General Circular No. 001271

To: Heads of State Agencies and Human Resource

Directors

Subject: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

Issue Date: January 8, 1997

There is quoted below for your information and guidance a

proclamation issued on January 7, 1997 by the Honorable M. J.

"Mike" Foster, Jr., Governor of Louisiana.

STATE OF LOUISIANA

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

BATON ROUGE

P R O C L A M A T I O N

WHEREAS, the important societal contributions made by

Americans to achieve equal and impartial treatment

of their fellow citizens without consideration of

race, gender, age, religion, national origin, or

political affiliation, should be acknowledged by

the State of Louisiana;

WHEREAS, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., brought about

significant societal advancement when he advocated

the principle of equality of all persons through

his teachings that human beings should be judged,

not by the color of their skin, but by the content

of their character;

WHEREAS, Dr. King accomplished great societal change by

example and through the peaceful communication of

his ideas and principles; and

WHEREAS, in tribute to this great American teacher and

leader, R.S. 1:55 (B)(2) authorizes the observance,

by executive proclamation, of the birthday of Dr.

King;

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: Monday, January 20, 1997, 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 January 20, 1997, 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 7th day

of January, 1997.

s/ M. J. "Mike" Foster

Governor of Louisiana

ATTEST BY

THE GOVERNOR

s/ Fox McKeithen

Secretary of State

Sincerely,

Allen H. Reynolds

Acting Director