Executive Order

Executive Order  No. 159: Governor's Advisory Committee on Children and the Family

Date: 05/03/1979
Issuer: Edward J. King
Mass Register: No. 157
Revoked by: Executive Order 383

Table of Contents

WHEREAS, the disintegration of the American Family and the negative forces action upon it are of utmost concern for the future of our society; and

WHEREAS, this commonwealth has a moral, legal and humane commitment to be aware of the needs of all our citizens and we recognize these crisis conditions exist within the American Family; and

WHEREAS, an emphasis needs to be placed on family love - a unique kind of love, which involves thought, time, effort, sacrifice and self-denial; and

WHEREAS, we citizens of the commonwealth must go beyond our own individual needs, become aware of the needs of others, and then give of ourselves to help families at all times, not only in periods of crises, but also in the prevention of the occurrence of family crises; and

WHEREAS, we believe that the hope for the future lies in the efforts of persons who have professional involvement and expertise in the fields of education, religion, medicine, law, and family counseling, to commit their expertise and leadership to heighten awareness throughout the commonwealth for the need to reverse the process of the family's disintegration;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Edward J. King, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the statutes of this commonwealth, do hereby ORDER AND DIRECT:

1. There shall be a Governor's Advisory Committee on Children and the Family (hereinafter referred to as the "Committee") consisting of thirty-five unpaid members. The Governor shall designate one of its members as chairman. Said Committee shall formulate a program designed to increase the awareness of the need for strengthening of the family. The Committee shall make avail- able to the general public pertinent information relative to family life.

2. The Committee is authorized and directed to conduct studies, investigations and research to advise the Governor on:

(a) the causes of family disintegration and the need for present and future public and privately sponsored programs which will pro- mote and encourage stable family situations,

(b) the impact of family disintegration on such factors as the commonwealth's public welfare and public health programs,

(c) the incidence of juvenile delinquency, the rate of crime, the incidence of child abuse, the effects of mental illness, the increased suicide rate among youngsters, the effects of absentee parents on children, the problems of spouse abuse and alcoholism, and

(d) the means of preventing the disintegration of family living.

3. The committee is authorized to call upon any secretariat, office, department, board, commission, council,or other agency of the executive branch of state government upon my jurisdiction and any officer, member or employee thereof, to supply such statistical data, program reports, and other information and materials as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate to per- form its work, and they are authorized and directed to cooperate with the Committee and to furnish it with such information or assistance in connection with such review and analysis and in connection with effecting such recommendations as may be developed for the implementation thereof.

4. The Committee upon completion of its review, render to the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations.

5. This Order shall take effect immediately and shall continue in force until amended or revoked.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston this 3rd day of May in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred 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 State

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