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L STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> OF D � DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> P.0. BOX 4366 LA <br /> BATON ROUOE,LA 70821 <br /> (225)219 <br /> FAX:(225)381-7271 <br /> 00-842-6630 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> www.emics la.gov <br /> July 13, 2023 <br /> Michelle Kendall <br /> Hammond Downtown Development District <br /> 42 West Thomas St. <br /> Hammond, Louisiana 70401 <br /> Re: Docket No. 2023-334 <br /> Advisory Opinion <br /> Dear Ms. Kendall: <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics, at its July 7, 2023 meeting, considered your advisory opinion <br /> request, on behalf of the Hammond Downtown Development District("DDD"), as to whether the <br /> Code of Governmental Ethics would prohibit members of the DDD Design Review Committee <br /> from entering into contracts with the DDD. <br /> FACTS PROVIDED <br /> The DDD is a political subdivision of the State of Louisiana created pursuant to La. R.S. <br /> 33:2740.15.The board of directors of the DDD(the"DDD Board")appoints members of the DDD <br /> Design Review Committee (the "Committee"), which has the authority to enforce design <br /> guidelines within the boundaries of the DDD. The chairperson of the Committee is a member of <br /> the DDD Board,but the other Committee members are not DDD Board members. The Committee <br /> does not have authority to spend DDD funds. <br /> Certain members of the Committee are interested in entering into contracts with or receiving <br /> compensation for services rendered to the DDD. <br /> LAW <br /> La. R.S. 42:1113B prohibits an appointed member of any board or commission, member of his <br /> immediate family, or a legal entity in which he has a substantial economic interest, from bidding <br /> on or entering into or being in any way interested in any contract, subcontract, or other transaction <br /> which is under the supervision or jurisdiction of the agency of such appointed member. <br /> La. R.S. 42:1102(2)(a)(i) defines "agency" to mean a department, office, division, agency, <br /> commission, board, committee,or other organizational unit of a governmental entity. <br /> La. R.S. 42:1102(21) defines "substantial economic interest'as an economic interest which is of <br /> greater benefit to the public servant or other person than to a general class or group of persons, <br /> Page 1 of 2 (BD 2023-334) <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />