History

Governor Lawton Chiles lobbied the Florida Legislature to statutorily create the Florida Commission on the Status of Women after he took office in 1991. The leading sponsor in the House of Representatives for CS/CS/HB 109 was Representative Elaine Gordon, while Senator Carrie Meek sponsored the companion bill, SB 1324. The Commission’s legislative authority now exists in Section 14.24, Florida Statutes. Since 1991, the Florida Commission on the Status of Women has been fully supported by the Governor, the Cabinet and the Florida Legislature.

The first Florida Women’s Hall of Fame ceremony and reception was held by the Commission at the Governor’s Mansion in Tallahassee in May of 1982.

Governor Bob Graham reactivated the Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women (still referred to as the COSW) by means of Executive Order 79-60.

The Commission’s budget is cut and its fate between 1977 and 1978 is not known.

Governor Reubin Askew appointed an executive director to help coordinate the Commission’s activities.

Governor Reubin Askew reestablished the Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women by executive order.

Florida Governor Claude Kirk announced the appointment of 14 new members to the COSW, bringing the total number of commissioners to 24.

The Commission presented its first report to Governor Farris Bryant.

Florida Governor Farris Bryant created the  Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women (COSW) to study laws and regulations pertaining to women in Florida and make recommendations to the legislature based on their findings. Click here to read the first Annual Report of the Governnor’s Commission on the Status of Women.

President John F. Kennedy created the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW).