TONY KNOWLES
GOVERNOR |
STATE
OF ALASKA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
JUNEAU |
March 5, 2002 |
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 195
FINDINGS
I, Tony Knowles, Governor of the State of Alaska, make the
following findings:
1. Alaska is one of the most ethnically diverse states in
the nation. According to the 2000 census, 15.6 percent of Alaskans
identify themselves as Alaska Native; 4.1 percent as Hispanic
or Latino; 4 percent as Asian; 3.5 percent as African American;
5.4 percent as "mixed," and 69.3 percent as white.
2. As Alaskans, we cherish our freedoms and civil rights.
The first act of the Territorial Legislature in 1913 gave women
the right to vote--seven years before the rest of the nation.
Civil rights legislation championed by Elizabeth Peratrovich
and the Alaska Native Brotherhood and Sisterhood passed in 1945,
two decades before the United States Civil Rights Act.
3. Alaskans have made great strides in overcoming discrimination
and injustice, but recent events and findings of the Governor's
Commission on Tolerance make it clear that levels of intolerance
and discrimination continue to exist in our state.
4. As a nation and a state dedicated to democracy and civil
liberties, we, as individuals, employers, employees, and communities
must do all we can to eliminate discrimination and intolerance
from our society and celebrate our diversity.
5. While tolerance and respect for all peoples inherently
is the responsibility of each individual, those in leadership
and institutional roles should lead this effort and teach by
example.
6. As an employee, public servant, and institution, the State
of Alaska can take steps to improve our workplaces and customer
service to reflect the diversity of our state and our respect
for all peoples.
ORDER
I, Tony Knowles, Governor of the State of Alaska, under the
authority vested in me by art. III, secs. 1, 16, and 24, of the
Alaska Constitution, and in recognition of the findings concerning
perceived institutional intolerance in state agencies set out
in the final report of the Governor's Commission on Tolerance,
renew the state's commitment to diversity in the state workplace
free from discrimination and harassment. I declare that it is
the continued goal of the executive branch to eliminate discrimination
and harassment in the contexts of the state as an employer and
service provider; to assure timely response to discrimination
and harassment complaints concerning state personnel or services;
to prohibit and prevent discriminatory behavior in the state
workplace based on race, sex, color, religion, physical or mental
disability, sexual orientation, or economic status, to assure
that all Alaskans have the opportunity to compete fairly for
state jobs; and to assure that state personnel serve all Alaskans
with respect. This Order fosters policies contained in AS 18.80.010
- 18.80.300, AS 39.25.010 - 39.25.995, AS 44.19.450 - 44.19.458,
in related regulations adopted under those statutes, and in Administrative
Orders No. 189, 129, 109, 93, 86, 81, 76, 75, 59, 35, 24, and
18 on this subject.
To promote these policies, I order all of the state agencies
of the executive branch to:
1. Implement within the head office of each state agency an
early intervention process for discrimination and harassment
complaints concerning state personnel. The Department of Administration
shall establish this informal harassment and discrimination complaint
process to be implemented by all state agencies consistent with
collective bargaining agreements and law. The Department of
Administration shall publicize the process to all state personnel
through training, orientation, and educational materials. The
Department of Administration shall facilitate training for supervisors
and other state managers on how to recognize complaints of discrimination
or harassment and the appropriate initial response to those complaints.
The state agency head shall assign an internal complaint officer
within the agency head's office to be responsible for the implementation
and operation of the internal, informal complaint process within
each state agency.
2. Implement standardized orientation for new hires to the
state workforce and provide diversity training for all state
personnel. The Department of Administration shall standardize
new hire orientation to assure that new state personnel are advised
of their rights and responsibilities with respect to human rights,
equal employment opportunity, and civil rights law and of their
responsibility for contributing to a positive workplace for all
state workers. In addition to the currently offered curriculum
on "Respectful Workplace," the Department of Administration
shall embark on a statewide diversity training initiative for
all state employees. This training shall emphasize a broad definition
of diversity. The course shall be available through the division
of personnel, Department of Administration, as a regularly scheduled
class in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, and other communities
as necessary, and on request as a customized course for state
staff units throughout Alaska. With the approval of the Department
of Administration, each state agency may adapt the training to
specific needs and circumstances of that agency and may use current,
successful training programs to avoid duplication with the statewide
program, with the understanding that all agency training must
include all essential elements of the statewide program. To
the maximum extent possible, all state employees currently serving
in a supervisory position must complete a diversity training
course described in this provision within one year after the
effective date of this Order and state employees hired for a
supervisory position after the effective date of this Order must
complete the training course within one year after hire.
3. Increase recruitment outreach, improve training for hiring
managers, and broaden the high school and college internship
programs to ensure the widest diversity of opportunity for all
Alaskans. Each state agency shall engage in active recruitment
outreach activities, including job fairs, that reach more diverse
segments of Alaska's population and cooperative efforts with
Alaska Native and other ethnic organizations to provide training
on how to apply for state jobs. The Division of Personnel, Department
of Administration, shall assure that basic Workplace Alaska training
for hiring managers emphasizes the importance of fair treatment
for all minorities throughout the state recruitment process.
Training for managers shall include techniques for interviewing
diverse applicants to assure absence of bias. The division of
personnel, Department of Administration, shall work with public
school and University of Alaska administrators to develop and
advertise a statewide high school and college internship program
that is open to all Alaska students.
4. Implement customer service training for all state agency
employees who deal with the public on a day-to-day basis and
an informal public service complaint process within each state
agency. Each state agency shall establish an open and publicized
complaint process through which the public can make their concerns
known to the state agency regarding perceived discrimination
in state service delivery. Each state agency shall report to
the Governor annually, no later than December 31 of each year,
on the number and type of complaints and their response to each.
State employees who interact with the public will attend training
offered by the division of personnel, Department of Administration,
stressing the importance of treating all citizens with respect
regardless of the citizen's background, origin, or life style.
The training will develop skills for providing service to a
diverse public and will take into consideration the specific
needs of each state agency based on the customers it serves.
This Order takes effect immediately.
Dated at Juneau, Alaska this 5th day of March 2002.
S/S Tony
Knowles
Tony Knowles
Governor |