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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