HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 540        FILED ON: 1/13/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2811

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Byron Rushing

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act An act establishing an office of access and opportunity.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Byron Rushing

9th Suffolk

1/13/2015

Denise Provost

27th Middlesex

12/5/2019

Benjamin Swan

11th Hampden

12/5/2019

Jason M. Lewis

Fifth Middlesex

12/5/2019

Linda Dorcena Forry

First Suffolk

12/5/2019

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

12/5/2019

Sal N. DiDomenico

Middlesex and Suffolk

12/5/2019


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 540        FILED ON: 1/13/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2811

By Mr. Rushing of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2811) of Byron Rushing and others for legislation to establish a permanent office of access and opportunity within the Executive Office for Administration and Finance.  State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

_______________

 

An Act An act establishing an office of access and opportunity.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. The introductory paragraph of section 4A of chapter 7 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following sentence:- The executive office shall also include an office of access and opportunity.

SECTION 2. Said section 4A of said chapter 7, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after paragraph (e) the following paragraph:-

(f) The office of access and opportunity shall be headed by an assistant secretary for access and opportunity who shall be appointed by the secretary with the approval of the governor. The assistant secretary shall be a person who has at least 5 years experience in the area of civil rights or diversity and inclusion efforts. The office shall: (1) promote non-discrimination and equal opportunity in all aspects of executive agency decision-making and operations, including but not limited to, employment activity, procurement activity, policymaking and implementation and access to executive agency services; (2) review and recommend improvements to executive agency programs, activities and services to ensure that said programs, activities and services are administered in a non-discriminatory manner; (3) review and recommend improvements to executive agency programs, activities and services to foster economic opportunity for all persons; and (4) with the approval of the secretary, take administrative actions, including but not limited to, promulgating administrative bulletins and other policy guidance to promote and ensure nondiscrimination and equal opportunity in the policies, services, programs and activities of executive agencies. The office shall report annually the results of its effort to the chairs of the joint committee on state administration and regulatory oversight.