General Circular No. 001378

To: Heads of State Agencies and Human Resource Directors

Subject: Legal Holidays - December 24 and 27, 1999

Issue Date: November 30, 1999

There is quoted below for your information and guidance a proclamation issued on November 23, 1999 by the Honorable M.J. "Mike" Foster, Jr., Governor of Louisiana.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

WHEREAS, pursuant to R.S. 1:55(A)(1), Christmas Day, Saturday, December 25, 1999, is a legal holiday and a day of rest in the state of Louisiana;

WHEREAS, R.S. 1:55(B)(4) states that "[w]hen one or more holidays or half-holidays fall on a full-time employee's regular day off, his holiday shall be the closest regular scheduled workday preceding or following the legal holiday, as designated by the head of the agency";

WHEREAS, pursuant to statute and custom, because Christmas Day falls this year on a Saturday, the preceding Friday, December 24, 1999, shall be designated a holiday; and

WHEREAS, R.S. 1:55(B)(3) also empowers the governor to authorize, by executive proclamation, the observance within the state of other holidays and half-holidays;

NOW THEREFORE I, M.J. "MIKE" FOSTER, JR., Governor of the state of Louisiana, by virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution and laws of the state of Louisiana, do hereby order and direct as follows:

SECTION 1: Friday, December 24, 1999, is designated a legal holiday and Monday, December 27, 1999, is declared a legal holiday in the state of Louisiana and both shall be observed as days of rest.

SECTION 2: Insofar as practicable the appointing authorities and/or heads of all institutions, offices and departments of the state (hereafter "appointing authority") shall permit the officers and employees under their control to observe December 24 and 27, 1999 as days of rest. Nonetheless, an appointing authority shall have discretion to require said officers or employees to work on the holidays when, in the appointing authority's judgment, it is required for the efficient administration of a state facility, the operation of which is necessary and indispensable to the citizens of this state.

Secretary of State

Sincerely,

Allen H. Reynolds

Director