BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SJR 12|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SJR 12
Author: Rubio (D)
Amended: 8/8/12
Vote: 21
SUBJECT : Fatherhood
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This resolution urges the President and the
Congress to pursue a comprehensive approach to addressing
issues facing boys and men of color by promoting positive
father involvement and mentoring for children that affirms
that fathers and positive male role models are a critical
part of the lives of children, and to redirect the
distribution of funds and resources of the United States
Department of Health and Human Services to the State of
California as part of the White House Initiative on
Fatherhood and Mentoring to assist underserved boys and men
of color throughout the state, as specified.
Senate Floor Amendments of 8/8/12 remove all reference to
children in general and replace it with language that
addresses boys and men of color only. The reference to
fatherhood is expanded to include "or positive male role
models", and the resolution now eliminates all references
to mothers, and it also add a new whereas:
In California, boys and men of color experience
proportionally higher rates of poverty and
discrimination related inequalities than members of
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other groups, including low educational attainment,
sub-poverty wage employment, victimization or death from
violence, contact with the justice system and
incarceration, incidence of substance abuse and overall
poor quality of life and health.
ANALYSIS : According to 2009 U.S. Census Bureau data,
over 24 million children live apart from their biological
fathers. That is one out of every three (33%) children in
America. Nearly two in three (64%) African American
children live in father-absent homes. One in three (34%)
Hispanic children, and one in four (25%) white children
live in father-absent homes. In 1960, only 11% of children
lived in father-absent homes.
In 2006, President George W. Bush signed the Deficit
Reduction Act of 2005 into law which among other
provisions, provided funding of $150 million in each of
five years for healthy marriage promotion and responsible
fatherhood. Up to $50 million was available each year for
activities promoting fatherhood, such as counseling,
mentoring, marriage education, enhancing relationship
skills, parenting, and activities to foster economic
stability. The money was used to provide grants to
nonprofit groups to enable fathers to improve their
relationships and reconnect with their children and assist
fathers to overcome obstacles and barriers that often
prevent them from being the most effective and nurturing
parent possible.
On June 21, 2010, President Obama announced a new
President's Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative tied to the
White House's Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood
Partnership. The President requested $500 million for a
Fatherhood, Marriage and Families Innovation Fund which was
to give grants to nonprofits that support fathers and
families, including job training programs and incentives
for dads. Also in 2010, the President signed the Claims
Resolution Act of 2010, which provides funding of $150
million to each of five years for health marriage promotion
and responsible fatherhood. Each year, $75 million is
available for activities promoting fatherhood. In June of
2012, the President announced a new government initiative
aimed at helping young fathers access the resources they
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need to succeed. Called the "Fatherhood Buzz", this effort
by the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse of the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is using
barbershops in Albany, New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Los
Angeles, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. to
connect fathers to programs in those communities that
promote responsible fatherhood. Every couple of months,
dads and their barbers participating in the initiative will
get a different "buzz" topic to discuss at the barbershop.
In 1994, the National Fatherhood Initiative was founded by
a former White House aide, Don Eberly, a nonprofit,
nonpartisan organization that aims to improve well-being of
children through the promotion of responsible fatherhood.
It coordinates the Senate and Congressional Task Forces on
Responsible Fatherhood. It works on issues of work-family
balance, military, faith, corrections, community-based
organizations, and healthcare. It also produces and
disseminates a national public service advertising
campaign, in partnership with the Ad Council. The present
president, Roland C. Warren was recently honored by the
President for his ongoing, national efforts to engage
fathers in the levels of their children.
The Center for Research on Fathers, Children and Family
Well-Being at the Columbia University of Social Work is
currently undertaking a survey to review and assess the
current state of the field. The purpose of the survey is
to better understand details about program operations, such
as funding sources, types of resources offered, target
client populations, use of program evaluation tools, and
connections to the broader fatherhood field. More than a
decade has passed since the last comprehensive review was
taken.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 8/9/12)
National Latino Fatherhood and Family Institute
National Compadres Network
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : Proponents indicate that funding
to address the health and socio-economic disparities of
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boys and men of color face is sparse, and support through
targeted funding that builds culturally relevant
programming to better serve this populace has been minimal.
They feel this bill will assist and support efforts
nationally by ringing attention to needed boys and men of
color programs in urban and rural communities.
DLW:k 8/9/12 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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