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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. |
(c) 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. |
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(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.
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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 the Governor. |
Members appointed by the Governor must be chosen on the basis |
of their interest in and experience with children and families. |
Members of the Council shall be appointed for 2-year terms, |
except for an appointment to fill an unexpired term, in which |
event the appointment shall be for the remainder of the |
unexpired term. 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 Council 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 |
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serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for their |
actual expenses in carrying out their duties as members of the |
Council. The Council shall meet at least quarterly, and the |
Chairperson and Department of Human Services may convene the |
Council at any time. Subject to appropriation, the Department |
of Human Services shall provide 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 and activities related to |
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 |
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year, to the Governor and the General Assembly concerning |
its findings and recommendations.
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Section 20. Responsible Fathers Fund. Grants, |
contributions, and other funds received by the Council on |
Responsible Fatherhood must be deposited into the Responsible
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Fathers Fund, a special fund created in the State treasury, |
and, subject to appropriation and as directed by the Department |
of Human Services, may be expended for the purposes of this |
Act. In addition, upon the creation of the Responsible Fathers |
Fund, the State Comptroller shall direct and the State |
Treasurer shall transfer any moneys remaining in the |
Responsible Fatherhood Fund into the Responsible Fathers Fund. |
Upon completion of the transfer, the Responsible Fatherhood |
Fund shall be dissolved.
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Section 25. Repeal. This Act is repealed on July 1, 2010.
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Section 90. The State Finance Act is amended by adding |
Section 5.701 as
follows:
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(30 ILCS 105/5.701 new)
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Sec. 5.701. The Responsible Fathers Fund.
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(30 ILCS 105/5.608 rep.)
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Section 95. The State Finance Act is amended by repealing |