STATE OF LOUISIANA

DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA

General Circular No. 001508

To: Heads of State Agencies and Human Resource Directors

Subject: Proclamation of Holiday – January 2, 2003

Issue Date: October 28, 2002

There is quoted below for your information and guidance a proclamation issued on October 21, 2002 by the Honorable M.J. "Mike" Foster, Jr., Governor of Louisiana

WHEREAS, pursuant to R.S. 1:55(A)(1) and (B)(1), New Year's Day, Wednesday, January 1, 2003, is a legal holiday and a day of rest in the state of Louisiana which is observed by the departments of the state;

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; and

WHEREAS, the citizens of the state of Louisiana and the officers and employees of the departments of the state will benefit from an additional legal holiday during a time when families traditionally gather together to remember their blessings and promote family and patriotic values;

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: Thursday, January 2, 2003 is 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 Thursday, January 2, 2003, as a day of rest. Nonetheless, an appointing authority shall have discretion to require said officers or 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 the 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 21^st day of October, 2002.

s/M.J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.
GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA

Sincerely,

Allen H. Reynolds

Director