Author: Dane Ciolino

On April 7, 2016, the City Council adopted an ordinance incorporating into the City of New Orleans Code of Ethics (by reference) certain provisions of the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics. The ordinance, which was published in the City of New Orleans Code of Ordinances in June 2016, provides as follows:

Sec. 2-745. – Incorporation of State Code of Ethics.

The City Code of Ethics adopts and incorporates by reference the following parts of the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics, Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 42, Chapter 15: Part I (General Provisions); Part II (Ethical Standards for Public Servants); and Part IIa (Unethical Election Practices).

The City of New Orleans Ethics Review Board (“ERB”) recommended the adoption of this ordinance at its meeting on December 16, 2015, and wrote to the Council with its recommendation on December 22, 2015. See 2015-12-22 Ciolino Letter to City Council re ERB Enforcement Authority. The ERB’s reasons for recommending this ordinance are set forth below.

Under the Louisiana Constitution, only the Louisiana Board of Ethics is empowered to enforce the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics. Article 10, section 21 of the state constitution provides as follows:

The legislature shall enact a code of ethics for all officials and employees of the state and its political subdivisions. The code shall be administered by one or more boards created by the legislature . . . .

See La. Const. art. 10, § 21 (1974). Interpreting this provision, the Louisiana Board of Ethics has previously advised the ERB that the ERB is not empowered to enforce the state ethics code.

The state constitution does not, however, prohibit local codes of conduct or local ethics ordinances. Moreover, state statutory law expressly permits such codes or ordinances. Louisiana Revised Statues section 33:9612.1 provides that:

The governing authority of a local governmental subdivision may adopt and enforce local codes of conduct or ethics ordinances. Any such code or ordinance may regulate the same or similar activity as regulated by the provisions of the Code of Governmental Ethics, R.S. 42:1101 et seq., subject to the provisions of this Section.

See La. Rev. Stat. § 33:9612.1(A).

Empowered by this statute—and unconstrained by the state constitution—the City of New Orleans has undertaken to “regulate the same or similar activity as regulated by the provisions of the [state] Code of Governmental Ethics.” Id. Indeed, the City’s Home Rule Charter mandates that “[t]he [city] Code of Ethics shall incorporate by reference and adopt the provisions of the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics and shall provide for such other, more stringent provisions as the Council may deem appropriate.” See Home Rule Charter of the City of N.O. art. IX § 9-402(2).

Although the Home Rule Charter requires the City Council to incorporate by reference” and to “adopt” the provisions of the state ethics code, it has not done so. The Code of Ordinances of the City of New Orleans merely references the state ethics code as an independent set of standards governing the conduct of city employees. The Code of Ordinances does not, however, expressly “incorporate” or “adopt” the substance of the state ethics code. See N.O. Code of Ord. § 2-741 (noting that the state code exists and observing that it “applies to all officials and employees of the city”); id. § 2-742 (requiring the city’s CAO to distribute the state ethics code to city officials); id. § 2-743 (requiring the city’s CAO to advise officials and employees how to obtain advisory opinions from the state ethics board); id. § 2-744 (noting that the city’s ethics code is intended only to supplement the state ethics code); id. § 2-774 (noting that other “laws, rules, and policies established by the federal and state government . . . prescribe standards of conduct for government and city employees”). Indeed, “Subdivision III. City Code of Ethics” of the Code of Ordinances makes no effort to “incorporate” or to “adopt” provisions of the state ethics code.

To comply with the city’s Home Rule Charter, the ERB recommended that the Council adopt an ordinance incorporating by reference and adopting the substantive provisions of the state ethics code. More particularly, the ERB requested that the Council amend “Subdivision III. City Code of Ethics” to include a section with this language:

Section 2-7XX. The City Code of Ethics adopts and incorporates by reference the following parts of the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics, Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 42, Chapter 15: Part I (General Provisions); Part II (Ethical Standards for Public Servants); and, Part IIa (Unethical Election Practices).

