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STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> o4 LoU� DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> V 1 P.O.BOX 4368 <br /> * v * BATON ROUGE,LA 70821 <br /> Nrmv�cE (225)219-5600 <br /> .,..•• FAX:(225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> www.ethics.1a.gov <br /> May 8, 2023 <br /> Christopher P. Knotts,P.E. <br /> 10339 Hillyard Avenue <br /> Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70809 <br /> Re: Docket No. 2023-221 <br /> Advisory Opinion <br /> Dear Mr. Knotts: <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics, at its meeting on May 5, 2023, considered your request for an <br /> advisory opinion as to the post-employment restrictions contained in the Code of Governmental <br /> Ethics ("Code") that are applicable following your upcoming retirement. <br /> FACTS PROVIDED <br /> You are currently employed by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development <br /> ("DOTD") as the Chief Engineer in the Office of Engineering. You have held this position since <br /> October 2017. In addition to your Chief Engineer duties,you act as the DOTD Secretary's designee <br /> on the Comite River Diversion Canal Project Task Force and Louisiana Water Resource <br /> Commission. You also act as the DOTD Secretary's designee on the Louisiana Watershed <br /> Initiative, which is not a board or commission, but is an initiative comprised of representatives of <br /> DOTD, Office of Community Development, Governor's Office of Homeland Security and <br /> Emergency Preparedness, Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, and Department of <br /> Wildlife and Fisheries. <br /> Following your upcoming retirement, you intend to seek private sector work in business <br /> development/client relations for various state agencies, parishes, and municipalities. You also <br /> intend to seek private work performing project management duties. You ask whether the Code <br /> prohibits these professional services following your retirement from DOTD. <br /> ISSUE No. 1—FORMER AGENCY HEAD <br /> La. R.S.42:1121 A(1):No former agency head,for a period of two years following the termination <br /> of his public service as the head of such agency, shall assist another person, for compensation, in <br /> a transaction,or in an appearance in connection with a transaction,involving that agency or render <br /> any service on a contractual basis to or for such agency. <br /> Page 1 of 3 (BD 2023-221) <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />