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 4.154 - Executive order no. 154: creating a task force on sexual harassment

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 28, July 10, 2024
WHEREAS, sexual harassment in the workplace is sex
					 discrimination and is illegal; and
WHEREAS, sexual harassment is a problem which demands
					 closer examination because it degrades all workers, creates a hostile work
					 environment and thereby undermines productivity and excellence; and
WHEREAS, every individual in New York State is entitled to
					 a work environment free from sexual harassment and its deleterious economic,
					 psychological and physical effects; and
WHEREAS, all policy makers and employers must take every
					 available step to improve awareness of sexual harassment and assure that
					 appropriate remedies exist for victims; and
WHEREAS, available evidence indicates that incidents of
					 sexual harassment may too often be inadequately addressed, may be evaluated by
					 a legal standard different from the standard utilized for other employment
					 discrimination complaints, and is often handled in a manner which unfairly
					 focuses the inquiry primarily on the conduct of the victim; and
WHEREAS, the lack of public understanding about the causes
					 and negative economic, psychological and social consequences of sexual
					 harassment is perceived to be a significant barrier to its elimination in the
					 workplace; and
WHEREAS, existing laws, regulations and other remedies have
					 failed to eradicate sexual harassment in the workplace;
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 order as follows:
I. Task Force on Sexual Harassment
There is hereby created a Task Force on Sexual Harassment.
					 The members of the task force shall be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure
					 of, the Governor. The Director of the Division for Women shall serve as
					 Chairperson of the task force. Members of the task force shall include the
					 Director of Administration for the Executive Chamber, the Commissioner of the
					 Department of Labor, the Commissioner of the Division of Human Rights, the
					 Director of the Governor's Office of Employee Relations, the Inspector General
					 of the State of New York and the President of the Civil Service Commission, or
					 their respective designees. The task force shall also include representatives
					 of the State's business, labor and legal sectors.
The members of the task force shall not receive any salary
					 or other compensation for their service as members of the task force.
II. Duties and Responsibilities of
				  the Task Force
The task force shall study the issue of sexual harassment
					 in public and private sector workplaces and provide a final report to the
					 Governor on or before December 1, 1992.
Specifically, the task force shall conduct public hearings,
					 meetings and such research as is necessary to:
1. assess the scope and efficacy of existing
				  State and Federal laws and regulations governing sexual harassment in the
				  workplace and the impact of judicial and administrative decisions interpreting
				  these provisions, and make recommendations to the Governor as to how these laws
				  and regulations can be reformed and strengthened;
2. study current formal and informal
				  administrative mechanisms utilized to address complaints of sexual harassment,
				  such as grievance and arbitration procedures, and identify those procedures
				  that are the most effective;
3.
				  examine the economic and social costs of sexual harassment to public and
				  private sector employers and their employees;
4. study public beliefs, attitudes,
				  stereotypes and policies about sexual harassment to identify resources and
				  strategies to assist in building public awareness and understanding of the
				  issue of sexual harassment;
5.
				  survey existing training programs and other educational resources on sexual
				  harassment and develop recommendations to improve the efficacy of such programs
				  and resources and their implementation; and
6. advise the Governor concerning future
				  policy development and other actions which will increase public awareness and
				  understanding of the issue of sexual harassment, prevent sexual harassment and
				  provide effective redress for its victims.