EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1213*
HOUSE BILL 1213
D5 EMERGENCY BILL 2lr2267
By: Delegates Metzgar and McComas
Introduced and read first time: February 11, 2022
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Human Services – Commission on Fatherhood 2
(Fatherhood Protection Act) 3
FOR the purpose of establishing the Commission on Fatherhood in the Department of 4
Human Services to study and make recommendations relating to the status of 5
fatherhood in the State; and generally relating to the Commission on Fatherhood. 6
BY adding to 7
Article – Human Services 8
Section 2–601 through 2–606 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 6. Commission 9
on Fatherhood” 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 12
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14
Article – Human Services 15
SUBTITLE 6. COMMISSION ON FATHERHOOD . 16
2–601. 17
IN THIS SUBTITLE , “COMMISSION” MEANS THE COMMISSION ON 18
FATHERHOOD . 19
2–602. 20
THERE IS A COMMISSION ON FATHERHOOD IN THE DEPARTMENT . 21
2 HOUSE BILL 1213
2–603. 1
(A) THE COMMISSION CONSISTS O F 25 MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE 2
GOVERNOR WITH THE ADV ICE AND CONSENT OF T HE SENATE. 3
(B) (1) OF THE 25 MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION: 4
(I) 12 SHALL BE APPOINTED F ROM AMONG APPLICANTS WHO 5
HAVE BEEN NOMINATED AND RECOMMENDED FOR APPOINTMENT BY 6
ORGANIZATIONS LOCATE D IN THE STATE WHOSE MISSIONS INCLUDE A FOCUS ON 7
FATHERHOOD OR SUPPOR TING FATHERS; AND 8
(II) 13 SHALL BE APPOINTED F ROM AMONG MEMBERS OF THE 9
GENERAL PUBLIC APPLYING ON THEIR OW N BEHALF. 10
(2) IN SELECTING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC APPLYING ON T HEIR 11
OWN BEHALF , THE GOVERNOR SHALL GIVE P RIORITY TO APPLICANT S WHO HAVE 12
ADVOCATED , VOLUNTEERED , OR OTHERWISE WORKED TO PROMOTE FATHERS A ND 13
FATHERHOOD FOR AT LE AST 18 MONTHS. 14
(3) IN SELECTING APPLICAN TS, THE GOVERNOR SHALL , TO THE 15
EXTENT PRACTICABLE , NOMINATE MEMBERS WHO SE RESIDENCIES REFLE CT THE 16
FULL GEOGRAPHIC DIVE RSITY OF THE STATE. 17
(C) IN ADDITION TO THE ME MBERS APPOINTED UNDE R SUBSECTION (B) OF 18
THIS SECTION, THE SECRETARY AND THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, OR THEIR 19
DESIGNEES, MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMISSION AS EX OFFI CIO NONVOTING 20
MEMBERS. 21
(D) (1) THE TERM OF A MEMBER IS 4 YEARS. 22
(2) A MEMBER MAY NOT SERVE FOR MORE THAN TWO CO NSECUTIVE 23
TERMS. 24
(3) AT THE END OF A TERM , A MEMBER CONTINUES T O SERVE UNTIL 25
A SUCCESSOR IS APPOI NTED AND QUALIFIES . 26
(4) A MEMBER WHO IS APPOIN TED AFTER A TERM HAS BEGUN SHALL 27
SERVE FOR THE REMAIN DER OF THE TERM OR U NTIL A SUCCESSOR IS APPOINTED 28
AND QUALIFIES. 29
(E) A MEMBER WHO FAILS TO ATT END AT LEAST 50% OF THE REGULARLY 30
SCHEDULED MEETINGS O F THE COMMISSION DURING ANY 12–MONTH PERIOD 31 HOUSE BILL 1213 3
SHALL BE CONSIDERED TO HAVE RESIGNED . 1
(F) A MAJORITY OF THE MEMB ERS PRESENT AT THE M EETING SHALL 2
CONSTITUTE A QUORUM . 3
(G) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE 4
COMMISSION SHALL DETE RMINE THE TIMES , PLACES, AND FREQUENCY OF ITS 5
MEETINGS. 6
(2) THE COMMISSION SHALL MEET AT LEAST SIX TIMES E ACH YEAR. 7
(H) A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION: 8
(1) MAY NOT RECEIVE COMP ENSATION AS A MEMBER OF T HE 9
COMMISSION; BUT 10
(2) IS ENTITLED TO REIMB URSEMENT FOR EXPENSE S UNDER THE 11
STANDARD STATE TRAVEL REGULATIONS, AS PROVIDED IN THE STATE BUDGET . 12
2–604. 13
(A) THE COMMISSION ANNUALLY S HALL ELECT THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR 14
OF THE COMMISSION. 15
(B) THE COMMISSION MAY APPOIN T ANY OFFICERS THAT IT CONSIDERS 16
NECESSARY. 17
2–605. 18
(A) THE SECRETARY SHALL APPOI NT AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE 19
COMMISSION. 20
(B) THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHALL BE A M ERIT EMPLOYEE OF THE 21
DEPARTMENT . 22
(C) THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS ENTITLED TO: 23
(1) COMPENSATION IN ACCO RDANCE WITH THE STATE BUDGET ; AND 24
(2) REIMBURSEMENT FOR EX PENSES UNDER THE STANDARD STATE 25
TRAVEL REGULATIONS, AS PROVIDED IN THE STATE BUDGET . 26
2–606. 27 4 HOUSE BILL 1213
(A) (1) THE COMMISSION SHALL : 1
(I) STUDY AND REVIEW THE STATUS OF FATHERHOOD IN THE 2
STATE; 3
(II) STRENGTHEN HOME LIFE BY DIRECTING ATTENTI ON TO 4
CRITICAL PROBLEMS CO NFRONTING MEN AS HUS BANDS AND FATHERS; 5
(III) RECOMMEND METHODS OF OVERCOMING ATTITUDES 6
DENIGRATING FATHERHO OD; 7
(IV) RECOMMEND ALTERNATIV ES TO FAMILY LAW OUT COMES 8
THAT HARM THE ABILIT Y OF MEN TO OFFER LOVING SUPPORT IVE HOMES FOR THEIR 9
CHILDREN; 10
(V) HIGHLIGHT OUTSTANDIN G EXAMPLES OF FATHER S AND 11
THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STATE; AND 12
(VI) INFORM THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES OF 13
STATE GOVERNMENT ON CURRENT ISSUES THAT IMPACT FATHERS , INCLUDING BY 14
OFFERING TESTIMONY O N PROPOSED REGULATION S AND LEGISLATION . 15
(2) THE COMMISSION MAY DEVELOP SURVEYS AND APPOINT 16
ADVISORY COMMITTEES IN FIELDS INCLUDING EDUCA TION, SOCIAL SERVICES , 17
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT , LAW ENFORCEMENT , HEALTH AND SAFETY , LEGAL 18
RIGHTS, FAMILY RELATIONS , HUMAN RELATIONS , AND VOLUNTEER SERVIC ES. 19
(3) THE COMMISSION MAY NOT AD OPT REGULATIONS . 20
(B) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1 EACH YEAR, THE COMMISSION SHALL 21
SUBMIT A REPORT ON I TS FINDINGS AND RECO MMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR 22
AND, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE 23
GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE ACTIV ITIES OF THE COMMISSION. 24
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER EN ACTED, That this Act is an emergency 25
measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health or safety, has 26
been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three–fifths of all the members elected to 27
each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect from the date it is 28
enacted. 29