AN ACT CONCERNING RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD AND STRONG FAMILIES.

This bill requires the Department of Social Services (DSS) to report to the Children's Committee on child support collection efforts and noncustodial parents. It requires the commissioner to seek federal and private funds to provide grants to promote programs supporting the positive involvement and interaction of fathers with their children.

It requires the chief court administrator to create a problem-solving docket in one or more court locations to hear child support matters separately from other matters.

The bill requires the DSS to report to the Children's committee by February 1, 2010 on:

1. the effectiveness of child support arrears management efforts;

2. the effectiveness of efforts aimed at reducing teen fatherhood; and

3. the number of noncustodial parents who are (a) participating in job training programs, (b) newly employed, and (c) at or below federal poverty level.

The DSS commissioner must seek to obtain all available federal and private funding for programs that promote the following objectives:

1. promote public education on the financial responsibility of fatherhood;

2. help men prepare for the legal, financial, and emotional responsibilities of fatherhood;

3. promote the establishment of paternity at childbirth;

4. encourage fathers, regardless of marital status, to foster their emotional connection to and financial support of their children;

5. establish support mechanisms for fathers in their relationship with their children, regardless of their marital and financial status; and

6. integrate state and local services available for families.

If funds are obtained, DSS must award grants to programs and service providers that provide:

1. employment and training opportunities for low-income fathers to increase their earning capacity;

2. classes in parenting and financial management; and

3. other support services and programs that promote responsible parenting, financial stability, and communication and interaction between fathers and their children.

Those seeking grants must apply to the commissioner by a date and in a manner he determines. He will set eligibility and award criteria. He must require applicants to:

1. implement accountability measures and results-based outcomes as a condition of being awarded the grant and

2. leverage funds through existing resources and collaboration with community-based and nonprofit organizations.

Annually, starting October 1, 2010, the commissioner must report to the Children's and Human Services committees on the grant program's effectiveness in achieving the six objectives above.

The chief court administrator must create a problem-solving docket within existing resources to help noncustodial parents with child support payment arrearages. The docket must be established in one or more locations for hearing child support matters separate from other dockets. The Superior Court or family court magistrate division may transfer child support matters to this docket.

The chief court administrator must establish policies and procedures to implement the program. She must report on the program to the Human Services Committee by July 1, 2010.

Yea

Nay

(03/03/2009)

Yea

Nay

(03/19/2009)