New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 9 - EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
Subtitle A - Governor's Office
Chapter I - Executive Orders
Part 4 - Executive Orders (Mario M. Cuomo)
Section 4.5 - Executive Order No. 5: Establishing the Women's Division in the Executive Chamber. [*]

Women comprise over half of the population of New York State. The State government must constantly seek to realize the right of women in the State to equal opportunity and participation in the affairs of the State.

Therefore, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of New York, I, Mario M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York, do hereby establish the Women's Division in the Executive Chamber. The Women's Division shall advise the Governor on all matters relating to women and shall work closely with State agencies to insure that women's interests and perspectives are considered in the formulation of public policy. The Director of the Women's Division shall serve as a member of the Governor's Cabinet.

The Women's Division shall organize an Interagency Task Force composed of representatives from each State agency and department. The Director of the Women's Division shall serve as the Chair of the Task Force. Each agency shall in turn create its own task force.

The Women's Division shall:

- act as an advocate for women on issues that affect the quality of their lives;

- review and monitor proposed legislation for its impact on women;

- develop legislation that will improve the condition of and opportunities for women;

- review and monitor State policies, procedures, practices and programs for their impact on women;

- act as a liaison between women's organizations and State government and develop and maintain strong ties to women in communities throughout the State;

- collect and disseminate data on the condition of and opportunities for women in New York State;

- develop, design and implement new programs to improve the status of and opportunities for women and to improve the delivery of services to women and their families;

- maintain and develop a roster of women qualified to serve in State government as an aid to the Governor and others in making appointments.

It shall be the responsibility of the Women's Division to ensure fulfillment of the State's policy of encouraging employment opportunities for women at all levels of State government and to make State government fully reflective of the needs, interests and talents of all of our population. The Director of the Women's Division shall serve as a member of the Governor's Executive Committee for Affirmative Action.

The head of every State agency shall report to the Governor, upon the request of the Governor or the Director of the Women's Division, on the specific efforts such agency has undertaken to achieve an equitable representation of women in all job levels within that agency. The agency heads shall supply to the Governor any information which the Governor or the Director of the Women's Division requests to demonstrate implementation of the steps and procedures outlined in this Order. The Director of the Women's Division shall assist the Governor in evaluating department and agency compliance and shall make recommendations to the Governor as to how such compliance may be improved.

Executive Order Number 8, dated April 11, 1975, is revoked and superseded by this Executive Order.

Signed: Mario M. Cuomo

Dated: February 16, 1983

Footnotes

* [Revokes and supersedes Executive Order No. 8 (Hugh L. Carey), § 3.8, supra.]