Daily Report for 6/12/2018

Governor's Actions

No legislation is Signed by Governor Today

New Legislation Introduced

BillCurrent StatusSponsorSynopsisTitle
HA 1 to HB 110PassedKeeleyThis Amendment revises House Bill No. 110 to incorporate the recommendations from the HCR 52 Adult Use Cannabis Task Force. The specific changes are as follows: • Removes the two-thirds vote requirement because instead of creating new crimes, the Act references existing crimes that already prohibit and punish specific acts. • Replaces the two-thirds vote requirement with a three-fifths vote requirement because the Act creates new fees and a new tax. • Adds a definition of “work” that references the definition in § 3302 of Title 19. • Clarifies that certain acts are currently unlawful and remain unlawful under the Act, so that it is clear that if not explicitly permitted, acts remain unlawful. • States explicitly that selling marijuana without a license remains illegal and punishable under Chapter 47 of Title 16. • States explicitly that using false or fraudulent identification is illegal and punishable under § 2751 of Title 21. • Revises the employment section as follows: • Replaces “in the workplace” with “work” to cover any location where an employee is engaged in work. • Reorders the first sentence to be clear that employers are not required to permit any marijuana activities. • Adds a definition of “under the influence” that is modeled on the definition in § 4177(c) of Title 21. • Adds explicit protections for employers to take actions to prevent penalties under federal law, consist with the Delaware Medical Marijuana Act. • Prohibits an individual under age 21 from entering or remaining in a marijuana establishment and punishes a violation with a civil penalty of $50. • Removes the false identification crime because this already prohibited and punished under § 2751 of Title 21. • Removes the crime of selling marijuana or marijuana products to an individual under age 21 because these acts are already crimes under Chapter 47 of Title 16, but preserves the affirmative defense where the individual under age 21 presented identification that would lead a reasonable person to believe such individual was 21 years old or older. • Adds the Director of the Division of Revenue as a member of the Delaware Marijuana Control Act Oversight Committee. • Moves responsibility for the regulation of the safe cultivation of marijuana to the Department of Health and Social Services (“DHSS”), prohibits the use of pesticides that are neither organic or federally-approved, and requires standards for the use of carbon dioxide. Requirements established by DHSS under this chapter must be consistent with the requirements established by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. Compliance with the DHSS regulations is a requirement for all licenses and noncompliance is grounds for a license to be cancelled, suspended, or the licensee fined. • Changes the reference from the Delaware Economic Development Office to the Division of Small Business, Development and Tourism and the Department of Agriculture and requires the Commissioner to also connect potential marijuana establishments with farms. • Adds a clear, general requirement that licensees track marijuana from seed to sale. • Adds a specific training requirement for licensees and employees of retail marijuana store licensees. • Adds a requirement that information be provided to consumers regarding the serving size and number of servings per package and limits the amount of marijuana in each serving to 10 mg and limits the number of servings in each package to 5. • Adds a requirement that the specific batch number be included on the label of each marijuana product. • Adds a requirement that consumers receive evidence-based information about how to interpret the information on the marijuana product label, health effects, and potential interactions with prescription and nonprescription medications. • Prohibits products that look like candy or cartoon characters. • Adds that the random testing requirements include the manner and frequency of testing. • Requires procedures for receiving and processing consumer complaints about marijuana establishments. • Requires that applications for all marijuana establishments provide proof of compliance with DHSS regulations under this chapter. • Requires that all retail marijuana products be shelf-stable and not require refrigeration. • Limits fees charged by localities to the amount of the fees charged to businesses with an alcohol license under Title 4. • Provides funds to DHSS for administrative costs under this chapter. • Provides funding for the prevention, treatment, and education regarding substance abuse instead of only alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana abuse. • Provides funding to train more law enforcement officers across the state as Drug Recognition Experts, purchase devices that measure THC levels as they become available, implement pilot programs to better identify and deter drugged driving, and for forensic testing of blood samples. • Corrects typographical errors. 
SB 236SignedMcDowellThis Act appropriates $49,167,700 to provide a $500 one-time salary supplement to full-time and part-time employees, to provide a $400 pension supplement to pensioners and provides one-time funded projects through the Office of Management and Budget.AN ACT MAKING A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION TO PROVIDE A ONE-TIME SALARY SUPPLEMENT FOR STATE EMPLOYEES, TO PROVIDE A ONE-TIME PENSION SUPPLEMENT FOR STATE PENSIONERS AND TO PROVIDE ONE-TIME APPROPRIATIONS TO THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET.
SB 235SignedMcDowellThis Bill is the Fiscal Year 2019 Appropriation Act.AN ACT MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE EXPENSE OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2019; SPECIFYING CERTAIN PROCEDURES, CONDITIONS AND LIMITATIONS FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF SUCH FUNDS; AND AMENDING CERTAIN PERTINENT STATUTORY PROVISIONS
SA 1 to SB 224PassedHenryThis Amendment provides the Delaware State Housing Authority with the authority to use up to $50,000 of the interest income from the Housing Development Fund for the support of administrative functions associated with administering the Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credit program.  
SA 1 to SB 238PassedSimpsonThis Amendment adds the Kent County Register of Wills to the list of locations in which wills may be deposited for storage. It also adds clarifying language related to the increase or reduction of fees. 
SA 1 to SB 19PWBMcDowellThis Amendment makes changes to dates contained in the Act based on the passage of time since introduction. 
HA 1 to HB 347PassedKowalkoThis Amendment limits the role of the Provider Advisory Board to advising the Office of Child Care Licensing. 
HB 461CommitteeK. WilliamsDelaware law criminalizes “therapeutic deception,” a representation by the health professional that sexual contact by the health professional is consistent with or part of the patient’s treatment. This Act creates a felony level offense for a person that is a health professional and who, in the course of providing professional health services to the victim, intentionally has sexual contact with the victim. This would criminalize all sexual contact between a health professional and the health professional’s patient. This Act makes this conduct a felony offense, rather than a misdemeanor, due to the vulnerability of the victim as a patient seeking services from a health professional.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO UNLAWFUL SEXUAL CONTACT.
HA 1 to HS 1 for HB 104PassedM. SmithThis Amendment states the intent of the General Assembly to phase in increases to the rate system for services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities subject to available funding. 

Legislation Passed By Senate

BillCurrent StatusSponsorSynopsisTitle
SB 126SignedLopezThis Act provides school-based speech-language pathologists and audiologists who hold a current Certificate of Clinical Competence in speech-language pathology, (“CCC-SLP”) or audiology (“CCC-A”), issued by the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association and who hold a current state license to practice from the Delaware Board of Speech Pathologists, Audiologists and Hearing Aid Dispensers with a base salary level of Master’s Plus 30 credits. Professionals who have a CCC-SLP or CCC-A ASHA certification have met the following rigorous academic and professional standards: 1. Successful completion of requisite academic courses by an accredited program. 2. Successful completion of supervised clinical practicum experiences in the practice of speech-language pathology or audiology. 3. Successful completion/passing score on the National Praxis Exam in speech-language pathology or audiology. 4. Successful completion of a Clinical Fellowship. This Act allows speech language pathologists and audiologists who have completed the course work required by state guidelines to apply for an additional 15 credits to move to the Master’s Plus 45 level. This Act contains a grandfather clause that allows school-based speech-language pathologists and audiologists in Delaware who have a master’s degree, a current license, and have worked as a speech-language pathologist for 20 or more years but do not have Certificate of Clinical Competence to, be granted the equivalent pay grade of Master’s Plus 30 with the same additional coursework criteria for moving to Master’s Plus 45 level. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE BASIC SALARY SCHEDULE FOR TEACHERS, NURSES, PRINCIPALS, SUPERINTENDENTS, AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPERVISORY EMPLOYEES.
HB 332 w/ HA 1SignedBoldenThis bill mandates reporting by certain employees of broker-dealer or investment adviser firms who have a reasonable belief that financial exploitation of an eligible adult has occurred, been attempted, or will be attempted. Reporting will be to both the Investor Protection Director and the Department of Health and Social Services. It also enables broker-dealers and investment advisers to delay disbursement from an account of an eligible adult where financial exploitation is suspected. This also includes definitions of “eligible adult,” “financial exploitation” and “qualified individual” to be inserted into the Securities Act. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 6 AND 31 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION.
HB 355 w/ HA 1SignedOsienskiThis Act allows an agency, as defined in § 6902 of Title 29, (“agency”) to accept electronic bid submissions and on-line bidding for contracts procuring material and nonprofessional services. This Act also expands the use of electronic bid submission and on-line bidding to be used for large public works contracts and large professional service contracts by the Office of Management and Budget or an agency. This Act also makes the Section of Government Support Services in the Office of Management and Budget responsible for administering the State’s centralized contract development, solicitation, evaluation, and contract administration system on behalf of all agencies. Finally, this Act makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO STATE PROCUREMENT.
HB 379 w/ HA 1 + SA 1SignedYearickSection 1 clarifies the Town’s nuisance and dangerous building abatement powers and requires property owners to pay for the abatement costs. This section further clarifies the Town’s ability to grant franchises, licenses, and permits, and impose fees for the same. It authorizes the Town to impose a realty transfer tax, and it increases the maximum penalty for a code violation to $500.00. Section 2 authorizes the Town to annex property and creates procedures for the annexation of property. Section 3 reduces the number of members on the Town Council from seven to five and eliminates the elected positions of secretary, treasurer, and tax collector. This section prohibits individuals convicted of a felony from running for Mayor or Council. This section establishes procedures for holding municipal elections, including the conduct of elections, election notices, voting procedures, and the establishment of the elections board. This section requires voters to be United States citizens. Section 4 establishes the term of office for Mayor and Council as two years, and outlines how the Town Council will transition from seven to five council members. Section 5 clarifies the Council’s ability to fill a vacancy on Council regardless of how that vacancy occurred, and it makes other changes to create consistency with the re-organization of the structure of the Town Council. Section 6 creates an organizational meeting at which a council secretary and treasurer are appointed each year. Section 7 clarifies who can be appointed as the Tax Collector and authorizes the Council to employ other individuals as needed by the Town. This section clarifies when regular meetings are held and allows electronic communication to be used to notify the Mayor and Council of special meetings. Section 8 authorizes the Town to have the same tax collection powers as Kent County and authorizes the Town to recover expenses incurred to collect taxes through legal proceedings. This section authorizes a court or administrative body to award the Town its costs of prosecution when the Town is the prevailing party in a legal proceeding to enforce an ordinance or collect an amount owed to the Town. AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF WOODSIDE.
