| A Request for an Advisory Opinion, submitted by Cara Chance, concerning whether the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics ("Code") prohibits her from accepting a $5,000.00 cash prize for being an American Library Association I Love My Librarian award honoree. |
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Ms. Chance is employed by the Lafayette Public Library. She has been named one (1) of ten (10) 2023 I Love My Librarian Award honorees. The award is sponsored by the American Library Association. Honorees were selected for their outstanding public service to their communities. Each honoree receives a cash prize of $5000.00.
The I Love My Librarian Award is sponsored by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The Carnegie Corporation of New York is a philanthropic foundation established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding. In keeping with this mandate, the Corporation's work focuses on the issues that Andrew Carnegie considered of paramount importance: international peace, the advancement of education and knowledge, and the strength of our democracy. She has inquired as to whether the Code prohibits her from accepting the cash prize.
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La. R.S. 42:1102(18) defines a "Public employee" as anyone, 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; and, (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" as a public employee or elected official.
La. R.S. 42:1102(22)(a) defines "Thing of economic value" as money or any other thing having economic value.
La. R.S. 42:1111(A) 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.
La. R.S. 42:1123(2)(a) excepts awards for meritorious public contributions given by public service organizations from the Code.
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Adopt the proposed advisory opinion.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
LaToya D. Jordan |
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