Executive Order

Executive Order  No. 274: Governor's Advisory Committee on Women's Issues

Date: 04/24/1987
Issuer: Michael S. Dukakis
Mass Register: No. 555
Superseding: Executive Order 230
Superseded by: Executive Order 306
Superseded by: Executive Order 313

Table of Contents

(Superseding Executive Order No. 230)

WHEREAS, it is in the interest of the Commonwealth to promote the economic and social wellbeing of all 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, should be respected and fostered as part of our commitment to human dignity, freedom and democracy; and

WHEREAS, measures that contribute to the advancement of women will serve to advance the general welfare of all the people; and

WHEREAS, women should be assured the opportunity to develop their capabilities and fulfill their aspirations 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 their contribution to the world around them; and

WHEREAS, the foregoing policies and objectives can best be accomplished by the appointment of a committee to advise the Governor on issues of particular interest to women;

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 revoke Executive Order No. 230 and order as follows:

  1. There is hereby created the Governor's Advisory Committee on Women's Issues (The Advisory Committee), to work closely with the Governor, and, when appropriate, the Cabinet and those on the Governor's senior staff assigned policy responsibility for issues of importance to women.
  2. The Advisory Committee shall be composed of twelve to eighteen persons drawn from diverse racial, ethnic, religious, age, sexual preference, and socio-economic backgrounds from throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Particular attention shall be paid to assure that a wide variety of experiences and backgrounds are represented on the Committee which could include homemakers, volunteers, welfare and working class families, office workers, organized women workers, business women, professionals, educators, those in nontraditional positions, and representatives from various statewide organizations.
  3. The Advisory Committee members shall be appointed by the Governor for terms of one year. Any vacancies which may occur shall be filled by the Governor. The Governor shall from time to time select one of the appointed members as chairperson and one as vice-chairperson. Members of the Advisory Committee shall serve without compensation but shall be eligible for reimbursement of reasonable and necessary expenses as funds and policies permit.
  4. The Advisory Committee shall meet regularly. The Advisory Committee shall meet periodically with the Governor, and at least one of these meetings with the Governor will deal with the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
  5. The Advisory Committee shall work to assist the Governor's Advisor on Women's Issues in the following ways:
    1. Advise the Governor on what his priorities around women's issues should be;
    2. Advise the Governor on policy decisions which have an impact on women, which arise from time to time;
    3. Represent the concerns and needs of women to the Governor, to the Cabinet Secretaries, and to other policy representatives of the administration;
    4. Help to develop and review budget recommendations and policy proposals of the administration for the purpose of assuring a positive impact on women;
    5. Seek the ideas and involvement of women's organizations, the Women's Legislative Caucus, and other active women in the formation and evaluation of state policy; and
    6. Be responsible for special efforts to reach out to women from all points of the commonwealth and from all walks of life.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston this 24th day of APRIL in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and eighty-seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America two hundred and eleven.

Michael S. Dukakis, Governor
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Michael Joseph Connolly
Secretary of the Commonwealth

Contact   for No. 274: Governor's Advisory Committee on Women's Issues

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