Report Title:

Gender Equity; Preferences; Favoritism

Description:

Prohibits preferences in government contracts, programs, services, and workforce policies that affect parental roles in children's health, welfare, and education, that favor one parent over another.

 

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

932

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to government.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the role of fathers in the raising of children and in the health and well-being of families is often unintentionally overlooked in government contracts, programs, and services dealing with children's health, welfare, and education. Both parents are partners in raising their children, regardless of whether or not they live in the same household. The legislature further finds that government should be encouraging and promoting fatherly involvement in the family through its programs and workforce policies.

Research shows that children benefit from positive relationships with not only their mothers, but with their fathers:

(1) Fatherly involvement is important especially for very young children, since early childhood contributes to the development of emotional security, curiosity, and math and verbal skills;

(2) Higher levels of fatherly involvement in activities of their children, such as eating meals together, going on outings, and helping with homework, are associated with fewer behavioral problems, higher levels of sociability, and higher school performance, including adolescents;

(3) Fatherly involvement in children's schooling, such as volunteering at school and attending school meetings, parent-teacher conferences, and class events, is associated with higher grades, greater school enjoyment, and lower chances of suspension or expulsion;

(4) Father-child relationship affects daughters as well as sons, since girls who live with both parents do better academically and are less likely to engage in early sexual involvement and in alcohol and drug use; and

(5) Although negative peer influence is the major reason kids use drugs, research suggests that positive family influence is the main reason kids do not use drugs, with boys and girls having reduced risk of drug and alcohol use if their fathers are involved in their lives.

The legislature further finds that while government cannot make good fathers, it can support efforts to help men become the best fathers they can be. The legislature also recognizes that same sex couples have children and their roles in their children's lives are similar.

The purpose of this Act is to require that government contracts, programs, services, and workforce policies eliminate any preferences that have the effect of favoring one parent over another in the raising of their children.

SECTION 2. The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§ - Parental preferences prohibited. (a) The purpose of this section is to recognize the unique challenges faced by fathers who are seeking to provide a positive influence in the lives of their children, that could be prevented by institutional preferences.

(b) Contracts, programs, services, and workforce policies of the State and counties shall not favor or create a preference of, whether intentionally or not, one parent over another in the raising of children, whether the parents are natural parents, step-parents, adoptive parents, or of different sexes or the same sex."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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