WHEREAS, Section 53-5-20 of the South Carolina Code of Laws provides:

     The Governor may declare Christmas        Eve of each year a holiday for state        employees.  When Christmas Eve         falls on a Saturday and Sunday he        may declare this preceding Friday a        holiday.

and

WHEREAS, December 24, 2000, will fall on a Sunday; and

WHEREAS, state employees need notice of whether Christmas Eve will be a state holiday in order to make travel plans and other preparations for the Christmas holiday season; and

WHEREAS, in previous years, state government employees have been granted three consecutive days off during the Christmas holiday season.

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to Section 53-5-20 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, I hereby declare Friday, December 22, 2000, as the Christmas Eve holiday for state government employees.