HB 384SignedSpiegelmanThis bill removes an out-of-date provision in the Code that authorizes Kent County Government to employ a janitor or janitors for the care of the County Courthouse. The State purchased the Kent County Courthouse from Kent County in 2003. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 9 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE GOVERNMENT OF KENT COUNTY.
SB 197 w/ SA 1SignedLavelleThis Act provides mandatory expungement eligibility to individuals who were convicted of the possession, use or consumption of marijuana prior to Delaware’s decriminalization of these offenses. To be eligible for the mandatory expungement, the marijuana conviction must be the applicant’s only criminal conviction. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA, POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA AND EXPUNGEMENT.
SB 208 w/ SA 1SignedPooreThis Act makes the following changes to the large public works contract procedures in subsection (c) and (d) of § 6962 of Title 29 for all State agencies: 1. Changes the requirement for the prequalification process so that submissions must contain performance reviews for previously awarded public works or private sector construction projects within the last 5 years instead of the last 10 years. 2. When an agency elects to award on the basis of best value, the maximum weight that can be assigned to the schedule is reduced from 30% to 20%. 3. When an agency elects to award on the basis of best value, performance is added as an objective criteria and must be given weight of at least 10% but no more than 20%. 4. Performance criterion is based on the contractor's performance rating, as determined under the agency's regulations. This Act makes the following changes to the large public works contract procedures in subsection § 6962(c) of Title 29 for only Department of Transportation projects: 1. Adds a bidder prequalification requirement to projects other than Community Transportation Fund and municipal street aid contracts, so that the only contractors eligible to bid on projects are contractors that either meet or exceed the minimum contractor's performance rating or that will permit the Department to retain 10% of the payments to be made to the contractor. 2. Creates a stakeholder panel to advise the Department of Transportation on the content of the performance-based rating system regulations. Because the stakeholder panel only exists when the performance-based rating system regulations are promulgated or being revised, the stakeholder panel is codified in the Laws of Delaware instead of the Delaware Code. This Act takes on January 1, 2019, or when the required regulations are promulgated, whichever occurs first. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACTING.
SB 212SignedPooreThis Act increases the maximum tax credit available for owner occupied historic property by $10,000. This Act also makes a technical correction to the existing law.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 30 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION TAX CREDIT.
SB 228SignedMcBrideThis Act restores the Delaware Prescription Drug Payment Assistance Program (“Program”), which was eliminated in the Fiscal Year 2018 Annual Appropriations Act. This Act replaces Senate Bill 148 and makes the following additional changes: (1) Delays implementation of the Act until January 1, 2019, to coordinate with the Medicare Part D benefit year to enable the Department of Health and Social Services (“Department”) to make necessary system changes. (2) Makes changes to the defined term “prescription drugs.” (3) Removes provisions required to be included in rules and regulations promulgated by the Department. (4) Adds provisions that may be included in rules and regulations promulgated by the Department. (5) Makes technical corrections to conform the provisions of the restored Program to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 16 AND 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE RESTORATION OF THE DELAWARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
SB 232SignedMcBrideThis Act expands the total number of vice-chancellors on the Court of Chancery to 6 and makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO VICE-CHANCELLORS OF THE COURT OF CHANCERY.
SA 1 to SB 197PassedLavelleThis amendment clarifies that mandatory expungement eligibility only applies if the applicant was originally charged with a misdemeanor possession of a marijuana offense and does not apply to charges that were reduced from more serious felony offenses. The amendment also corrects a typographical error.  
SA 1 to SB 208PassedPooreThis Amendment does all of the following: 1. It reduces from 10% to 5%, the maximum amount of the payments due to the contractor under the contract that can be retained by the Department in order for a contractor who does not meet or exceed the minimum contractor's performance rating to be allowed to bid. 2. It permits the Secretary to establish the percentage of the payments to be retained under the contract, not to exceed 5%. 3. It permits the contractor to request that the retainage be reduced to 2% when the project is at 50% completion. 4. It provides that the project completion percentage is based on the actual work completed. 5. It requires that the members of the public appointed to the stakeholder panel have experience in public works contracting. 
SA 1 to HB 379PassedBoniniThis amendment removes internet services from subsection (r) to maintain consistency with other town charters in the State of Delaware. 

