| Chapter 174 |
| 2022 -- S 2236 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 06/27/2022 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION |
Introduced By: Senators Cano, Kallman, Quezada, Murray, DiMario, Euer, Lawson, Anderson, Seveney, and Pearson |
| Date Introduced: February 08, 2022 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 42-11-2.7 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-11 entitled "Department |
| of Administration" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 42-11-2.7. Office of diversity, equity and opportunity established. |
| (a) The office of diversity, equity and opportunity (ODEO) shall be established as a |
| division within the department of administration. The purpose of the office shall be to ensure |
| nondiscrimination, diversity, equity, and equal opportunity in all aspects of state government, |
| including, but not limited to, employment, procurement, policy and practices relative to state |
| programs, services, and activities. |
| (b) The head of this division shall be known as the associate director of ODEO, who shall |
| be appointed by the director of administration, in the classified service of the state, and shall be |
| responsible to, and report to, the director. The associate director of ODEO shall oversee the ODEO |
| in all aspects, including, but not limited to, coordination of the provisions of chapter 14.1 of title |
| 37 (minority business enterprise) and chapter 5.1 of title 28 (equal opportunity and affirmative |
| action) wherein the ODEO shall have direct administrative supervision of the state's equal |
| opportunity office. |
| (c) ODEO shall have the following duties and responsibilities: |
| (1) Develop, administer, implement, and maintain a statewide diversity plan and program, |
| including an equity, equal-opportunity, minority business enterprise, and supplier-diversity |
| program, as well as other related plans and programs within the office; |
| (2) Provide leadership in the development and coordination of recruitment and retention |
| activities in order to promote diversity and encourage the use of bias-free methods and practices in |
| the hiring process, performance reviews, and promotions, and to ensure compliance with applicable |
| federal and state laws, rules, regulations, and policies; |
| (3) Support the growth and development of the state's minority business enterprise program |
| by engaging in concerted outreach programs to build relationships, maintaining effective programs |
| to promote minority business enterprise utilization, and facilitating minority business enterprise in |
| State procurement activities; |
| (4) Develop, coordinate, and oversee the recruitment, selection, and retention efforts and |
| initiatives to promote and achieve the state's diversity goals and objectives, developing and |
| recommending recruitment strategies, and assisting with special recruitment efforts directed toward |
| ethnic minorities, women, and other underrepresented groups; and |
| (5) Provide leadership in advancing management's understanding, capacity, and |
| accountability for embedding diversity and equity in employment and human resource management |
| practices as an integral part of the state's employment opportunities.; and |
| (6) Create and execute a strategic plan for increased cultural competency for all state |
| employees: |
| (i) ODEO shall prescribe by regulation a cultural competency model training program; |
| (ii) ODEO shall require all state employees to annually receive said the training program |
| beginning July 1, 2022; and |
| (iii) For the purposes of this section, "cultural competency" means an understanding of |
| how institutions and individuals can respond respectfully and effectively to people from all |
| cultures, economic statuses, language backgrounds, races, ethnic backgrounds, disabilities, |
| religions, genders, gender identifications, sexual orientations, veteran statuses, immigration status, |
| and other characteristics in a manner that recognizes, affirms, and values the worth, and preserves |
| the dignity, of individuals, families, and communities. |
| (d) The director of administration may promulgate rules and regulations recommended by |
| the associate director in order to effectuate the purposes and requirements of this act. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC004251/SUB A |
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