North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina House Bill H780 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
2	2		SESSION 2025
3		-	H 1
4		-	HOUSE BILL 780
	3	+	H D
	4	+	HOUSE BILL DRH10366-NJa-30A
	5	+
5	6
6	7
7	8		Short Title: All Pro Dads & Responsible Fatherhood NC. (Public)
8		-	Sponsors: Representatives Willis, D. Hall, B. Jones, and Bell (Primary Sponsors).
9		-	For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
10		-	Referred to: Health, if favorable, Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations
11		-	of the House
12		-	April 7, 2025
13		-	H780 -v-1
	9	+	Sponsors: Representative Willis.
	10	+	Referred to:
	11	+
	12	+	DRH10366 -NJa-30A
14	13		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
15	14		AN ACT TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR ADDITIONAL ALL PRO DAD CHAPTERS AND 2
16	15		CREATE A PROGRAM TO SUPPORT NORTH CAROLINA FATHERS . 3
17	16		Whereas, research affirms that children with involved fathers tend to perform better 4
18	17		socially, maintain better school attendance, have a lower risk of dropping out, and are less likely 5
19	18		to engage in the use of drugs or alcohol; and 6
20	19		Whereas, the fatherlessness crisis in America affects 1 in 5 children, or 15.7 million 7
21	20		kids, who are raised without a father (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023); and 8
22	21		Whereas, 80% of single-parent households in the United States in 2023 were headed 9
23	22		by single mothers; and 10
24	23		Whereas, abundant research demonstrates that 71% of children growing up without a 11
25	24		father figure, whether physically or emotionally absent, perform more poorly academically and 12
26	25		experience regular truancy; and 13
27	26		Whereas, teens without a father are 7 times more likely to experience teen pregnancy 14
28	27		and have a 54% likelihood of being poorer than their parents; and 15
29	28		Whereas, there is an 85% chance that fatherless children will become involved with 16
30	29		the juvenile justice system (Children's Bureau, 2023); and 17
31	30		Whereas, fathers' engagement plays a critical role in helping children overcome 18
32	31		barriers to education, including mental, emotional, and behavioral challenges; and 19
33	32		Whereas, such engagement fosters improvements in social interactions, academic 20
34	33		performance, school attendance, and decreases the likelihood of dropping out, while improving 21
35	34		student performance; and 22
36	35		Whereas, conversely, impaired behaviors exhibited by fathers can lead to insufficient 23
37	36		development of a child's emotional intelligence and mental resilience, hindering their overall 24
38	37		growth and educational success; Now, therefore, 25
39	38		The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 26
40	39		27
41	40		PART I. FUNDS FOR ALL PRO DAD 28
42	41		SECTION 1. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Office of State 29
43	42		Budget and Management the sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for 30
44	43		the 2025-2026 fiscal year to provide a directed grant to Family First, Inc., the nonprofit 31
45	44		corporation registered in the state of Florida, to expand its All Pro Dad fatherhood program in 32
46	45		this State, provided that (i) the nonprofit registers as an entity with the Secretary of State to 33
47		-	conduct business in the State and (ii) the nonprofit allocates the funds appropriated in this act to 34 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
48		-	Page 2 House Bill 780-First Edition
49		-	expand its All Pro Dad program in North Carolina, including increasing All Pro Dad Chapters in 1
50		-	schools, holding events that encourage father-child engagement and foster improved 2
51		-	communication between children and fathers, and distributing resources to help fathers enhance 3
52		-	their parenting skills and become more involved in their children's lives. 4
53		-	5
54		-	PART II. RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD NC PROGR AM 6
55		-	SECTION 2.1. Article 2 of Chapter 108A of the General Statutes is amended by 7
56		-	adding a new Part to read: 8
57		-	"Part 12. Responsible Fatherhood NC Act. 9
58		-	"§ 108A-70.60. Short title. 10
59		-	This act may be cited as the "Responsible Fatherhood NC Act." 11
60		-	"§ 108A-70.61. Definitions. 12
61		-	The following definitions apply in this Part: 13
62		-	(1) Department. – Refers to the Department of Health and Human Services. 14
63		-	(2) Program. – Refers to the Responsible Fatherhood NC program. 15
64		-	"§ 108A-70.62. Creation of the Responsible Fatherhood NC program; purpose. 16
65		-	(a) The General Assembly recognizes that families are stronger when both parents act 17
66		-	responsibly in caring for their children. It is the intent of the General Assembly to recognize and 18
67		-	support the important and unique role that fathers play in ensuring the physical, emotional, and 19
68		-	economic well-being of their children and families. 20
69		-	(b) The Department shall contract for the development and implementation of the 21
70		-	Responsible Fatherhood NC program. The program shall provide an opportunity for every father 22
71		-	in the State to be able to obtain information and inspiration that will motivate and enable him to 23
72		-	enhance his abilities as a father, recognizing that some fathers have greater challenges than others 24
73		-	and would benefit from greater support. 25
74		-	(c) The entity the Department contracts with to develop, implement, and manage the 26
75		-	program, "Program Manager," shall be a nonprofit organization that satisfies all of the following 27
76		-	criteria: 28
77		-	(1) Has a history of focusing on responsible fatherhood, including providing 29
78		-	online resources to fathers, and engaging fathers, father figures, and children 30
79		-	through community-based and school-based events to encourage responsible 31
80		-	fatherhood. 32
81		-	(2) Has the organizational capacity to manage a statewide initiative and 33
82		-	successfully carry out the requirements of this section. 34
83		-	(d) The Program Manager shall be solely responsible for developing, implementing, and 35
84		-	managing the program which shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following: 36
85		-	(1) A statewide media campaign that increases the awareness and importance of 37
86		-	fathers being involved in their children's lives. 38
87		-	(2) Resources and information for fathers and father figures to increase 39
88		-	engagement and involvement in their children's lives. 40
89		-	(3) Promotion of related fatherhood programs that are provided by the 41
90		-	Department of Public Instruction, the Community College System, or The 42
91		-	University of North Carolina System. 43
92		-	(e) To most effectively use the funds appropriated to this program, the Program Manager 44
93		-	shall identify and use other existing media assets, content, and online resources it deems 45
94		-	appropriate, including any existing media assets, content, and online resources it has available, 46
95		-	to implement and execute the items required by this section. 47
96		-	"§ 108A-70.63. Grants to address the needs of fathers. 48
97		-	(a) The Department shall award grants to nonprofit community-based organizations to 49
98		-	address the needs of fathers. The Department shall award the following types of grants: 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
99		-	House Bill 780-First Edition Page 3
100		-	(1) Grants that comprehensively address the needs of fathers, such as assisting 1
101		-	them in finding employment, managing child support obligations, 2
102		-	transitioning from a period of incarceration, accessing health care, 3
103		-	understanding child development, and enhancing parenting skills. Services 4
104		-	provided shall be tailored to the needs of the father being served. Case 5
105		-	management services shall be provided to the fathers who are served by the 6
106		-	grants under this subdivision. 7
107		-	(2) Grants that provide evidence-based parenting education specifically for 8
108		-	fathers. The grants under this subdivision do not require case management 9
109		-	services. 10
110		-	(b) The Department shall prioritize applicants for a grant specified under subsection (a) 11
111		-	of this section based on all of the following: 12
112		-	(1) Need in a geographic area and the population to be served by the grant as 13
113		-	indicated by, at a minimum, all of the following: 14
114		-	a. Unemployment rates. 15
115		-	b. Incarceration rates. 16
116		-	c. Housing instability. 17
117		-	d. The number of single-parent households. 18
118		-	e. The number of public benefit recipients. 19
119		-	f. Graduation rates. 20
120		-	g. Levels of academic achievement. 21
121		-	(2) If an applicant has a primary mission of, or a history of a significant focus on 22
122		-	and effective work toward, addressing the needs of men in their role as fathers. 23
123		-	(3) Applicant current and historical involvement in the community being served. 24
124		-	(4) Applicant commitment and capability to employ competent staff who can 25
125		-	effectively engage with the fathers being served, including, at a minimum, 26
126		-	those individuals who share a similar background as the fathers being served. 27
127		-	(5) The number of individuals the applicant plans to serve through the grant and 28
128		-	the projected costs for the program. 29
129		-	(6) Applicant organizational capacity to effectively meet the requirements of the 30
130		-	grant and to deliver the programs proposed by the applicant. The Department 31
131		-	may offer technical assistance to applicants and grant recipients that have 32
132		-	lower organizational capacity as long as such organizations have, or the 33
133		-	organization's leadership has, significant experience serving fathers. 34
134		-	(c) Grants shall be awarded for no more than three years, with subsequent year funding 35
135		-	contingent on compliance with grant requirements and adequate performance. Grant recipients 36
136		-	shall submit reports to the Department in a format and at intervals prescribed by the Department." 37
137		-	SECTION 2.2. The Department has six months from the effective date of this act to 38
138		-	implement the requirements outlined in Section 1 of this act. 39
139		-	SECTION 2.3. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of 40
140		-	Health and Human Services the sum of three million dollars ($3,000,000) in nonrecurring funds 41
141		-	for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to be used to implement the provisions of Section 1 of this act. Of 42
142		-	the funds appropriated by this act, the Department shall use up to two million dollars ($2,000,000) 43
143		-	to contract for the Program Manager as authorized in G.S. 108A-70.62. The remainder of the 44
144		-	funds shall be used for the grants authorized in G.S. 108A-70.63. 45
145		-	46
146		-	PART III. EFFECTIVE DATE 47
147		-	SECTION 3. This act becomes effective July 1, 2025. 48
	46	+	conduct business in the State and (ii) the nonprofit allocates the funds appropriated in this act to 34
	47	+	expand its All Pro Dad program in North Carolina, including increasing All Pro Dad Chapters in 35
	48	+	schools, holding events that encourage father-child engagement and foster improved 36
	49	+	H.B. 780
	50	+	Apr 3, 2025
	51	+	HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	52	+	Page 2 DRH10366-NJa-30A
	53	+	communication between children and fathers, and distributing resources to help fathers enhance 1
	54	+	their parenting skills and become more involved in their children's lives. 2
	55	+	3
	56	+	PART II. RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD NC PROGRAM 4
	57	+	SECTION 2.1. Article 2 of Chapter 108A of the General Statutes is amended by 5
	58	+	adding a new Part to read: 6
	59	+	"Part 12. Responsible Fatherhood NC Act. 7
	60	+	"§ 108A-70.60. Short title. 8
	61	+	This act may be cited as the "Responsible Fatherhood NC Act." 9
	62	+	"§ 108A-70.61. Definitions. 10
	63	+	The following definitions apply in this Part: 11
	64	+	(1) Department. – Refers to the Department of Health and Human Services. 12
	65	+	(2) Program. – Refers to the Responsible Fatherhood NC program. 13
	66	+	"§ 108A-70.62. Creation of the Responsible Fatherhood NC program; purpose. 14
	67	+	(a) The General Assembly recognizes that families are stronger when both parents act 15
	68	+	responsibly in caring for their children. It is the intent of the General Assembly to recognize and 16
	69	+	support the important and unique role that fathers play in ensuring the physical, emotional, and 17
	70	+	economic well-being of their children and families. 18
	71	+	(b) The Department shall contract for the development and implementation of the 19
	72	+	Responsible Fatherhood NC program. The program shall provide an opportunity for every father 20
	73	+	in the State to be able to obtain information and inspiration that will motivate and enable him to 21
	74	+	enhance his abilities as a father, recognizing that some fathers have greater challenges than others 22
	75	+	and would benefit from greater support. 23
	76	+	(c) The entity the Department contracts with to develop, implement, and manage the 24
	77	+	program, "Program Manager," shall be a nonprofit organization that satisfies all of the following 25
	78	+	criteria: 26
	79	+	(1) Has a history of focusing on responsible fatherhood, including providing 27
	80	+	online resources to fathers, and engaging fathers, father figures, and children 28
	81	+	through community-based and school-based events to encourage responsible 29
	82	+	fatherhood. 30
	83	+	(2) Has the organizational capacity to manage a statewide initiative and 31
	84	+	successfully carry out the requirements of this section. 32
	85	+	(d) The Program Manager shall be solely responsible for developing, implementing, and 33
	86	+	managing the program which shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following: 34
	87	+	(1) A statewide media campaign that increases the awareness and importance of 35
