Meetings
 
Agenda Item
Docket No. 23-785
 
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RE:
Advisory Opinion Request from David Blake Fruge, member of Eunice Municipal Civil Service Board and Reserve Deputy Marshal for the City of Eunice Marshal's Office, related to the provision of security detail at local high schools.
Facts:
Mr. Fruge currently serves as a member of the Eunice Municipal Civil Service Board (the "EMCSB"). He is also an active Reserve Deputy Marshal for the City of Eunice Marshal's Office (the "Marshal's Office"). He would like to be compensated for certain security details, including for local public and private high schools. In the case of security details for the public high schools, payment would be made directly to him. In the case of security details for the private high schools, the payment may be made either directly to him or distributed through the Marshal's Office.
Law:
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.
La. R.S. 42:1111C(1)(a) prohibits a public servant from receiving any thing of economic value for any service, the subject matter of which is devoted substantially to the responsibilities, programs, or operations of the agency of the public servant and in which the public servant has participated.
La. R.S. 42:1113B prohibits an appointed member of any board or commission, member of his immediate family, or a legal entity in which he has a substantial economic interest, from bidding on or entering into or being in any way interested in any contract, subcontract, or other transaction which is under the supervision or jurisdiction of the agency of such appointed member.
La. R.S. 42:1102(2)(a) 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(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.
Recommendations:
Adopt proposed advisory opinion.
Assigned Attorney: Charles Reeves
 
 
ATTACHMENTS:
Description:
2023-785 - Signed AO
2023-785 - Advisory Opinion Draft - Fruge