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STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> "��,,,,,,,, DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> S"OF��Ig'� <br /> �.z 0 LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> j9y <br /> 1. <br /> 9i, ,)!!�'I'r 5 P.O.BOX 4368 <br /> 1 �, BATON ROUGE, LA 70821 <br /> ° <br /> ° 0� (225)219-5600 <br /> FAX (225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> wwwethics.la goy <br /> November 21,2016 <br /> Mr. Karim Belhadjali <br /> 6553 Doubletree Dr. <br /> Baton Rouge,Louisiana 70817 <br /> Re: Board Docket No. 2016-1023 <br /> Dear Mr. Belhadjali, <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics, at its November 18, 2016 meeting, considered your request for an <br /> advisory opinion regarding the application of post employment restrictions found in the Code of Governmental <br /> Ethics if you were to become employed with a private consulting agency. You stated that you are currently <br /> employed as Deputy Chief over Strategic Planning in the Planning and Research Division of the Louisiana <br /> Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority(CPRA).Currently Bren Haase serves as the Chief ofthe Planning <br /> and Research Division. You are the Program Manager for the State's Comprehensive Master Plan for a <br /> Sustainable Coast. You provided that in this position you oversee 14 state scientist, geologist and engineers <br /> whose responsibility is primarily the preparation of the Comprehensive Master Plan. You stated that you only <br /> have the power to make recommendations you do not have any power to hire or fire any of these individuals <br /> the ability to hire,fire or discipline these individuals is under the purview of your Executive Director,Michael <br /> Ellis. <br /> You would like to accept employment with Abt Associates.Abt Associates is a private consulting firm. <br /> You would be employed as an associate in the Environmental and Natural Resource Division. You stated that <br /> your duties would include serving as a leader in business development and restoration planning. Abt Associates <br /> has one active contract with CPRA regarding a Natural Resource Damage Assessment(NRDA)involving the <br /> Deep Water Horizon which expires January of 2017. You have not participated in any manner in the contract <br /> between Abt Associates and CPRA neither has your Division. <br /> You asked the following 4 questions: <br /> 1) Would the Louisiana Code of Ethics Prohibit your employment with Abt Associates? <br /> The Board concluded, and instructed me to advise you, that under the facts presented, La. R.S. <br /> 42:1121B would not prohibit you from seeking employment with Abt Associates. La. R.S. 42:1121 B(1) <br /> provides that no former public employee shall, for a period of two years following termination of his public <br /> employment,assist another person,for compensation,in a transaction,or in an appearance in connection with <br /> a transaction in which such former public employee participated at any time during his public employment and <br /> involving the governmental entity by which he was formerly employed,or for a period of two years following <br /> termination of his public employment, render, any service which such former public employee had rendered <br /> to the agency during the term of his public employment on a contractual basis,regardless of the parties to the <br /> contract,to for,or on behalf of the agency with which he was formerly employed.Therefore,La.R.S.42:1121B <br /> only prohibits you from assisting another person for compensation in a transaction with Planning and Research <br /> Division on any project you participated in at any time during your public service.Under the facts as given,Abt <br /> Associates does not currently have any contracts with CPRA that you participated in during your public <br /> employment. <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />