SPONSOR:	Rep. Gilligan & Rep. Spence
	Reps. Keeley, Brady, M Marshall, Viola, Maier, Oberle, Manolakos; Sens. Adams, DeLuca, Connor

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

144th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 316

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 20 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE ADJUTANT GENERAL.

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

Section 1. Amend Section 122 of Chapter 1, Title 20 of the Delaware Code by adding subparagraph (c) thereto as follows:

“(c) The Governor may authorize the position of Adjutant General to be held at the rank of Lieutenant General.”

SYNOPSIS

The role of the National Guard has changed since the end of the Cold War and the dawning of the War on Terrorism. The National Guard throughout the United States and in Delaware has transformed from a strategic reserve to an operational force. Post 9/11, hundreds of members of the Delaware National Guard have been continuously deployed in combat zones and to natural disasters. As a result of the increased role and operational tempo of the National Guard, Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008, which includes a provision to raise the rank of the Chief of the National Guard Bureau from Lieutenant General to General. Consistent with this Federal change, this bill would provide the Governor the authority to promote the Adjutant General from the rank of Major General to Lieutenant General.