SPONSOR:

Sen. Marshall & Rep. Brady; Sens. Henry, McDowell, Blevins, Townsend & Reps. Keeley, Mulrooney J. Johnson, Osienski

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

147th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE BILL NO. 3

ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO STATE GOVERNMENT AND THE DIAMOND STATE PORT CORPORATION.

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

Section 1. Amend § 8784 , Title 29, Delaware Code, by making insertions as shown by underlining and deletions as shown by strike through as follows:

The Corporation shall have upon enactment of this subchapter and upon its creation as provided for herein the powers listed in this section. The Corporation shall be empowered, without limitation and notwithstanding any other laws:

(1) To adopt by-laws to govern the conduct of its affairs and to carry out and discharge its powers, duties and functions and to adopt rules and regulations as appropriate to carry out and discharge its power, duties, and function and to sue and be sued, to enter into contracts and agreements and to plan, finance, develop, construct, purchase, lease, maintain, improve, own, operate or control facilities and such real and personal property as it may deem necessary, convenient or desirable. However, the provisions of this section and any other laws notwithstanding, the Corporation shall not enter into any agreement or transaction to sell, transfer, privatize, or lease all or substantially all of the Port of Wilmington to a single entity, or to a related group of entities, unless the Corporation first obtains approval to do so through legislation approved by a majority of both Houses of the General Assembly and by the Governor.

(2) To employ such personal and provide such benefits as necessary to carry out its functions and to retain, by contract, engineers, advisors, legal counsel, and other providers of advice, counsel and services which it deems advisable or necessary in the exercise of its purposes and powers and upon such terms as it deems appropriate.

(3) To exercise all of the power and the authority with respect to operation and development of the Port of Wilmington granted to the City of Wilmington by statute enacted by the General Assembly including, without limitation, 22 Laws of Delaware, c. 118, § 1, 50 Laws of Delaware, c. 457, § 3, and 50 Laws of Delaware, c. 4, § 2, but shall not have the power to tax, to issue bonds or to exercise the power of eminent domain.

(4) To have and exercise any and all powers available to a corporation organized pursuant to Chapter 1 of Title 8, the Delaware General Corporation Law.

(5) To do all acts and things necessary or convenient to carry out its functions of operating and developing the Port of Wilmington and related marine terminal facilities. 

SYNOPSIS

This act would require the Diamond State Port Corporation to obtain the approval of a majority of both Houses of the General Assembly and the Governor, through the passage of legislation, before entering into any agreement or transaction whereby the Corporation would transfer, sell, privatize, or lease all or substantially all of the Port of Wilmington to a single entity, or to a related group of entities.  

Author: Senator Marshall