PA Act No. 114 of 2022

(Left to Right) David A. Wyher, Dr. Joel N. Myers, Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode Sr., Dr. Rufus Sylvester Lynch.

Pennsylvania Act No. 114 of 2022 

Through the efforts of the Pennsylvania Greater Father Family Involvement Campaign, and its institutional partners including the Dads’ Resource Center, HB 1731, to establish the Pennsylvania Advisory Committee on Greater Father Involvement has passed into law. After unanimous passage in both the House and Senate, Governor Tom Wolf signed it into Pennsylvania Act No. 114 of 2022 on November 3, 2022.

The committee will be established within the Joint State Government Commission. Among its designated powers and duties, it will:

• Work with State and local governments and other entities through collaboration, coordination, research and consultation to recognize and promote the contributions that fathers make to improving societal outcomes for children and families.
• Make recommendations regarding the possible establishment of a long-term or permanent fatherhood commission and its powers, duties and funding.
• Issue, by December 31,2023, a report to the Governor and the General Assembly regarding responsible fatherhood programs and issues within this Commonwealth and make recommendations to aid in understanding, evaluating or improving the successful implementation of these programs and issues.

This effort to pass this bill was started by Dr. Rufus Sylvester Lynch, Chair of The Strong Families Commission, Incorporated, who was joined in campaign leadership by the Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode, Sr., SOC Chair Emeritus and former Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, and David A. Wyher, President and CEO of Delta Community  Supports, Inc. Together they reached out to Dr. Joel N. Myers, Founder and CEO of AccuWeather, who accepted  the role of Chair of the Pennsylvania Greater Father Family Involvement Campaign.