Meetings
 
Agenda Item
Docket No. 25-464
 
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RE:
Advisory opinion regarding whether the Code of Governmental Ethics ("Code") prohibits an employee of the Costal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) from accepting a door prize.
Facts:
Ms. Dedon is an employee of CPRA. She is a Coastal Resources Program Specialist. Part of her job duties include signing up employees to attend certain conferences. On the occasion that the conference awards door prizes, she wants to know if she or other employees of CPRA may accept a door prize from a conference when they attend in their official capacity as an employee of the State of Louisiana.
Law:
La. R.S. 42:1115 A No public servant shall solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any thing of economic value as a gift or gratuity from any person or from any officer, director, agent, or employee of such person, if such public servant knows or reasonably should know that such person:

(1) Has or is seeking to obtain contractual or other business or financial relationships with the public servant's agency, or

(2) Is seeking, for compensation, to influence the passage or defeat of legislation by the public servant's agency.

B. No public employee shall solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, anything of economic value as a gift or gratuity from any person or from any officer, director, agent, or employee of such person, if such public employee knows or reasonably should know that such person:

(1) Conducts operations or activities which are regulated by the public employee's agency.

(2) Has substantial economic interests which may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance of the public employee's official duty.



La. R.S. 42:1102(2)(a) "Agency" means 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 anyone, 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" means a public employee or an elected official.

La. R.S. 42:1102(22)(a) defines "thing of economic value" as money or any other thing having economic value except promotional items having no substantial resale value.

Recommendations:
Adopt draft advisory opinion.
Assigned Attorney: Suzanne Mooney
 
 
ATTACHMENTS:
Description:
2025-464 - AO - Natalie Dedon
2019-197
2025-464- additional information
2025-464 - Advisory Opinion Draft - Dedon