Executive Order

Executive Order  No. 301: Establishing a special commission to make recommendations to the Governor relative to the consolidation and closure of state institutions

Date: 02/26/1991
Issuer: William F. Weld
Mass Register: No. 656
Revoked by: Executive Order 317

Table of Contents

WHEREAS, the delivery of health and human services through a system of state institutions is often both ineffective and inefficient; and

WHEREAS, such services can often be provided more compassionately and more effectively in a community setting; and

WHEREAS, the existing system of state health and human service institutions is excessively costly and underutilized, and would benefit from a consolidation which would make better use of state resources;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, William F. Weld, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by virtue of the authority vested in me as supreme executive magistrate do hereby order the following:

1. A special commission is hereby established to make recommendations to the Governor relative to the consolidation and closure of state institutions currently providing services under the auspices of the Departments of Public Health, Mental Health and Mental Retardation.

2. The Commission shall consist of seventeen members, including the Secretary of Human Services, the Secretary of Administration and Finance, the Commissioner of Public Health, the Commissioner of Mental Retardation, the Commissioner of Mental Health, one member designated by the Senate President, one member designated by the Senate Minority Leader, one member designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one member designated by the House Minority Leader, and eight members appointed by the Governor: one of whom shall be a representative of a public employee union, one of whom shall be a relative of an individual currently residing in a human service facility, and six of whom shall be experts in the fields of public health, mental health and mental retardation.

3. The Commission shall carry out its responsibilities by:

(a) Establishing objective criteria for reviewing the operation of all state health and human service institutions, and for their closing or consolidation.

(b) Gathering pertinent information with respect to each of the state institutions included within this order and, if necessary or appropriate, holding public hearings to assist in the gathering of such information.

(c) Preparing a specific plan for the consolidation and closure of state institutions, and for the placement of patients affected by such closings or consolidations, and submitting such a plan to the Governor by May 1, 1991.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston this 26th day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ninety-one.

William F. Weld, Governor

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Michael Joseph Connolly

Secretary of the Commonwealth

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