General Circular No. 001338

To: Heads of State Agencies and Human Resource

Directors

Subject: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

Issue Date: December 21, 1998

There is quoted below for your information and guidance a

proclamation issued on December 16, 1998 by the Honorable M. J.

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

STATE OF LOUISIANA

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

BATON ROUGE

PROCLAMATION NO. 61 MJF 98

_____________________________________________________________________________

LEGAL HOLIDAY - DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.'S

BIRTHDAY

_____________________________________________________________________________

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, the principle of equality of all persons was

advocated by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 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 consistently advocated that social change

should be accomplished by peaceful communication of

ideas and principles; and

WHEREAS, in tribute to the endeavors of 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: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s celebrated birthday,

Monday, January 18, 1999, 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 18, 1999, 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 16th day

of December, 1998.

s/ M. J. "Mike" Foster

GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA

ATTEST BY

THE GOVERNOR

s/ Fox McKeithen

SECRETARY OF STATE

Sincerely,

Allen H. Reynolds

Director