General Circular No. 001300

To: Heads of State Agencies and Human Resource Directors

Subject: Proclamation For Christmas Holidays

Issue Date: November 10, 1997

There is quoted below for your information and guidance a

proclamation issued on October 31, 1997 by the Honorable M. J.

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

STATE OF LOUISIANA

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

BATON ROUGE

PROCLAMATION NO. 76 MJF 97

______________________________________________________________

LEGAL HOLIDAY - FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1997

______________________________________________________________

WHEREAS, pursuant to R.S. 1:55(A)(1), Christmas Day,

Thursday, December 25, 1997, is a legal holiday and

a day of rest in the state of Louisiana;

WHEREAS, R.S. 1:55(B)(3) 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 will benefit

from an additional legal holiday during a time

period when families traditionally gather together

to remember their blessings and family values are

promoted;

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 26, 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 December 26, 1997,

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 this state.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have

hereunto 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 31st day of

October, 1997.

s/M. J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.

GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA

ATTEST BY

THE GOVERNOR

s/Fox McKeithen

SECRETARY OF STATE

Sincerely,

Allen H. Reynolds

Director