Classified employees are prohibited from engaging in efforts to support or oppose a candidate, party or faction in an election. These constitutional restrictions do not prohibit a classified employee from expressing themselves either privately or publicly on issues that may be pending before the legislature or other public body.
Unclassified Employees may participate in direct support of candidates for office and other political activity.
The Lobbying Act, R.S. 24:56, prohibits any state employee classified or unclassified “in his official capacity or on behalf of his employer” from communicating with a legislator in an attempt to influence the passage or defeat of legislation. This prohibition does not apply to an elected official or his designee (R.S. 24:52), nor does it prohibit the giving of factual information to the legislature, whether the employee is acting in his official capacity or not.
Louisiana Legislative Auditor website: 05/18/2024 08:36:49 PM
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