LMR September 2020

Municipalities
flowing again by opening up the economy as quickly
and as safely as possible. In the meantime, Congress
is currently debating further assistance to state and
local governments, but we must ensure that any future
funding is targeted so that taxpayer dollars are not used
to bail out certain states for their decades of poor fiscal
decisions.”
Congressman Garret Graves (R) District 6
“When things are working the way they’re supposed
to, local government survives and thrives in proportion
to the surviving and thriving of the people it serves.
If anything is clear six months into a pandemic, it’s
this: things are not working the way they’re supposed
to. From the federal perspective, the most effective,
long-term support the federal government can deliver
to municipalities is policies that encourage safe and
productive economic activity. With that as the primary
objective of federal policymaking, circumstances
may also require the federal government to step in in
more substantial ways. And Congress has been doing
that, passing multiple pieces of legislation providing
direct, boots-on-the-ground assistance. Passage of the
CARES Act in March, for example, delivered federal
relief and recovery to health care workers, individuals
and families, and job creators in Louisiana and helped
stabilize our local economies and communities.”
“This crisis has dragged on much longer than any
of us anticipated, and the federal response must
continue to be multi-faceted and dynamic. Yet, even in
Dual Officeholding
these unprecedented times, local figures remain best
suited to determine the pandemic’s impact in their
communities and to put the appropriate mitigation
and other strategies in place to protect the health and
well-being of its people and its future. I’ll continue to
push for policies that help make that happen. That’s
why I recently introduced bipartisan legislation in the
House of Representatives that would empower local
business owners to safely reopen without having to
fear a frivolous COVID-19 lawsuit. Our bill protects job
creators who take follow safety and other guidelines
to prevent the spread of the virus so that they can
re-open and help restart local economies. Most
importantly, our legislation is the result of ongoing
dialogue we’ve had with local officials and small
business owners like you and is just one example of the
kind of policies needed as we move forward – but it’s
not enough. More needs to be done, and I look forward
to continuing to hear from you.”
We encourage our members to stay engaged on
federal issues that impact Louisiana, and your local
community. Please reach out to your congressman and
senators and let them know the needs of the locals are
important to Louisiana’s success. A strong partnership
between local and federal leaders is what is needed to
move us forward. We greatly appreciated the time each
congressional member has given to this association
and their continued support of local government.
Attorney General’s Opinions
BY JEFF LANDRY, ATTORNEY GENERAL
Prohibited Donations
Opinion: 20-0084 The Abbeville Housing
Authority may pay its general counsel
a monthly flat-fee retainer if such fee
does not violate La. Const. art. VII, § 14.
Released: 8/3/2020
Opinion: 20-0040 The provisions of the Dual Officeholding and
Dual Employment Law do not prohibit a full-time employee of
the Iberville Parish Department of Public Works from serving as
a contract employee of the Iberville Parish Parks and Recreation
District. Released: 8/4/2020
Local Government Budget Act
Opinion: 20-0004 A mayor and board of aldermen of a Lawrason
Act municipality may not alter the amount appropriated
to the police department in a previously adopted municipal
budget except by amending the budget in accordance with
the provisions of the Local Government Budget Act. Released:
8/13/2020
Open Meetings
Opinion: 20-0098 The Open Meetings Law does not prohibit
members of a public body from attending open public meetings
as citizens. Released: 8/19/2020
Civil Liability
Opinion: 20-0108 La. R.S. 17:439.1 and La. R.S. 9:2800.25 provide
immunity from civil liability for COVID-19 claims under certain
circumstances. Released: 9/4/2020
Elections
Opinion: 20-0104 A voter who is diagnosed with COVID-19 or
is subject to a quarantine order while awaiting a COVID-19
diagnosis would qualify to vote absentee so long as a medical
professional certifies that the voter is disabled. Released:
9/1/2020
LMR | SEPTEMBER 2020 Page 11