Daily Report for 6/20/2019

Governor's Actions

No legislation is Signed by Governor Today

New Legislation Introduced

BillCurrent StatusSponsorSynopsisTitle
HCR 52PassedBriggs KingThis resolution urges the Director of the Delaware Division of Public Health to designate Alzheimer's Disease and other dementias as public health issues.A RESOLUTION URGING THE DIRECTOR OF THE DELAWARE DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH TO DESIGNATE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND OTHER DEMENTIAS AS PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES.
HR 13PassedSmyk RECOGNIZING JUNE 2019 AS AMATEUR RADIO MONTH IN DELAWARE.
SB 163CommitteePooreThe Department of Health and Human Services (“DHSS”) was established in 1970 by legislative enactment with a broad and crucial mandate: to supervise the health, wellbeing, and life of Delaware citizens. In the decades since, the population of Delaware has increased, and the needs of Delaware citizens have required increasingly complex and costly medical interventions, particularly for those most vulnerable among us, such as the elderly and those suffering from addiction. To serve this broad array of individual needs, DHSS has adapted to provide personalized and individualized services to citizens at a level of direct care. Additionally, the broad language of DHSS’ authorizing statute has required it to maintain focus on other policy initiatives, such as promoting public health and administering healthcare through Medicaid while maintaining compliance with state and Federal laws and regulations, which themselves have grown in complexity. Given the advancements in both individualized care and the policy landscape, the inevitable conclusion is that DHSS’ dual roles must be separated into two separate Departments with Cabinet-level representation. Doing so will ensure that Delawareans receive high-quality care on an individualized basis, and will recommit a separate agency to its important policy objectives, such as maximizing efficiency and reducing the cost associated with waste that arises when an agency’s functions become too manifold for the agency to be efficient and effective. This Bill establishes a committee of members from various state agencies, as well as the legislative and executive branches and individuals representing the healthcare industry and Delaware citizens. The strategic mission of this Committee is to implement a separation of DHSS’ current organizational structure into two separate cabinet-level Agencies. The Bill also establishes a timeline for action by the Committee that will encourage it to act quickly and with clear direction to maximize efficiency and reduce the costs associated with waste. AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A STRATEGIC REVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES AND PRESENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING A COMPREHENSIVE RESTRUCTURING THEREOF TO THE JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE.
SCR 54PassedSokolaThis resolution celebrates the 50th anniversary of the moon landing and recognizes the lasting impact of space exploration and the audacious innovators who made it possible. CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MOON LANDING.
HA 1 to HB 178PassedLynnThis Amendment reconciles additional discrepancies between § 2903 of Title 25 of the Delaware Code and other provisions of State law governing the duration of liens.  
SA 1 to SB 154PassedHansenThis Amendment does the following: - Changes the name of the advisory council and clarifies the advisory council’s role in advising the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (“Division”). - Changes and simplifies the appointing authority of the advisory council’s membership, so that 1 member is appointed by the Division’s Secretary and the remaining 8 members are appointed by the chairs of the Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Committee. - Clarifies that the data required in the annual report may not include information that identifies a specific patient or provider. - Provides that the data that must be included in the annual report are not records and proceedings for the purposes of § 1768 of Title 24. 
