WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SB 3119

STRENGTHENING FATHERS&FAMILIES

104th Regular Session Introduced by Kimberly Lightford

Establishes a Commission and Fund to promote positive father involvement and family strengthening, guiding policy, research, and grants to support children and families.

0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 3119

Summary of SB 3119 (104th General Assembly) – Commission on Strengthening Fathers and Families Act

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes a state policy and program framework to recognize and promote the active involvement of both parents in children’s lives.
  • Shifts focus toward father involvement and family strengthening, while valuing all family configurations (married, unmarried, divorced, or non-marital parenting).
  • Creates infrastructure to promote positive father–child interactions and cooperative relationships between fathers and mothers.

Key provisions

Initiatives and goals

  • Creates the Strengthening Fathers and Families Initiative (the Initiative) under the new Commission.
  • Primary goals:
    1. Increase awareness of problems caused by absence of a caring, involved father.
    2. Identify obstacles to father involvement.
    3. Identify successful strategies to overcome obstacles.
    4. Promote changes in policies, perceptions, and practices that hinder father participation.
  • The Initiative aims to promote positive interactions:
    • Between fathers and their children.
    • Between fathers and the mothers of their children.
  • While focusing on children whose families receive public assistance, the Initiative may apply to other populations as appropriate.

Commission on Strengthening Fathers and Families

  • Creates the Commission to implement the Act’s purposes and initiatives.
  • Membership: up to 21 members; includes a diverse mix (fathers, mothers, state agency representatives, advocates, family law and court representatives, legal aid, corrections, etc.). At least 50% of members must be parents.
  • Chair: Appointed by the Deputy Governor of Health and Human Services; inaugural chair appointed in collaboration with the Deputy Governor.
  • Operational readiness: Commission becomes operational once at least 10 additional members are appointed.
  • Governance: Decisions and policies to be made by consensus with a majority vote.

Duties and activities of the Commission

  • Develop a comprehensive plan to promote positive father involvement and family strengthening.
  • Evaluate state programs, policies, and community initiatives related to fatherhood and family strengthening; make recommendations to the Governor, Deputy Governor, and General Assembly.
  • Engage with a university partner for research and data analysis (inaugural partner: Lab for Empowerment and Advancement through Dad-Driven Research, University of Illinois-Chicago).
  • Convene statewide symposia to discuss and accelerate fatherhood and family strengthening efforts.
  • Subject to appropriations, develop grant criteria and issue RFPs for fatherhood and family strengthening projects.
  • Receive grants and other funds for related activities.
  • Annually develop a report on the Commission’s work, as resources allow.

Funding and administration

  • Establishes the Fatherhood and Family Strengthening Fund (special fund in the state treasury) to hold grants, contributions, and related funds.
  • Funds deposited into the Fund may be expended for Act purposes, subject to appropriation.
  • Department of Human Services may direct discretionary funds to the Fund to support Commission operations (core functions and operations).

Beneficiaries and affected parties

  • Primary beneficiaries: children and families, particularly those involved with public assistance programs, but potentially applicable to broader populations.
  • Direct stakeholders: fathers, mothers, child welfare advocates, family law professionals, social service agencies, state agencies (e.g., Department of Human Services, Department of Corrections, Attorney General’s Office, State’s Attorneys, Division of Child Support Services), and researchers.
  • The Act anticipates collaboration across multiple state departments and community organizations.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Filed: February 2, 2026.
  • Assigned to Appropriations (Feb 10, 2026) and initially to other committees.
  • Rule 2-10 deadlines established:
    • Committee deadline by April 24, 2026.
    • Overall deadline by May 15, 2026 (per Rule 2-10 for third reading).
  • Operational readiness depends on identifying and installing at least 10 Commission members beyond initial appointees.
  • No explicit effective date provided in the text; generally, once enacted, the Commission would begin operations and the Fund would begin receiving contributions, subject to appropriations.

Status

  • Introduced and assigned to committees in February 2026; ongoing legislative process as of the latest action.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary for a specific audience (e.g., policymakers, the public, or a legal briefing) or add a side-by-side comparison with related Illinois family/child welfare programs.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.