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Administrative History

Executive Order 40 (1976) established a New York State government-wide affirmative action mandate and required every state agency to draft a plan for the achievement of equal employment opportunities for ethnic minorities (Black, Hispanic, Asian or Pacific Islander and American Indian or Alaskan Native) and women. The Division of Human Rights received and approved agency plans and the Governor's Executive Committee for Affirmative Action, chaired by the Civil Service Commission's president, oversaw the entire program.

The next year, in response to the same executive order, the Department of Civil Service established a Merit System Affirmative Action Office. This Office was responsible for coordinating the Department of Civil Service's own affirmative action program and for assisting the Merit System Affirmative Action Office's president as she/he took on the role of Governor's Executive Committee for Affirmative Action chair. The Affirmative Action Office also served as liaison between the Department of Civil Service, the Division of Human Rights and non-governmental organizations concerned with equal opportunity. In addition, the Merit System Affirmative Action Office referred discrimination complaints to the agencies mandated to handle them and even investigated a number of complaints itself.

Executive Order 40.1 (1980) gave the Department of Civil Service primary responsibility for the State's affirmative action program. It also expanded affirmative action coverage to disabled individuals and Vietnam era veterans. The Merit System Affirmative Action Office in turn was assigned the task of reviewing, approving and monitoring each state agency's affirmative action plan. In addition, this executive order formally recognized the Affirmative Action Advisory Council, made up of designated Affirmative Action Officers and other full-time affirmative action professionals and established the council as an advisory body to the Governor's Executive Committee on Affirmative Action. In 1981 the Merit System Affirmative Action Office was merged with the Civil Service Department's Career Opportunity Division to form the Division of Affirmative Careers.