| Advisory Opinion request regarding whether the Code of Governmental Ethics (Code) would prohibit certain transactions and/or participation involving a company that employs an immediate family member of an employee with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD). |
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John Rayer is currently employed with DOTD as an Engineer 3 within DOTD Section 24 (Road Design). He is responsible for designing and reviewing road construction plans. He is not involved in the bid process or contracts, which is handled in DOTD Section 80 (Contract Services).
Mr. Rayer's father owns 30% of Shavers-Whittle Construction, LLC, a civil construction company ("SWC"). SWC would like to bid on projects with DOTD. The contracts would be approved and reviewed by DOTD Section 80 (Contract Services). During the life of the contract, DOTD Section 24 may be responsible for reviewing and approving certain aspects of the contract.
DOTD has submitted a plan to avoid any potential violation of La. R.S. 42:1112 whereby Mr. Rayer would recuse himself from participating in any transaction or duties involving projects between SWC and DOTD. Any design or review of projects with SWC involving work done by employees of DOTD Section 24, would be done by DOTD Section 24 employees other than Mr. Rayer.
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La. R.S. 42:1112B(1) states that no public servant shall participate in a transaction involving the governmental entity in which, to his actual knowledge, any member of his immediate family has a substantial economic interest.
La. R.S. 42:1112C allows a disqualification plan to be developed in accordance with rules adopted by the Board to remove a public servant from participating in transactions that would otherwise present violations of Section 1112 of the Code.
La. R.S. 42:1113A states no public servant, or a member of such a public servant's immediate family, or a legal entity in which he has a controlling interest shall bid on or enter into any contract, subcontract or other transaction that is under the supervision or jurisdiction of the agency of such public servant.
La. R.S. 42:1102(2)(a)(i) defines "agency" to mean a department, office, division, agency, commission, board, committee, or other organizational unit of a governmental entity.
La. R.S. 42:1102(8) defines "controlling interest" to mean any ownership in any legal entity or beneficial interest in a trust, held by or on behalf of an individual or a member of his immediate family, either individually or collectively, which exceeds twenty-five percent of that legal entity
La. R.S. 42:1102(13) defines "immediate family" as the term relates to a public servant to mean his children, the spouses of his children, his brothers and their spouses, his sisters and their spouses, his parents, his spouse, and the parents of his spouse.
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. 42:1102(21) defines "substantial economic interest" as an economic interest which is of greater benefit to the public servant or other person than to a general class or group of persons, except: (a) the interest that the public servant has in his position, office, rank, salary, per diem, or other matter arising solely from his public employment or office; (b) the that an elected official who is elected to a house, body, or authority has in a position or office of such house, body, or authority which is required to be filled by a member of such house, body, or authority by law, legislative rule, or home rule charter, (c) the interest that a person has as a member of the general public.
La. R.S. 42:1102(23) defines "transaction involving the governmental entity" to mean any proceeding, application, submission, request for a ruling or other determination, contract, claim, case, or other such particular matter which the public servant or former public servant of the governmental entity in question knows or should know: (a) Is, or will be, the subject of action by the governmental entity. (b) Is one to which the governmental entity is or will be a party. (c) Is one in which the governmental entity has a direct interest.
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Approve proposed advisory opinion.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
Charles Reeves |
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