Gender Parity Legislation

The West Virginia Code (Chapter 18B-2A-1) acknowledges the benefits of gender equity on government boards, but does not mandate gender parity.

The Utah Code (67-1-11) establishes that gender may be a consideration in the appointment of members to any board, committee, bureau, commission, council, or other entity.

The General Laws of Rhode Island (28-5.1-3.1) establishes that to the extent possible all boards, commissions, committees, and councils shall be representative of the state gender proportions.

The North Dakota Century Code (54-06-19) establishes that to the extent possible all boards, commissions, committees, and councils shall be gender balanced.

New Hampshire Statute (21: 33-a) establishes that gender may be a consideration in the appointment of all state boards, commissions and councils.

The Montana Code (2-15-108) establishes that as vacancies arise on any appointive boards, commissions, committees, and councils of state government, the appointing officer should take action to achieve gender equity.

The Iowa General Assembly passed gender balance legislation (HF 243) in 2009, requiring that all appointive boards, commissions, committees and councils of the state be gender balanced. Gender balance on state-level boards and commissions has been required since 1987, and the 2009 legislation extended this expectation to county and city boards and commissions. This law goes into effect in January 2012.

Currently, nine states have legislation requiring or encouraging gender parity on state and/or local boards and commissions: CT, IA, IL, MT, ND, NH, RI, UT, and WV.

The Gender Balanced Appointments Act establishes that all appointments to boards, commissions, committees and councils of the state be gender balanced to the extent possible. If balance is not possible, then significant representation is expected.

The Connecticut General Statutes (Section 4-9b) establishes that the membership of all state appointive boards, commissions, committees and councils having members appointed by the Governor or by members of the General Assembly be representative of the state gender balance to the extent possible.