Executive Order  No. 236: The Governor's Advisory Council for the State Office of Affirmative Action

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has long been recognized as a leader in advancing the quality of life and for aggressively promoting equality of opportunity for all citizens of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, nondiscrimination and equal opportunity are the policy of the Executive Department of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in all of its decisions, programs and activities; and

WHEREAS, the State Office of Affirmative Action is responsible for carrying out the Commonwealth's policy on nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action; and

WHEREAS, affirmative action requires more than vigilance in the elimination of discriminatory barriers to employment on the grounds of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, handicap or military affiliation;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Michael S. Dukakis, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Supreme Executive Magistrate, do hereby establish the Governor's Advisory Council for Affirmative Action, which shall consist of not less than eighteen (18) members and not more than thirty (30) members:

The membership of the Governor's Advisory Council for Affirmative Action shall consist of:

1. a person representing the concerns of handicapped persons,
2. a person representing the concerns of Vietnam Era Veterans,
3. a person representing the concerns of linguistic minorities,
4. a person representing the concerns of minority/women contractors,
5. a person representing the concerns of women,
6. a person representing the concerns of racial minorities,
7. a person representing a national affirmative action organization,
8. a person representing the Commissioner of Administration and Finance,
9. no less than ten additional persons qualified by training, experience or demonstrated interest in the affairs of affirmative action, and representing the various regions of the Commonwealth;

Members of the Advisory Council shall be appointed by the Governor. Initial appointments shall be staggered so that one-third are for two-year terms, one-third are for three-year terms, and one-third are for four-year terms. All subsequent appointments shall be for three-year terms. The Governor may remove any member at will. All vacancies shall be filled by the Governor. Said members of the Advisory Council shall elect from the membership a Chairperson who shall serve for a term of one year, and shall meet at least quarterly. The members shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in "the performance of their duties. If any member is absent from two regularly scheduled quarterly meetings in anyone calendar year, his/her office as a member of said council shall be deemed vacant. The Chairperson shall notify the Governor in writing, that such vacancy exists.

The Advisory Council shall advise the Director of the State Office of Affirmative Action with respect to issues relating the Commonwealth's policies of equal opportunity, nondiscrimination and affirmative action. It shall also advise the Director of the state Office of Affirmative Action on the implementation of his mandate as stated in Executive Order No. 227, the Governor's Code of Fair Practices.

The Advisory Council shall in July of each year submit an annual report of its activities and recommendations to the Governor.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston this 7th day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and eighty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America two hundred and eight.

MICHAEL S. DUKAKIS

GOVERNOR

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

MICHAEL JOSEPH CONNOLLY

Secretary Of The Commonwealth