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STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> OF Lops DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> P.O. BOX 4368 <br /> * j * BATON ROUGE,LA 70821 <br /> co`F (225)219-5600 <br /> ' »o.. FAX:(225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> www.ethics.1a.gov <br /> May 6, 2022 <br /> Ms. Cherrise Picard <br /> Executive Director <br /> Chez Hope, Inc. <br /> P. O. Box 98 <br /> Franklin, LA 70538 <br /> Re: Docket No. 2022-325 <br /> Advisory Opinion <br /> Dear Ms. Picard: <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics, at its meeting on May 6, 2022, considered your request for an <br /> advisory opinion as to whether the Code of Governmental Ethics ("Code") applies to Chez Hope, <br /> Inc. You also asked that if the Code does apply, would Chez Hope, Inc. be prohibited from <br /> entering into a contract with an accounting firm that employs the former board president's son. <br /> FACTS PROVIDED <br /> Chez Hope, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that provides services to victims of domestic violence, <br /> community education, law enforcement training and support services. It also coordinates domestic <br /> abuse intervention through the court system and provides services to child victims of domestic <br /> violence. Chez Hope, Inc. receives a significant portion of its funding from federal grants through <br /> the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services and the Louisiana Commission on Law <br /> Enforcement. <br /> Chez Hope, inc.'s board president, Chuck Autin, resigned effective April 22, 2022. Mr. Autin's <br /> son works for an accounting firm with whom Chez Hope, Inc. would like to contract for its <br /> bookkeeping and 'human resource services. <br /> ISSUE <br /> Are Chez Hope, Inc.'s board members subject to the provisions of the Code of Governmental <br /> Ethics? <br /> Page 1 of 2 (BD 2022-325) <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />