HF 2159

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 04/09/2015 12:47pm

A bill for an act
relating to human services; establishing the Minnesota Fatherhood Task Force;
creating duties; providing for membership and staff; requiring a report.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin MINNESOTA FATHERHOOD TASK FORCE.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The Minnesota Fatherhood Task Force is established
to review and evaluate programs throughout the state which provide services to fathers,
children, and families. The task force shall make a report to the chairs and ranking
minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over health and human
services policy and finance with a recommendation for changes in policy and funding to
positively engage fathers in the healthy development of their children.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Membership; meetings; staff. new text end

new text begin (a) The task force shall be composed of the
following members who serve at the pleasure of their appointing authority:
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new text begin (1) two members of the house of representatives, each representing different political
parties, appointed by the speaker of the house. One shall represent the seven-county
metropolitan area and the other represent greater Minnesota;
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new text begin (2) two members of the senate, each representing different political parties,
appointed by the Subcommittee on Committees of the Committee on Rules and
Administration. One shall represent the seven-county metropolitan area and the other
represent greater Minnesota;
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new text begin (3) the governor, or the governor's designee;
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new text begin (4) one representative of the judicial branch, appointed by the chief justice of the
Supreme Court;
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new text begin (5) two representatives of county government appointed by the Association of
Minnesota Counties, one representing counties in the seven-county metropolitan area
and one representing all other counties;
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new text begin (6) the commissioners, or the commissioners' designees, of health, human services,
education, corrections, employment and economic development, and veterans affairs;
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new text begin (7) six representatives of programs providing direct services to fathers and families.
Three shall be from the seven-county metropolitan area and three from greater Minnesota;
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new text begin (8) two representatives who have received direct services from fatherhood-inclusive
programs, one from the seven-county metropolitan area and one from greater Minnesota;
and
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new text begin (9) two representatives who are researchers or educators with experience with
research on fatherhood and families.
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new text begin (b) The commissioner of human services must convene the first meeting of the
Minnesota Fatherhood Task Force on or before July 31, 2015. The task force must meet at
least quarterly.
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new text begin (c) Staffing and technical assistance shall be provided within available resources by
the Department of Human Services.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin The Minnesota Fatherhood Task Force shall do all of the following:
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new text begin (1) review and evaluate state and federal programs that provide services to fathers,
children, and families;
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new text begin (2) explore the role of state government and current state programs in incentivizing
or disincentivizing father involvement with children;
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new text begin (3) make recommendations regarding changes to policy and administration to
increase positive father involvement with children; and
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new text begin (4) identify potential cost savings and evaluate return on investment resulting from
positive father engagement.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin (a) The task force must submit an initial report to the chairs and
ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdictions over health
and human services policy and finance on or before November 30, 2015. The report
must address:
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new text begin (1) the ability of fatherhood programs in Minnesota to improve economic stability
and healthy relationships within the families served;
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new text begin (2) the ability of fatherhood programs in Minnesota to foster responsible parenting
among the fathers served; and
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new text begin (3) the effects of future state funding on program sustainability and expansion.
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new text begin (b) The task force must submit a final report by February 1, 2016, reviewing and
evaluating programs throughout the state that provide services to fathers, children,
and families and making recommendations for legislation providing state funding to
community-based programs, including any phase-in period and draft legislation necessary
for implementation, to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative
committees with jurisdiction over health and human services policy and finance.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin This section expires February 2, 2016.
new text end