WHEREAS, in recognition of our recent celebration of Women's History Month, it is appropriate for the State of New Jersey to redouble its efforts to advance the cause of equality for all women; and

WHEREAS, all women enjoy a fundamental right to be treated with equal respect and dignity; and

WHEREAS, sexual harassment of any kind is totally repugnant to basic principles of equality; and

WHEREAS, the threat of sexual harassment in the workplace continues to hinder the progress of women in professional life; and

WHEREAS, women have the right to be totally free from unwanted sexual advances and other forms of sexual harassment that create an intolerable and offensive atmosphere in the workplace; and

WHEREAS, this State must take every necessary and appropriate step toward eradicating sexual harassment and gender discrimination from the workplace; and

WHEREAS, the New Jersey Department of Personnel currently operates a successful training program through its Human Resource Development Institute that is designed to educate State employees on this important topic; and

WHEREAS, the State should ensure that all governmental entities adopt effective policies to eradicate sexual harassment from the workplace;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JIM FLORIO, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

1. The Commissioner of Personnel shall conduct a comprehensive review of the State's current policies, practices, and procedures for eradicating sexual harassment from the government workplace. The Commissioner of Personnel, working in cooperation with the Personnel Advisory Board, shall examine current policies, practices, and procedures, including N.J.A.C. 4A:7-1.2 et seq., to determine how these practices and procedures can be made more effective and sensitive to the needs of victims of sexual harassment. The Commissioner of Personnel shall submit a final report to me no later than ninety (90) days after the date of this Executive Order.

2. The final report shall set forth findings and recommendations, and shall address all relevant issues including: (a) What are the current practices and procedures employed by the nineteen principal State departments as well as State authorities and colleges?; (b) Do these practices and procedures respond adequately to the needs of victims of sexual harassment?; (c) Do these practices and procedures provide adequate sanctions for those who are found to have committed acts of sexual harassment?; (d) Are these practices and procedures uniform throughout all units of State government?; and (e) Are State employees adequately advised of the nature of sexual harassment and the remedies that exist?

3. Concurrent with the preparation of this report, all State agencies, departments, authorities, and instrumentalities shall develop a plan for providing anti-sexual harassment training programs or seminars for employees and/or for management and administrative personnel. In particular, the nineteen principal State departments shall make available to employees the anti-sexual harassment program as administered through the Human Resources Development Institute in the Department of Personnel.

4. This Order shall not be construed to apply to local, county, or municipal governments.

5. This order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this
4th day of April in the Year of Our
Lord, One Thousand Nine Hundred and
Ninety Three, and of the Independence
of the United States, the Two Hundred
and Seventeenth.

/s/ Jim Florio
Governor

Attest:

/s/ M. Robert DeCotiis
Chief Counsel to the Governor