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STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> OF Lo DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> P.O. BOX 4368 <br /> BATON ROUGE,LA 70821 <br /> (225)219-5600 <br /> 4ipc^ <br /> FAX:(225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> www.ethics.1a.gov <br /> January 9, 2023 <br /> Samuel B. Gabb <br /> Plauche, Smith&Nieset, LLC <br /> 718 Ryan Street <br /> Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601 <br /> Re: Docket No. 2022-841 <br /> Advisory Opinion <br /> Dear Mr. Gabb: <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics, at its meeting on January 6, 2023, considered your request for an <br /> advisory opinion on behalf of the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury as to whether the Code of <br /> Governmental Ethics ("Code") prohibits employee James Deblanc and his wife from applying to <br /> receive funds through the Calcasieu Parish Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Board <br /> Chairwoman La Koshia R. Roberts recused herself from this matter. <br /> FACTS PROVIDED <br /> The U.S. Department of Treasury established programs to address the affordable housing crisis <br /> exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Certain programs made funding available to households <br /> struggling to pay rent and/or utilities. Through funds provided under the Consolidated <br /> Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the U.S. Treasury <br /> Department established an emergency rental assistance program, which allocated funds to <br /> Calcasieu Parish on a non-competitive basis. <br /> The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury ("CPPJ"), through its Division of Human Services, administers <br /> the local allocation of funds through the Calcasieu Parish Emergency Rental Assistance Program <br /> ("Program"). To be eligible for the Program, an applicant must satisfy the following criteria: (1) <br /> must have experienced financial distress as a result of the pandemic; (2) must reside in Calcasieu <br /> Parish; (3) must earn less than 80% of the area median income; and(4)must demonstrate a risk of <br /> experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Once an applicant established eligibility, funds <br /> are awarded on a non-competitive basis. Eligible residents may be entitled to payment of as much <br /> as six months of past due rental payments and late fees, as well as water, gas, and electric bills <br /> based on current billing statements. The Program is under the supervision of Nicole Miller, <br /> Program Manager for the CPPJ Director of Housing Recovery. <br /> James Deblanc is employed in the Section 8 Housing Program within the CPPJ Division of Human <br /> Services as an Inspector. He does not perform any job duties related to the Program. <br /> Page 1 of 3 (BD 2022-841) <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />