Daily Report for 1/16/2018

Governor's Actions

No legislation is Signed by Governor Today

New Legislation Introduced

BillCurrent StatusSponsorSynopsisTitle
HB 297CommitteeRamoneThis Act decreases by 1% the rate of realty transfer tax to be received by the State, thereby returning to the rate that was applicable prior to August 1, 2017.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 30 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DECREASING THE REALTY TRANSFER TAX.
HB 296CommitteeParadeeThis bill creates a tax deduction of up to $2,500 for an individual or $5,000 for a married couple for contributions to a qualified 529A savings account, or "ABLE" plan - a special account for meeting the needs of certain individuals with disabilities. The deduction may only be claimed by a taxpayer who makes less than $125,000 or a married couple who makes less than $250,000. It is applicable only to ABLE plans sponsored by the State of Delaware or offered by a consortium of states of which Delaware is a member.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 30 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ABLE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS.

Legislation Passed By Senate

BillCurrent StatusSponsorSynopsisTitle
HB 204 w/ HA 1SignedJ. JohnsonThis Act makes a number of changes to Chapter 21, Title 11 of the Delaware Code, with the goal of modernizing the pretrial process, reducing reliance on monetary conditions, improving the efficiency and outcomes for the criminal justice system, and ensuring the safety of the community. An analysis of data for pretrial detention and bail shows that Delaware’s bail system is failing in two ways: we unnecessarily detain individuals who lack funds for their release, and on the other end of the spectrum, we release defendants who fail to appear or remain law abiding during their period of pretrial release. The Courts, the Department of Correction, the Office of Defense Services, the Attorney General’s Offices, members of law enforcement and the private defense bar, and the Delaware Center for Justice have worked collaboratively to propose the changes embodied in this bill, and will continue to work on further revisions. Specifically, this Act makes the following changes to the bail/pretrial process: - Use risk to determine conditions: Require courts to consider risk by using empirically-based tools to determine whether a defendant is likely to stay out of trouble and come to court, and use that information to make individualized “assignments” of conditions of release. - Defines purpose of release conditions: Limit conditions of release to things that will reasonably assure the defendant will show up in court, and protect victims, witnesses, and community members. - Create more opportunities for conditions to be added or removed: Make release conditions “living documents” that will automatically be reviewed if a defendant does not initially meet them, if a defendant does meet them and then violates those terms, or if the defendant or their custodian makes a motion to modify those conditions. - Empower pretrial officers: Gives Department of Corrections more tools to investigate and address violations of release conditions so the courts can address violations promptly and impose sanctions if necessary. This bill further requires the court to conduct a review of conditions of pretrial release for a defendant who remains detained after 72 hours from the defendant’s initial presentment because of inability to meet any condition of release (including a financial condition). Such a review must happen within ten days of detention. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO RELEASE OF PERSONS ACCUSED OF CRIMES.

Legislation Passed By House of Representatives

BillCurrent StatusSponsorSynopsisTitle
HB 237 w/ HA 1SignedCollinsThis bill creates a new vehicle license plate promoting and supporting Keep Delaware Beautiful. This new non-profit organization, affiliated with Keep America Beautiful, has a mission of undertaking initiatives that will beautify Delaware and reduce litter.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES.
HB 274SignedDukesThis bill allows the Laurel Special School District to convey to the Town of Laurel the Paul Laurence Dunbar School and the lands on which the school is located. AN ACT TO PERMIT THE LAUREL SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT TO CONVEY TO THE TOWN OF LAUREL THE LANDS AND STRUCTURE LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF SIXTH STREET AND WEBB AVENUE IN THE TOWN OF LAUREL, LITTLE CREEK HUNDRED, SUSSEX COUNTY, DELAWARE, BEING MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR SCHOOL.
HB 277SignedBaumbachThis Act extends the Delaware Manufactured Home Relocation Trust Fund until July 1, 2024.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 25 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE MANUFACTURED HOME RELOCATION TRUST FUND.
HA 1 to HB 237PassedOsienskiThis amendment clarifies that the funds derived from the fee for the license plate will be deposited into the Keep Delaware Beautiful License Fund to be used to support its mission to beautify the State and reduce litter. 

Senate Committee Assignments

No Senate Committee Assignments

House Committee Assignments

Committee
Administration
Capital Infrastructure
Revenue & Finance

Senate Committee Report

No Senate Committee Report

House Committee Report

No House Committee Report

Senate Defeated Legislation

No Senate Defeated Legislation

House Defeated Legislation

No House Defeated Legislation

Nominations Enacted upon by the Senate

NomineeStatusCommission/BoardReappointment
Grant, Stuart M.WithdrawnUniversity of Delaware Board of TrusteesReappointment
Rushdan, Wali W.ConfirmedState Board of EducationNew