Our State has successfully faced many of the most difficult issues of government and public administration which result from increasing public demands for services in times of contracting financial resources. Our success is due to the careful application of the available resources to human and governmental requirements.

It is fitting that this administration's accumulated knowledge and experience be gathered and be focused on the issues which our State will face in the future. Further, it is in the best interest of the people to be informed by the Governor and members of his administration of those issues, and to have the benefit of the perspective provided by a representative body of private individuals who have demonstrated an ability to address and resolve complex problems: A mechanism must be created to permit such individuals to participate in an effort coordinated with State officials. This goal can be achieved best by the establishment of the Council on State Priorities, composed of distinguished citizens representing various sectors of our society, including business, labor and academia.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Hugh L. Carey, 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. Council on State Priorities.

There is hereby created within the Executive Department a group to be known as the Council on State Priorities (the “council”). The members of the council shall be appointed by the Governor. The Governor shall serve as cochairman of the council, and shall appoint a cochairman to serve with him from among the members. The members of the council shall receive no compensation, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for any necessary expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties.

II. Powers and Responsibilities of the Council.

The council shall prepare a series of reports on issues to be designated by the Governor, which reports shall include a concise analysis of present policy, identify the stress points of public administration, and suggest the policy options available to deal with those difficulties. The council shall additionally be prepared to advise public officials and others of its conclusions.

III. Procedures of the Council.

The council may employ such staff as may be deemed necessary by the cochairmen at compensation to be fixed by them contingent on the availability of funds from private or public sources. In carrying out its functions, powers and duties, the council shall, wherever possible make use of the staff resources of the Executive Chamber and of State agencies. All departments, divisions, boards, offices and public corporations of the State are directed to cooperate with the council and to provide such assistance as the council may request to fulfill its purposes. Such assistance may include, but need not be limited to, the provision of statistical and policy data in such form as is determined by the council, and consultation with such agency staff as the council identifies.

IV. Advisory Panel.

There is hereby created an advisory panel to the council (the “panel”) whose members, designated by the Governor, may include commissioners, directors and chairpersons of State agencies and authorities, as well as members of the Executive Chamber. The Governor, in his discretion, may appoint to the panel additional members from the private and independent sector who have made significant contributions to public policy.