[atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to the Washington state commission for responsible fatherhood; and adding a new chapter to Title 43 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that:

(1) Children living in single-parent households are more likely to be living in poverty;

(2) The overwhelming percentage of children residing in poverty reside in homes where fathers are not present;

(3) Children living in poverty are at a significantly greater risk for drug and alcohol abuse;

(4) Children living in poverty are twice as likely to drop out of school;

(5) The vast majority of homeless and runaway children are from homes where children live in poverty;

(6) Washingtonians recognize that children are more likely to thrive with support, guidance, and nurturing from both parents;

(7) The absence of one parent from a child's life can place that child at a greater risk of health, emotional, educational, and behavioral problems associated with the child's development;

(8) Many young men today are themselves fatherless, lack appropriate role models, and are in need of information and education regarding the appropriate roles and responsibilities of fathers; and

(9) Across America there is a renewed understanding of the unique importance fathers play in the lives of their children, families, and communities.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The Washington state commission for responsible fatherhood is established in the office of the governor.

(2) The commission shall consist of twenty-two members and reflect the geographic and cultural diversity of the state. The membership shall include:

(a) Secretary of the department of social and health services, or his or her designee;

(b) Secretary of employment securities, or his or her designee;

(d) Superintendent of public instruction, or his or her designee;

(e) Secretary of corrections, or his or her designee;

(f) Two members of the senate, one from each of the two major political parties, appointed by the president of the senate, and two members of the house of representatives, one from each of the two major political parties, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(g) One representative from the family law section of the bar, appointed by the governor;

(h) One representative from the faith community, appointed by the governor;

(i) One representative from the Washington association for prosecuting attorneys, appointed by the governor;

(j) Two representatives from fatherhood programs or organizations, appointed by the governor;

(k) One representative from domestic violence programs, appointed by the governor;

(l) Three at-large members, appointed by the governor;

(m) One member from the business community, appointed by the governor;

(n) Director of community, trade, and economic development, or his or her designee;

(o) Head start collaboration director, or his or her designee; and

(p) Regional administrator for administration for children and families, or his or her designee.

(3) All commission members shall serve at the pleasure of the governor, but in no case may any member appointed by the governor serve more than three years without formal reappointment by the governor. All legislative members shall serve for two-year terms, and the position of any legislative member shall be deemed vacated whenever such member ceases to be a member of the house from which he or she was appointed. Of the persons initially appointed by the governor to the commission, three shall be appointed to serve one year, three to serve two years, and four to serve three years. Upon expiration of such terms, subsequent appointments shall be for three years. Any vacancies occurring in the membership of the commission shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointments.

(4)(a) Nonlegislative members shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

(b) Legislative members shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with RCW 44.04.120.

(5) A simple majority of the membership constitutes a quorum for the purpose of conducting business.

(6) The governor shall appoint an executive director of the commission.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The executive director shall appoint staff who shall be state employees under Title 41 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The commission shall adopt rules necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The purpose of the commission is to further the understanding of the importance of two parents being actively involved in the lives of a child, with particular emphasis on fathers. The commission is charged with the following:

(1) Identify promising best practices that support and engage both parents in the emotional and financial support of their children;

(2) Identify obstacles that impede or prevent the involvement of fathers in the lives of their children;

(3) Raise public awareness of the consequences the absence of the father may cause in a child's life;

(4) Make recommendations for policy and practice both within and without state government that sustain and reengage fathers in the lives of their children;

(5) Coordinate programs that promote fatherhood and counter the incidence of fatherlessness in the state of Washington;

(6) Promote, foster, encourage, and otherwise support programs designed to educate and train young men who are both current and future fathers as to effective parenting skills, behaviors, and attitudes;

(7) Coordinate programs that counter poverty and low income by increasing the capacity for fathers to overcome personal challenges and become productive, independent, and financially responsible contributors to their family; and

(8) Report its findings and recommendations to the governor annually.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. Each state department, board, commission, authority, or body within the executive branch that provides services to children and families is directed to plan collaboratively with the commission for services to fathers. Each body is directed to report to the commission on this collaboration and improvements to services for and inclusion of fathers. The commission shall determine the form of such reports and the submission.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. The commission may receive such gifts, grants, and endowments from private sources as may be made from time to time in trust or otherwise for the use and benefit of the purposes of the commission and to expend the same or any income therefrom according to the terms of the gifts, grants, or endowments, and the purposes of this chapter. The executive director shall make a report of such funds received from private sources to the joint legislative audit and review committee on a current basis. Such funds received from private sources shall not be applied to reduce or substitute for the commission's budget as appropriated by the legislature but shall be applied and expended toward projects and functions authorized by this chapter that were not funded by the legislature.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. Sections 1 through 7 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 43 RCW.