| Advisory opinion request on behalf of McNeese State University College of Business ("College of Business") for the approval of a disqualification plan under the Code of Governmental Ethics ("Code") regarding the employment of Lonnie Turpin and Morgan Turpin. |
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Dr. Lonnie Turpin is a tenured professor and research director in the College of Business. Dr. Lonnie Turpin is the spouse of Morgan Turpin. Lonnie Turpin has been employed as a faculty member of the College of Business since 2009. Morgan Turpin served as an instructor and a director in the College of Business. Morgan Turpin has been appointed Dean of the College of Business. As Dean, her new duties include supervision of the Department Chair, Dr. Jiun Shiu Chen. Dr Chen supervises all faculty members and directors within the College of Business.
The College of Business has already implemented and is hereby submitting the following Disqualification Plan for approval. Morgan Turpin is prohibited from participating in any decision regarding leave, scheduling, requests/approvals, performance evaluations, disciplinary actions, pay increases, promotions, demotions, or any other activity which pertains to Dr. Lonnie Turpin's employment with the College of Business. Any decisions or activities regarding Dr. Lonnie Turpin that are normally performed by the Dean, or interim Dean will be assigned to Michael Buckles, the Interim Provost, or whoever serves as Provost.
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La. R.S. 42:1119A states that no member of the immediate family of an agency head shall be employed in his agency.
La. R.S. 42:1119C(2) provides that the provisions of this Section shall not prohibit the continued employment of any public employee nor shall it be construed to hinder, alter, or in any way affect normal promotional advancements for such public employee where a member of public employee's immediate family becomes the agency head of such public employee's agency, provided that such public employee has been employed in the agency for a period of at least one year prior to the member of the public employee's immediate family becoming the agency head.
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.
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Approve disqualification plan.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
Suzanne Mooney |
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