Executive Order  No. 365: Massachusetts National and Community Service Commission

WHEREAS, the increasing demands for services, and limited financial resources of the Commonwealth have contributed to the need to call upon the energy, compassion, inventiveness, and the entrepreneurial spirit of all citizens to help solve many of the problems facing their communities;

WHEREAS, the current Massachusetts Community Service Commission has done an outstanding job meeting its challenge to serve as a catalyst to energize, stimulate, and link community service activity without dampening or inhibiting the innovative, entrepreneurial spirit that has been the hallmark of an evolving grassroots service movement in Massachusetts;

WHEREAS, the recent enactment of the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 affords the Commonwealth new and timely opportunities to challenge its citizenry, particularly the young people of Massachusetts, to civic participation; and

WHEREAS, this new federal legislation gives the Commonwealth the opportunity to compete for federal funding to expand and replicate many initiatives in communities across the Commonwealth, and to generate new initiatives.

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 314 and order as follows:

Purpose

Section 1. A Massachusetts National and Community Service Commission is hereby established to advise and assist in the development and implementation of a comprehensive, statewide plan for promoting volunteer involvement and citizen participation in Massachusetts, as well as to serve as the Commonwealth's liaison to national and state organizations which support the Commission's mission.

Composition and Voting Power

Section 2. (A) The Commission shall consist of between fifteen (15) and twenty-five (25) voting members, three (3) ex- officio, non-voting members, and other ex-officio, non-voting members as the Governor shall deem appropriate, all appointed by the Governor. The Chair shall be elected by the voting members. Members shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for customary and usual expenses directly incurred in the performance of their duties.

(B) The voting membership of the Commission shall include the following:

(1) a representative of a community-based agency or organization in the State;

(2) the Secretary of Education or her designee;

(3) the Secretary of Environmental Affairs or her designee;

(4) the Secretary of Elder Affairs or his designee;

(5) the Secretary of Communities and Development or her designee;

(6) the Commissioner of Employment and Training or his designee;

(7) a representative of local governments in the Commonwealth;

(8) a representative of local labor organizations in the Commonwealth;

(9) a representative of business;

(10) at least one individual between the ages of sixteen (16), and twenty-five (25) who is a participant or supervisor of a service program for youth, or of a campus-based or national service program;

(11) a representative of a national service program;

(12) an individual with expertise in the educational, training, and development needs of youth, particularly disadvantaged youth;

(13) an individual with experience in promoting the involvement of adults (as defined in the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4950 et seq.) in service and volunteerism;

(14) one member of the Massachusetts Commission on Volunteerism, once that Commission has been established.

(C) other voting members may include the following:

• educators, including representatives from institutions of higher education and local education agencies;
• experts in the delivery of human, educational, environmental or public safety services to communities and persons;
• representatives of Native American Tribes;
• out-of-school or at-risk youth;
• representatives of programs that are administered or receive assistance under the Domestic Volunteer Service Act, such as VISTA, Senior Companions, Retired Senior Volunteer or Foster Grandparent programs.

(D) Ex-officio, non-voting members shall include:

• a representative of the Governor' Office;
• the Commissioner of Education or his designee;
• a representative of the Corporation on National and Community Service.

(E) Members shall be appointed to staggered, renewable 3-year terms except that in making the initial appointments the Governor shall appoint one third (1/3) of the members to serve for one year, one third (1/3) of the members to serve for two years and the remaining members to serve for three years.

(F) No more than fifty percent plus one of the voting members shall be of the same political party and no more than twenty-five percent of the voting members shall be employees of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

(G) To the maximum extent possible the Commission shall be diverse with respect to race, ethnicity, age, gender and disability characteristics.

(H) Vacancies among the members shall be filled by the Governor to serve for the remainder of any unexpired term.

(I) All votes of the Commission will be decided by a majority of those present.

Duties

Section 3. The Commission shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

(a) Formulate and update annually a 3-year comprehensive national and community service plan for the Commonwealth in response to the National and Community Service Act of 1993. The Commission shall solicit public comment and input to obtain maximum public participation in the development of the plan.

(b) Administer the competitive process to pre-select Subtitle C, AmeriCorps National Service programs and Subtitle B1B, Community-Based ServeAmerica programs, prepare applications to the Corporation for National and Community Service, and coordinate with and assist the Executive Office of Education in preparing ServeAmerica applications.

(c) Administer, evaluate and monitor any AmeriCorps and ServeAmerica programs funded through this Commission.

(d) Provide technical assistance to local non-profit organizations and other entities in planning programs and applying for funds under the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993.

(e) Provide and coordinate technical assistance and training to National and Community Service programs, as appropriate.

(f) Assist with recruitment and placement of national service participants.

(g) Coordinate its activities with those of the Massachusetts Commission on Volunteerism, once established, the Massachusetts Human Resource Investment Council, and any federally operated service programs such as VISTA and Older American Volunteer Programs.

(h) Make recommendations to the Corporation for National and Community Service with respect to priorities within the Commonwealth for programs receiving assistance under the Domestic Volunteer Service Act.

(i) Make such recommendations to the Governor as are concurred in by at least a majority of its members, including at least one yearly report to be submitted by October 1 of each calendar year.

Administrative Support

Section 4. All agencies are hereby authorized and directed to cooperate with the Commission in carrying out its functions. The Department of Employment and Training, the Executive Office of Education, the Department of Education, and the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs shall provide administrative, technical and financial support services and expertise to the Commission, as appropriate.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston this 9th day of February in the year one thousand nine hundred and ninety-four.

William F. Weld, Governor
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Michael Joseph Connolly
Secretary of the Commonwealth