.S. 42:1111A prohibits a public employee from receiving 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.
|
|
|
Adopt proposed draft opinion.
|
|
| Assigned Attorney: |
Charles Reeves |
|
|