{"AmendmentNumber":"438","ParentBillNumber":"H5562","Bill":null,"Sponsor":{"Id":"ACM1","Name":"Adrian C. Madaro","Type":1,"Details":"https://malegislature.gov/api/GeneralCourts/194/LegislativeMembers/ACM1","ResponseDate":"2026-07-06T16:14:57.893"},"Category":null,"Action":"Consolidated","RollCall":[],"Title":"Office of Access and Opportunity","Branch":"House","RedraftNumber":null,"IsFurther":false,"GeneralCourtNumber":194,"Text":"Mr. Madaro of Boston moves to amend the bill by adding the following section:\r\nSection XXX. The office of access and opportunity.\r\n(a) There shall be within the office of the governor an office of access and opportunity (the “OAO”) to ensure ready access to the status of and advise on the work conducted by the OAO.\r\n(b) The OAO shall be led by a deputy chief, access and opportunity (the “deputy chief”), who shall be appointed by the governor and directly report to the governor’s chief of staff. The deputy chief shall advise the governor and the cabinet and work to foster within state government non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all irrespective of race, color, age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, disability, veteran or active military status (including Vietnam-era veterans), or socio-economic background.\r\n(c) There shall be a steering committee on access and opportunity (the “steering committee”) which the deputy chief will chair and convene regularly for advice on the state of access and opportunity across the executive branch and how best to achieve goals of the OAO. The steering committee shall include: the chief human resources officer, human resources division; assistant secretary, operational services division; executive director of the Massachusetts supplier diversity office; director of office of diversity and equal opportunity; director of Massachusetts office on disability; commissioner, division of capital asset management and maintenance; director, compliance unit, division of capital asset management and maintenance; the chief operating officer, Massachusetts Department of Transportation; deputy director, office on diversity and civil rights, Massachusetts Department of Transportation; secretary of the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development or their designee; secretary of the Executive Office of Veterans’ Services or their designee; and representative(s) designated by the Secretary of the Executive Office of Education.\r\n(d) The deputy chief shall have the following responsibilities:\r\n(1) collaborate with and maximize relevant initiatives, work and potential of all existing executive branch agencies, offices and resources with the explicit goal of:\r\n\t\t(i) increasing the total number of and dollar volume earned by MBEs, WBEs, and DBEs contracting with or doing business for the state; and\r\n\t\t(ii) maintaining or increasing the number of minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities who are state employees;\r\n(2) develop with partnering agencies and offices, in consultation with the Steering Committee:\r\n(i) an integrated body of policies and actions that reflect best practices and remove barriers to advance non-discrimination and equity in access to and opportunity in employment, procurement and the provision of services within state government;\r\n(ii) ideas on how best to implement and incentivize compliance with such policies and procedures; and\r\n(iii) performance metrics focused on outcomes, such as increasing the total number of and dollar volume earned by MBEs, WBEs, DBEs contracting with or doing business for the state; and maintaining or increasing the number of minority, veterans and individuals with disabilities who are state employees;\r\n(3) convene meetings of key offices, individuals and external stakeholders as needed to accomplish specified objectives, resolve issues, and make and implement recommendations;\r\n(4) identify state laws and regulations that obstruct or frustrate the state’s ability to provide within its own operations equity in access and opportunity for all persons;\r\n(5) serve as a liaison to pertinent commissions, councils, task forces and offices throughout state government as needed to accomplish and advance the OAO’s goals; and\r\n(6) develop for adoption administrative orders and bulletins to further the OAO’s goals, and prepare such other reports necessary to keep the Governor appropriately apprised of the work of the OAO.\r\n(e) All state agencies shall provide assistance to the OAO by sharing information and expertise, as requested.\r\n"}