	88	+	fathers being involved in their children's lives. 36
	89	+	(2) Resources and information for fathers and father figures to increase 37
	90	+	engagement and involvement in their children's lives. 38
	91	+	(3) Promotion of related fatherhood programs that are provided by the 39
	92	+	Department of Public Instruction, the Community College System, or The 40
	93	+	University of North Carolina System. 41
	94	+	(e) To most effectively use the funds appropriated to this program, the Program Manager 42
	95	+	shall identify and use other existing media assets, content, and online resources it deems 43
	96	+	appropriate, including any existing media assets, content, and online resources it has available, 44
	97	+	to implement and execute the items required by this section. 45
	98	+	"§ 108A-70.63. Grants to address the needs of fathers. 46
	99	+	(a) The Department shall award grants to nonprofit community-based organizations to 47
	100	+	address the needs of fathers. The Department shall award the following types of grants: 48
	101	+	(1) Grants that comprehensively address the needs of fathers, such as assisting 49
	102	+	them in finding employment, managing child support obligations, 50
	103	+	transitioning from a period of incarceration, accessing health care, 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	104	+	DRH10366-NJa-30A Page 3
	105	+	understanding child development, and enhancing parenting skills. Services 1
	106	+	provided shall be tailored to the needs of the father being served. Case 2
	107	+	management services shall be provided to the fathers who are served by the 3
	108	+	grants under this subdivision. 4
	109	+	(2) Grants that provide evidence-based parenting education specifically for 5
	110	+	fathers. The grants under this subdivision do not require case management 6
	111	+	services. 7
	112	+	(b) The Department shall prioritize applicants for a grant specified under subsection (a) 8
	113	+	of this section based on all of the following: 9
	114	+	(1) Need in a geographic area and the population to be served by the grant as 10
	115	+	indicated by, at a minimum, all of the following: 11
	116	+	a. Unemployment rates. 12
	117	+	b. Incarceration rates. 13
	118	+	c. Housing instability. 14
	119	+	d. The number of single-parent households. 15
	120	+	e. The number of public benefit recipients. 16
	121	+	f. Graduation rates. 17
	122	+	g. Levels of academic achievement. 18
	123	+	(2) If an applicant has a primary mission of, or a history of a significant focus on 19
	124	+	and effective work toward, addressing the needs of men in their role as fathers. 20
	125	+	(3) Applicant current and historical involvement in the community being served. 21
	126	+	(4) Applicant commitment and capability to employ competent staff who can 22
	127	+	effectively engage with the fathers being served, including, at a minimum, 23
	128	+	those individuals who share a similar background as the fathers being served. 24
	129	+	(5) The number of individuals the applicant plans to serve through the grant and 25
	130	+	the projected costs for the program. 26
	131	+	(6) Applicant organizational capacity to effectively meet the requirements of the 27
	132	+	grant and to deliver the programs proposed by the applicant. The Department 28
	133	+	may offer technical assistance to applicants and grant recipients that have 29
	134	+	lower organizational capacity as long as such organizations have, or the 30
	135	+	organization's leadership has, significant experience serving fathers. 31
	136	+	(c) Grants shall be awarded for no more than three years, with subsequent year funding 32
	137	+	contingent on compliance with grant requirements and adequate performance. Grant recipients 33
	138	+	shall submit reports to the Department in a format and at intervals prescribed by the Department." 34
	139	+	SECTION 2.2. The Department has six months from the effective date of this act to 35
	140	+	implement the requirements outlined in Section 1 of this act. 36
	141	+	SECTION 2.3. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of 37
	142	+	Health and Human Services the sum of three million dollars ($3,000,000) in nonrecurring funds 38
	143	+	for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to be used to implement the provisions of Section 1 of this act. Of 39
	144	+	the funds appropriated by this act, the Department shall use up to two million dollars ($2,000,000) 40
	145	+	to contract for the Program Manager as authorized in G.S. 108A-70.62. The remainder of the 41
	146	+	funds shall be used for the grants authorized in G.S. 108A-70.63. 42
	147	+	43
	148	+	PART III. EFFECTIVE DATE 44
	149	+	SECTION 3. This act becomes effective July 1, 2025. 45