SA 1 to SB 162PassedHockerThis Amendment corrects the name of the town to Millville. 
HA 1 to HB 134PWBMichael SmithThis amendment changes the school board term from 3 years to 4 years. 
HA 2 to HB 134PWBBaumbachThis Amendment removes the requirement that Board members be compensated for meetings.  
HA 1 to HB 6PassedCarsonThis amendment corrects drafting errors. 
HB 243CommitteeMichael SmithThis Act allows registered qualifying patients and registered designated caregivers to grow limited amounts of medical marijuana if the following requirements are met: 1. The Department of Health and Social Services approves an application to cultivate and manufacture medical marijuana. This application must include an affidavit attesting to the applicant’s ability to meet all of the requirements under this Act. 2. Only 6 mature plants and 6 immature plants may be cultivated for each registered qualifying patient and a designated caregiver can cultivate marijuana for no more than 3 registered qualifying patients. 3. Marijuana must be cultivated at the home address of record for the registered qualifying patient or designated caregiver. 4. Each marijuana plant must have a tag containing the registered qualifying patient’s name, address, and registry identification number. This Act is known as “The Delaware Patient Right to Grow Act”. 5. Marijuana must be cultivated in an enclosed, locked facility with an electrical system that is compliant with all State and local codes and waste must be disposed of safely, in the manner required by regulations for compassion centers. 6. Marijuana may not be cultivated using pesticides or manufactured using compressed, flammable gas as a solvent. 7. Detailed monthly records must be maintained regarding the amount of marijuana being cultivated. This Act also gives the Department the authority to perform random inspections of home cultivation facilities and to require the production of the detailed monthly records. Unless there is credible reason to suspect a violation of this Act, the Department may only perform 2 inspections of the same location in a 12 month period. The Department must provide at least 5 days to correct a violation and the opportunity for a hearing on a decision to revoke approval to cultivate and manufacture marijuana. A registered patient or qualified caregiver has at least 5 days after the Secretary's final decision to revoke approval to cultivate and manufacture marijuana to properly dispose of the marijuana plants. This Act also allows a landlord, homeowners association, or common interest communities to prohibit the cultivation of marijuana and requires that the annual report from the Medical Marijuana Act Oversight Committee provide data and recommendations regarding home cultivation of marijuana. This Act also makes technical corrections 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 THE CULTIVATION OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA BY REGISTERED QUALIFYING PATIENTS AND DESIGNATED CAREGIVERS.
HB 244CommitteeGrayThis bill will allow marinas in Sussex County to sell gasoline that does not contain ethanol. Sussex County comfortably meets the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ground level ozone, and removing ethanol from marine fuel will have no significant impact on ambient ozone levels. The State of Maryland now allows the sale of non-ethanol gasoline in certain counties that are adjacent to Sussex County and Delaware businesses are losing sales to their Maryland counterparts.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 6 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO MARINAS AND FUELS.
HB 245CommitteeK. JohnsonThis bill creates licensing for recovery housing, which is housing for individuals recovering from substance use disorders that provides a safe and supportive substance-free environment and that may include peer support and other recovery support services. Right now recovery housing has no oversight although DSAMH has broad authority to license any setting that treatment is provided. This bill creates guidelines for the Division to actually oversee recovery housing and for recovery housing to obtain licensure by the Division. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO RECOVERY HOUSING ACCREDITATION AND LICENSING.

