In recognition of the rightful claim of the women of this State for equal opportunity and status in every phase of life, I am today transforming and expanding the Women's Unit, by recreating it as the Women's Division in the Executive Chamber, a division with coordinating functions for all women's interests in the State. The Women's Division, as the only women's agency in New York State government, shall continue to be a full-time staff unit of the Executive Chamber whose function shall be the development of effective and responsive programs and projects on State, local and Federal levels in the public and private sectors, promoting equal opportunity and status for women.

Therefore, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of New York, I, Hugh L. Carey, Governor of the State of New York, do hereby establish by executive order the Women's Division in the Executive Chamber, which will continue the functions of the Women's Unit in the Office of the Secretary to the Governor and supersede that unit as a separate division within the Executive Chamber. I hereby appoint Mary Burke Nicholas as Director of the Women's Division, to report directly to me.

I. Powers and Duties of the Women's Division.

The Women's Division shall:

— act as a center of communication about legislation affecting the interests of women;

— maintain and develop a roster of women qualified to serve in State government as an aid to the Governor and others in making appointments;

— establish a liaison and work with all other government agencies involved in the implementation of laws, ordinances and regulations and with the development of programs which affect the status of women;

— act as a liaison between women's organizations in the State and State government;

— develop, design and recommend to me new programs and projects which will improve the status of women and the quality of State services to women;

— assist in insuring that the hiring, training and promotion of women in State government goes forward, and that new and innovative efforts are made to increase the number of women in decisionmaking posts, as is outlined in Part II of the Order.

II. Equal Employment Opportunity for Women in State Government.

It shall be the duty of the new Women's Division to ensure fulfillment of the State's policy of encouraging employment opportunities for women at all levels of State government and to make State government fully reflective of the needs, interests and talents of all of our population.

The following steps and procedures, as set forth in Executive Order No. 11, promulgated on September 24, 1974, and continued by my Executive Order No. 1, promulgated January 1, 1975, shall continue to be followed by each State department and agency to promote the active recruitment, training and advancement of women.

A. Agency and Department Actions.

Each State agency or department, under the guidance of the Women's Division, and with the cooperation and technical assistance of the State Department of Civil Service, shall:

B. Reports to the Governor

The head of every State agency shall report to the Governor on or before May 1st, and biannually thereafter, on the specific efforts such agency has undertaken to achieve an equitable representation of women at all job levels within that agency. The agency heads shall supply to the Governor any information which the Governor or the Director of the Women's Division requests to demonstrate implementation of the steps and procedures outlined in Part II of this Order. The Director of the Women's Division shall assist the Governor in evaluating department and agency compliance and shall make recommendations to the Governor as to how such compliance may be improved.

III. Revocation of Prior Executive Order and Effective Date

Executive Order No. 11, promulgated by Governor Malcolm Wilson on September 24, 1974, and continued by my Executive Order No. 1, promulgated on January 1, 1975, is hereby revoked and superseded by this Executive Order, effective April 11, 1975.