New York Codes, Rules and Regulations › Title 9 - EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT › Subtitle A - Governor's Office › Chapter I - Executive Orders › Part 4 - Executive Orders (Mario M. Cuomo) › Section 4.18 - Executive order no. 18: establishing the commission on domestic violence

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 28, July 10, 2024
WHEREAS, domestic violence, the physical or psychological
					 abuse of one family member by another, occurs in all social groups, and any
					 family member can be a victim; and
WHEREAS, domestic violence causes family disintegration and
					 psychological scars to the victims and other family members, and leads to the
					 death and incapacity of many persons each year; and
WHEREAS, it is desirable to create an understanding of the
					 scope of the domestic violence problem in the State, to provide an accurate
					 assessment of the needs of families affected by violence, to identify
					 weaknesses in the various institutions intended to protect family members from
					 violence, and to formulate and implement proposals for more effective responses
					 by the social, legal and medical systems;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mario M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
					 New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws
					 of the State of New York, do hereby establish within the Executive Department
					 the Commission on Domestic Violence.
I. The Commission shall advise the Governor
				  and the Legislature of the most effective ways for State government to respond
				  to the critical law enforcement and social problems posed by domestic violence.
				  It shall consist of no fewer than 20 members, including at least one attorney,
				  administrative representatives of the family and of the criminal court, one
				  judge, one law enforcement official, one educator, one provider of community
				  services to battered spouses, one member of the clergy, one mental health
				  professional familiar with the impact on families of problems such as alcohol
				  and substance abuse, one social worker familiar with the service needs of
				  family members in a violent situation, one health care professional, one
				  representative of organizations formed for the purpose of preventing domestic
				  violence, and individuals who have themselves been victims of domestic
				  violence.
The members of the Commission shall be appointed as
					 follows: two of the members by the Speaker of the Assembly; two by the
					 Temporary President of the Senate; one by the Minority Leader of the Assembly;
					 and one by the Minority Leader of the Senate. The remaining members shall be
					 appointed by the Governor. An Advisory Board to the Commission, comprised of
					 the Commissioners and Directors of State agencies which are involved with the
					 problem of domestic violence, as well as other appropriate public officials,
					 shall also be established.
The members of the Commission shall not receive any salary
					 or other compensation for their services but shall be entitled to reimbursement
					 for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
					 Reimbursement for such expenses, and compensation for such staff and services
					 as may be deemed necessary by the chairperson, shall be made only within the
					 amounts made available therefor and subject to the approval of the Director of
					 the Budget.
II. The
				  Commission shall submit to the Governor and the Legislature periodic reports,
				  proposed legislation and administrative rules related to the following
				  subjects:
1. Information regarding the extent
				  and nature of domestic violence in New York;
2. Accessibility and effectiveness of
				  existing services to New York's victims of domestic violence;
3. Goals, objectives and plans for future
				  services to New York's victims of domestic violence;
4. Effectiveness of the present civil and
				  criminal legal systems in responding to cases of domestic violence;
5. Ability of law enforcement and social
				  service agencies to respond more effectively to cases of domestic
				  violence;
6. Education and
				  information to the public concerning services available to families affected by
				  violence;
7. Intervention to help
				  families under stress so as to prevent incidents of domestic
				  violence.