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of Lo U STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> 4 0" STlsr DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> P.0.BOX 4368 <br /> BATON ROUGE,LA 70821 <br /> C�rovioeN�� (225)219-5600 <br /> " FAX:(225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> www.ethics.1a.gov <br /> November 12, 2025 <br /> William Coco <br /> LDH/Central LA State Hospital <br /> 5604 Coliseum Blvd., Suite B <br /> Alexandria, Louisiana 71303 <br /> Re: Docket No. 2025-553 <br /> Disqualification Plan <br /> Dear Mr. Coco: <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics ("Board"), at its meeting on November 7, 2025, considered your <br /> request on behalf of the Louisiana Department of Health for approval of the proposed <br /> disqualification plan under the Code of Governmental Ethics ("Code") regarding Richard <br /> Courtney and his wife Melissa Courtney who are employed with Central Louisiana State Hospital. <br /> FACTS PROVIDED <br /> Central Louisiana State Hospital ("CLSH") is a state psychiatric facility located in Pineville, <br /> Louisiana. The CLSH Human Resource Department is managed by the Director B, who reports <br /> directly to the Behavioral Hospital Administrator of CLSH, Celeste Gautier. The current Director <br /> B is Richard Courtney. Mr. Courtney's wife, Melissa Courtney, also works at CLSH as a Health <br /> Information Coordinator 2 under the Health Information Management Services (HIMS) <br /> Department who reports directly to Rachael Wooten, the Health Information Manager. <br /> Mr. Courtney has been employed with the CLSH Human Resource Department as the Human <br /> Resource Director B since July 10, 2023, and Melissa Courtney has been employed in CLSH <br /> Health Information Management Services Department as Health Information Coordinator since <br /> September 16, 2024. <br /> To avoid any potential violation of La. R.S. 42: 111213(1), the Louisiana Department of Health <br /> and CLSH submits the following proposed disqualification plan for approval by the Board in <br /> accordance with La. R.S. 42:1112C. <br /> PROPOSED DISQUALIFICATION PLAN <br /> Richard Courtney will recuse himself from any HR related actions, including but not limited to <br /> refraining from participating in any decisions regarding Melissa Courtney's leave <br /> requests/approvals, performance evaluations, disciplinary actions, pay increases, promotions, <br /> demotions, or any activity that pertains to his spouse's employment with CLSH. Any employment <br /> Page 1 of 2 (BD 2025-553) <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />