THE S'fc~TE OF TEXAS
EXECUTIVE DEPARTr~ENT
OFFICE Of THE GOVERNOR
AUSc"[IN, TEXAS
October 5, 1979
EXECUTIVE ORDER
WPC - 13
ESTABLISHING THE GOVERNOR'S<TASK FORCE ON HANDICAPPED CITIZENS
WHEREAS, The \·ihite House Confel')~nce on Handicapped Individuals in \'ihich a
delegation of distinguished Texans p~.rticipated, has madesignificantrecommendations to improve the capacity of persons with disabilities to live \'/ith full
satisfaction in our society; ~nd
WHEREAS-, their reeor;lmendations.<bave been plilced in an. Implementation Plan
which i·s the culmination of an unp¥, dented effol"t-thathas involved >participation by thousands of handicapped
ividua1s, their familles, providers of
services and other advocates; and
lmEREAS, the Imple1nentati.on Pl~:~yhas merit and is the most definitive
documentation of the needs and.requ.:~red actions of handicapped Americans to
date; and
for
WHEREAS, the Implementation Pl9"" has been forwarded
and
the.State of Texas
its~consideration;
WHEREAS, this Implementation Pl!i!n is vlOrthy of imp1ernentation by the State
of Texas; and
HHEREAS, there is a need to
re~iew
•
the Implementati9rPlan
in
or~er-to
i dent i fy hOI"· s pee i fi c departments ,!/~~encies, eoune iTs and commissions . of the
State can most effectively implem~n\~/ithe recommendations pontainedin the Plan
in consonance v/ith their respec~ive!$tatutory funetions;and
loJHEREAS, there is a need to
review; and
es~ablish
a mechanism to accomplish this
\'JHEREAS, a Task Force, vlith a~roper understanding of the duties of the
respective- state agencies .wou1d pro~tide such a mechanism.
NOl~,THEREFDRE, I~~nlliam P•. _~;';~ments, Jr. Governor of the State of T"exas,
under th-eauthority vested in -me ,ct~her-€by create and. e-stablishtheGQVERNOR I S
TA'SK FORCE FOR HArmICAPPEDCnIZEN~h:~or thepurppse of im~lerneJ1t_inQ therec-om.,
mendaUons of the \~hite House ConJ-ef'ence on Handicapped>IndividuaJs-~
The GOVERr~OR I S TASK FORCE FOR HANPI~APPID CITIZENS (TASK FQRCE) sha11-be composed
of .no more than thirty members, qpp~~nted by the Governor,- and a chairman designated by the Governor" The follow;:nQ agenc-ies, departments, commissions and
boards sha 11 be represented on the\TAsK FORCE:
Texas State Commission for tQe.B1ind
Texas Department of Communit'y!~~fairs
Texas Coordi na ti ng Board ofC~(lrJeges and Uni versi ties
Texas Department of Corrections:
Texas Commission for the Deaf
Developmental Disabilitles Couirtcil
Texas Education Agency
Texas Employment Commission
1 Employment Opportunity Office
Governorls Office of Budget and Planning
Governor's Comt:littee on Employment of the Handicapped
Texas Department of Health
Department of Highv/ays and Public Transportation
Department of Human Resources
Industrial Accident Commission
Texas State Board of Insurance
Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation
Merit System Council
Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife
Department of Public Safety
Purchasing and General Services Commission
Texas Rehabilitation Commission
All members, including the chairman, shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.
The duties of the TASK FORCE shall include but not be limited to:
A thorough study and evaluation of the recommendations contained
in the Implementation Plan of the White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals.
1.
Identification of those recommendations which are within the authority
of the various state agencies and the assignment of those recommended
for implementation to the particular agencies.
Recommendation of a plan to the Governor for implementation by the
3.
s ta te agenc i es .
4.
Securing periodic reports to the Governor from the concerned agencies
on the progress of the implementation of the recommendations.
The :oordination of the GOVER~OR'S TASK FORCE'S activity shall be centered in the
Governor's office. The Special Assistant for Administration of the Governor's
offi
shall be the principal coordinator for the GOVERNOR'~ TASK FORCE. The
Speci 1 Assistant for Administration shall utilize the services of the Executive
Di rec tor of the Governor' s Cor~lmit tee on Employment of the Handi capped as necessa ry.
All
te Agencies, £3oards, and Commissions are hereby directed to assist fully
the GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE ON HANDICAPPEO CITIZENS in .addition to the Governor's
office aid and other staff support.
This
ecutive Order shall be effective immediately and shall remain in full
force and effect until modified) amended or rescinded by me.
Given under my hand this 5th day .of
Oct0ber, 1979.
WILLIAM p~ CLEMENTS, Jr.
Governor of .Texas
ATTEST:
FiJ~d in the office of
/~~.
J.: ---
GE~I~GE
W.
STRAKE,
Secretary of State
Sccrct.1ry of Slate
OCT - 9 1979
Statutory Documents Div.