WHEREAS, the Division of the Deaf and Deafened was created within the Department of Labor by Act 72 of the Public Acts of 1937; and

    WHEREAS, the Division was transferred to the Michigan Employment Security Commission by Act 311 of Public Acts of 1957; and

    WHEREAS, the statutory powers and duties of the Division of the Deaf and Deafened are to promote the employment and enhance the welfare of deaf and deafened individuals; and

    WHEREAS, the responsibility for advocacy on behalf of handicapped citizens to ensure employment opportunities, a barrier free environment, and equal benefits of receipt of services is vested in substantial part in the Michigan Department of Labor through the Commission on Handicapper Concerns, the Barrier Free Design Board, and the Commission for the Blind; and

    WHEREAS, this increased awareness and greater assistance on behalf of all handicapped individuals, particularly the deaf and deafened, can best be carried out by the Department of Labor;

    NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM G. MILLIKEN, Governor of the State of Michigan, pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Michigan Constitution of 1963 in Article V, Section 2, do hereby order that the powers, duties and responsibilities of the Division of the Deaf and Deafened be transferred from the Michigan Employment Security Commission to the Michigan Department of Labor.

    It is further ordered that the records, personnel, property, unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations or other funds available to the Michigan Employment Security Commission for the conduct of the Division of the Deaf and Deafened be transferred to the Michigan Department of Labor.

    In fulfillment of the requirements of Article V, Section 2 of the Michigan Constitution of 1963, the provisions of this Order shall become effective November 19, 1979.