Daily Report for 6/8/2017

Governor's Actions

BillCurrent StatusSponsorSynopsisTitle
HB 13SignedPotterThis bill provides Statewide consistency in the law that protects the public from dangerous dogs and clarifies that dogs may not be held potentially dangerous or dangerous for animal control enforcement or for purposes of criminal liability based solely on breed-specific criteria. Findings to deem a dog dangerous will be based on actions of the dog, or an individualized demonstration of vicious behavior. It also prohibits municipalities from enacting breed-specific ordinances or regulations. The bill deletes outdated references to the now-defunct Dog Control Panel and replaces them with reference to the Justice of the Peace Court procedure laid out in Chapter 30F of Title 16.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 11, 16, AND 22 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DOGS.
HB 41 w/ SA 1SignedLynnIn the 148th General Assembly, the state employees' pension law was amended by House Bill No. 363, as amended by House Amendment No. 1 to House Bill No. 363, to permit specified peace officers to retire at 25 years without any reduction. Specified peace officers will pay a higher employee contribution, and those who continue to work past 25 years of service will have the multiplier used in the calculation of benefits increased for the years past 25 years. This Act adds Delaware State University Police officers to the definition of "specified peace officers."AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE STATE EMPLOYEES' PENSION PLAN.
SB 20Enact w/o SignLavelleThis Act is the second leg of a constitutional amendment that will limit the ability of the State to appropriate Transportation Trust Fund moneys to a purpose other than (1) capital expenditures on the public transportation system, including the road system, grants and allocations for investments in transportation, the transit system, and the support systems for public transportation; (2) payment of the interest and principal on all bonds issued before or after the effective date of this Act and secured by moneys in the Transportation Trust Fund; and (3) other transportation-related purposes, including operating expenses funding the Delaware Department of Transportation, to which moneys in the Transportation Trust Fund are authorized on the effective date of this Act. The first leg, Senate Bill No. 166 of the 148th General Assembly, was adopted by two-thirds of the members elected to the General Assembly and publicized in accordance with Article XVI, § 1 of the Delaware Constitution. This Act essentially creates a lock box on the Transportation Trust Fund that can only be opened by the agreement of three-fourths of all the members of each House through a bill separate from an annual budget act, bond and capital improvement act, or grants-in-aid act. Additionally, if moneys in the Transportation Trust Fund cease to be appropriated for a transportation-related purpose, the moneys may not again be appropriated to such purpose except by the agreement of three-fourths of all the members of each House through a bill separate from an annual budget act, bond and capital improvement act, or grants-in-aid act.AN ACT CONCURRING IN A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE VIII OF THE DELAWARE CONSTITUTION RELATING TO THE TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND.
SB 21 w/ SA 1SignedEnnis This bill vests the authority for regulating seed in Delaware with the Delaware Department of Agriculture and repeals any inconsistent act or parts of acts.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 3 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.
HB 62SignedOuttenThis Act amends the City of Harrington Charter to impose term limits on Mayor (2 terms) and Council Members (3 terms). Further, the City Charter is amended to allow without voter approval the term on debt to be up to 40 years, which is the standard term for USDA loans; and to allow refinancing of debt without voter approval if it saves the City money by reducing the term or interest rate on the debt. Finally, this amendment to the Charter allows financing without voter approval for debt that will not require the principal amount to be repaid. All 3 changes have been approved by City Council Resolutions. AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF HARRINGTON RELATING TO CITY ELECTED OFFICES AND CITY FINANCES.
HB 69SignedJ. JohnsonThis bill amends Title 9, Chapter 14 of the Delaware Code relating to New Castle County and the members of the Audit Committee, and provides that Audit Committee members' term of service is four years, instead of one year, provided, however, that the terms of any reconstituted committee shall be established in a staggered manner. This revision will lead to increased continuity, stability, and productivity of the Audit Committee. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 9 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE NEW CASTLE COUNTY AUDIT COMMITTEE.
SB 36SignedSimpsonThis Act more effectively and efficiently clarifies the enforcement authority of the Department of Agriculture regarding livestock at large. The offenses will now be civil penalties rather than criminal fines, expenses for impoundment will be reimbursed by the violator, and other sources of media can be used to give public notice of impoundment or sale of any livestock at large. This Act is intended to penalize repeat offenders that knowingly let their livestock run at large.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 3 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO STRAY LIVESTOCK.
HB 84 w/ HA 1SignedMitchell This bill provides that civil violations or penalties under subchapters IV and V of Delaware’s Uniform Controlled Substances Act in Title 16 are included as offenses whereby a $15 penalty is assessed for the Fund to Combat Violent Crimes.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FINES, COSTS, PENALTIES AND FORFEITURES.
SB 41 w/ SA 1SignedHansenIn an effort to reduce overdose deaths relating to the growing epidemic of opioid addiction, this Act requires carriers to provide coverage for medically necessary inpatient treatment of alcohol and drug dependencies and prohibits carriers from imposing precertification, prior authorization, pre-admission screening, or referral requirements for the diagnosis and treatment, including in-patient treatment, of drug and alcohol dependencies. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 18 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO COVERAGE FOR SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS AND DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCY.
