Virginia resolution to establish a marriage strengthening commission -1/02

[Smartmarriages ®]

subject: VA resolution to establish marriage strengthening commission -1/02

from: Smart Marriages
 

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 113
Offered January 9, 2002
Prefiled January 9, 2002
Establishing the Commonwealth Marriage and Parenting Skills Commission to
promote marriage education in the schools, responsible fatherhood, and
related family-strengthening measures.
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Patron-- Hanger
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity
Reconciliation Act (PRWORA), which introduced welfare reform, encourages
parents who are receiving TANF and other public assistance to leave the
welfare rolls and move to self-sufficiency; and

WHEREAS, requiring absent fathers to be economically responsible for their
children is the only form of father involvement mandated by this law, but
the general purposes of TANF include the formation and stabilization of
two-parent families; and

WHEREAS, role models are essential for the positive emotional, physical and
social development of a child, but many parents lack the interpersonal
skills to communicate and many, particularly fathers, fail to participate
mainly because of a lack of economic stability; and

WHEREAS, evidence shows that such positive interaction with the child is
beneficial to the parent as well; and

WHEREAS, it is estimated that 80 percent of child poverty occurs among
children outside a two-parent household; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a
Commonwealth Marriage and Parenting Skills Commission be established to
promote marriage education in the schools, responsible fatherhood, and
related family-strengthening measures. The Commission shall be composed of
thirteen members, which shall include eight legislative members and five
nonlegislative and ex officio members as follows: five members of the House
of Delegates, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House, in accordance
with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules
of the House of Delegates; and three members of the Senate, to be appointed
by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; two nonlegislative
members to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates; one
nonlegislative member to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges
and Elections; and, the Commissioner of Social Services and the Secretary
of Education, or his/her designee, to serve ex officio with full voting
privileges.

In conducting its study, the Commission shall (i) assess best practices and
resources in the Commonwealth and throughout the country designed to
empower TANF recipients with enhanced marriage and parenting communications
skills and support for strong families, and recommend potential sources of
funding to expand such activities in Virginia; (ii) assess marriage
curricula and communications skills curricula for high school students,
pertinent provisions of the Family Life Education program and social
services programs, and provide recommendations for marriage curricula
enhancement and related marriage skills community programs; (iii) examine
policy barriers in state law that impede or create disincentives to
two-parent family formation and child support, and assess and make other
recommendations concerning models that have been implemented by other
states such as child support pass-through and bonus incentives for marriage
and family strengthening; and (iv) identify incarcerated parent programs
that would become laboratories for community, volunteer, charitable, and
faith-based organizations to transform non-custodial parent prisoner's
lives and prevent their return to crime and prison while enhancing family
relationships and child well-being.

The direct costs of this study shall not exceed $11,500.

The Division of Legislative Services shall provide staff support for the
study. Technical assistance shall be provided by the Departments of Social
Services and Education. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide
assistance to the Commission, upon request.

The Commission shall complete its work by November 30, 2002 and submit its
written findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 2003 Session
of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of
Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and
certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may withhold
expenditures or delay the period for the conduct of the study.

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