Legislation Passed By Senate

BillCurrent StatusSponsorSynopsisTitle
SB 45 w/ SA 1SignedParadeeUnder current law, the possession, use, or consumption of a personal use quantity of marijuana remains a crime for those under the age of 21 despite being a civil violation for adults. This Act makes the possession, use, or consumption of a personal use quantity of marijuana a civil violation for juveniles. This Act also makes conforming amendments to subsection (i), regarding expungement of a single criminal offense under subsection (c), as, after the effective date of this Act, subsection (c) will no longer contain a criminal offense. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO MARIJUANA.
HB 114 w/ HA 1 + SA 1SignedCookeThis Bill raises the time periods for public access to individual vital records from 72 years to 80 years after the date of birth, and from 40 years to 50 years after the date of death or marriage.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 13 AND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PUBLIC ACCESS TO VITAL STATISTICS RECORDS.
HB 122 w/ HA 2SignedBradySection 1 of this Act allows those licensed as importers to pay tax upon the sale of alcoholic beverages to customers, instead of the tax being due when the alcoholic beverages come to rest in the State of Delaware. Section 2 of this Act provides that if any of the provisions are found to be unconstitutional, the remaining provisions will stand. Section 3 of this Act provides that the legislation will be effective as of July 1, 2019.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 4 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATED TO COLLECTION OF TAX ON ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.
SB 85SignedPettyjohnThis bill permits the administrative transfer of cases from an alderman’s court or mayor’s court to the Justice of the Peace Court when such a transfer is in the interests of justice. This transferability may be used in cases where an alderman must recuse themselves pursuant to the Code of Judicial Conduct or where it is impracticable for the case to be heard in alderman’s court. A transfer to the Justice of the Peace Court ensures that the receiving court is well prepared to handle the case due to the similarities in jurisdiction.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 11 AND 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO TRANSFER OF CASES BETWEEN ALDERMAN'S OR MAYOR'S COURTS AND THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE COURT.
SB 126 w/ SA 1CommitteeEnnisThis Act expands eligibility for Line-of-Duty disability benefits to paid firefighters who work for municipal fire departments and to fire service instructors and fire marshals who work for the State and for nonphysical disabilities. This Act also creates a presumption that a covered firefighter who is permanently disabled from heart disease, lung disease, cancer, or post-traumatic stress injury developed the disabling condition because of and in the course of performing official duties. This Act also provides a list of reasons may be used to rebut this presumption and requires fire companies to keep records of each firefighter's exposure to carcinogens. 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 LINE-OF-DUTY DISABILITY BENEFITS TO COVERED FIREFIGHTERS.
HB 172SignedBentzThis Act, the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT), is an interstate compact designed to facilitate the practice of telepsychology and the temporary in-person, face-to-face practice of psychology across state boundaries. PSYPACT has become operational as at least seven states have enacted PSYPACT legislation. Through PSYPACT, licensed psychologists are able to apply for and use Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) certificates, which include the E.Passport to practice telepsychology and the Interjurisdictional Practice Certificate (IPC) to conduct temporary in-person, face-to-face practice in PSYPACT states.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE CREATING A PSYCHOLOGY INTERJURISDICTIONAL COMPACT.
SB 137 w/ SA 1SignedEnnisThis Act creates the crimes of unlawful possession of a drug masking product, punishable as a class A misdemeanor, and unlawful distribution, delivery, or sale of a drug masking product, punishable as a class E felony. Drug masking products are designed to be added to human urine or human hair to defraud alcohol or drug urine screening tests.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE UNLAWFUL POSSESSION, DISTRIBUTION, DELIVERY, OR SALE OF DRUG MASKING PRODUCTS.
HB 190SignedViolaThis bill makes several updates to the Delaware Interactive Fantasy Contests Act initially signed into law on July 26, 2017, including the permanent removal of the July 1, 2019 sunset date from § 4860, Title 29 and § 2301, Title 30 of the Delaware Code. This bill allows authorized Delaware players to include non-Delaware collegiate athletes on their fantasy sports rosters, clarifies that employees (and certain of their family members) of fantasy sports operators/registrants may engage in non-public interactive sports contests, and allows the Director of the Division of Gaming Enforcement to issue a temporary registration to interactive fantasy sports operators, and eliminates the outdated provision for operators who were awaiting the now available registration application. Finally, this bill sets the registrants’ license fee rate at 15.5%.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 AND TITLE 30 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO INTERACTIVE FANTASY CONTESTS.
HB 193SignedSeigfriedThis Act creates the Delaware Health Insurance Individual Market Stabilization Reinsurance Program & Fund (the “Program”). The Program will be administered by the Delaware Health Care Commission in order to provide reinsurance to health insurance carriers that offer individual health benefit plans in Delaware. The Program will be funded with passthrough funds received from the federal government under the Affordable Care Act, funds provided by the Federal Government for reinsurance, and through a 2.75% annual assessment based on insurance carrier’s premium tax liability.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 16 AND 18 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE HEALTH INSURANCE INDIVIDUAL MARKET STABILIZATION REINSURANCE PROGRAM.
SA 1 to SB 45PassedParadeeThis Amendment makes the possession or private use or consumption of a personal use quantity of marijuana a civil offense for an individual who is under 21 years of age only for the first and second offense. A third offense would be an unclassified misdemeanor. 
SB 159 w/ SA 1, SA 1 to SA 1CommitteeWalshThis Act authorizes the Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of the Department, or General Assembly to request, and requires the Auditor of Accounts conduct or contract for, an audit of a charter school's business and financial transactions, records, and accounts in certain circumstances. Such a request must be based on evidence of misuse of State money or a violation of the following State law, or regulation promulgated under the State law: (1) Part I of Title 11 (relating to the Delaware Criminal Code). (2) Chapter 5 of Title 14 (relating to charter schools). (3) Subchapter I of Chapter 58 of Title 29 (relating to the State employees’, officers’, and officials’ code of conduct). (4) Chapter 69 of Title 29 (relating to State procurement). In addition, this Act makes clear that the Auditor of Accounts may not charge for an audit conducted or contracted for under this Act. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 AND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOL AUDITS.
SB 161SignedHansenThis Act allows law-enforcement officers to share an individual's identifying information with the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health ("DSAMH") if the officer suspects the individual is suffering from an overdose or a mental health crisis, allowing DSAMH to connect the individual with behavioral health treatment services.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE CONNECTION.
SB 167 w/ SA 1Out of CommitteeWalshThis Act requires that the State food safety standards include a system for grading and classifying inspection results that identifies and represents a food establishment's degree of compliance with the standards. This Act also requires that the Department of Health and Social Services form a stakeholder panel to provide advice regarding the content of the system for grading and classifying inspection results for food establishments, which will be effective on July 1, 2021. This Act also increases the fee for a food establishment permit for a public eating place to $150 effective July 1, 2020 to support the enforcement of the State of Delaware Food Code, including plan review. This Act also makes technical corrections 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 INSPECTIONS OF FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS.
SA 1 to SB 159PassedWalshThis Amendment removes language to clarify which entities may request an audit.  
HCR 55PassedSchwartzkopfThis concurrent resolution recognizes and honors the young women of Delaware participating in the 2019 session of Delaware Girls State.HONORING THE YOUNG WOMEN FROM ACROSS THE STATE OF DELAWARE PARTICIPATING IN THE 2019 SESSION OF DELAWARE GIRLS STATE.
SA 1 to SB 137PassedEnnisThis Amendment lowers the penalty for possessing a drug masking product from a class A misdemeanor to a class B misdemeanor. 
SA 1 to HB 114PassedHansenThis Amendment does the following: (1) Strikes House Amendment No. 1 to House Bill No. 114, reverting the waiting periods for public access to individual vital records to the periods provided in House Bill No. 114 and then amends House Bill No. 114 to further revert the waiting periods for birth and death records to 72 and 40 years, respectively, and to increase the waiting period for marriage records from 40 years to 50 years. (2) Amends House Bill No. 114 to include the Delaware Code section heading for § 209 of Title 13 to add clarity. (3) Requires the county clerks of the peace and the Office of Vital Statistics to prepare and submit a report to President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, with copies to all members of the General Assembly and the Librarian of the Division of Research of Legislative Council, no later than March 1, 2020, on the feasibility of increasing the waiting periods related to the full disclosure of birth, death, and marriage records. 
SA 1 to SB 167PassedWalshThis Amendment adds the Executive Director of the Delaware Food Industry Council to the stakeholder panel. 
SA 1 to SB 126PassedEnnisThis Amendment does the following: 1. Provides that the Delaware Volunteer Fire Association participate in defining tobacco use that excludes a covered firefighter from the presumption of eligibility under this Act. 2. Provides that the State Fire Prevention Commission, Department of Human Resources, and the Delaware Volunteer Fire Association must establish the requirements for medical examinations under this Act. 3. Clarifies that the definition of "occupational disease" applies only to this Act and not to Worker's Compensation. 4. Makes this Act effective January 1, 2020, or when the requirements under § 6709(d)(2)b. of Title 18 are established, whichever is earlier. 
SA 1 to SA 1 to SB 159PassedWalshThis Amendment makes a technical correction. 

