Public Act 93-0437
SB167 Enrolled LRB093 07332 RCE 07494 b
AN ACT in relation to parenting.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
Council on Responsible Fatherhood Act.
Section 5. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to
promote the recognition of the importance of the
participation of both parents in the lives of their children.
While social policy and practice have often focused on the
difficulties of raising a child in a single-parent family and
have often created barriers to the involvement of both
parents in their child's life, the purpose of this Act is to
promote a social policy and practice that values the
contribution that each parent brings to the family unit.
Section 10. Fatherhood initiative.
(a) The purpose of this Act shall be implemented through
a fatherhood initiative to be directed by the Council on
Responsible Fatherhood created by this Act.
(b) The goals of the fatherhood initiative are to
increase the awareness of the problems created when a child
grows up without the presence of a responsible father; to
identify obstacles that impede or prevent the involvement of
responsible fathers in the lives of their children; to
identify strategies that are successful in overcoming
identified obstacles and in encouraging responsible
fatherhood; and to facilitate the transition from current
policies, perceptions, and practices that adversely affect
the participation of fathers in their children's lives to
policies, perceptions, and practices that promote the
contributions of responsible fathers. The fatherhood
initiative must promote positive interaction between fathers
and their children. While the emphasis of the program must
be on the population of children whose families have received
or are receiving public assistance, the program may not
exclude other populations of children for which the program
is appropriate.
(b) The fatherhood initiative must include, but is not
limited to, the following:
(1) The promotion of public education concerning
the financial and emotional responsibilities of
fatherhood.
(2) The provision of assistance to men in preparing
for the legal, financial, and emotional responsibilities
of fatherhood.
(3) The promotion of the establishment of paternity
upon the birth of a child.
(4) The encouragement of fathers in fostering an
emotional connection to children and providing financial
support to children.
(5) The establishment of support mechanisms for
fathers developing and maintaining relationships with
their children.
(6) The identification and promotion of methods
that reduce the negative outcomes experienced by children
affected by divorce, separation, and disputes concerning
custody and visitation.
(7) The integration of State and local services
available to families.
Section 15. Council on Responsible Fatherhood.
(a) The Council on Responsible Fatherhood is created to
carry out the purposes, goals, and initiatives of this Act.
The Council consists of 21 members appointed by and serving
at the pleasure of the Governor. Members appointed by the
Governor must be chosen on the basis of their interest in and
experience with children and families. In addition, the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader
of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate,
and the Minority Leader of the Senate shall each appoint one
ex officio, non-voting member. The Governor must choose one
member of the Council to be the Chairperson. A majority of
the members appointed by the Governor constitutes a quorum.
Members shall serve without compensation, but may be
reimbursed for their actual expenses in carrying out their
duties as members of the Council. The Department of Human
Services must provide staff support to the Council.
(b) The Council has the following duties:
(1) To develop a comprehensive plan that promotes
the positive involvement of fathers in their children's
lives.
(2) To evaluate State programs, government
policies, and community initiatives related to fatherhood
and to make recommendations regarding those programs,
policies, and initiatives to the Governor and the General
Assembly.
(3) To convene a statewide symposium in order to
discuss and resolve issues related to responsible
fatherhood and the importance of the participation of
both parents in their children's lives.
(4) Subject to appropriation, to develop criteria
for and to issue requests for proposals for grants for
responsible fatherhood projects that are approved by the
Council.
(5) To receive grants, contributions, and other
funds for the purpose of projects and activities related
to responsible fatherhood.
(6) To submit a report, on or before January 1 of
each year, to the Governor and the General Assembly
concerning its findings and recommendations.
Section 20. Responsible Fatherhood Fund. Grants,
contributions, and other funds received by the Council on
Responsible Fatherhood must be deposited into the Responsible
Fatherhood Fund, a special fund created in the State
treasury, and, subject to appropriation and as directed by
the Council may be expended for the purposes of this Act.
Section 25. Repeal. This Act is repealed on July 1,
2005.
Section 90. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
Section 5.595 as follows:
(30 ILCS 105/5.595 new)
Sec. 5.595. The Responsible Fatherhood Fund.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.