Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford

Filed: 5/23/2007

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 773

2     AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 773 by replacing
3 everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4     "Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5 Council on Responsible Fatherhood Act of 2007.
 
6     Section 5. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to promote
7 the recognition of the importance of the participation of both
8 parents in the lives of their children. While social policy and
9 practice have often focused on the difficulties of raising a
10 child in a single parent family and have often created barriers
11 to the involvement of both parents in their child's life, the
12 purpose of this Act is to promote a social policy and practice
13 that values the contribution that each parent brings to the
14 family unit.
 
15     Section 10. Fatherhood initiative.

 

 

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1     (a) The purpose of this Act shall be implemented through a
2 fatherhood initiative located within the Department of Human
3 Services and directed by the Council on Responsible Fatherhood
4 created by this Act.
5     (b) The goals of the fatherhood initiative are to increase
6 the awareness of the problems created when a child grows up
7 without the presence of a responsible father; to identify
8 obstacles that impede or prevent the involvement of responsible
9 fathers in the lives of their children; to identify strategies
10 that are successful in overcoming identified obstacles and in
11 encouraging responsible fatherhood; and to facilitate the
12 transition from current policies, perceptions, and practices
13 that adversely affect the participation of fathers in their
14 children's lives to policies, perceptions, and practices that
15 promote the contributions of responsible fathers. The
16 fatherhood initiative must promote positive interaction
17 between fathers and their children. While the emphasis of the
18 program must be on the population of children whose families
19 have received or are receiving public assistance, the program
20 may not exclude other populations of children for which the
21 program is appropriate.
22     (c) The fatherhood initiative must include, but is not
23 limited to, the following:
24         (1) The promotion of public education concerning the
25     financial and emotional responsibilities of fatherhood.
26         (2) The provision of assistance to men in preparing for

 

 

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1     the legal, financial, and emotional responsibilities of
2     fatherhood.
3         (3) The promotion of the establishment of paternity
4     upon the birth of a child.
5         (4) The encouragement of fathers in fostering an
6     emotional connection to children and providing financial
7     support to children.
8         (5) The establishment of support mechanisms for
9     fathers developing and maintaining relationships with
10     their children.
11         (6) The identification and promotion of methods that
12     reduce the negative outcomes experienced by children
13     affected by divorce, separation, and disputes concerning
14     custody and visitation.
15         (7) The integration of State and local services
16     available to families.
 
17     Section 15. Council on Responsible Fatherhood.
18     (a) The Council on Responsible Fatherhood is created to
19 carry out the purposes, goals, and initiatives of this Act. The
20 Council consists of 21 members appointed by the Governor.
21 Members appointed by the Governor must be chosen on the basis
22 of their interest in and experience with children and families.
23 Members of the Council shall be appointed for 2-year terms,
24 except for an appointment to fill an unexpired term, in which
25 event the appointment shall be for the remainder of the

 

 

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1 unexpired term. In addition, the Speaker of the House of
2 Representatives, the Minority Leader of the House of
3 Representatives, the President of the Senate, and the Minority
4 Leader of the Senate shall each appoint one ex officio, non
5 voting member. The Council must choose one member of the
6 Council to be the Chairperson. A majority of the members
7 appointed by the Governor constitutes a quorum. Members shall
8 serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for their
9 actual expenses in carrying out their duties as members of the
10 Council. The Council shall meet at least quarterly, and the
11 chairperson and Department of Human Services may convene the
12 Council at any time. Subject to appropriation, the Department
13 of Human Services shall provide support to the Council.
14     (b) The Council has the following duties:
15         (1) To develop a comprehensive plan that promotes the
16     positive involvement of fathers in their children's lives.
17         (2) To evaluate State programs, government policies,
18     and community initiatives related to fatherhood and to make
19     recommendations regarding those programs, policies, and
20     initiatives to the Governor and the General Assembly.
21         (3) To convene a statewide symposium in order to
22     discuss and resolve issues related to responsible
23     fatherhood and the importance of the participation of both
24     parents in their children's lives.
25         (4) Subject to appropriation, to develop criteria for
26     and to issue requests for proposals for grants for

 

 

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1     responsible fatherhood projects and activities related to
2     responsible fatherhood projects that are approved by the
3     Council.
4         (5) To receive grants, contributions, and other funds
5     for the purpose of projects and activities related to
6     responsible fatherhood.
7         (6) To submit a report, on or before January 1 of each
8     year, to the Governor and the General Assembly concerning
9     its findings and recommendations.
 
10     Section 20. Responsible Fathers Fund. Grants,
11 contributions, and other funds received by the Council on
12 Responsible Fatherhood must be deposited into the Responsible
13 Fathers Fund, a special fund created in the State treasury,
14 and, subject to appropriation and as directed by the Department
15 of Human Services may be expended for the purposes of this Act.
16 In addition, upon the creation of the Responsible Fathers Fund,
17 the State Comptroller shall direct and the State Treasurer
18 shall transfer any moneys remaining in the Responsible
19 Fatherhood Fund into the Responsible Fathers Fund. Upon
20 completion of the transfer, the Responsible Fatherhood Fund
21 shall be dissolved.
 
22     Section 25. Repeal. This Act is repealed on July 1, 2009.
 
23     Section 90. The State Finance Act is amended by adding

 

 

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1 Section 5.701 as follows:
 
2     (30 ILCS 105/5.701 new)
3     Sec. 5.701. The Responsible Fathers Fund.
 
4     (30 ILCS 105/5.595 rep.)
5     Section 95. The State Finance Act is amended by repealing
6 Section 5.595 as added by P.A. 93-437.
 
7     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
8 becoming law, except that Section 95 takes effect on January 1,
9 2008.".