Legislation Passed By House of Representatives

BillCurrent StatusSponsorSynopsisTitle
HB 116CommitteeSmykImporters, manufacturers, and dealers of "destructive weapons" are licensed and regulated under Federal law. Under existing Delaware law, importers, manufacturers, and dealers of destructive weapons are not permitted to deliver them to purchasers in Delaware who are otherwise permitted to own such weapons, such as military or police forces. This bill will permit properly licensed importers, manufacturers, and dealers to possess and store destructive weapons in this State and engage in activities associated with the sale and delivery of such weapons to (or from) qualified purchasers.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO WEAPONS.
HB 133Out of CommitteeQ. JohnsonThis Act amends the Delaware Governmental Accountability Act to make the annual budget process part of a performance management system of strategic planning, performance metrics and performance budgeting, dedicated to continuous process improvement that makes government more efficient, reduces costs and eliminates waste in the process and operations that deliver goods and services to taxpayers, customers and employees of State government.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACT.
HB 143SignedBushSection 1 of this Act clarifies the definition of the term “policy” for purposes of §§ 3903-3907 of Title 18 of the Delaware Code to apply only to personal automobile insurance policies and not commercial or other types of policies. Section 2 of this Act extends the amount of notice that an insurer must provide to a private passenger policyholder before cancelling an automobile policy for nonpayment of premium from 10 to 15 days. Section 3 of this Act sets standards for cancellation and nonrenewal notice requirements for commercial automobile policies. Section 4 of this Act is a housekeeping item and adds cross reference in Title 21 to the newly-created section 3920 for commercial policies. This Act makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 18 AND 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE POLICIES.
HB 148SignedOsienskiThis Act allows the Department of Labor ("Department") to deliver notice by methods other than through mail to reduce costs by using e-mail delivery for certain notices and makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 19 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING THE DELIVERY OF NOTICES BY THE DELAWARE DIVISION OF UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION.
HB 149SignedOsienskiThis Act disqualifies an individual who obtained an overpayment of benefits through fraud from receiving future unemployment benefits until the total overpayment, penalties, and interest are repaid in full. This change does not apply to fraud overpayments established by final decision before the effective date of this Act. This Act also broadens the manner in which a notice of overpayment may be delivered and removes the 5 year deadline for filing actions to collect overpayments due to the Department. This Act takes effect 60 days after its enactment into law. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 19 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE RECOUPMENT OF OVERPAYMENT OF BENEFITS.
SCR 35PassedWalshThis resolution recognizes the month of June 2019 as Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month.RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF JUNE 2019 AS MYASTHENIA GRAVIS AWARENESS MONTH.
HB 156SignedDukesThis bill allows our wounded warriors or similar veterans' organizations who have been honorably discharged from the armed forces of the United States and have at least a 60% service-connected disability to be able to obtain a license to hunt, trap, and fish in this State without charge.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO LICENSES TO HUNT, TRAP, AND FISH.
HB 79 w/ HA 1, HA 2SignedMinor-BrownThis bill requires the State food safety standards for restaurants to include a system for requiring healthy beverages to be offered as the default beverage with a combination children’s meal inclusive of a drink, sold together at a unit price. It does not prohibit the restaurant’s ability to sell, or a customer’s ability to choose, a substitute or alternative beverage as-requested by a customer. This effectively creates an “opt in” instead of an “opt out” for many sugar-rich drink choices for children. This bill also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE REGARDING DEFAULT BEVERAGES IN CHILDRENS’ MEALS IN RESTAURANTS.
HB 185Out of CommitteeMichael SmithThis bill makes soccer the State Sport until June 30, 2020, then bicycling shall become the State Sport.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE STATE SPORT.
