Public Act 095-0960
 		





SB1864 Enrolled
LRB095 13618 WGH 39322 b






    AN ACT concerning fatherhood.

 
    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 of 2008.
 
    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 located within the Department of Human 
Services and 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.
    (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.
        (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 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 
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 
    year, to the Governor and the General Assembly concerning 
    its findings and recommendations.
 
    Section 20. Responsible Fathers Fund.   Grants, 
contributions, and other funds received by the Council on 
Responsible Fatherhood must be deposited into the Responsible

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.
 
    Section 25. Repeal.  This Act is repealed on July 1, 2010.

 
    Section 90. The State Finance Act is amended by adding 
Section 5.701 as
follows:


 
    (30 ILCS 105/5.701 new)

    Sec. 5.701. The Responsible Fathers Fund.
 

    (30 ILCS 105/5.608 rep.)


    Section 95.  The State Finance Act  is amended  by repealing 
Section 5.608.
 

    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
becoming law, except that Section 95 takes effect 30 days after 
becoming law.