WILLIAM P. CLEMENTS, JR. GOVERNOR OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR STATE CAPITOL AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711 December 6, 1979 Ms. Pat Wolfe Texas Film Commission Sam Houston Office Building Room 119 Austin, Texas 78711 Dear Ms. Wolfe: I have written to you recently concerning our Government Effectiveness Program and means of improving the efficiency of state agency operations. Employee morale is, as you know, an important factor in this program. In this regard, I would hope that each of you will continue to accept with understanding the religious beliefs of your employees and seek to accommodate those views in a reasonable way. I am speaking primarily of major holidays, such as Good Friday and the Jewish High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Though the Appropriations Bill does not authorize their treatment as paid holidays, the observance of such normally recognized religious holidays is personally and spiritually important to many of our state employees and deserves to be met with flexibility and sensitivity on the part of management. I am also concerned that those state agencies which hold licensing examinations only on Saturdays demonstrate increased flexibility where a religious conflict with their examination schedule exists. For example, Orthodox Jews who are required by their religion to strictly observe the Sabbath should not be dis- advantaged for inability to attend a Saturday-only testing. A valued principle of our Constitution requires separation of church and state, but that does not preclude increased awareness, sensitivity, and flexibility on the state's part in reasonably accommodating the religious needs of our employees and the citizens we serve. I know I can count on the support of each of you in this matter. Sincerely, R 1 ham P. Clements, Jr. WPC:aac:lp