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STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> pF LOpJS! DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> r� �°��� LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> P.O. BOX 4368 <br /> * " * BATON ROUGE, LA 70821 <br /> °OAPIDfHc (225)219-5600 <br /> »o»•" FAX:(225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> www.ethics.1a.gov <br /> September 9, 2025 <br /> flaraid Belfassi <br /> 315 )V&'oodale Drive <br /> Apartrnent 1 <br /> Molroe, Louisiana 71203 <br /> Re: Docket No. 2025-430 <br /> Advisory Opinion <br /> Dear Mr. Belfassi: <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics, at its September 5, 2025 meeting, considered your advisory <br /> opinion request as to whether the Code of Governmental Ethics (the "Code") permits you to own <br /> and operate a business that contracts with governmental agencies in and outside the State of <br /> LDLisiiana while you are employed by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and <br /> Development("DOTD"). <br /> FACTS PROVIDED <br /> �,(ou currently serve as a Project Engineer for DOTD. Specifically, you work within District 5 of <br /> D0171D ("District 5"). You are considering becoming a partner in a business (the "Proposed <br /> Business")that will pursue contracts with other agencies of the State of Louisiana,including other <br /> [)Om districts, and agencies in other states. You do not currently know what percentage of the <br /> P-ro:)osed Pus.ness you will own. <br /> (,oil Fxould lil:e to know whether the Proposed Business can contract with DOTD, not including <br /> District 5, and agencies outside the State of Louisiana. <br /> LAW <br /> La.R.S.42:1113A states that no public servant,or a member of such a public servant's immediate <br /> family,or a legal entity in which he has a controlling interest shall bid on or enter into any contract, <br /> sub,ontract or other transaction that is under the supervision or jurisdiction of the agency of such <br /> public: servant. <br /> La. R.S. 42:1 102(2)(a)(vi)defines"agency"to mean, for public servants of political subdivisions, <br /> it scall mean the agency in which the public servant serves, except that for members of any <br /> governing authority and for the elected or appointed chief executive of a governmental entity, it <br /> sha_1 mean-the governmental entity.Public servants of political subdivisions shall include,but shall <br /> not be limitee to, elected officials and public employees of municipalities, parishes, and other <br /> Page l of 3 (BD 2025-430) <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />