This week Speaker of the Florida House, State Rep. Chris Sprowls (R-65), publicly announced his support for HB 7065 to battle fatherlessness in Florida.
H.B. 7065 intends to provide over $70 million in funding for initiatives such as financial assistance to struggling fathers and mentoring programs for at-risk boys. It funds various programs to help single fathers meet their child support commitments and become self-sufficient.
The bill also provides grant funding to nonprofit organizations in neighborhoods that run leadership programs for children and increases the state's Postsecondary Education Supports and Services job college readiness program for foster children.
“From poverty to crime to incarceration, just about every negative outcome we see for young boys and men in today’s society is in part due to an absent father,” said Speaker Sprowls this Wednesday.
“We cannot legislate fatherhood, responsibility or character. But we can direct some state resources to ensure that fathers, father figures and mentors have the support they need to be inspired, equipped, and excited about being present and active in their children’s lives. Today, we are making historic investments toward this critical goal and calling on all Florida men to rise up and be the fathers and role models our sons need.”
Jack Brewer, Commissioner of the Federal Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys and Founder of The Jack Brewer Foundation also attended the press conference to stand in solidarity with Speaker Sprowls on the issue. Commissioner Brewer frankly stated, "There’s a fatherless problem in every state when you have a culture that doesn’t hold Dads accountable, and you have government programs that disincentive the family."
The bill has since passed the state House on February 16, 2022 with 117 yeas and 0 nays. If signed into law the legislation will become effective on July 1, 2022.