HB 198SignedOsienskiThis bill would increase the maximum weekly benefit amount that would be payable to claimants seeking unemployment compensation benefits from the Delaware Division of Unemployment Insurance from $330 a week to $400 a week. The funds necessary to pay the increased weekly benefit amounts would be paid from the Unemployment Trust Fund. This bill would also freeze the taxable wage base used by employers to determine what portion of employee’s wages are subject to unemployment insurance tax assessments, for the period July 1, 2019 to October 29, 2020, to allow the Division of Unemployment Insurance and the Unemployment Compensation Advisory Council to analyze whether to revise the taxable wage base formula into the future.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 19 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE DIVISION OF UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION.
HJR 5SignedHeffernanThis Joint Resolution recognizes the University of Delaware's Center for Environmental Monitoring and Analysis as the official repository of historical and real-time weather and climatological observations for the State of Delaware.RECOGNIZING THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE'S CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ANALYSIS AS THE OFFICIAL REPOSITORY OF HISTORICAL AND REAL-TIME WEATHER AND CLIMATOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS FOR THE STATE OF DELAWARE.
HB 199SignedBushThis Act amends various chapters under Title 5 to facilitate the modernization of certain practices and procedures at the Office of the State Bank Commissioner. In particular, this Act authorizes the State Bank Commissioner to require applicants for financial services licenses for mortgage loan brokers (Chapter 21), licensed lenders (Chapter 22), money transmitters (Chapter 23), check cashers (Chapter 27) and motor vehicle sales finance companies (Chapter 29) to provide fingerprints for purposes of criminal background checks. Mortgage loan originators licensed by the State Bank Commissioner pursuant to Chapter 24 already are required to provide fingerprints in connection with license applications, and many other states also require criminal background checks for other types of financial services licensees. This Act also authorizes the State Bank Commissioner to expand the Office's participation in a multi-state automated licensing system, by using that system to process license applications for money transmitters, check cashers, and motor vehicle sales finance companies. That same system is currently used for processing license applications for mortgage loan brokers, licensed lenders, and mortgage loan originators. Lastly, this Act establishes a sunset provision of July 1, 2019 for §2509E of Title 6 concerning the maximum rate of interest on debts for federal workers in response to a federal government shutdown. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 5 AND TITLE 6 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO BANKS, OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, AND THE RATE OF INTEREST ON CERTAIN DEBT.
HB 225SignedQ. JohnsonThis Bill is the Fiscal Year 2020 Appropriations Act.AN ACT MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE EXPENSE OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2020; SPECIFYING CERTAIN PROCEDURES, CONDITIONS AND LIMITATIONS FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF SUCH FUNDS; AND AMENDING CERTAIN PERTINENT STATUTORY PROVISIONS.
HB 226SignedQ. JohnsonThis Act appropriates $61,980,700 to provide one-time funded projects through the Office of Management and Budget.AN ACT MAKING A ONE-TIME SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2020 TO THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET.
HB 206SignedMatthewsThis Act authorizes the Division of Motor Vehicles to issue special registration plates to commemorate the Delaware State Education Association centennial. It also allows the Division to collect a 1-time administrative fee of $15 to be deposited into a special fund and used by the Division for administrative costs.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATES FOR THE DELAWARE STATE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION CENTENNIAL.
HB 209 w/ HA 1SignedBradyThis legislation expands the list of central contracts currently available to be accessed by state agencies and other allowed organizations to include professional services contracts. The legislation also adds local governments to the list of organizations that can access central contracts. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CENTRAL CONTRACTING.
HB 219 w/ HA 1SignedCarsonThis Act allows the Department of Agriculture to establish fees that may be charged for participation in the Delaware Hemp program. AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 3 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.
HB 228SignedSchwartzkopfThis Act allows Sussex County, by duly enacted ordinance, to impose a local lodging tax of no more than 3 percent of rent on rooms in a hotel, motel or tourist home located in the unincorporated areas of the County. Such funds may only be used in Sussex County for the capital and operating costs of beach nourishment, waterway dredging, economic development, tourism programs, recreational activities, and water quality and flood control projects.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 9 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO TAXES.
