State Senator Glenn Grothman has introduced a controversial bill targeting single parents in Wisconsin.

The bill, introduced at the Senate Committee on Public Health, Human Services and Revenue public hearing, is called the Senate Bill 507. It will make illegal single parenthood and regard it as child abuse.

The bill states:

Section 1. 48.982 (2) (g) 2. of the statutes is amended to read: 48.982 (2) (g) 2. Promote statewide educational and public awareness campaigns and materials for the purpose of developing public awareness of the problems of child abuse and neglect. In promoting those campaigns and materials, the board shall emphasize nonmarital parenthood as a contributing factor to child abuse and neglect.

Section 2. 48.982 (2) (g) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:
48.982 (2) (g) 4. Disseminate information about the problems of and methods of preventing child abuse and neglect to the public and to organizations concerned with those problems. In disseminating that information, the board shall emphasize nonmarital parenthood as a contributing factor to child abuse and neglect.

A 2009 report from the U.S. Census Bureau reports there are 13.7 million single parents across the U.S., with single mothers outpacing single fathers five to one. Single parents make up a third of Wisconsin parents, according to Annie E. Casey Foundation.

Grothman is an opponent of social welfare establishment that he believes encourages women to have children out of wedlock. His bill would require the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board to regard non-marital parenthood as a contributing factor to child abuse and neglect.