| Advisory opinion request regarding whether the Code of Governmental Ethics (Code) prohibits Loansteady/Core Lending from participating in the Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC) programs within two years of its employee Kristen O'Keefe resigning from the Louisiana Housing Corporation Board. |
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Ms. Okeefe was appointed in April of 2024 and resigned April 21, 2025 from the LHC Board. She is an employee of Loansteady/Core Lending. She does not intend to originate or participate in any LHC loans or programs for the next two years. She resigned from the LHC Board to prevent any potential conflict in the future for her employer.
Loansteady/Core Lending will not accept any compensation from any loan processed with the LHC that she participated in from April 2024 to April 2025.
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La. R.S. 42:1121A(1) No former agency head or elected official shall, for a period of two years following the termination of his public service as the head of such agency or as an elected public official serving in such agency, assist another person, for compensation, in a transaction, or in an appearance in connection with a transaction, involving that agency or render any service on a contractual basis to or for such agency.
La. R.S. 42:1121C No legal entity in which a former public servant is an officer, director, trustee, partner, or employee shall, for a period of two years following the termination of his public service, assist another person, for compensation, in a transaction, or in an appearance in connection with a transaction in which such public servant at any time participated during his public service and involving the agency by which he was formerly employed or in which he formerly held office. 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 (3) "Agency head" means the chief executive or administrative officer of an agency or any member of a board or commission who exercises supervision over the agency.
La. R.S. 42:1102(16) defines "Person" means an individual or legal entity other than a governmental entity, or an agency thereof.
La. R.S. 42:1102(19) defines "public servant" as a public employee or elected official.
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.
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Adopt draft advisory opinion.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
Suzanne Mooney |
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