Header, the Administration of the Honorable Lincoln C. Almond
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Executive Order 96-14
October 16, 1996


PROMOTION OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY BY STATE GOVERNMENT

WHEREAS, the promotion and achievement of equal opportunity for all is a necessary and proper commitment of all units of Rhode Island state government; and

WHEREAS, Rhode Island state government is committed to the elimination of discrimination in employment based on race, sex, national origin/ age, religion, sexual orientation, or disability; and

WHEREAS, elimination of discrimination requires action to ensure that any employment opportunities existing in or through state government are available to all qualified Rhode Islanders; and

WHEREAS, there is a need to reaffirm policies ensuring equal opportunities as enumerated in state law.

NOW THEREFORE, I, LINCOLN C. ALMOND, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor under the Constitution of the State of Rhode Island hereby Order that:

1. All agencies and departments of state government shall be administered without regard to-race, color, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, or disability in any area, including but not limited to the following matters:

Hirings
Salary/Wage
Lay-offs
Transfers
Promotions
Demotions
Work Assignments
Leave
Training
Recall From Lay-offs
Appointments Discipline

2. Discrimination by any recipient of state government funds -- including lending institutions, developers, contractors, subcontractors and entities doing business with the State --is against the public policy of the State. Violations of the equal opportunity policies set forth herein may result in the withdrawal of state support or involvement in a project and/or debarment from further state involvement. The Director of Administration may promulgate or amend such rules and regulations as are necessary to effectuate compliance with this paragraph.

3. All Department Directors, their senior, staff and all supervisory employees of state government are responsible for ensuring that all aspects of state programs for which they are responsible are available without discrimination. Department Directors and their senior staff are charged with the implementation of this policy.

4. All Department Directors shall appoint an Department Director who shall submit an annual report to the Department of Administration.

5. The Governor's Executive Committee for Equal Opportunity is hereby established and its membership shall hereafter consist of the following: The EEO Administrator, the Executive Director of the Human Rights Commission, the Executive Secretary of the Governor's Commission on the Handicapped, the Director of the Commission on Women, the Executive Director of the Minority Business Enterprise Program, the Associate Director of Administration/Purchasing Agent, the Director of Constituent Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations, and the Personnel Administrator who shall chair this Committee.

6. The Committee shall make recommendations to the Governor regarding the formulation and coordination of plans, policies and programs relating to equal opportunity in all State departments and agencies and effective implementation of such policies, plans and programs.

7. Upon the request of the Executive Committee, the Department Director of each state agency and the departmental Equal Opportunity Officer shall meet with the Committee and report in person to such Committee on the agency's success in achieving equal opportunity. It shall be the Executive Committee Chair's responsibility regularly to schedule such meetings, and it shall be the duty of every agency head to comply with such requests for data or other information or reports as the Executive Committee may deem appropriate for analysis and review in advance of such meeting.

8. In addition to the duties of the State EEO Office set forth in Title 28, Chapter 5.1 of the Rhode Island General Laws, the State EEO Office shall:

a) review the equal opportunity plans submitted annually by each state department or agency and prepare a comparative analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the plans; and

b) make recommendations to the departments on proactive policy initiatives that may enhance equal opportunity plan objectives; and

c) prepare an Executive Summary of the departmental plans for submission to the Governor annually on or before November 15th of each year; and

d) work cooperatively and in conjunction with the departmental Officers/ departmental MBE Coordinators/ and state officials serving on the Governor's Executive Committee for Equal Opportunity.

9. The State Equal Opportunity Office shall be responsible for assuring compliance with Rhode Island General Laws Title 28 / Chapter 5.1 and the applicable provisions of this Executive Order. At least annually and whenever deemed appropriate, the Director of Administration shall direct the state Equal Opportunity Administrator to provide technical assistance and training to all appointing authorities in the implementation and compliance with Title 28, Chapter 5.1 and Title 36, Chapter 4, Section 26.1.

10. The Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights shall be responsible for assuring compliance with Rhode Island General Laws Title 28, Chapter 5, Sections 8 through 40 and the applicable provisions of this Executive Order.

11. The Rhode Island Governor's Commission on the Handicapped shall be responsible for assuring compliance with Rhode Island General Laws Title 42, Chapter 51 and the applicable provisions of this Executive Order.

12. All units of Rhode Island State Government shall comply with all state and federal laws pertaining to promotion of equal opportunity including but not limited to the following provisions:

Rhode Island Fair Employment Practices Act,
Rhode Island Handicapped Products Procurement Act,
Rhode Island AIDS Discrimination Act,
Federal Executive Order 11246, as amended,
Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended,
Age Discrimination in Employment act of 1967,
Equal Pay Act of 1963,
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504,
Vietnam Era Veterans Act of 1974,
Persian Gulf Conflict Supplemental Authorization and Personnel Benefits Act of 1991,
Age Discrimination Act of 1975,
Education Amendments Act of 1972 (Title IX),
Civil Rights Act of 1991,
Rhode Island Executive Order 92-2 (Americans with Disabilities Act),
Rhode Island Executive Order 94-22 (Minority Business Enterprise Commission),
Rhode Island Executive Order 95-11 (Sexual Harassment).

13. Persons with disabilities requesting reasonable accommodation should contact their own department/agency's Office of ADA Coordinator.

14. Persons having questions or needing assistance for minority or women business enterprises should contact the Executive Director of the Minority Business Enterprise Commission at 277-6246 (v) 277-3090 (tdd).

15. Citizens of Rhode Island believing that they have been discriminated against in employment on thebasis of race, sex, national origin, age, religion, sexual orientation, or disability by or through state government should contact:

Governor's Commission on the Handicapped
555 Valley Street, Building #51
Providence, RI 02908-5686

RI Commission for Human Rights
10 Abbot Park Place
Providence, RI 02903-3768

RI State Equal Opportunity Office
One Capitol Hill
Providence, RI 02908

This Executive Order shall supersede and rescind the Executive Order No. 93-1, and become effective immediately on the date hereof.

So Ordered:


Lincoln Almond
Governor