TDD# 1-800-846-5277
STATE OF
DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL
SERVICE
BATON ROUGE,
December 1, 2009
General Circular No.
1792
To: Heads of State Agencies and
Human Resource Directors
Subject: Joining Organizations
Issue Date: December 1, 2009
Many state employees are active in private organizations related to
their work. These organizations are both
professional organizations and lobbying organizations. Professional
organizations generally share knowledge and teach skills that apply to the
work the members perform for the state. Lobbying organizations generally urge
public bodies to take one position or another on issues coming before
them. This general circular addresses
spending state time or money in connection with either of these types of
private organizations.
No state time or money can be
spent for a purely private purpose. The state constitution in
Article VII, Sections 9 and 10 states that state money can only be spent for a
public purpose. That is, state
employees’ time at work must be spent “for a public purpose.” Further, the amount of state time or money
spent must be proportional to the benefits the public receives as a result.
R.S. 42:1461 provides that if public money is spent to benefit a private
interest, employees may be personally liable to pay back the money spent. This statute has been invoked when a state
car or credit card was used for a private purpose. State employees are paid with public
money. Employees’ time at work must be used for public purposes and the time
spent on an activity must be proportional to the value the public receives.
Below are questions frequently asked by state employees concerning this
topic:
1.
Can
I join a private organization that is professional or lobbying in nature? YES.
2.
Can
my employer require me to join a private organization? NO.
3.
Can
my employer require me to promote or be involved with an organization on
personal time? NO.
4.
Can
my agency pay my membership dues for a lobbying organization? NO.
5.
Can
I spend state time on activities involving a lobbying organization? NO.
6.
Can
my agency pay my membership dues for a professional organization? YES.
7.
Can
I spend state time on activities involving a professional
organization? Only
if your employer decides that the public will benefit in proportion to the time
spent.
8.
Can
my agency have brochures etc. available for employees to pick up? YES, for either type
organization.
Please contact Robert Boland at 225-342-8272 or your Assistance
Coordinator at 225-342-8274 any questions or comments.
Sincerely, s/Shannon S. Templet, Director
State Civil Service Commission