Legislation Passed By House of Representatives

BillCurrent StatusSponsorSynopsisTitle
HB 3 w/ HA 4SignedHeffernanThis legislation requires that all full-time employees of the State, including employees of school districts, continuously in the employ of the state for at least one year, shall be eligible for 12 weeks of paid leave upon the birth or adoption of a child 6 years of age or younger. Both parents would be eligible for such leave. Employees shall continue to have the right, as they do under current law, to use accrued sick leave for maternity and paternity purposes. This legislation leaves intact the rights of persons adopting a child over 6 years of age to take unpaid leave. Due to lack of adequate paid family leave policies, many parents must return to work sooner than is optimal for the health of mothers (in the case of biological birth) and children. Granting paid leave will contribute to the establishment of parent-child bonds, breastfeeding establishment, and allow infants to receive vaccines and develop stronger immune systems prior to entering daycare. Further, a more generous leave policy will increase the productivity of workers and reduce employee turnover. This Act takes effect January 1, 2019. The Office of Management and Budget is directed to establish guidelines for the implementation of this Act.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 14 AND 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FAMILY LEAVE.
HB 292SignedJaquesThis Act implements the recommendations of the March 2105 Autism Educational Task Force report regarding § 1332 of Title 14, the Program for Children with Autism and its Special Staff. Enacted nearly three decades ago, this law established a network of educational programs initially within a separate school structure known as The Delaware Autism Program (DAP). Today, this network continues as a combination of both separate school programs and within local school district support services. However, the current model does not reflect current practices in special education, especially regarding inclusive education, and parents’ desire to have their children educated in their local communities. In addition, the increase in students with an educational classification of autism spectrum disorder (“ASD”) has made it difficult for the Statewide Director to provide the level of services and support that once was offered. This Act establishes the qualifications and duties of the Statewide Director and enhances the current mandatory committee structure to include a Parent Advisory Committee, in addition to the Peer Review Committee and Statewide Monitoring Review Board, to increase family input, monitoring, and protections. This Act creates a 3 year pilot program that revises the concept of DAP toward a system in which the statewide Director will work in collaboration with a team of experts to provide technical assistance and training to districts and educational entities. It allows for and provides adequate resources for all students with ASD in Delaware by eliminating the distinction between DAP-approved programs and other in-district options and by providing in-state experts at a lower cost than out-of-state residential treatment and consultants. The pilot program created under this Act makes changes that recognize and support the need for specialized technical assistance and training staff to be available to build capacity for teachers in all districts and other programs educating students with ASD. These changes expand available supports so that excellent, evidence-based training and technical assistance can be made available to all Delaware schools and the students who attend them. The pilot program created under this Act establishes a technical assistance team of educational autism specialists numbering a ratio of 1 for every 100 students (currently estimated at 15 positions). The fiscal mechanism to support the pilot program will be accomplished through mandated district participation that is consistent with the current needs-based funding system in Delaware and by redirecting state spending towards lower cost, community-based supports from out-of-state residential placements. The number of training specialists will be phased in over several years or until the pilot program ends. Finally, this Act is known as "The Alex Eldreth Autism Education Law" in memory Alex Eldreth, who passed away unexpectedly on November 24, 2017, and his dedication to this work.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER.
SB 157 w/ SA 1SignedTownsendExpedited partner therapy (EPT) is the clinical practice of treating the sex partners of patients diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease without clinical assessment of the partners. In August 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended EPT as an evidence-based option to manage chlamydial infection and gonorrhea by treating index patient’s sex partners to prevent reinfection and curtail further transmission. As of July 2017, EPT is permissible in 41 states. This Act makes EPT clearly permissible in Delaware and requires that health care professionals provide information developed by the Department of Health & Social Services when providing EPT. This Act provides immunity to health care practitioners and pharmacists acting in compliance with the statute and also provides immunity to health care practitioners who do not provide EPT and pharmacists who do not fill a prescription written under this statute if doing so would violate any of the laws that govern pharmacies and pharmacists. This Act also makes technical corrections to the definitions section to correct a reference and to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO EXPEDITED PARTNER THERAPY.
HS 1 for HB 346 w/ HA 2SignedBentzThis Act establishes the High Needs Educator Student Loan Payment Program. The Program allows qualified applicants to apply for a payment from the State to the applicant’s lending agency, to pay a portion of the applicant’s student loan debt. The purpose of the Program is to encourage Educators to work and remain working in certification areas in which Delaware has a shortage and to encourage Educators to work and remain working in Delaware’s hardest-to-staff Schools. The amount of the award shall be no less than $1000 and no more than $2000. This substitute redesignates the chapter where this language will be placed in the code.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO EDUCATION.
HB 404 w/ HA 1 + SA 2SignedM. SmithThe purpose of this Act is to clarify that registered agents in Delaware are obligated to comply with requirements, standards, guidelines, rules, regulations, and procedures as issued by the Secretary of State on matters involving filings submitted to the Secretary on behalf of corporations, partnerships, limited partnerships, and limited liability companies. This Act will enable the Secretary of State to adopt requirements, standards, guidelines, rules, regulations, and procedures for commercial registered agents regarding verification of customer entities. This Act also clarifies that such requirements, standards, guidelines, rules, regulations, and procedures which the Secretary issues are exempt from Chapter 101, Title 29 of the Delaware Code.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 6 AND 8 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTERED AGENTS WITH RESPECT TO ENTITIES AND ENTITY FILINGS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
HB 410ApprovedSchwartzkopfThis Act is the second leg of a constitutional amendment that would alter the continuity of government provisions of the Delaware Constitution to enable the effective continuance of government following a variety of emergency situations. The first leg of this amendment, House Bill No. 380 of the 148th General Assembly, passed both Houses with the two-thirds vote required by, and was publicized in accordance with, the Delaware Constitution. Currently, Article II, § 5 of the Delaware Constitution requires the General Assembly to meet in Dover, unless an emergency caused by insurrection, conflagration, or epidemic diseases occurs. And, Article XVII, § 1 of the Delaware Constitution provides the General Assembly with the power to enact laws providing for continuity of government following emergency situations, but only if the emergency results from an enemy attack. Section 2 of this Act extends the General Assembly's authority under Article XVII, § 1 to disasters involving terrorism, disease, accident, and other natural or man-made disasters. This would authorize the General Assembly to extend the provisions of Chapter 77 of Title 29 of the Delaware Code (relating to the emergency location of government), Chapter 17 of Title 29 (relating to emergency interim legislative succession), Chapter 78 of Title 29 (relating to interim executive succession), and Chapter 18 of Title 10 (relating to emergency interim judicial succession) to emergencies involving terrorism, disease, accident, or other natural or manmade disasters, as well as those involving enemy attack. This change is consistent with the approach taken in at least four states, New York, Louisiana, Montana, and Utah, which have adopted an "all hazards" approach to continuity of government planning. In addition, Section 2 of this Act makes changes to Article XVII, § 1 adopting the interpretation of this provision by the Delaware Supreme Court in Opinion of the Justices, 190 A.2d 521 (Del. 1963), so that it is clear that the General Assembly may provide for succession for those public offices that are not immediately filled by operation of the Constitution. Section 1 of this Act would harmonize Article XVII, § 1 and Article § 5 so that the emergency situations exempting the General Assembly from the requirement that it meet in Dover are similar to the emergency situation in which the General Assembly may enact laws or otherwise act to provide for the continuity of government. Finally, this Act makes technical corrections to confirm existing law to the guidelines of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. Specifically, lines 17 through 19 of this Act remove unnecessary legalese in and make grammatical changes to the final sentence of Article XVII, §1.AN ACT CONCURRING IN PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE DELAWARE CONSTITUTION RELATING TO CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS.
HB 411 w/ HA 1SignedSchwartzkopfThis Act amends Delaware's existing continuity of government laws as required in conjunction with the adoption of House Bill No. 410, which completes the process to amend Article II, § 5 and Article XVII, § 1 of the Delaware Constitution to adopt an "all hazards" approach to continuity of government planning. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 AND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS.
HA 1 to HB 404PassedM. SmithThis amendment removes language regarding exemptions from Chapter 101, Title 29, of the Delaware Code, the Administrative Procedures Act. 
HB 433SignedK. WilliamsThis Act expands the pathways to entering an alternative routes for teacher licensure and certification program (“ARTC”) casting a wider net in order to attract a diverse pool of qualified candidates into the field of education as the need for teachers, particularly in critical needs areas, has increased. It also clarifies district and charter school responsibilities and ARTC program provider responsibilities, to assure proper supports are in place. Under this Act, attainment of final licensure and certification is contingent on meeting all ARTC program requirements, demonstrating effective teaching based on a state-approved evaluation system, and attaining passing scores on applicable and available approved content readiness exams and a performance assessment. These exit requirements hold ARTC participants to the same high standards for final licensure and certification as those entering the field from a typical teacher pre-service program. This Act also makes technical corrections to confirm existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO EDUCATOR LICENSURE, CERTIFICATION, EVALUATION, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND PREPARATION PROGRAMS.
HS 1 for HB 440SignedBentzHouse Substitute No. 1 for House Bill 440 differs from House Bill 440 only in that it locates the Overdose System of Care and the Overdose System of Care Committee in Chapter 97 of Title 16 instead of in Chapter 10 of Title 16. House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill 440 establishes an overdose system of care to improve care, treatment, and survival of the overdose patient in State of Delaware. This Act allows the Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services to establish stabilization centers that can receive overdose patients from Emergency Medical Services and designate acute health care facilities, freestanding emergency departments, and hospitals that meet established requirements as an overdose system of care centers. This Act also establishes a standing Overdose System of Care Committee to assist in the oversight of the overdose system of care and provide recommendations for its implementation and maintenance.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE CREATION OF AN OVERDOSE SYSTEM OF CARE.
SCR 68PassedLawsonThis resolution congratulates the class of 2017-2018 Eagle Scouts for having attained the highest rank one can earn in the Boy Scouts of America.CONGRATULATING THE CLASS OF 2017-2018 EAGLE SCOUTS FOR HAVING ATTAINED THE HIGHEST RANK ONE CAN EARN IN THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
HA 4 to HB 3PassedHeffernanThis Amendment delays the enactment of the bill until April, 2019 to provide the Department of Human Resources and the school districts time to establish guidelines and procedures regarding parental leave. This amendment clarifies that the employees of all school districts employees, charter schools and vocational school districts are included in the bill. This amendment also clarifies that parental leave, FMLA and short-term disability are to run concurrently. This amendment establishes reporting requirements, which will enable the number of people using parental leave and the impact the program is having on retention and recruitment of employees to be evaluated. This Amendment change requires the Department of Human Resources to establish guidelines for other state agencies to follow in granting leave under this Act and to distribute the guidelines to these state agencies. Finally, this amendment makes technical changes to the bill. 
HA 1 to HB 411PassedSchwartzkopfThis Amendment clarifies that a special emergency judge’s powers will not be exercised if there are currently-serving Article IV, Section 2 judges available to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the judge who is unavailable during or due to an emergency event. 
HA 2 to HS 1 for HB 346PassedKeeleyThe purpose of this amendment is to incentivize educator consistency for students in high needs schools. This amendment requires that in order to be eligible for an award, an applicant must be employed in a high needs school for at least 1 year and must be at the same school the following year in order to receive the award. 

Senate Committee Assignments

Committee
Elections & Government Affairs
Finance
Sunset

House Committee Assignments

Committee
Administration
Agriculture
Economic Development/Banking/Insurance/Commerce
Health & Human Development
Housing & Community Affairs
Judiciary
Labor
Natural Resources
Public Safety & Homeland Security
Revenue & Finance
Sunset Committee (Policy Analysis & Government Accountability)
Veterans Affairs

Senate Committee Report

No Senate Committee Report

House Committee Report

No House Committee Report

Senate Defeated Legislation

No Senate Defeated Legislation

House Defeated Legislation

BillCurrent StatusSponsorSynopsisTitle
HA 2 to HB 3DefeatedBriggs KingThis amendment reduces the amount of paid leave by half and thereby reduces the costs to the School District and State agencies who must either pay temporary workers to complete the work during the paid absence or burden existing workers with the additional workload. 
HA 1 to HS 1 for HB 346DefeatedBriggs KingThis amendment eliminates criteria that unfairly considers the income of a spouse who is not an obligor on the student loan, and unfairly prioritizes applicants with dependents over those without dependents. 

Nominations Enacted upon by the Senate

No Records