Text: SF02331 Text: SF02333 Text: SF02300 - SF02399 Text: SF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 597A.1 FATHERHOOD INITIATIVE –
1 2 PURPOSE – GOALS.
1 3 1. The purpose of this chapter is to promote the
1 4 recognition of the importance of the participation of both
1 5 parents in the lives of their children. While social policy
1 6 and practice have often focused on the difficulties of raising
1 7 a child in a single-parent family and have often created
1 8 barriers to the involvement of both parents in their child's
1 9 life, the purpose of this chapter is to promote a social
1 10 policy and practice that values the contribution that each
1 11 parent brings to the family unit. The purpose of this chapter
1 12 shall be implemented through a fatherhood initiative to be
1 13 directed by the council on responsible fatherhood created in
1 14 section 597A.2.
1 15 2. The goals of the fatherhood initiative are to increase
1 16 the awareness of the problems created when a child grows up
1 17 without the presence of a responsible father; identify
1 18 obstacles that impede or prevent the involvement of
1 19 responsible fathers in the lives of their children; identify
1 20 strategies that are successful in overcoming identified
1 21 obstacles and in encouraging responsible fatherhood; and
1 22 facilitate the transition from current policy, perceptions,
1 23 and practices that adversely affect participation of fathers
1 24 in their children's lives to those that promote the
1 25 contributions of responsible fathers.
1 26 3. The fatherhood initiative shall promote positive
1 27 interaction between fathers and their children. While
1 28 emphasis on implementation of the program shall be among the
1 29 population of children whose families have received or are
1 30 receiving public assistance, this emphasis shall not be to the
1 31 exclusion of other populations for which the initiative is
1 32 appropriate.
1 33 4. The components of the fatherhood initiative shall
1 34 include but are not limited to all of the following:
1 35 a. Promotion of public education concerning the financial
2 1 and emotional responsibilities of fatherhood.
2 2 b. Provision of assistance to men in preparation for the
2 3 legal, financial, and emotional responsibilities of
2 4 fatherhood.
2 5 c. Promotion of the establishment of paternity upon the
2 6 birth of a child.
2 7 d. Encouragement of fathers to foster an emotional
2 8 connection to and financial support of their children.
2 9 e. Establishment of support mechanisms for fathers in
2 10 developing and maintaining relationships with their children.
2 11 f. Identification and promotion of methods which reduce
2 12 the negative outcomes experienced by children affected by
2 13 divorce, separation, and disputes regarding custody and
2 14 visitation.
2 15 g. Integration of state and local services available for
2 16 families.
2 17 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 597A.2 COUNCIL ON RESPONSIBLE
2 18 FATHERHOOD – CREATED – DUTIES.
2 19 1. A council on responsible fatherhood is created to carry
2 20 out the purposes, goals, and components of the fatherhood
2 21 initiative described in section 597A.2.
2 22 2. The council membership shall consist of twenty-one
2 23 members, appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the
2 24 governor, subject to confirmation by the senate. Members
2 25 shall be appointed on the basis of interest and expertise in
2 26 the areas of children and families. Additionally, the
2 27 membership shall include four members of the general assembly,
2 28 as ex officio, nonvoting members. The legislative members
2 29 shall be appointed by the majority leader of the senate, after
2 30 consultation with the president of the senate and the minority
2 31 leader of the senate, and by the speaker of the house, after
2 32 consultation with the majority leader and the minority leader
2 33 of the house of representatives. Appointments shall comply
2 34 with sections 69.16 and 69.16A. The governor shall appoint
2 35 the chairperson of the council. A majority of the appointed
3 1 members of the council constitutes a quorum. The department
3 2 of human services shall provide staff support to the council.
3 3 Nonlegislative members shall receive actual expenses incurred
3 4 while serving in their official capacity and may also be
3 5 eligible to receive compensation as provided in section 7E.6.
3 6 Legislative members shall receive compensation pursuant to
3 7 section 2.12.
3 8 3. The council shall do all of the following guided by the
3 9 purpose and goals specified in this chapter:
3 10 a. Develop a comprehensive plan to promote positive
3 11 involvement between fathers and their children.
3 12 b. Evaluate state programs, government policies, and
3 13 community initiatives related to fatherhood and make
3 14 recommendations for improvement.
3 15 c. Convene a statewide symposium to provide a mechanism
3 16 for the discussion and resolution of issues related to
3 17 responsible fatherhood and the importance of the participation
3 18 of both parents in the lives of their children.
3 19 d. Develop criteria for and issue requests for proposals
3 20 to provide grants for responsible fatherhood projects, as
3 21 approved by the council.
3 22 4. The council may receive grants, contributions, and
3 23 other funds which may be available for projects and activities
3 24 related to responsible fatherhood.
3 25 5. The council shall submit a report, annually, on or
3 26 before January 1, to the governor and the general assembly,
3 27 regarding its findings and recommendations.
3 28 Sec. 3. This Act is repealed, effective February 1, 2004.
3 29 Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of
3 30 immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
3 31 SF 2332
3 32 pf/cc/26
Text: SF02331 Text: SF02333 Text: SF02300 - SF02399 Text: SF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
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