To address the continuing threat of terrorism and to work with the federal Department of Homeland Security (created in 2002 following the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001), homeland security in Pennsylvania in 2003 operated under executive order; a homeland security director was appointed to oversee the state's homeland security activities.
Executive agencies under the governor's jurisdiction are the Pennsylvania Council on Aging, Human Relations Commission, Governor's Council on the Hispanic Community, Commission for Women, and State Ethics Commission. The Liquor Control Board operates state liquor stores and claims to be the world's largest single purchaser of liquors and wines.
The Department of Education administers the school laws of Pennsylvania, oversees community colleges, licenses and regulates private schools, and administers the state public library program. Educational policy is the province of the State Board of Education, a panel with 17 members appointed by the governor to six-year terms. Also within the department are various boards that make policies for and review developments within the state's higher educational system.
The Department of Transportation maintains state-operated highways, mass transit, rail service, and aviation facilities. The State Highway and Bridge Authority and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission also have responsibilities related to transportation. Agencies and departments providing health and welfare services include the Department of Aging, Department of Community and Economic Development, and Department of Health. All public assistance, social service, mental health, and mental retardation programs are administered by the Department of Public Welfare.
The Office of Attorney General has divisions on criminal law, legal services, and public protection. The National Guard, Bureau for Veterans' Affairs, and state veterans' homes are under the Department of Military Affairs; the Pennsylvania State Police is a separate state agency. The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, created in 1978, allocates federal funds for crime control, juvenile justice, and delinquency prevention. The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (formerly the State Council of Civil Defense) provides assistance in emergency situations resulting from natural or manmade disasters.
All state park and forest preservation programs, ecological and geological resource information programs, and community conservation partnerships are under the supervision of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Department of Environmental Protection. Land and water environmental protection programs are under the supervision of the Department of Environmental Protection. The Governor's Energy Council seeks to augment the state's energy security through the planned development and conservation of energy resources. The Department of Labor and Industry administers safety, employment, and industrial standards; operates vocational rehabilitation and workers' compensation programs; and mediates labor disputes.