Meetings
 
Agenda Item
Docket No. 25-327
 
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RE:
Advisory opinion request from Jarod Martin, Superintendent of the Lafourche Parish School Board (the "School Board"), related to issues in contracting with his father's employer.
Facts:
Jarod Martin currently serves as the Superintendent of the Lafourche Parish School Board (the "School Board"). His father, Phillip Martin, is currently employed by D.A. Davidson & Co., Inc. (the "Company"). Phillip Martin does not own any interest in the Company.
The School Board is considering entering into a contract with the Company (the "Subject Contract"). Phillip Martin would not provide any services related to the Subject Contract, and would not receive any commissions or bonuses related to the Subject Contract.
Law:
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. 42:1113A 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. 42:1114 provides that each public servant and each member of his immediate family who derives anything of economic value, directly, through any transaction involving the agency of such public servant or who derives any thing of economic value of which he may be reasonably expected to know through a person which (1) is regulated by the agency of such public servant, or (2) has bid on or entered into or is in any way financially interested in any contract, subcontract, or any transaction under the supervision or jurisdiction of the agency of such public servant shall disclose certain information as set forth in Section 1114.

La. R.S. 42:1102(2)(a)(vi) defines "agency" to mean, for public servants of political subdivisions, it shall mean the agency in which the public servant serves, except that for members of any governing authority and for the elected or appointed chief executive of a governmental entity, it shall mean the governmental entity. Public servants of political subdivisions shall include, but shall not be limited to, elected officials and public employees of municipalities, parishes, and other political subdivisions; sheriffs and their employees; district attorneys and their employees; coroners and their employees; and clerks of court and their employees.
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.
Recommendations:
Adopt proposed advisory opinion.
Assigned Attorney: Charles Reeves
 
 
ATTACHMENTS:
Description:
2025-327 - Signed AO - Jarod Martin
2025-327 - Advisory Opinion Draft -Martin