BATON ROUGE, La. -- Former Louisiana ethics officials are criticizing a new law that lets people stay on government boards even if they have conflicts of interest.

The law that takes effect Aug. 15 lets board appointees refuse to debate and vote on issues that might benefit them or their businesses.

The previous law banned people from serving if board actions could benefit them or their families. For example, insurance agents could not serve on airport boards they sell policies to the airport.

Gov. Bobby Jindal has signed the law but said Tuesday he will seek repeal if problems develop.

Robert Roland, a former Ethics Board chairman, said simply recusing one's self from a vote is not enough.

"The idea of recusal is inconsistent with an ethics code," Roland said.

"It's an absolute devastating blow to the ethics code," said attorney Gray Sexton, who was the Ethics Board's general counsel for decades until last year. "I cannot think of any other legislative action that would do more damage to the ethics program than allowing someone to serve when they have a conflict."

Even if a board member abstains, he can reap benefits if friends on the board approve certain transactions, Roland said.

Although the legislation was sponsored by one of Jindal's floor leaders, the governor said it was "not something we initiated."

Jindal said he listened to state Sen. Mike Michot's arguments that making the change would help allow more qualified people to serve on boards. But he acknowledged that Roland had a legitimate point.

"We need to watch this very carefully. We certainly don't want there to be abuse on this," Jindal said.

Michot, R-Lafayette, said he proposed the law because of a conflict that developed for Odon "Don" Bacque, a Lafayette insurance agent and former legislator. Bacque was appointed to the Lafayette Airport Commission, but he sold insurance to an airport tenant and had to quit.

"The statute did not allow for recusal," Michot said.

Michot said the law might be particularly beneficial as Jindal and other local elected officials try to fill seats on boards vacated because of new personal financial disclosure requirements.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)