093_SB0167enr

SB167 Enrolled                       LRB093 07332 RCE 07494 b

 1        AN ACT in relation to parenting.

 2        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:

 4        Section 1. Short title. This Act  may  be  cited  as  the
 5    Council on Responsible Fatherhood Act.

 6        Section  5.  Purpose.   The  purpose  of  this  Act is to
 7    promote  the   recognition   of   the   importance   of   the
 8    participation of both parents in the lives of their children.
 9    While  social  policy  and practice have often focused on the
10    difficulties of raising a child in a single-parent family and
11    have often  created  barriers  to  the  involvement  of  both
12    parents  in their child's life, the purpose of this Act is to
13    promote  a  social  policy  and  practice  that  values   the
14    contribution that each parent brings to the family unit.

15        Section 10.  Fatherhood initiative.
16        (a)  The purpose of this Act shall be implemented through
17    a  fatherhood  initiative  to  be  directed by the Council on
18    Responsible Fatherhood created by this Act.
19        (b)  The  goals  of  the  fatherhood  initiative  are  to
20    increase the awareness of  the problems created when a  child
21    grows  up  without  the  presence of a responsible father; to
22    identify obstacles that impede or prevent the involvement  of
23    responsible  fathers  in  the  lives  of  their  children; to
24    identify  strategies  that  are  successful   in   overcoming
25    identified   obstacles   and   in   encouraging   responsible
26    fatherhood;  and  to  facilitate  the transition from current
27    policies, perceptions, and practices  that  adversely  affect
28    the  participation  of  fathers  in their children's lives to
29    policies,  perceptions,  and  practices  that   promote   the
30    contributions   of   responsible   fathers.   The  fatherhood
 
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 1    initiative must promote positive interaction between  fathers
 2    and  their  children.  While the emphasis of the program must
 3    be on the population of children whose families have received
 4    or are receiving  public  assistance,  the  program  may  not
 5    exclude  other  populations of children for which the program
 6    is appropriate.
 7        (b)  The fatherhood initiative must include, but  is  not
 8    limited to, the following:
 9             (1)  The  promotion  of  public education concerning
10        the   financial   and   emotional   responsibilities   of
11        fatherhood.
12             (2)  The provision of assistance to men in preparing
13        for the legal, financial, and emotional  responsibilities
14        of fatherhood.
15             (3)  The promotion of the establishment of paternity
16        upon the birth of a child.
17             (4)  The  encouragement  of  fathers in fostering an
18        emotional connection to children and providing  financial
19        support to children.
20             (5)  The  establishment  of  support  mechanisms for
21        fathers developing  and  maintaining  relationships  with
22        their children.
23             (6)  The  identification  and  promotion  of methods
24        that reduce the negative outcomes experienced by children
25        affected by divorce, separation, and disputes  concerning
26        custody and visitation.
27             (7)  The  integration  of  State  and local services
28        available to families.

29        Section 15.  Council on Responsible Fatherhood.
30        (a)  The Council on Responsible Fatherhood is created  to
31    carry  out  the purposes, goals, and initiatives of this Act.
32    The Council consists of 21 members appointed by  and  serving
33    at  the  pleasure  of the Governor.  Members appointed by the
 
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 1    Governor must be chosen on the basis of their interest in and
 2    experience with children  and  families.   In  addition,  the
 3    Speaker  of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader
 4    of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate,
 5    and the Minority Leader of the Senate shall each appoint  one
 6    ex  officio, non-voting member.  The Governor must choose one
 7    member of the Council to be the Chairperson.  A  majority  of
 8    the  members  appointed by the Governor constitutes a quorum.
 9    Members  shall  serve  without  compensation,  but   may   be
10    reimbursed  for  their  actual expenses in carrying out their
11    duties as members of the Council.  The  Department  of  Human
12    Services must provide staff support to the Council.
13        (b)  The Council has the following duties:
14             (1)  To  develop  a comprehensive plan that promotes
15        the positive involvement of fathers in  their  children's
16        lives.
17             (2)  To    evaluate   State   programs,   government
18        policies, and community initiatives related to fatherhood
19        and to make  recommendations  regarding  those  programs,
20        policies, and initiatives to the Governor and the General
21        Assembly.
22             (3)  To  convene  a  statewide symposium in order to
23        discuss  and  resolve  issues  related   to   responsible
24        fatherhood  and  the  importance  of the participation of
25        both parents in their children's lives.
26             (4)  Subject to appropriation, to  develop  criteria
27        for  and  to  issue requests for proposals for grants for
28        responsible fatherhood projects that are approved by  the
29        Council.
30             (5)  To  receive  grants,  contributions,  and other
31        funds for the purpose of projects and activities  related
32        to responsible fatherhood.
33             (6)  To  submit  a report, on or before January 1 of
34        each year, to  the  Governor  and  the  General  Assembly
 
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 1        concerning its findings and recommendations.

 2        Section   20.    Responsible   Fatherhood  Fund.  Grants,
 3    contributions, and other funds received  by  the  Council  on
 4    Responsible Fatherhood must be deposited into the Responsible
 5    Fatherhood   Fund,  a  special  fund  created  in  the  State
 6    treasury, and, subject to appropriation and  as  directed  by
 7    the Council may be expended for the purposes of this Act.

 8        Section  25.  Repeal.   This  Act  is repealed on July 1,
 9    2005.

10        Section 90.  The State Finance Act is amended  by  adding
11    Section 5.595 as follows:

12        (30 ILCS 105/5.595 new)
13        Sec. 5.595.  The Responsible Fatherhood Fund.

14        Section  99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect upon
15    becoming law.