Except for the limited exception provided by Act No. 8 outlined at the end of this page, the Code of Governmental Ethics [LSA-R.S. 42:1120] prohibits you from participating [LSA-R.S. 42:1102(15)] in matters, including legislative matters and actions, and requires you to recuse yourself from voting on matters concerning any of the following:

(1) A matter in which you have a personal substantial economic interest of which you may be reasonably expected to know involving the state [including bills, resolutions, amendments, motions, rules, and oversight activities].

(2) A matter involving the state in which, to your actual knowledge, any of the following persons has a substantial economic interest:

(a) Any member of your immediate family [your parents, spouse, spouse's parents, siblings & their spouses, and children & their spouses].

(b) Any person [individual or legal entity including a business, association, church, nonprofit, etc.] in which you have a substantial economic interest of which you may reasonably be expected to know.

(c) Any person [See (b)] of which you are an officer, director, trustee, partner, or employee.

(d) Any person [See (b)] with whom you are negotiating or have an arrangement concerning prospective employment.

(e) Any person [See (b)]

(1) who is a party to an existing contract with you, or with any legal entity in which you exercise control or own an interest in excess of 25%, and who by reason thereof is in a position to directly affect your economic interests, or

(2) who owes any thing of economic value to you, or to any legal entity in which you exercise control or own an interest in excess of 25%, and who by reason thereof is in a position to directly affect your economic interests.

Act No. 8 of the 2008 First Extraordinary Session [SB 5], as amended by Act 159 of the 2008 Regular Session [HB 762], allows you to participate in the discussion and debate concerning the matter only if you make the disclosure of your conflict or potential conflict a part of the legislative record prior to your participation in the discussion or debate and prior to any vote taken on the matter. (REMINDER: YOU MUST RECUSE YOURSELF FROM SUCH A VOTE.)

Your verbal disclosure must be ON THE RECORD in committee or on the floor before you participate in discussions or debate.

Substantial economic interest means an economic interest which is of greater benefit to you than to a general class or group of persons [LSA-R.S. 42:1102(21)]