Executive Report

Thompson's executive orders in 1980

EXECUTIVE ORDERS issued by Gov. James R. Thompson in 1980 dealt with a wide variety of subjects including sex, nuclear power and fires in state buildings. The most recent order was Executive Order No. 5 (November 12) which imposes a 60-day hiring freeze on all departments and agencies under the governor's control. It was a response to reduced state revenues caused by recession, state tax cuts and possible cuts in federal aid. The order, which includes personal service contracts, prohibits executive agencies from filling vacancies, creating new positions or doing anything to increase state employment or maintain it at its present level. There are no exceptions without permission from the governor's office.

Other 1980 executive orders issued as of November 25 are:

Executive Order No. 1 (January 24) at tempts to eliminate sexual harassment in agencies under the governor's jurisdiction. It requires the Department of Human Rights to set up a training program for equal opportunity officers on how to identify sexual harassment and how to investigate and resolve complaints. It also orders the head of each agency to provide information to employees and supervisors on ways of preventing sexual harassment. The order urges other constitutional agencies to do the same.

Executive Order No. 2 (February 8) provides for mandatory reports to the Office of State Fire Marshal of any fire which occur in a facility owned or operated by the state. The fire marshal is required to report his findings to the director of the state facility.

Executive Order No. 3 (April 1) creates the Department of Nuclear Safety and is a major reorganization initiative. The cabinet-level department takes over former functions of the Department of Public Health (regulation of radiation sites, laser systems, and systems to monitor exposure of employees to radiation, regulation and acquisition of nuclear waste sites); the Office of the State Fire Marshal (inspection and regulation of nuclear steam-generating boilers); and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (authority to set standards for airborne radiation levels that are more stringent than federal standards).

Nuclear plants and waste disposal sites are, of course, also regulated by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Executive Order No. 4 (July 22) establishes that it is state policy to protect prime farmland from irreversible conversion to other uses. To insure that state programs and capital development projects do not encourage the unnecessary conversion of prime farmland, the order sets up the Department of Agriculture (DOA) as lead agency to coordinate and analyze efforts to preserve farmland. In two years all conversions of state-owned lands must meet criteria established by DOA's agricultural lands preservation policy. Participating in an interagency committee chaired by the DOA are: the Capital Development Board, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Illinois Commerce Commission, the Illinois Institute of Natural Resources, the Bureau of the Budget and the departments of Conservation; Commerce and Community Affairs; Mines and Minerals; and Transportation.

January 1981/Illinois Issues/32