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of Lop STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> w o�. �STIsr DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> a° P.O.BOX 4368 <br /> BATON ROUGE,LA 70821 <br /> cONrioeN`� (225)219-5600 <br /> FAX:(225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> www.ethics.1a.gov <br /> Tuesday, July 11, 2023 <br /> Hannah Honeycutt Calandro <br /> Fayard and Honeycutt <br /> 519 Florida Avenue, SW <br /> Denham Springs, Louisiana 70726 <br /> RE: Docket No. 2023-387 <br /> Advisory Opinion <br /> Dear Mrs. Calandro: <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics ("Board"), at its July 7, 2023 meeting, considered your request for <br /> an advisory opinion as to whether the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics ("Code") would <br /> prohibit the Livingston Parish Gravity Drainage District No. 1 ("District") from accepting the bid <br /> of a company that employs a District board member. <br /> FACTS PROVIDED <br /> The District is procuring responses to a Request for Qualifications ("RFQ") for engineering <br /> services for a large upcoming construction project. District board member,Robert Borne,is a part- <br /> time employee of SJB Group, LLC. SJB Group, LLC one of the engineering firms that could <br /> submit a response to the RFQ. Mr. Borne does not own any interest in SJB Group, LLC. <br /> LAW <br /> La. R.S. 42:1111(C)(2)(d) prohibits a public servant from receiving anything of economic value <br /> for services provided to a person who has, or is seeking to obtain, a contractual, business, or <br /> financial relationship with the public servant's agency. <br /> La. R.S. 42:1112(B)(3)provides that no public servant shall participate in a transaction involving <br /> the governmental entity in which, to his actual knowledge, any person of which he is an officer, <br /> director, trustee, partner, or employee has a substantial economic interest. <br /> La. R.S. 42:1120.4 allows the appointed board member to recuse herself from any discussion, <br /> debate, and vote on any matter which would violate Section 1112. <br /> ANALYSIS <br /> La. R.S. 42:1111(C)(2)(d) prohibits a public servant from receiving anything of economic value <br /> for services rendered to a person who has or is seeking to obtain a contractual relationship with his <br /> agency. La. R.S. 42:1111(C)(2)(d) prohibits Mr. Borne from receiving anything of economic <br /> value (whether as an employee or independent contractor) including his compensation as an <br /> employee, from SJB Group, LLC for any services, while SJB Group, LLC has, or is seeking to <br /> obtain, a contractual, business, or financial relationship with Mr. Bome's agency,the District. <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />