COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

By His Excellency

FRANCIS W. SARGENT

Governor

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 81

    WHEREAS, it is in the interest of our Commonwealth to
promote the economy, security and social well-being of our
people through the most efficient and effective utilization of
the skills of all persons, and

    WHEREAS, the full realization of women's basic rights
should be respected and fostered as part of our commitment to
human dignity, freedom and democracy, and
  
    WHEREAS, measures that contribute to the family security
and strengthen home life will serve to advance the general 
welfare of all the people, and

    WHEREAS, women should be assured the opportunity to 
develop their capabilities and fulfill their aspirations based
on sex, and

    WHEREAS, it is the responsibility of the Commonwealth
acting through its appropriate agencies to assure equal treatment
on the basis of sex in public and private employment and to
develop services which will enable married women to continue 
their role as wives and mothers while making a maximum contribu-
tion to the world around them;

    NOW, THEREFORE, I, Francis W. Sargent, Governor of the
Commonwealth, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Supreme
Executive Magistrate, do hereby order as follows:

    1.  There is hereby created a commission, to be known 
as the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women, to consist
of thirty-five members apointed by the Governor for terms of
one year, representing, among others, the following segments
of the community:  business, government, labor, education, the
health professions, and social welfare services.

    The Governor shall name one of the appointed members as
Chairman and one as Deputy Chairman.  Any vacancies which may
occur shall be filled by the Governor.  In addition, the
Commissioners of Administration, Community Affairs, Labor and
Industries, Public Health, Mental Health, Public Welfare, Commerce
and Development, Education, the Director of the Division of
Employment Security, the Director of the Division of Civil Service
and the Chairman of the Massachusetts Commission Against Disrimi-
nation, or their respective designees, shall serve as ex officio
members of the Commission.

    2.  There shall be an Executive Committee, consisting
of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Commission, and
eight other members selected by the Commission, which shall
promulgate rules and procedures for the Commission's activities. 

    3.  The Commission shall meet at regular intervals
and may hold hearings and seminars in various parts of the
Commonwealth.

    4.  The Commission may form sub-committees from its
own members and may call upon task forces from outside its own
membership for research and recommendations related to the
functions of the Commission.

    5.  The Commission shall receive the cooperation of
all state departments and agencies in carrying out its activities.

    6.  The Commission shall have the following functions
and responsibilities:

    A.  To survey and evaluate all statutes of the Common-
wealth and all governmental programs and practices, relating
to the employment, health, education and welfare of women, to
examine the adequacy thereof, and to make recommendations to
the Governor for such changes as the Commission may deem
necessary.

    B.  To investigate the need for new and expanded
services that may be required for women as wives, mothers and
workers, including education, counselling, training and retrain-
ing, home services and arrangements for the care of children
of mothers who are or seek to be employed, and to make recommenda-
tions to the Governor with respect thereto.

Given at the Executive Chamber in
Boston this third day of June in
the year of our Lord, one thousand
nine hundred and seventy-one and of
the Independence of the United 
States the one hundred and ninety-
fifth.

FRANCIS W. SARGENT
Governor
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

JOHN F. X. DAVOREN
Secretary of the Commonwealth