At its February 29, 2016 Board meeting, the ERB announced a review of the substantive provisions of the City of New Orleans Ethics Code, the enforcement of the Code, and the Board’s rules, regulations, and administrative procedures. Section 1303 of the ERB’s rules mandate this review at least every five years to assure that the rules “promote integrity, public confidence, and participation in city government,” and to assess “whether they set forth clear and enforceable, common-sense standards of conduct.” See ERB Rules § 1303 (“Review of Board Rules”).

The Board will conduct a public hearing relating to this review process at its May 2016 or June 2016 meeting. Therefore, the Board has solicited comments from the Mayor’s Office, Council, and public. See 2016-03-10 Ciolino Letter to Mayor and City Council re ERB Review. Comments should be submitted on or before April 29, 2016.

At its meeting on December 16, 2015, the City of New Orleans Ethics Review Board (“ERB”)  unanimously passed a resolution recommending that the Council adopt an ordinance incorporating by reference and adopting certain provisions of the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics. On December 22, the ERB wrote to the Council of the City of New Orleans to inform it about the resolution. See 2015-12-22 Ciolino Letter to City Council re ERB Enforcement Authority.

On April 7, 2016, the City Council adopted the resolution.

Under the Louisiana Constitution, only the Louisiana Board of Ethics is empowered to enforce the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics. Article 10, section 21 of the state constitution provides as follows:

The legislature shall enact a code of ethics for all officials and employees of the state and its political subdivisions. The code shall be administered by one or more boards created by the legislature . . . .

See La. Const. art. 10, § 21 (1974). Interpreting this provision, the Louisiana Board of Ethics has previously advised the ERB that the ERB is not empowered to enforce the state ethics code.

The state constitution does not, however, prohibit local codes of conduct or local ethics ordinances. Moreover, state statutory law expressly permits such codes or ordinances. Louisiana Revised Statues section 33:9612.1 provides that:

The governing authority of a local governmental subdivision may adopt and enforce local codes of conduct or ethics ordinances. Any such code or ordinance may regulate the same or similar activity as regulated by the provisions of the Code of Governmental Ethics, R.S. 42:1101 et seq., subject to the provisions of this Section.

See La. Rev. Stat. § 33:9612.1(A).

Empowered by this statute—and unconstrained by the state constitution—the City of New Orleans has undertaken to “regulate the same or similar activity as regulated by the provisions of the [state] Code of Governmental Ethics.” Id. Indeed, the City’s Home Rule Charter mandates that “[t]he [city] Code of Ethics shall incorporate by reference and adopt the provisions of the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics and shall provide for such other, more stringent provisions as the Council may deem appropriate.” See Home Rule Charter of the City of N.O. art. IX § 9-402(2).

Although the Home Rule Charter requires the City Council to incorporate by reference” and to “adopt” the provisions of the state ethics code, it has not done so. The Code of Ordinances of the City of New Orleans merely references the state ethics code as an independent set of standards governing the conduct of city employees. The Code of Ordinances does not, however, expressly “incorporate” or “adopt” the substance of the state ethics code. See N.O. Code of Ord. § 2-741 (noting that the state code exists and observing that it “applies to all officials and employees of the city”); id. § 2-742 (requiring the city’s CAO to distribute the state ethics code to city officials); id. § 2-743 (requiring the city’s CAO to advise officials and employees how to obtain advisory opinions from the state ethics board); id. § 2-744 (noting that the city’s ethics code is intended only to supplement the state ethics code); id. § 2-774 (noting that other “laws, rules, and policies established by the federal and state government . . . prescribe standards of conduct for government and city employees”). Indeed, “Subdivision III. City Code of Ethics” of the Code of Ordinances makes no effort to “incorporate” or to “adopt” provisions of the state ethics code.

To comply with the city’s Home Rule Charter, the ERB recommended that the Council adopt an ordinance incorporating by reference and adopting the substantive provisions of the state ethics code. More particularly, the ERB requested that the Council amend “Subdivision III. City Code of Ethics” to include a section with this language:

Section 2-7XX. The City Code of Ethics adopts and incorporates by reference the following parts of the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics, Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 42, Chapter 15: Part I (General Provisions); Part II (Ethical Standards for Public Servants); and, Part IIa (Unethical Election Practices).