HB 232SignedMatthewsThis Act would both raise the jurisdictional limit of the Justice of the Peace Court to $25,000 and allow Justice of the Peace to consider claims in excess of the jurisdictional limit where the underlying matter involves a commercial tenancy and possession of the rental unit is at issue. Currently, if a party is owed rent in excess of the jurisdictional limit they must either submit to the jurisdictional limit of the Court and forego the portion of the claim which exceeds the jurisdictional limit or bifurcate the case, filing both for possession in the Justice of the Peace Court and a debt action in a court of competent jurisdiction. While this Act would increase efficiency in terms of allowing one court to consider all aspects of the case it would in no way preclude a party from bifurcating the action if they chose to do so.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 AND TITLE 25 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO JURISDICTION OF THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE COURT AND SUMMARY POSSESSION.
HB 239 w/ HA 1SignedGriffithThis Act prohibits a pelvic, rectal, or prostate examination by a health care practitioner or professional on an individual who is anesthetized or unconscious. This Act provides exceptions and they are if informed consent is provided, the examination is for diagnostic or treatment purposes, an emergency exists and the examination is necessary, or the examination is ordered by a court. The Act also defines informed consent as a signing of a consent form that is written in plain language, is dated, includes a description of the procedure to be performed and states that a medical student or resident may perform or be present during the examination. Finally, this Act provides that a health-care practitioner or professional who violates the section may be subject to discipline by the appropriate professional licensing board.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO INFORMED CONSENT.
HS 3 for HB 221VetoedMitchellThe bill makes any "police officer" employed by the State and its political subdivisions not currently under the jurisdiction of the Police Officers' and Firefighters' Employment Relations Act subject to it. The purpose of this bill is to render all police and firefighters employed by the State not currently subject to the Police Officers' and Firefighters' Employment Relations Act subject to it. Nothing set forth in this bill is intended nor shall be construed to effect the rights of police officers and firefighters currently subject to the Police Officers' and Firefighters Employment Relations Act. In addition, employees classified in bargaining units pursuant to §1311A(b)(10) and (11) are not covered by this Act.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 19 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO POLICE OFFICERS’ AND FIREFIGHTERS’ EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS ACT.
HA 1 to HB 79PassedHensleyThis is a friendly amendment clarifying that this bill will not lead to additional fines or penalties for restaurants. There will not be any special or additional fines levied for violation of this section. DPH can still perform re-inspections in the usual course of business with the food code. This is distinct from the Wilmington ordinance which specifically does have fines. 
HA 1 to HB 209PassedBradyThis Amendment makes a technical correction to § 6910 of Title 29 so that the name for the group formerly known as the Delaware Association of Nonprofit Agencies is correct. 
HA 2 to HB 79PassedMinor-BrownThis amendment adds 2% dairy milk to the list of items that may be offered as a default beverage for children’s meals that include a beverage. This amendment further corrects a typographical error in the Section 2 location.  
HA 1 to HB 239PassedGriffithThis Amendment clarifies the procedures that must be followed to obtain a court order for an examination for the collection of evidence when the patient is unconscious or anesthetized. This Amendment also provides an effective date which is 60 days after its enactment into law. 
HA 1 to HB 219PassedCarsonThis amendment ensures that fees assessed by the Department of Agriculture will be limited to the costs incurred by the Department in administrating the Industrial Hemp Research Act.  

Senate Committee Assignments

Committee
Elections, Govt. & Community Affairs

House Committee Assignments

Committee
Appropriations
Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce
Education
Health & Human Development
Housing & Community Affairs
Judiciary
Labor
Public Safety & Homeland Security
Sunset Committee (Policy Analysis & Government Accountability)

Senate Committee Report

Committee
Agriculture
Finance
Health & Social Services
Judicial

House Committee Report

Committee
Natural Resources
Public Safety & Homeland Security

Senate Defeated Legislation

No Senate Defeated Legislation

House Defeated Legislation

BillCurrent StatusSponsorSynopsisTitle
HA 1 to HB 225DefeatedKowalkoThis Amendment removes the ability of a charter school to retain transportation funds if the negotiated or bid costs are lower than the maximum rate established under this Act. 

Nominations Enacted upon by the Senate

No Records