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��,,,,,,,, STATE OF LOUISIANA o'aF Loo? DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE sw9y7 LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS „ j P.O. BOX 4368 1.111% BATON ROUGE.LA 70821 °"'�• ,, (225)219-5600 FAX:(225)381-7271 1-800-842-6630 www.ethics.la.gov April 15, 2019 Henry D.H. Olinde,Jr. Olinde&Mercer 8562 Jefferson Highway,Suite B Baton Rouge,Louisiana 70809 Re: Louisiana Board of Ethics Docket No. 2019-117 Dear Mr. Olinde, The Louisiana Board of Ethics, at its March 15, 2019, meeting, considered your request on be- half of Pointe Coupee Parish President Major Thibaut for an advisory opinion as to whether the Code of Governmental Ethics ("Code") would prohibit M r. Thibaut from receiving insurance commissions that result from a group health insurance contract with the Pointe Coupee Parish Hospital Service District No. 1. FACTS PROVIDED In November of 2016, the voters of Pointe Coupee Parish abolished the police jury form of government and adopted a Home Rule Charter implementing a "president-council" form of government. Under this form of government, the Pointe Coupee Parish Council performs the legislative functions as the governing authority. The Pointe Coupee Parish President performs the executive functions as the chief administrative officer. Mr. Thibaut was recently elected as Parish President and took office on January 14, 2019. Pursuant to La. R.S. 46:1051, et seq., the Pointe Coupee Parish Police Jury created the Pointe Coupee Parish Hospital Service District No. 1. ("Hospital District") by ordinance on June 5, 1979. The Hospital District is governed by a nine-member Board of Commissioners, each of whom are appointed by the Pointe Coupee Parish Council. La. R.S. 46:1053V(1). Two of the members appointed to the Hospital District Board may be members of the Pointe Coupee Par- ish Council. La. R.S. 46:1053V(2). The Commission has the authority to advise the Parish Coun- cil on problems concerning the operation of the hospital. La. R.S. 46:1055A. Additionally, the Commission may enter into special services agreements with any person to manage,operate, and administer the hospital, or any part thereof. La. R.S. 46:105513. The Hospital District is consid- ered a political subdivision of the State of Louisiana. La. R.S. 46:1064A. Mr. Thibaut owns and operates a one-employee insurance agency in New Roads. In 2012, prior to his election as Parish President, Mr. Thibaut procured the group health insurance contract for the Hospital District and its employees. The insurance is written through Massad-Olinde Group, Page 1 of 2 (Docket No. 2019-117) AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER