| SB 153 w/ SA 2 | Signed | Hansen | This Act creates the Delaware Native Species Commission ("Commission"), which is one of the recommendations of the Statewide Ecological Extinction Task Force, created by Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 20 of the 149th General Assembly. The Commission will terminate 10 years from enactment unless extended by the General Assembly. | AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE NATIVE SPECIES COMMISSION. |
| SB 155 | Committee | Walsh | This Act prohibits a flagger from using headphones or electronic communication devices while engaged in traffic control in a work zone. This Act permits a flagger to use an electronic communication device approved by the Department of Transportation. This Act makes a violation of this prohibition a civil traffic offense that is not entered on an individual’s motor vehicle record. | AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 17 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ROAD CONSTRUCTION FLAGGERS. |
| HS 1 for HB 287 w/ HA 1 | Signed | K. Williams | This Substitute Bill makes the following changes to House Bill No. 287:
1. It changes the name of the new diploma to a "Diploma of Alternate Achievement Standards" instead of a "Diploma of Modified Performance Standards."
2. It adds a requirement that a student must be eligible to take a statewide alternate assessment to receive the new diploma.
3. The Act takes effect in the academic year after enactment. | AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO STATE HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA REQUIREMENTS. |
| HCR 71 | Passed | Carson | This resolution recognizes March 29, 2018 as “National Vietnam Veterans Day”, a day to honor and show gratitude to all service members, especially the Vietnam-era service members who risk their lives protecting our great Nation. | RECOGNIZING MARCH 29, 2018 AS “NATIONAL VIETNAM VETERANS DAY”. |
| SA 2 to SB 153 | Passed | Hansen | This Amendment clarifies that a member of the Commission may be removed if the member misses 3 successive meetings without just cause and that the Governor accepts the resignation of appointed Commission members who fail to attend 3 successive meetings. This Amendment also creates a Vice Chair of the Commission. | |
| HCR 69 | Passed | Longhurst | This concurrent resolution proclaims the month of April, as “Nonprofit Impact Month” to affirm the importance of organizations in the nonprofit sector and the impact of their work for every citizen in our State, to celebrate the accomplishments of the past year, and to acknowledge our ongoing responsibility to support a robust social impact sector for citizens, communities, and economic development across the State. | DESIGNATING APRIL AS NONPROFIT IMPACT MONTH IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE. |
| HCR 72 | Passed | Bolden | This Concurrent Resolution recognizes April 10, 2018, as "Equal Pay Day". | DESIGNATING APRIL 10, 2018 AS "EQUAL PAY DAY" IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE. |
| SS 1 for SB 85 w/ HA 1 | Signed | Henry | This Act draws attention to the types of discipline used in schools by capturing data about out-of-school suspensions and publishing that data, in an effort to help schools identify areas where the data regarding out-of-school suspensions indicates there is room to reduce such suspensions. This Act is meant to increase transparency, improve overall school climate, resulting in improved student outcomes.
The collection and publication of this data will also help the Department of Education and community partners identify opportunities to provide greater supports to schools, students, and their families.
According to data provided by the Delaware Department of Education (“DOE”), thousands of Delaware students receive out-of-school suspensions each year for minor infractions, such as being unprepared or late for class, dress code violations, and disrespectful behavior. In 2013, only 2% of out-of-school suspensions were for serious offenses such as weapons, drugs, or serious violence. Out-of-school suspensions do not address the root causes for the misbehavior, and only serve to put the students further behind in class. Furthermore, DOE data shows that, in 2013, African-American students made up only 32% of the student body, but accounted for 62% of out-of-school suspension, and students with disabilities made up 13% of the student body, but accounted for 24% of out-of-school suspensions.
Federal discipline guidance, developed jointly by the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice, instructs schools to commit to regular evaluation of school discipline policies and practices, and monitor progress toward the schools’ climate and discipline goals. The federal process requires schools to collect and publicly report disaggregated student discipline data and solicit feedback from students, staff, families, and community representatives.
This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the guidelines of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.
This Substitute Bill makes the following changes to Senate Bill No. 85:
1. References the existing definition of "disruptive behavior" in Title 14.
2. Includes "disability" as a category for data collection.
3. Extends by 1 year the years stated in the requirements to retain the same time frames. This is necessary because this Act will be enacted in 2018, not 2017 when it was drafted.
4. Clarifies what information is required for reports and provides deadlines for the required plans and reports.
5. Clarifies that schools must develop plans and strategies with stakeholder input.
6. Clarifies content for professional development.
| AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE LAWFUL AUTHORITY OF TEACHERS OVER PUPILS. |
