State of New Jersey
Executive Order #41

Governor James J. Florio

WHEREAS, the Governor's Commission on Eastern European and Captive Nation History was created on April 10, 1984, by Executive Order No. 69, to conduct a thorough study of public school curricula, including textbooks and all other pertinent materials dealing with the history of the people of Eastern Europe and various nationalities existing withinthe Soviet Union, to examine such materials for veracity and historical accuracy, and to determine whether the history of these people was fairly and accurately presented in our State's schools; and

WHEREAS, the Commission was subsequently extended by Executive Order No. 122 to July 31, 1986, and Executive Order No. 156 to December 31, 1987; and

WHEREAS, on July 1989 the Commission issued a report of its findings and recommendations, which makes clear that there is a need to extend the life of the Commission because further work is necessary in order to fully complete its tasks; and

WHEREAS, the political, social and economical conditions in Eastern Europe have changed significantly since the Commission issued its report;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JAMES J. FLORIO, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT that:

1. There is hereby recreated a Governor's Commission on Eastern European and Captive Nation History which shall be named the Commission on Eastern European History.

2. The Commission shall consist of no more than twenty members. The members of the Commission shall be the Commissioner of Education or his designee; the Director of the Office of Ethnic Affairs within the Department of State or his designee; and eighteen public members to be appointed by the Governor. The public members to be appointed shall be representatives of the various ethnic groups of Eastern Europe and of the nationalities existing within the Soviet Union, as well as historians and educators who have distinguished records of knowledge and involvement concerning the history and culture of Eastern Europe or of nationalities within the Soviet Union.

3. The Governor shall designate a chairperson and vice chairperson of the Commission from among the public members of the Commission. The chairperson, vice chairperson and public members shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. Commission vacancies shall be filled by the Governor for the remainder of the unexpired term.

4. It shall be the duty of the Governor's Commission on Eastern European History to make recommendations as to the types of seminars that should be conducted for teachers to improve their knowledge about Eastern Europe; and to explore ways to develop alternative or supplementary teaching materials that will improve students' knowledge about Eastern Europe.

5. The Commission is authorized to call upon the Department of Education to supply such data, program reports, and other information as it deems necessary to discharge its responsibilities under this Order. The Department of Education is authorized and directed, to the extent not inconsistent with law, to cooperate with the Commission and to furnish it with such information and assistance as is necessary to accomplish the purpose of this Order and the Commission.

6. The Commission shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and to the State Board of Education on or before August 22, 1993.

8. This Order shall take effect immediately and shall be in effect through August 22, 1993.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this
23rd day of August in the Year of Our
Lord, one thousand nine hundred and
ninety-one, and of the Independence
of the United States, the two hundred
and sixteenth.

/s/ James J. Florio
GOVERNOR

Attest:

/s/
Maureen Kehoe Rothfelder
Assistant Counsel to the Governor