Executive Order 2003-22

 

Confirming Equal Employment Opportunities

 

 

WHEREAS, the employment practices of the State of Arizona should promote public confidence in the fairness and integrity of government, and should reflect the State’s firm commitment to strengthening and developing equal employment opportunities in the State of Arizona; and

 

WHEREAS, the State should use the capabilities of all its employees to the fullest, without regard to characteristics that are not directly related to the ability of the individual employee to perform the requirements of a job; and

 

WHEREAS, the government of the State of Arizona is committed to employment policies and procedures that encourage non-discriminatory employment practices; provide desirable models for the private sector and local governments; and build from the positive experiences of private and public sector employers that have adopted their own such policies; and

 

WHEREAS, Arizona’s two largest cities, along with several of its major employers and at least 13 other states, have developed policies against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Janet Napolitano, Governor of the State of Arizona, by virtue of the power vested in me by the Arizona Constitution and the laws of this State, do hereby:

 

  1. Affirm the State’s commitment to the elimination of all barriers to employment that artificially restrict hiring, promotion, recruitment, compensation, and tenure on the basis of any status or characteristic that is not directly related to the performance of a job; and

 

2.   Direct that no state agency, board or commission (collectively “state agency”) shall discriminate in employment solely on the basis of an individual's sexual orientation; No provided, however, that no state agency shall be required to establish employment goals based on sexual orientation.

 

  1. Give notice to all state employees that acts of sexual harassment or other harassment

based on sexual orientation shall be a cause for discipline, up to and including termination of employment with the State.

    

      4.   Direct that heads of all state agencies take measures to ensure that:

 

A.     Their policy statements, programs, and procedures adequately reflect that equal employment opportunity exists in accordance with this Order.

 

B.     Their procedures for evaluating and acting upon complaints of employment discrimination reflect current state and federal law and the policies promulgated in this Executive Order.  Such procedures shall provide appropriate requirements for confidentiality in cases arising from complaints of discrimination based on sexual

 

 

Executive Order 2003-22

June 21, 2003

 

 

orientation and commitments by the State agency to resolve all complaints in the      spirit and intent of this Executive Order.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Arizona

 

 

                        GOVERNOR

 

Signed at the Capitol in Phoenix this

21st day of June in the Year Two Thousand and Three and of the Independence of the United States of America the Two Hundred and Twenty Seventh

 

ATTEST:

 

 

                        Secretary of State