HOUSE BILL No. 5545


     December 21, 2001, Introduced by Reps. Hart and Jansen and referred to the Committee on Family and Children Services.


        A bill to establish a Michigan marriage and fatherhood com-

   mission; and to prescribe the powers and duties of the

   commission.

               THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 1
           Sec. 1.  This act shall be known and may be cited as the

 2
      "Michigan marriage and fatherhood commission act".

 3
           Sec. 3.  The marriage and fatherhood commission is created

 4
      in the legislative council.  The commission is an independent

 5
      unit in the legislative council, except for budgeting, procure-

 6
      ment, and related management functions.

 7
           Sec. 5.  (1) The marriage and fatherhood commission shall

 8
      consist of the following members:

 9
           (a) Three members appointed by the president of the senate.

10
           (b) Three members appointed by the speaker of the house of

11
      representatives.


   06036'01                                                 KAO                                   2

 1
           (c) Three members appointed by the governor from the

 2
      executive branch of government.

 3
           (d) Three members appointed by the chief of staff of the

 4
      Michigan supreme court.

 5
           (2) Each appointed member shall serve 5-year terms.

 6
      Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original

 7
      appointments and for the balance of the unexpired term.  A member

 8
      appointed to fill a vacancy caused by a resignation or death

 9
      shall be appointed for the balance of the unexpired term.

10
           (3) The legislative council created under the legislative

11
      council act, 1986 PA 268, MCL 4.1101 to 4.1901, shall appoint a

12
      director of the marriage and fatherhood commission.  The director

13
      shall hold office at the pleasure of the marriage and fatherhood

14
      commission.  The director shall perform the functions and duties

15
      that are assigned to him or her by the marriage and fatherhood

16
      commission.

17
           (4) The marriage and fatherhood commission, with the

18
      approval of the director, may hire employees and support staff as

19
      considered necessary for its work.

20
           Sec. 7.  The Michigan marriage and fatherhood commission

21
      shall do all of the following:

22
           (a) Stimulate and encourage throughout this state study and

23
      review of the status of marriage and fatherhood in this state.

24
           (b) Gather information regarding how society can create an

25
      environment for a healthy marriage and study the best

26
      marriage-strengthening practices.





   06036'01                                   3

 1
           (c) Strengthen family relations and children's home life by

 2
      directing attention to critical problems confronting marriage and

 3
      fatherhood.

 4
           (d) Recommend resources for counseling, assistance, and

 5
      instruction on how to have a healthy marriage and successful par-

 6
      enting, including, but not limited to, information about the

 7
      importance of communication, shared parental responsibility for

 8
      children, child support responsibilities, domestic violence, and

 9
      child abuse and neglect.

10
           (e) Identify community resources for parents or children of

11
      parents who are divorced or separated.

12
           (f) Promote marriage and parenting education courses.

13
           (g) Promote more effective methods and strategies for fos-

14
      tering a climate that nurtures and enhances healthy, positive,

15
      and caring family interaction.

16
           (h) Implement ways to promote, strengthen, and increase

17
      awareness of the importance of marriage and fatherhood.

18
           Sec. 9.  The marriage and fatherhood commission shall submit

19
      an annual report to the legislature including recommendations

20
      based on its studies and identification of specific state poli-

21
      cies that impede the creation of a climate that nurtures and

22
      enhances healthy, positive, and caring family interaction by this

23
      commission.

24
           Sec. 11.  The marriage and fatherhood commission shall not

25
      have authority to promulgate rules.







   06036'01          Final page.                            KAO