1. (b) The Task Force shall meet at least once a year and shall submit an annual report on or before September 1 of each year to the Office of the Secretary to the Governor and the Office of the Counsel to the Governor. The annual report shall include such recommendations as the Task Force sees fit, dealing with individuals' rights to the benefit of government services and opportunity for government service regardless of sexual orientation. The report due September 1, 1997 shall, in addition, include the Task Force's recommendations, if any, regarding the guidelines promulgated by the Division of Human Rights to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation to maintain an environment where only job-related criteria are used to assess employees or prospective employees of the state.

2. (c) The Governor's Office of Community Affairs shall provide such staff support and assistance as the Task Force may require to carry out its responsibilities under this order.

   Signed: George E. Pataki Dated: April 9, 1996

WHEREAS, it has been, and it remains, the policy of this state not to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation in the provision of benefits or services and in the state's capacity as an employer;

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 28, issued November 18, 1983, amended by Executive Order No. 28.1, issued April 21, 1987, established a Task Force to address individuals' rights to the benefit of government services and opportunity for government service regardless of sexual orientation;

WHEREAS, according to records in the Governor's Appointments Office, no appointments have been made to the Task Force and the Task Force has not met since at least 1990; and

WHEREAS, such a Task Force serves a useful purpose in supporting the goals of Executive Order No. 28;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE E. PATAKI, 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 continue Executive Order Nos. 28 and 28.1, issued November 18, 1983 and April 12, 1987 respectively; and do hereby amend paragraph 4 of the Statement of Policy in Executive Order No. 28 to read as follows:

4.(a) In order to assure that we understand fully the extent and nature of any discrimination that exists, I will appoint a Task Force, including the Commissioners of the Departments of Correctional Services, Health, Mental Health, Labor, Social Services and the Division of Human Rights, the Director of Criminal Justice Services, the President of the Civil Service Commission, the Directors of the Division for Women, the Office of Employee Relations, the Division for Youth and five private citizens whom I shall designate and who shall serve for a term of two years or until a successor is appointed.