Executive Order  No. 156: Governor's commission on the status of women

WHEREAS, it is in the interest of our Commonwealth to promote the economy, security and social well-being of our people through the most efficient and effective utilization of the skills of all persons; and

WHEREAS, the full realization of women's basic rights rights should be respected and fostered as part of our commitment to human dignity, freedom and democracy; and

WHEREAS, women should be assured the opportunity to develop their capabilities and fulfill their aspirations on the basis of their individual merit, free from limitations based on sex; and

WHEREAS, it is the responsibility of the Commonwealth acting through its appropriate agencies to assure equal treatment on the basis of sex in public and private employment, and to develop services which will enable all women to maximize contribution to the world around them;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Edward J. King, Governor of the Common- wealth, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Supreme Executive Magistrate, do hereby order as follows:

1. There is hereby created a Commission, to be known as Governor's Commission on the Status of Women, to consist of twenty-five members. The members of the Commission shall be appointed by the Governor, for a term coterminous with that of the Governor, shall reflect the diversity of women in the Commonwealth, and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. Members previously appointed to serve for a term shall cease to serve upon the effective date of this order; provided, however, that they shall be eligible for re- appointment at the discretion of the Governor.

From the membership, the Governor shall name a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson(s). They shall serve for a minimum of a one (1) year term. Any vacancies which may occur shall be filled by the Governor in the same manner as the prior appointment. In addition, the Secretary of Administration and Finance, the Secretary of Communities and Development, the commissioner of Labor and Industries, the Commissioner of Public Health, the Commissioner of Mental Health, the Commissioner of Public Welfare, the Commissioner of Commerce and Development, the Commissioner of Education, the Director of the Division of Employment Security, the Director of the Office for Children, the Commissioner of Youth Services, the Personnel Administrator of the Division of Personnel Administration, and the Chair- person of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, or their respective designees, shall serve as ex-officio members of Commission.

2. There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the Chairperson and the Vice-Chairperson(s) of the Commission, the Executive Director (ex-officio), the Chairpersons of the Commission's Standing Committees, Chairpersons of active Task Forces, plus additional members agreed to by the Executive Committee. The tasks of the Executive Committee shall be to set the agenda for Commission meetings; to act as spokespersons for the Task Force and Standing Committees which they represent; to formulate Commission policy when the entire membership cannot be convened.

3. The Commission shall meet at regular intervals and may hold hearings and seminars in various parts of the Commonwealth.

4. The Commission may form sub-committees from its own membership and may call upon task forces from outside its own membership for research and recommendations related to the functions of the Commission.

5. The Commission shall have the following functions and responsibilities:

A. To survey and evaluate all statutes of the Commonwealth and all governmental programs and practices, relating to the employment, health, education and welfare of women, to examine the adequacy thereof, and to make recommendations to the Governor for such changes as the Commission may deem necessary.

B. To investigate the need for new and expanded services that may be required for women as wives, mothers and workers, including education, counseling, training and retraining, home services and arrangements for the care of children of mothers who are, or seek to be, employed, and to make recommendations to the Governor with respect thereto.

C. To work in a variety of ways to see that the recommendations of the Commission are enacted into law, and to oversee the implementation of such legislation throughout the Commonwealth.

D. To use the human resources of the Commission to educate all of the citizens of the Commonwealth, including elected and appointed officials, regarding the issues of importance to the women of the Commonwealth.

In discharging the above functions and responsibilities, the Commission shall give special consideration to the causes and prevention of crimes of violence committed against women; to the study, treatment and prevention of child abuse, and to the needs of displaced homemakers.

6. The Commission shall receive the cooperation of all state departments and agencies in carrying out its activities.

7. This Executive Order shall continue in effect until amended, superseded or terminated by subsequent Executive Order.

8. Executive Order No. 136 is hereby revoked.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston this thirtieth day of March, in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and seventy-nine and of the independence of the United States of America, two hundred and three.

EDWARD J. KING
GOVERNOR
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

MICHAEL JOSEPH CONNOLLY
Secretary of the Commonwealth