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STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> L <br /> U[ So DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> ••�o of <br /> ?i: LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> £. �f' �y £ P.O.BOX 4368 <br /> e jai.,i,l; ,$ BATON ROUGE,LA 70821 <br /> ust 27, 2012 (225)219-5600 <br /> FAX (225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> Mr. Mark S. DeBord wwwethicsstatela.us <br /> Regional Administrator <br /> Office of Behavioral Health, Region VIII <br /> 2513 Ferrand Street <br /> Monroe, LA 71210 <br /> RE: Ethics Docket No. 2011-1935 <br /> Dear Mr. DeBord, <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics at its August 17, 2012 meeting considered your request for an <br /> advisory opinion regarding whether you may serve on non-profit boards or advisory boards that have <br /> contracts with Region VIII. You state that as Regional Administrator for the Region VIII Office of <br /> Behavioral Health (Region VIII) your responsibilities include the negotiation and signing of <br /> contracts. You state that your signature on the contract does not approve the contract.Contracts are <br /> reviewed and approved by the Assistant Secretary for the Office of Behavioral Health.You state that <br /> you will not be compensated as a board member for the non-profit boards or advisory boards. Some <br /> of the Boards that you have interest in becoming a member are the Home Coalition, the Children's <br /> Coalition, Well Springs and Volunteers of America. The Children's Coalition has a contract with <br /> the Office of Behavioral Health. <br /> The Board concluded and instructed me to inform you that the Louisiana Code of Governmental <br /> Ethics will not prohibit your service as a board member for the proposed non-profits. Section 1112 <br /> of the Code prohibits a public servant from participating in a transaction with his governmental <br /> entity in which, to his actual knowledge, any person of which he is an officer, director, trustee, <br /> partner or employee has a substantial economic interest. Section 1123(1)allows a public servant to <br /> participate in the affairs of a charitable, religious, nonprofit educational, public service, civic <br /> organizations bona fide organized pubic fire departments when no compensation is received or the <br /> activities of political parties not prescribed by law.As long as you receive no compensation for your <br /> service on the nonprofit boards, Section 1123(1) of the Code will permit you to serve as a board <br /> member for a non-profit/advisory board while you continue to serve as Regional Administrator for <br /> Region VIII. <br /> This advisory opinion is based solely on the facts as set forth herein. Changes to the facts as <br /> presented may result in a different application of the provisions of the Code of Ethics. The Board <br /> issues no opinion as to past conduct or laws other than the Code of Governmental Ethics. If you <br /> have any questions, please contact me at (225) 219-5600 or(800) 842-6630. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> OUISIANABOARD OF ETHICS <br /> p <br /> Aneatra P. Boyki <br /> For the Board <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />