Executive Order  No. 212: Governor's Task Force on Alcohol Abuse and Highway Safety

WHEREAS, a considerable number of highway fatalities and crippling injuries result from persons operating motor vehicles under the influence on the public ways of the commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, these alcohol related motor vehicle accidents effect a costly toll on the well-being of our citizenry; and

WHEREAS, there is a clear and unmistakable need to reduce the extent of human loss which results from persons operating under the intoxicating influences of alcohol and drugs by the development of a comprehensive state program to combat the causes and effects of such abuse;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Edward J. King, Governor of the Commonwealth, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of this Commonwealth, do hereby order as follows:

1. There is created a Committee, to be known as the Governor's Task Force on Alcohol Abuse and Highway Safety, to consist of members appointed by the Governor to serve without compensation at his pleasure. The Governor may designate additional persons to officially serve on this committee as the need may arise without further action by Executive Order.

2. The following persons or their respective designees shall serve as ex officio members of the Committee: the President of the Massachusetts Senate; the Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives; the Chief Justice of the District Courts; the Secretary of Public Safety; the Commissioner of Public Safety; the Commissioner of the Metropolitan District Commission; the Registrar of Motor Vehicles; the Commissioner of Insurance; the Commissioner of Education; the Director of the Division of Alcoholism; the Director of the Governor's Highway Safety Bureau; the District Attorney of Suffolk County; the Police Commissioner of the City of Boston; the President of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association; the President of the Massachusetts Police Association; and, the President of the Massachusetts Medical Society.

The membership of the Committee shall also consist of: a representative of the American College of Emergency Physicians - Massachusetts Chapter; a representative of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration -Region One (1) Office; a representative of the Driver Alcohol Education Director's Association; a representative of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents; a representative of a Massachusetts based insurance company; a member of the clergy; a student representative of a Massachusetts college or university; and members of the general public.

From the membership, the Governor shall designate a Chairperson and Vice - Chairperson. Any vacancies which may occur shall be filled by the Governor in the same manner as the prior appointments.

3. In order to fully accomplish the mandate of the Task Force, the Chairperson shall form such subcommittees as he deems necessary and establish the objectives and schedule of each said subcommittee. Said subcommittees may include in their membership individuals not designated herein as Task Force members.

4. The Committee is authorized and directed to advise the Governor on specific, concrete statutory and administrative recommendations whose implementation would dramatically decrease the incidence of alcohol - related highway fatalities in the Commonwealth. The Committee shall have, minimally, the following functions and responsibilities toward this end:

A. To analyze the statutes of the Commonwealth and other jurisdictions relating to the dispositional options available to the court as well as administrative penalties for offenders who drive while under the influence or are convicted of vehicular homicide.

B. To study the statistics relating to the judicial response to driving under the influence cases.

C. To propose a coordinated executive, legislative and judicial response to the problem.

5. The Committee is authorized to call upon any secretariat, office, department, board, commission, council or other agency of the executive branch of state government under 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 perform 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.

6. The Massachusetts Committee on Criminal Justice shall provide such technical and administrative assistance as the Committee shall require.

7. In view of the critical nature of the problem and the need for immediate action, it is requested that the Committee conduct its affairs as expeditiously as possible.

8. The Committee shall submit a written report to the Governor of its findings and recommendations together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry its recommendations into effect. Said report shall be filed with the Governor on or before March 15, 1982.

9. This Order shall take effect immediately and shall continue in force through March 15, 1982, unless extended by the Governor for an additional period of time.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston this 7th day of January in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and eighty-two and of the independence of the United States of America, two-hundred and six.

EDWARD J. KING

GOVERNOR

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

MICHAEL JOSEPH CONNOLLY

Secretary of the Commonwealth