Executive Order

Executive Order  No. 357: Reestablishing a commission to advise the Governor relative to further measures to prevent, respond effectively to and protect the victims of domestic violence in the Commonwealth

Date: 07/08/1993
Issuer: William F. Weld
Mass Register: No. 718
Revoking and Superseding: Executive Order 334
Amended by: Executive Order 449
Revoked and Superseded by: Executive Order 450

Table of Contents

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 334 declared the existence of a state of emergency in this Commonwealth resulting from the unacceptable frequency and severity of domestic violence; and

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 334 established an Advisory Commission on Domestic Violence to make recommendations to the Governor addressing this state of emergency; and

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 334 primarily addressed the response of law enforcement and the judicial system to domestic violence; and

WHEREAS, there remains a need to coordinate and integrate policy on all aspects of domestic violence at the highest levels of state government, and to broaden the scope of the Commission's inquiry to include the response of the health, human services, educational and business communities;

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 revoke Executive Order No. 334 and order as follows:

Section 1. There is hereby established an Advisory Commission on Domestic Violence. It shall be the responsibility of the Commission to make recommendations to the Governor on all aspects of the domestic violence crisis in the Commonwealth, and to that end, the Commission shall:

  1. consider the need for further legislation to more effectively punish and treat perpetrators, protect victims, and reduce, deter, and alleviate the incidence of domestic violence;
  2. evaluate, on a continuing basis, the response of the law enforcement, judicial, health, and human service systems to the needs of domestic violence victims;
  3. consider further policy initiatives to assure effective and uniform response by law enforcement, judicial health, and human service agencies, including but not limited to the enhancement of interagency communication and cooperation, timely and accurate sharing of information between the law enforcement and judicial systems, and further training of law enforcement, prosecutorial, and judicial personnel and the private bar;
  4. consider measures which will better enable victims of domestic violence in the transition from violent relationships to violence-free lives, including providing victims with necessary protection and shelter;
  5. consider measures to prevent and reduce the incidence of domestic violence through prevention, and through greater public education and awareness of domestic violence as a criminal act; and
  6. consider such other measures to address the crisis of domestic violence as the Commission deems appropriate.

Section 2. The Commission shall be chaired by the Lieutenant Governor or his designee, and its membership shall be appointed by the Governor, including the Secretary of Public Safety or his designee, the Secretary of Health and Human Services or his designee; at least one representative each from the Attorney General's office, the district attorneys of the Commonwealth, victims' assistance agencies, police departments, and certified batter's treatment programs, one member of the Massachusetts trial court to be appointed with the approval of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, and such other members as the Governor may appoint. Commission members shall serve at the Governor's pleasure.

Section 3. The Commission shall meet at such times and at such intervals as the Lieutenant Governor or his designee shall direct.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston this 8th day of July one thousand nine hundred ninety-three.

William F. Weld, Governor
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Michael Joseph Connolly
Secretary of the Commonwealth

Contact   for No. 357: Reestablishing a commission to advise the Governor relative to further measures to prevent, respond effectively to and protect the victims of domestic violence in the Commonwealth

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