Substitute Senate Bill No. 289
Public Act No. 22-138
AN ACT CONCERNING OVERSIGHT AND FUNDING OF THE
CONNECTICUT FATHERHOOD INITIATIVE.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) As used in this section and
section 2 of this act, (1) "Connecticut Fatherhood Initiative", or "CFI",
means an initiative that (A) promotes the positive involvement and
interaction of fathers with their children with an emphasis on children
from low-income families, and (B) identifies services that effectively
encourage and enhance responsible and skillful parenting and increase
the ability of fathers to meet the financial and emotional needs of their
children; and (2) "CFI objectives" means efforts to: (A) Promote public
education concerning the financial and emotional responsibilities of
fatherhood, (B) assist men in preparation for the legal, financial and
emotional responsibilities of fatherhood, (C) promote the establishment
of paternity at childbirth, (D) encourage fathers, regardless of marital
status, to foster their emotional connection to and financial support of
their children, (E) establish support mechanisms for fathers in their
relationship with their children, regardless of their marital and financial
status, and (F) integrate state and local services available for families.
(b) There is established within the Department of Social Services the
Office of the Connecticut Fatherhood Initiative. The office shall be Substitute Senate Bill No. 289
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overseen by the Commissioner of Social Services and shall perform
administrative duties on behalf of the CFI in accordance with a strategic
plan developed and implemented as part of the initiative with the
approval of the council established pursuant to section 2 of this act.
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a CFI
Council to approve the work of the CFI, including, but not limited to,
implementation of CFI objectives through a strategic plan developed by
the CFI. The council shall actively participate in efforts that further CFI
objectives, including, but not limited to: (1) Fostering collaboration
between state agencies that provide services for fathers and families; (2)
(A) coordinating comprehensive services, (B) ensuring the continuity of
services, (C) heightening the impact of services, and (D) avoiding
duplication of services; and (3) supporting fathers of children eligible or
formerly eligible for services under the temporary assistance for needy
families block grant.
(b) The membership of the council shall consist of:
(1) The Commissioner of Social Services, or the commissioner's
designee;
(2) The Commissioner of Children and Families, or the
commissioner's designee;
(3) The Commissioner of Correction, or the commissioner's designee;
(4) The Commissioner of Early Childhood, or the commissioner's
designee;
(5) The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee;
(6) The Commissioner of Developmental Services, or the
commissioner's designee;
(7) The Commissioner of Housing, or the commissioner's designee; Substitute Senate Bill No. 289
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(8) The Labor Commissioner, or the commissioner's designee;
(9) The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, or
the commissioner's designee;
(10) The Commissioner of Public Health, or the commissioner's
designee;
(11) The Commissioner of Veterans Affairs, or the commissioner's
designee;
(12) The chairperson of the Board of Pardons and Parole, or the
chairperson's designee;
(13) The director of the Support Enforcement Services Division and
the executive director of the Court Support Services Division of the
Judicial Branch, or their designees;
(14) The Chief Family Support Magistrate, or the Chief Family
Support Magistrate's designee;
(15) The president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities,
or the president's designee;
(16) The director of the Office of Child Support Services within the
Department of Social Services, or the director's designee; and
(17) Eleven members appointed by the Commissioner of Social
Services, including:
(A) One with expertise in the area of legal assistance to low-income
populations;
(B) One representative of the Governor's Workforce Council;
(C) One representative of a regional workforce development board; Substitute Senate Bill No. 289
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(D) One member with expertise in family relations;
(E) One or more representatives of a local fatherhood program;
(F) One member with expertise in male mental and physical health;
(G) One member representing the interests of custodial parents;
(H) One member representing the interests of noncustodial parents;
(I) One member representing the interests of children;
(J) One member with expertise in the area of domestic violence; and
(K) One member with expertise in child development.
(c) The Commissioner of Social Services shall serve as a chairperson
of the council and shall designate a cochairperson from among the
membership of the council. The commissioner shall convene the council
not later than thirty days after the effective date of this section, and the
council shall meet at least quarterly thereafter. The commissioner shall
fill any vacancy of seats under subdivision (17) of subsection (b) of this
section.
(d) The Commissioner of Social Services may designate a working
group from among the members of the council to carry out specific
duties required under this section and section 1 of this act. The
commissioner shall seek the advice and participation of any person,
organization or state or federal agency the commissioner deems
necessary to carry out the provisions of this section and section 1 of this
act.
(e) The Commissioner of Social Services, in consultation with the
council and within available resources, shall apply for any available
federal and private funds for programs that promote CFI objectives in
accordance with this section and section 1 of this act. The commissioner Substitute Senate Bill No. 289
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shall award grants from any such available funds to entities that provide
(1) employment and training opportunities for low-income fathers to
increase the earning capacity of such fathers; (2) classes in parenting and
financial literacy; and (3) other support services and programs that
promote responsible parenting, economic stability and communication
and interaction between fathers and their children.
(f) Applicants for grants provided pursuant to subsection (e) of this
section shall apply to the Commissioner of Social Services at such time
and in such manner as prescribed by the commissioner. The
commissioner shall, in consultation with the council, establish criteria
for eligibility for grants and for the awarding of grants. At a minimum,
the commissioner shall require grantees to (1) implement accountability
measures and results-based outcomes as a condition of being awarded
a grant; (2) leverage funds through existing resources and collaboration
with community-based and nonprofit organizations; and (3) consult
with experts in domestic violence to ensure that, when appropriate, the
programs and services provided to fathers and families pursuant to this
section and section 1 of this act address issues concerning domestic
violence.
(g) Not later than December 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the
commissioner, in consultation with the council, shall report, in
accordance with section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint
standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of
matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies,
human services and children on the grant program's effectiveness in
achieving CFI objectives.
Sec. 3. Section 17b-27a of the general statutes is repealed. (Effective
from passage)