EXECUTIVE ORDER MJF 00-6

EXECUTIVE ORDER MJF 00-6

Louisiana Women's Policy and Research Commission

WHEREAS, the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, as amended, is designed to afford every person the opportunity for fullest development and to guarantee them the right to individual dignity "without regard to birth, age, sex, culture, physical condition, or political ideas or affiliations";

WHEREAS, notwithstanding these constitutional tenets, statistical data that compares the status of females in the state of Louisiana to males in this state and to females throughout the United States, suggests that gender-based disparities and gender-related hardships may persist in this state to a greater degree than in the nation as a whole and negatively impact on the quality of life of Louisiana's female population, especially in areas of access to health care and earnings potential;

WHEREAS, to improve the quality of life of Louisiana women, the causes of gender related disparities need to be identified and analyzed and public policies may need to be changed in order to mitigate those disparities; and

WHEREAS, the interests of the citizens of the state of Louisiana are well served by creating a commission charged with the duty of focusing on the quality of life of Louisiana's women and advising the governor on the means to help them achieve their fullest development and potential;

NOW THEREFORE I, M.J. "MIKE" FOSTER, JR., Governor of the state of Louisiana, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the constitution and laws of this state, do hereby order and direct as follows:

SECTION 1: The Louisiana Women's Policy and Research Commission (hereafter "Commission") is established in the executive department, Office of the Governor, Office of Women's Services.

SECTION 2: The duties of the Commission shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

A. Advising the governor, through the Office of Women's Services, on the particular hardships, concerns, and needs that challenge Louisiana women and their possible solutions;

B. Identifying and analyzing trends that negatively impact on the health and prosperity of Louisiana women; and

C. Monitoring the status of Louisiana women for the purpose of evaluating their economic, educational, and health concerns, needs and/or hardships.

SECTION 3: Commencing January 1, 2001, the Commission shall submit detailed annual reports to the governor, through the Office of Women's Service, which address the issues set forth in Section 2 of this Order.

SECTION 4: The Commission shall consist of a maximum of twenty-one (21) members who shall be appointed by the governor and serve at his pleasure. The Commission shall consist of the following members:

A. The governor, or the governor's designee;

B. The commissioner of administration, or the commissioner's designee;

C. The secretary of the Department of Social Services, or the secretary's designee;

D. The secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals, or the secretary's designee;

E. The superintendent of the Department of Education, or the superintendent's designee;

F. The secretary of the Department of Labor, or the secretary's designee;

G. The executive director of the Office of Women's Services, Office of the Governor, or the executive director's designee;

H. The executive director of the Children's Cabinet, Office of the Governor, or the executive director's designee;

I. Two (2) members of the Women's Legislative Caucus; and

J. Eleven (11) Louisiana women who have significant academic and/or professional expertise in one (1) or more of the following areas:

1. Business or industry,

2. Economics,

3. Education,

4. Demographics,

5. Public health,

6. Law, or

7. Social science and/or social work.

 SECTION 5: The governor shall appoint the chair of the Commission from its membership. All other officers shall be elected by the membership of the Commission.

SECTION 6: The Commission shall meet at regularly scheduled intervals and at the call of the chair.

SECTION 7: Support staff for the Commission and facilities for its meetings shall be provided by the Office of the Governor, Office of Women's Services.

SECTION 8: Commission members shall not receive additional compensation, a per diem, or travel expenses from the Office of the Governor.

SECTION 9: All departments, commissions, boards, agencies, and officers of the state, or any political subdivision thereof, are authorized and directed to cooperate with the Commission in implementing the provisions of this Order.

SECTION 10: The provisions of this Order shall continue in effect until amended, modified, terminated, or rescinded by the governor, or terminated by operation of law.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand officially and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the state of Louisiana, at the Capitol, in the city of Baton Rouge, on this 16th day of February, 2000.

M.J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.
Governor

ATTEST BY
THE GOVERNOR
Fox McKeithen
Secretary of State