Text: SSB03200 Text: SSB03202 Text: SSB03200 - SSB03299 Text: SSB 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 importance of two-parent families. In the past, government
1 5 policies, especially those relating to public assistance, have
1 6 focused on the difficulties of raising a child in a single-
1 7 parent family.
1 8 2. The goals of the fatherhood initiative are to increase
1 9 awareness of the problems created when a child grows up
1 10 without the presence of a responsible father, identify
1 11 obstacles that impede or prevent the involvement of
1 12 responsible fathers in the lives of their children, and
1 13 identify strategies that are successful in encouraging
1 14 responsible fatherhood.
1 15 3. The fatherhood initiative shall promote positive
1 16 interaction between fathers and their children and shall
1 17 identify services that are effective in enhancing parenting
1 18 skills. Emphasis in implementation of the initiative shall be
1 19 among the population of children eligible for or formerly
1 20 eligible for services funded under the temporary assistance to
1 21 needy families program.
1 22 4. Components of the fatherhood initiative shall include
1 23 but are not limited to all of the following:
1 24 a. Promotion of public education concerning the financial
1 25 and emotional responsibilities of fatherhood.
1 26 b. Provision of assistance to men in preparation for the
1 27 legal, financial, and emotional responsibilities of
1 28 fatherhood.
1 29 c. Promotion of the establishment of paternity upon the
1 30 birth of a child.
1 31 d. Encouragement of fathers to foster an emotional
1 32 connection to and financial support of their children.
1 33 e. Establishment of support mechanisms for fathers in the
1 34 relationship with their children.
1 35 f. Integration of state and local services available for
2 1 families.
2 2 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 597A.2 COUNCIL ON RESPONSIBLE
2 3 FATHERHOOD – CREATED – DUTIES.
2 4 1. A council on responsible fatherhood is created. The
2 5 council membership shall consist of twenty-five members
2 6 selected by the governor. Members shall be selected on the
2 7 basis of interest and expertise in the areas of children and
2 8 families. Members shall serve three-year staggered terms.
2 9 The council shall elect its own chairperson. A majority of
2 10 the members of the council constitutes a quorum. The
2 11 department of human services shall provide staff support to
2 12 the council. Members are entitled to reimbursement of actual
2 13 expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties.
2 14 2. The council shall do all of the following:
2 15 a. Develop a comprehensive plan to promote positive
2 16 involvement between fathers and their children.
2 17 b. Evaluate state programs, government policies, and
2 18 community initiatives related to fatherhood.
2 19 c. Advise the director of human services on the
2 20 development of a fatherhood research and demonstration
2 21 program.
2 22 EXPLANATION
2 23 This bill establishes a fatherhood initiative to encourage
2 24 responsible fatherhood. The bill provides that the purpose of
2 25 the bill is to promote the importance of two-parent families.
2 26 The bill provides that the goals of the fatherhood initiative
2 27 are to increase awareness of the problems created when a child
2 28 grows up without a responsible father, to identify obstacles
2 29 that impede or prevent the involvement of responsible fathers
2 30 in the lives of their children, and identify strategies that
2 31 are successful in encouraging responsible fatherhood. The
2 32 fatherhood initiative is to promote positive interaction
2 33 between fathers and their children and identify services that
2 34 are effective in enhancing parenting skills. Emphasis in
2 35 implementation of the initiative is to be among the population
3 1 of children eligible for or formerly eligible for the
3 2 temporary assistance to needy families program. The bill
3 3 specifies components of the initiative.
3 4 The bill also creates a council on responsible fatherhood.
3 5 The council's membership consists of 25 persons selected by
3 6 the governor based on their interest and expertise in the
3 7 areas of children and families. The council's duties include
3 8 development of a comprehensive fatherhood initiative plan to
3 9 promote positive involvement between fathers and their
3 10 children; evaluation of state programs, government policies
3 11 and community initiatives related to fatherhood; and advising
3 12 the director of human services on the development of a
3 13 fatherhood research and demonstration program.
3 14 LSB 6898SC 78
3 15 pf/cls/14
Text: SSB03200 Text: SSB03202 Text: SSB03200 - SSB03299 Text: SSB Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
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