SENATE DOCKET, NO. 685        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1647

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Linda Dorcena Forry

_________________

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 establishing an office of Access and Opportunities.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Linda Dorcena Forry

First Suffolk

Byron Rushing

9th Suffolk

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

Jason M. Lewis

Fifth Middlesex

Daniel Cullinane

12th Suffolk

Kevin G. Honan

17th Suffolk

Sal N. DiDomenico

Middlesex and Suffolk


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 685        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1647

By Ms. Forry, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1647) of Linda Dorcena Forry, Byron Rushing, James B. Eldridge, Jason M. Lewis and other members of the General Court for legislation to establish an office of Access and Opportunities.  State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act establishing an office of Access and Opportunities.

 

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.