STATE OF DELAWARE
governor’s office
DOVER
EXECUTIVE ORDERS
Number 28: Establishing the Delaware Hispanic Commission to Expand and Improve Representation of and Advocacy for Delaware's Hispanic Community
WHEREAS, the State of Delaware has a significant and growing Hispanic population that faces many unique challenges and opportunities; and
WHEREAS, input from and communication with the Hispanic communities of Delaware is critical to ensuring that services, programs and policies are established in a way that reflect the needs of Hispanic Delawareans; and
WHEREAS, on July 11, 1978, Governor Pete DuPont created the Governor's Council on Hispanic Affairs to address the challenges and opportunities specific to Hispanic Delawareans, and successive governors have updated and expanded the responsibilities of the Governor's Council on Hispanic Affairs; and
WHEREAS, since its founding, the Council has ably represented the Hispanic community in Delaware and provided successive governors, administrations, legislators and policy-makers with advice and insight into how to meet the needs of Delaware's Hispanic community and promote its unique heritage; and
WHEREAS, to further this work, on August 17, 2006, Governor Ruth Ann Minner created the Governor's Consortium on Hispanic Affairs to work with the business, government, financial, educational and non-profit communities to review and study issues affecting the Hispanic community in Delaware, as well as to seek funding from foundations and other sources to meet the needs of the community; and
WHEREAS, the Governor's Council on Hispanic Affairs and the Governor's Consortium on Hispanic Affairs have similar duties and concerns, and joining the voices and working hands of these two groups into one organization can strengthen their service to and representation of Delaware's Hispanic community;
WHEREAS, there is an opportunity to better serve the Hispanic community of Delaware by combining the resources of these two organizations into one commission that is broadly representative of all Hispanic Delawareans and that can leverage support from the State of Delaware and from foundations and other non-profit or business supporters.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JACK A. MARKELL, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Delaware, do hereby DECLARE and ORDER that:
1. The Delaware Hispanic Commission (the "Commission") is hereby established for the purpose of enhancing and streamlining the efforts previously undertaken by the Governor's Council on Hispanic Affairs and the Governor's Consortium on Hispanic Affairs.
2. The Commission shall consist of no fewer than 15 but no more than 25 members. The members of the Commission shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Chair or Co-Chairs shall be appointed by the Governor and serve at the pleasure of the Governor.
3. The membership of the Commission shall be broadly representative of the Hispanic community in Delaware, and the membership shall include but not be limited to representatives from business, government, financial, educational and non-profit organizations, and may include organizations that serve the Delaware Hispanic community
4. The Commission shall act by majority vote and shall adopt by-laws that provide for operating procedures such as election of officers, appointment of committees, designation of a quorum, conducting of meetings, and other matters that will promote the efficient operation of the Commission in the performance of its duties under this executive order.
5. The duties and functions of the Commission shall be:
a. To advise the Governor, the Cabinet, members of the General Assembly, and other state policy-makers on means to improve the delivery of services to the Hispanic community in Delaware;
b. To review, study, and prioritize issues affecting the Hispanic community in Delaware, including, but not limited to, the concerns of the community involving education, social services, housing, health care, culture, history, the arts, civil and human rights, legal and legislative matters, employment, finance, and economic development;
c. To undertake and promote projects that benefit the Hispanic community in Delaware;
d. To coordinate its efforts with other advisory councils, community agencies, non-profit organizations and other groups whose efforts affect the Hispanic community;
e. To work with the education and business communities in Delaware to ensure that Delaware's Hispanic population has access to educational and employment opportunities;
f. To obtain funding to support the Hispanic community in Delaware from foundation and government sources;
g. To issue recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly concerning legislation pending the General Assembly which is of particular interest to the Hispanic population; and
h. To perform such other functions and duties as assigned to it by the Governor.
6. The Commission shall report its progress and work to the Governor annually.
7. Executive Order Number Eighty Nine, issued by Governor Ruth Ann Minner on August 17, 2006, Executive Order Number Twenty-Six, issued by Governor Thomas R. Carper on February 17, 1995, and Executive Order Number Eighty-Five, issued by Governor Michael N. Castle on November 20, 1990, are hereby rescinded.
APPROVED this 2nd day of September, 2011
