New Jersey Governor Establishes Advisory Council for Equity and Sustainability

New Jersey Governor, Philip D. Murphy, has issued an executive order establishing an Equity and Sustainability Advisory Council to provide strategic direction for achieving greater equity across state agencies. 

The Council, which will be led by the Director of the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, will consist of the Chair of the Civil Service Commission, the Attorney General, and the Treasurer, or their designees, and may include other appointed state employees. 

Additionally, the head of each principal department in the Executive Branch of State government will designate a senior-level employee to perform the functions of Chief Diversity Officer or equivalent role to administer the department’s diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives and programs. 

The Advisory Council will also establish working groups consisting of members and heads of State agencies or their designees. State agencies will be required to cooperate fully with any requests or information needed from the Advisory Council to accomplish the purposes of the executive order. The order is effective immediately.

To read the full executive order (EO No. 319), click here.