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for an advisory opinion regarding whether the Code of Governmental Ethics
("Code") would prohibit Ms. Audrey Pugh from applying for the Children and
Youth Resilience Challenge Award while working for the Louisiana Department of
Children and Family Services. |
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Audrey Pugh is the Manager of Youth Character Camp LLC. On November 28, 2022, she began
working for the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services ("DCFS")
as a Program Consultant in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families ("TANF")
initiative section, also within the Division of Family
Support/Economic Support. The position is funded through the US Department
of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office
of Family Assistance, ("US HHS/ACF/OFA").
Ms. Pugh would like to apply for the Children and Youth Resilience
Challenge Award ("the Challenge") which is funded and awarded by the US
HHS. The Challenge will award prizes to innovative community-led solutions to
promote resilience in children and adolescents affected by the COVID-19
pandemic and other man-made or natural disasters. The Challenge is recognized
as part of the "President's Unity Agenda and Mental Health Strategy".
If she receives the Challenge award, Ms. Pugh's family members who work for Youth
Character Camp LLC will be compensated for the work performed on the Challenge
project. Ms. Pugh does not intend to receive compensation for work on the Challenge
project.
Ms. Pugh asks whether applying for the Challenge award would violate any state laws. The
Board issues no opinion as to as to laws other than the Louisiana Code of
Governmental Ethics, the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act, the Lobbyist
Disclosure Act, and the conflict of interest provisions contained in the
Louisiana Gaming Control Law.
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La. R.S. 42:1113A.(1)(a). No public servant, excluding any
legislator and any appointed member of any board or commission and any member
of a governing authority of a parish with a population of ten thousand or less,
or member of such a public servant's immediate family, or 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. 42:1111C (1) No public servant shall receive any thing
of economic value for any service, the subject matter of which:
(a) Is devoted substantially to the responsibilities,
programs, or operations of the agency of the public servant and in which the
public servant has participated.
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Adopt the proposed advisory opinion.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
Mallory Guillot |
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