HB 100SignedKeeleyThe denial by private and public health benefit administrators of adequate coverage for substance abuse treatment has been identified as a major source of failed treatment efforts by persons addicted to controlled substances. These denials have also been identified as a cause of the shortage of adequate treatment facilities in Delaware. This Act seeks to ensure that persons with private and public insurance coverage have the ability to insist that they receive the substance abuse coverage to which they are entitled by law and by their insurance plans. It does so by (1) allowing the Department of Justice to provide legal assistance where appropriate to persons seeking benefits from the state’s Medicaid program, traditional health plans, or from employer-funded health benefit plans (which are exempt from state regulation), (2) requiring the state’s Medicaid program and private insurance carriers to provide notice to persons who are denied substance abuse treatment of the possibility of legal assistance in challenging those claim denials, and (3) permitting the Department of Justice to use funds in its Consumer Protection Fund to offset the cost of providing medical and legal expertise to DOJ and the Department of Insurance for the purpose of assisting persons with controlled substance addictions who are seeking treatment. This Act contains a sunset provision so that the General Assembly can assess the impact of its provisions on private and public health care costs and effective treatment of substance abuse before making its provisions permanent.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 6, 16, 18, AND 31 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
HB 91 w/ HA 1, HA 2SignedMulrooneyThis Act would enhance the ability of the prescription monitoring program to make informed determinations as to prescribers who may be making extraordinary prescriptions of opiates or other controlled substances, and to refer such cases to law enforcement or professional licensing organizations for further review. The Act would also provide a more usable standard for provision of specified information to law enforcement agencies upon a showing of need.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES.
HB 115 w/ HA 1SignedCarsonThis Act amends the definition of "municipality" in 22 Del. C. 1801(4) to allow the City of Dover to take advantage of the economic development opportunities afforded by Municipal Special Development Districts, and enables such municipality to pledge the special tax levied on the property in the special development district to the payment of bonds issued by other issuers in the State for the purposes of the municipal special development district financing act.AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 18, TITLE 22 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO MUNICIPAL SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS.
HB 116SignedCarsonThis Act amends the Charter of the City of Dover to allow the City Council of Dover to levy and collect special ad valorem taxes, special taxes, and ad valorem taxes in amounts it deems necessary for any municipal tax increment financing under the Municipal Tax Increment Financing Act and any municipal development districts under the Municipal Special Development District Financing Act.AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF DOVER TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN MATTERS RELATING TO LEVY AND COLLECTION OF SPECIAL AD VALOREM TAXES, SPECIAL TAXES, AND AD VALOREM TAXES IN CONNECTION WITH A MUNICIPAL TAX INCREMENT FINANCING AND A MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS FINANCING.
HB 117 w/ HA 1SignedCarsonThis Act amends the definition of “municipality” in the Municipal Tax Increment Financing Act to allow the City of Dover to take advantage of the economic development opportunities afforded by the Municipal Tax Increment Financing Act, and enables such municipality to pledge the tax levied on the tax increment to the payment of bonds issued by other issuers in the State for the purposes of the Municipal Tax Increment Financing Act.AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 17, TITLE 22 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO MUNICIPAL TAX INCREMENT FINANCING.
HB 118 w/ HA 1SignedCarsonThis legislation will allow Kent County to utilize Tax Increment Financing (TIF), an economic development tool which New Castle County already possesses.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 9 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO TAX INCREMENT FINANCING.
HB 119 w/ HA 1SignedCarsonThis legislation will allow Kent County to utilize Special Development District tax financing, an economic development tool which New Castle County already possesses.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 9 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS.
HB 150 w/ SA 1SignedLonghurstThis Act creates the Delaware African and Caribbean Affairs Commission.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE COMMISSION ON DELAWARE AFRICAN AND CARIBBEAN AFFAIRS.
SS 1 for SB 5SignedTownsendThe United States Supreme Court’s decisions in Roe v. Wade and subsequent cases established that access to abortion is a constitutional right and that states may not prohibit abortion prior to viability. As a result of these decisions, and the exercise of prosecutorial discretion by the Attorney General, see Del. Op. Att’y Gen. No. 73-030, § III (Apr. 12, 1973), the Delaware Code's prohibitions against abortion are unconstitutional, and thus unenforceable. This Substitute makes Delaware’s laws on abortion consistent with the scope of the right protected by the United States Constitution and the practice in Delaware for the past 43 years. In doing so, this Act permits the termination of a pregnancy prior to viability, to protect the life or health of the mother, or in the event of serious fetal anomaly. This Substitute differs from Senate Bill No. 5 as follows: (1) It clarifies lines 31 through 34 related to fetal anomalies. (2) It notes, on lines 79 through 81, that informed consent for a procedure under this subchapter is required by § 4408-1.0 through 10.0, Title 16 of the Delaware Administrative Code. (3) It makes clear that nothing in this Substitute is to be construed to affect the continued effectiveness of the Parental Notice of Abortion Act, Subchapter VIII of Chapter 17 of Title 24 of the Delaware Code.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE CODIFYING U.S. SUPREME COURT PRECEDENT RELATING TO THE TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY.

New Legislation Introduced

BillCurrent StatusSponsorSynopsisTitle
HA 1 to HB 170StrickenRamoneThis amendment ensures that the responsibilities of the Delaware Economic Development Office or its Director will remain with any successor agency, in the event the Delaware Economic Development Office undergoes a reorganization. 
HS 1 for HB 42CommitteeBoldenThis bill will allow defendants serving consecutive sentences, who were sentenced prior to the amendment of 11 Del. C. § 3901(d), to be allowed to petition the court to consider applying concurrent rather than consecutive sentences. Prior to June 30, 2014 no concurrent sentencing was allowed in the State of Delaware. The bill lays out a process similar to the review process put in place after the habitual offender laws were revised pursuant to Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 163 in the 148th General Assembly. Delaware has the highest rate of incarceration of any state in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region, and the fiscal costs of incarceration continue to strain the state budget. This bill provides a mechanism to review the sentences of some of the current inmate population to determine if their sentences remain appropriate under our current sentencing laws. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO TERMS OF IMPRISONMENT.
HA 1 to HB 164PassedKeeleyThis amendment replaces one representative of the Administrative Office of the Courts to be appointed by the State Court Administrator with two representatives of the Judicial Branch, as appointed by the Chief Justice. This amendment also changes the number of at-large members from 5 to 4. 

Legislation Passed By Senate

BillCurrent StatusSponsorSynopsisTitle
SB 3SignedPooreThis Act replaces the stillbirth certificate with a certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth, clarifies what documentation is required upon the occurrence of a stillbirth, and makes technical corrections to the Vital Statistics laws to accurately reflect current practices. This Act does not change the current reporting requirements regarding births or deaths. This Act shall be known as "Lorenzo's Law" in memory of Lorenzo Joseph DiSalvo who was born on July 3, 2016. Lorenzo is the son of Kimberly Ann DiSalvo and Chad William DiSalvo. His maternal grandparents are Thomas and Cheryl Favoroso and paternal grandparents are Joseph (deceased) and Marla DiSalvo.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO VITAL STATISTICS.
HB 120 w/ HA 1SignedLonghurst This Act requires health insurance policies to cover any medically appropriate drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of stage 4 metastatic cancer without requiring a patient to first prove that the patient failed to respond to a different drug or drugs. This Act is based on a similar bill in Georgia that was inspired by President Jimmy Carter’s recent battle with cancer.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 18 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO INSURANCE COVERAGE OF CERTAIN CANCER TREATMENTS.
SB 61SignedWalshThis Act clarifies the authority of the Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Committee ("Committee") to hold over entities unless or until certain conditions are met or modifications are made. This Act also provides the authority for the Committee to recall an entity that has been released from review when the entity has the ability to meet the recommended condition or make the modification but has failed to do so, or when the Committee recommended legislation to amend an entity's governing statute or a related statute, but the legislation fails to be enacted for any reason. If the Committee recalls an entity, it may recommend any of the options available in subsection (a) of this section.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT AND SUNSET COMMITTEE.
HB 141SignedLynnThis Act authorizes the Family Court to interview a child outside the presence of the parties for the purpose of obtaining the child's testimony and ascertaining the truth of a matter asserted by a party to a Protection from Abuse proceeding. The Court may permit counsel to be present during the interview and ask the child questions. The Court may also permit a party who is not present for the interview to submit questions of fact for the Court to use in interviewing the child. Interviews under this Act must be made a part of the record.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FAMILY COURT PROCEDURE.
HS 1 for HB 22 w/ HA 1SignedJaquesThis Act updates the requirements for Courts-Martial to ensure that all members of the Delaware National Guard receive due process through the military justice system. This legislation amends Title 20 to correct a constitutional defect in the current statute, which fails to provide sufficient appellate process. It further codifies longstanding tradition of giving the Attorney General right of first refusal on all prosecutions to avoid double jeopardy. Provides for misdemeanor courts-martial jurisdiction in any military prosecution with appeal rights to the Superior Court of Delaware. Further, the act reconciles Title 20 with applicable federal law.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 20 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE NATIONAL GUARD.
HB 167SignedSchwartzkopf“Cooking wine” contains alcohol but has been exempted from alcohol regulation by the federal government (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) and many states as long as it contains no more than 20% alcohol by volume and no less than 1.5% salt, thereby making it unfit for beverage consumption. This Act adds cooking wine to the list of exempted liquids from the alcohol regulation. This Act provides that DATE may investigate allegations of misuse of § 725 of this title and refer the matter to the Commissioner for a hearing if the manufacturer or seller disagrees with DATE’s determination.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 4 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING THE SALE OF COOKING WINE AND ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS.
SB 82 w/ SA 1, SA 2SignedSimpsonThis Act amends the Milford City Charter. The changes are comprehensive in nature and designed to amend and revise many of the outdated provisions dating back to the Act reincorporating the City of Milford in 1970. Many of the changes are technical in nature, including updated terminology and re-organization. There are substantive changes to certain procedures including annexation, tax collection, voting, and vacancies. Some provisions are being removed due to their current inapplicability, such as those relating to the City Alderman. There are also changes updating the powers and authority of city officials along with new provisions relating to ethics and the code of conduct.AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF MILFORD.
SB 87SignedHenryThis Act updates the school stability law for children in the custody of the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (DSCYF) following passage of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). ESSA requires Delaware to eliminate the provision “awaiting foster care placement” under § 202(c), Title 14 in accordance with the federal McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act by December 10, 2017, and instead create a distinct provision regarding school stability for children in the custody of DSCYF. [42 U.S.C. §§ 11431 to 11435; ESEA section 1111(g)(1)(E)(i)-(iii)), 20 U.S.C. §6311(g)(1)(E)]. This Act clarifies that children in the custody of DSCYF remain entitled to attend their school of origin if it is in their best interests to do so, or are eligible for immediate enrollment in a new school. Sections 1, 2, and 3 of this Act take effect on the effective date of final regulations published in the Register of Regulations and promulgated under authority granted by § 202A(d) of Title 14, which is created by Section 2 of this Act.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 13 AND 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOL ENROLLMENT OF CHILDREN IN THE CUSTODY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES.
SB 86SignedHenryThis Act authorizes the Family Court to appoint an education decision maker for abused, dependent, neglected, and delinquent children and children in the custody of the Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families under Chapter 25 of Title 13 to assist with education stability, discipline, and other education issues when a parent or guardian is unavailable or unable to make such decisions or consents to the appointment. This Act does not supplant the educational surrogate parent program under § 3132 of Title 14.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 10 AND 13 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ABUSED, DEPENDENT, NEGLECTED, AND DELINQUENT CHILDREN.
SB 93 w/ SA 1SignedMcBrideThis bill allows holders of gill net and hook and line permits to accept transfer of quotas from other commercial fishermen and catch the combined hook and line and gill net quota for striped bass using the equipment for which they hold a permit. The bill also allows commercial fishermen to use gill net tags during hook and line activities and hook and line tags during gill net activities. Additionally, the bill eliminates a specific reporting requirement.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FINFISHING.
SB 102SignedHenryThis Act consolidates Delaware law related to child abuse and child sexual abuse training and detection, suicide prevention, bullying, criminal youth gang detection, and teen dating violence and sexual assault into one subchapter of Chapter 41, Title 14 of the Delaware Code and develops a non-academic training program that coordinates the trainings school district and charter school employees are required to receive. In addition to streamlining non-academic trainings, this Act provides school districts and charter schools with flexibility to meet current and future non-academic training needs of school district and charter school employees, students, and parents. This Act applies to all public schools, including charter schools and vocational technical schools. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual, ensure consistency within the new subchapter, and make references throughout the Code consistent based changes to certain Code designations made by this Act.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 AND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO NON-ACADEMIC TRAINING AND RELATED RESOURCES.
SS 1 for SB 79SignedTownsendThis Act makes corrections and changes to Senate Bill No. 13 of the 149th General Assembly (81 Del. Laws, c. 1), which was signed February 2, 2017, as follows: Section 1 ensures holders have sufficient time to comply with Senate Bill No. 13’s due diligence requirements with owners. Section 2 clarifies that the State will indemnify and defend a holder against claims made by a foreign jurisdiction for property paid or delivered to the State Escheator in good faith. Section 3 corrects an internal reference. Section 4 corrects an inconsistency among dates. Sections 5 and 6 correct certain date issues that may arise if the Department of Finance chooses to publish final regulations later than July 1, based upon comments received in May on the proposed regulations published in the April issue of the Register of Regulations. Section 7 allows the State Escheator to waive interest in certain circumstances. This Substitute to Senate Bill No. 79 differs from Senate Bill No. 79 as follows: (1) It makes no change to § 1147(a) of Title 12. (2) It makes changes to §§ 1176 and 1183 of Title 12 (as noted above regarding Sections 5 and 6 of this Act). (3) It makes changes to the State Escheator’s authority to grant waivers of interest under § 1185 of Title 12 (Section 7 of this Act). AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 12 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATED TO ABANDONED OR UNCLAIMED PROPERTY.
SB 2 w/ SA 1CommitteePooreThis legislation amends the Delaware Code to establish the Department of Human Resources by transferring various divisions and other organizational units from the Office of Management and Budget to the newly established Department of Human Resources. The powers and duties of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Secretary of the Department of Human Resources are aligned to reflect the transfers of the divisions and other organizational units of the newly established Department of Human Resources. Various sections of the Delaware Code are amended to reflect changes in titles and nomenclature.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 14, 15, 18, 19, 29 AND 31 OF THE DELAWARE CODE TO PROVIDE FOR THE REORGANIZATION OF STATE GOVERNMENT BY CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES; TRANSFERRING SELECTED DIVISIONS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONAL UNITS FROM THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES; AMENDING REFERENCES TO SUPERSEDED AGENCIES OR OFFICERS; AND ALIGNING THE DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET.
SB 103SignedMcDowellThis Act extends the Clean Air Act Title V Operating Permit Program annual fees for facilities in Delaware. This Act was developed through the Title V Operating Permit Program Advisory Committee. The existing statutory authorization for the fees sunsets December 31, 2017. The fees are based on the number of staff hours spent on permitting, compliance, and enforcement for each facility and the facility’s air emissions. This Act authorizes the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to collect annual fees for calendar years 2018 through 2020 at which point the authority sunsets. This Act also removes previous language and requirements to complete a Title V Operating Permit Program Management Review. The program management review was completed and a final report was issued in April 2017. This Act also makes a technical correction to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE CLEAN AIR ACT TITLE V OPERATING PERMIT PROGRAM.
HCR 35PassedLonghurstThis resolution recognizes June 8, 2017 as "Nonprofit Day" in the State of Delaware.RECOGNIZING JUNE 8, 2017 AS "NONPROFIT DAY" IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.
SA 1 to SB 93PassedMcBrideThis Amendment does three things. First, it corrects the misspelling of the word “striped”. Second, it removes the language “without restriction” because the language is redundant. Finally, it clarifies that quotas and permits are permitted to be transferred pursuant to Chapter 29 of Title 7. 
SA 1 to SB 82PassedSimpsonThis amendment removes the proposed changes regarding notice of tort actions against the City of Milford and replaces it with a one year notice requirement in accordance with 10 Del. C. § 4013(c).  
SA 2 to SB 82PassedSimpsonThis amendment makes a technical change to specific wording and changes "improvements" to "infrastructure."  
SA 1 to SB 2PassedPooreThis Amendment makes technical corrections and adds necessary prefatory language. 

Legislation Passed By House of Representatives

BillCurrent StatusSponsorSynopsisTitle
HB 45 w/ HA 1SignedKeeleyThis Act clarifies (i) how personal jurisdiction shall be obtained over nonresident respondents in administrative proceedings brought by the Director of Consumer Protection pursuant to Section 2523, Title 29 of the Code, and (ii) the manner in which service of process may be made upon respondents in those proceedings.This Act also empowers administrative hearing officers appointed under Section 2523(b), Title 29 to issue subpoenas upon request of the parties to the administrative proceeding, in order to enable the parties to present evidence not otherwise available to them.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.
HB 70 w/ HA 1SignedBennettUnder current educational standards, students are no longer required to be taught cursive writing and many schools have abandoned teaching cursive writing to students. As cursive writing is still an imperative skill in many professions, this bill makes teaching cursive writing a requirement for all public schools in Delaware.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.
HA 1 to HB 45PassedKeeleyThis amendment clarifies that if a non-party is not subject to subpoena, the administrative hearing officer is permitted to issue a commission so that evidence can be obtained from a jurisdiction where the non-party is subject to subpoena or other process. This amendment also provides that the administrative hearing officer shall, prior to issuing a subpoena or commission, ensure that the subpoena or commission does not impose an undue burden or expense on the person subject to the subpoena or commission. 
HA 1 to HB 70PassedBennettThis amendment changes the beginning school year from 2017-2018 to 2018-2019. 
HS 1 for HB 143 w/ HA 1SignedK. WilliamsThis Act removes the provisional license and re-establishes a 3 tiered licensure system. An initial license provides for two years for the initial licensee to obtain a passing score on an approved performance assessment. This Act provides for reciprocity for a state-created and approved performance assessment from another state or jurisdiction to meet the performance assessment requirement. This Act also eliminates the general knowledge exam for licensure which will result in a savings to the candidate of a range of $100 to $150. Additionally, this Act provides for a reimbursement of no less than $100 to a license holder who meets the performance assessment requirement and becomes employed in a Delaware public school. The Department will be responsible for training local district and school staff on the performance assessment. Additionally, the Department of Education leadership, including the Secretary of Education will be trained on the performance assessment. For enactment, any individual provided an initial license prior to the enactment date will not be subject to the requirement of obtaining a passing score on a performance assessment. Additionally, any individual provided a provisional license prior to the enactment date will be reissued an initial license and the 2 year requirement for meeting the performance assessment will become effective commencing on the new issue date. The remainder of the bill makes conforming changes to cross-references and license designations.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO EDUCATOR LICENSURE.
HB 189SignedMitchellThe “Advanced Wireless Infrastructure Investment Act” creates a new Chapter 16 of Title 17 that will accelerate investment in mobile broadband infrastructure and ready the State for the next wave of economic development in the digital economy. In recognition of the shift from landline to wireless communications, the Act authorizes wireless providers access to the State’s rights of way and establishes a Statewide policy for deployment of small wireless cells to meet the growing demand for wireless services which provide Delaware citizens with access to advanced technology, information and 911 services.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 17 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO HIGHWAYS.
HB 191SignedDukesThis act amends the Charter of the Town of Laurel so that the Mayor and members of the Town Council are only paid for meetings which they attend.AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF LAUREL.
HA 1 to HS 1 for HB 143PassedK. WilliamsThis amendment clarifies implementation of this Act to ensure those educators already on an initial license with multiple years to pass a general knowledge exam, such as School Nurses and Skilled and Technical Science Instructors, are no longer obligated to meet the requirement of passing a general knowledge exam and also clarifies that those educators currently on an initial license are not required to pass an approved performance assessment for movement to a continuing license. 
SCR 29PassedMcBrideThis Concurrent Resolution recognizes the 120th Anniversary of the Constitution of the State of Delaware.RECOGNIZING THE 120TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE.
SCR 30PassedPooreThis resolution recognizes June 8, 2017 as League of Local Governments Day in Delaware.RECOGNIZING JUNE 8, 2017 AS LEAGUE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT DAY IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

Senate Committee Assignments

Committee
Elections & Government Affairs

House Committee Assignments

Committee
Administration
Education
Health & Human Development
Judiciary
Labor
Public Safety & Homeland Security
Revenue & Finance

Senate Committee Report

Committee
Judicial & Community Affairs

House Committee Report

Committee
Economic Development/Banking/Insurance/Commerce

Senate Defeated Legislation

No Senate Defeated Legislation

House Defeated Legislation

BillCurrent StatusSponsorSynopsisTitle
HA 2 to HB 45DefeatedLynnThis Amendment removes the ability of the Attorney General to appoint a Deputy Attorney General to act as the administrative hearing officer to adjudicate charges brought by the Director of Consumer Protection and instead requires the Attorney General to appoint a third party hearing officer to act as the administrative hearing officer to avoid conflicts of interest. 

Nominations Enacted upon by the Senate

NomineeStatusCommission/BoardReappointment
Chapman, WilliamConfirmedLottery CommissionNew
Class-Peters, GeorginaConfirmedUniversity of Delaware Board of TrusteesNew
Fitzgerald, CraigConfirmedFamily Court CommissionerNew
Guido, DarrenConfirmedProfessional Standards BoardReappointment
Marcozzi, GuyConfirmedEnvironmental Appeals BoardReappointment
Norris, DebraConfirmedUniversity of Delaware Board of TrusteesNew
Pinkston, MaryConfirmedProfessional Standards BoardReappointment