General Circular No. 001421

To: Heads of State Agencies and Human Resource Directors

Subject: Holiday Proclamation for MLK, Jr.'s Birthday

Issue Date: December 27, 2000

There is quoted below for your information and guidance a proclamation issued on December 27, 2000 by the Honorable M.J. "Mike" Foster, Jr., Governor of Louisiana.

WHEREAS, the state of Louisiana acknowledges the important societal contributions made by those Americans who strove to obtain the equal and impartial treatment of all Americans without consideration of race, gender, age, religion, national origin, or political affiliation;

WHEREAS, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is esteemed for advocating the principle of equality of all persons and teaching social change should be accomplished through the peaceful communication of ideas and principles and that human beings should be judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin; and

WHEREAS, in tribute to this great American teacher and leader, R.S. 1:55(B)(2) authorizes the observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday;

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: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday, Monday, January 15, 2001, is a declared a legal holiday in the state of Louisiana and shall be observed as a day 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 January 15, 2001, as a day of rest. Nonetheless, an appointing authority shall have discretion to require said officers and employees to work on the holiday 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.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand officially and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the state of Louisiana, at the Capitol, in the city of Baton Rouge, on this 27^th day of December, 2000.

Sincerely,

Allen H. Reynolds

Director