SPONSOR:

Rep. Mitchell & Rep. Carson & Rep. Bush & Rep. Dorsey Walker & Sen. Ennis

Reps. Baumbach, Bolden, Briggs King, Gray, Heffernan, Lynn, Matthews, Osienski, Schwartzkopf, Smyk, Spiegelman, K. Williams, Yearick; Sens. Bonini, Gay, Hansen, Townsend, Walsh, Wilson

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

151st GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 296

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCRAP METAL PROCESSORS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend §2302, Title 24 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 2302. Reporting requirements.

(b)(1) Every scrap metal processor shall create a record and provide information regarding scrap metal acquired via an electronic format to be determined by the Secretary of Safety and Homeland Security with respect to any of the following articles purchased or otherwise acquired:

a. Copper; Copper.

b. Silver; Silver.

c. Gold; Gold.

d. Brass; Brass.

e. Platinum; Platinum.

f. Bronze; Bronze.

g. Automobiles or automobile parts displaying a vehicle identification number (VIN); or (VIN).

h. Lead-acid batteries.

i. Catalytic converters.

SYNOPSIS

All three counties in Delaware have been plagued with thefts of catalytic converters, which contain precious metals having significant monetary value in the scrap metal industry. This Act adds catalytic converters to the list of items for which scrap metal processors shall create a record and provide information when acquired. Amending Section 24(b)(1) to specifically include catalytic converters as items that the industries regulated by Chapter 23 must report will enhance enforcement of this Chapter and assist law enforcement by providing a mechanism to follow-up on thefts of converters and to obtain solvability factors in the ever-growing trend associated with thefts of converters.

This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.