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OLR Bill Analysis
sSB 289 (File 243, as amended by Senate "A")*
AN ACT CONCERNING OVERSIGHT AND FUNDING OF THE
CONNECTICUT FATHERHOOD INITIATIVE.
SUMMARY
This bill repeals the John S. Martinez Fatherhood Initiative under
current law and replaces it with the “Connecticut Fatherhood Initiative”
or “CFI” with the same or similar purposes and objectives. It also
establishes a (1) council to provide general oversight of the initiative,
generally codifying existing practice, and (2) dedicated office within the
Department of Social Services (DSS) for administrative support.
*Senate Amendment “A” limits the CFI council to 28 members, makes
a technical correction to the title of an ex-officio member, and specifies
that the DSS commissioner only fills vacancies for her appointed
members.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
INITIATIVE ORGANIZATION AND OBJECTIVES
Whereas the current initiative was established within available
appropriations under DSS, the bill creates the Office of the Connecticut
Fatherhood Initiative within DSS to be overseen by its commissioner.
Although its funding is unspecified, this new office must perform
administrative duties on CFI’s behalf in accordance with a strategic plan
developed and implemented by the initiative with the council’s
approval.
In comparison to the current initiative’s emphasis on children eligible
or formerly eligible for services funded by the federal Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant (i.e., Temporary
Family Assistance, the state’s cash assistance program for low-income
families), the new initiative broadens this emphasis to children from
low-income families, regardless of their eligibility for TANF-funded 2022SB-00289-R01-BA.DOCX
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services. The bill also partially changes the new initiative’s charge.
Whereas the current initiative must identify certain services, including
those that increase the ability of fathers to meet the financial and medical
needs of their children through employment services and child support
enforcement measures, the new initiative must instead identify services
that increase fathers’ abilities to meet their children’s financial and
emotional needs.
COUNCIL OVERSIGHT
The bill establishes a CFI Council to approve the initiative’s work,
including implementing objectives through a strategic plan the initiative
develops. It requires the council to actively participate in efforts that
further these objectives, including: (1) fostering collaboration between
state agencies that provide services for fathers and families; (2)
coordinating comprehensive services, ensuring their continuity,
heightening their impact, and avoiding duplication; and (3) supporting
fathers of children eligible, or formerly eligible, for TANF-funded
services.
The council is composed of 28 members as outlined below in Table 1.
The DSS Commissioner serves as a council chair, designates a co-chair
from among the membership, and fills any vacancies within her
appointments.
Table 1: CFI Council Membership
Ex-Officio Members
(or Designees)
DSS Commissioner
Appointments
Commissioners of: children and families,
correction, developmental services, early
childhood, education, housing, labor,
mental health and addiction services,
public health, social services, and
veterans affairs
Five members, each with expertise in one
of the following areas: (1) legal assistance
to low-income populations, (2) family
relations, (3) male mental and physical
health, (4) domestic violence, and (5)
child development
Board of Pardons and Parole Chairperson One or more representatives of local
fatherhood programs
Executive director of the Court Support
Services Division and director of the
Support Enforcement Services Division of
the judicial branch
Three members, each representing the
interests of one of the following
stakeholders: (1) custodial parents, (2)
noncustodial parents, and (3) children 2022SB-00289-R01-BA.DOCX
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Ex-Officio Members
(or Designees)
DSS Commissioner
Appointments
Chief family support magistrate Governor’s Workforce Council
representative
President of the Connecticut State
Colleges and Universities
Regional workforce development board
representative
Director of DSS’s Office of Child Support
Services
The bill requires the DSS commissioner to convene the council within
30 days after its passage. They then must continue to meet at least
quarterly. It also authorizes her to (1) designate a working group of
council members to carry out specific required duties and (2) seek the
advice and participation of any person, organization, or state or federal
agency she deems necessary to carry out its provisions.
INITIATIVE FUNDING & REPORTING
Current law requires the DSS commissioner, within available
resources, to apply for any available federal and private funds for
programs that promote the initiative’s objectives. Under the bill, she
must consult with the council when doing so. It requires her to consult
with the council when establishing grant eligibility and use the same
minimum criteria and requirements as under current law to (1) award
grants from any of these available funds and (2) condition their receipt.
Under current law, the commissioner must annually report to the
Children and Human Services committees on the grant program’s
effectiveness in achieving initiative objectives. Starting by December 1,
2022, the bill requires her to annually do so in consultation with the
council and to also report to the Appropriations Committee.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Human Services Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 20 Nay 0 (03/17/2022)