EXECUTIVE ORDER  71-08

The present high rate of unemployment within the State of Washington adversely affects all segments of our economy. More directly affected are the individuals of all educational, experience and income levels who are presently unemployed.

Affirmative action must be maintained with respect to assuring equal opportunities to all. Critical to the moment are the problems of our returning veterans. Recently discharged veterans are expected to comprise a significant group of those requiring extensive employability development services in order to facilitate their transition to civilian life.

Inasmuch as, at this time, the primary responsibility of the State Employment Security Department is to provide job development and placement services to the veteran and all other unemployed and underemployed workers in the most equitable manner, immediate action will be taken by that department to provide maximum exposure of employment opportunities within the state. Such job information as is compiled will be given the broadest possible dissemination among individuals, agencies or groups involved in job search or applicant referral services.

It would greatly expedite the employment of returning veterans and other unemployed and underemployed individuals to require that private firms located within the state and receiving certain state contracts list their job opportunities with the Employment Security Department.

THEREFORE, By the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Washington, it is ordered that:

1. The Director of the Department of General Administration, with the collaboration of the Commissioner of the Employment Security Department, after consultation with and receiving the recommendations from other appropriate state agencies, shall develop rules and regulations requiring that state contracts hereinafter executed shall contain assurances that the contractor, and any subcontractor holding a contract directly under that contractor, shall, to the maximum extent possible, list all employment openings with the Employment Security Department. Such rules and regulations may provide that they will apply only to those contracts above a specified dollar amount and which will provide a specified employment potential, as determined by the Director and the Commissioner. The rules shall further provide that the listing of all such employment openings shall not apply to job openings which the contractor proposes to fill from within his own organization or by union agreement.

Nothing in this order shall be construed as requiring the hiring of persons only from among individuals referred to the contractor by the Employment Security Department.

2. The Commissioner of the Employment Security Department, shall, from time to time, report to the Governor concerning the effectiveness of the program established under this order in fulfilling the employment needs of our unemployed and underemployed individuals.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set
my hand and caused the seal of the State of
Washington to be affixed at Olympia this
16th day of December A.D., Nineteen hundred and seventy-one.

Daniel J. Evans
Governor of Washington

BY THE GOVERNOR:



Secretary of State

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