AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT AND SUNSET COMMITTEE.

This Act makes updates to the Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Act (“JLOSC Act”) to meet modern-day needs and practices. First, this Act defines “highest administrative officer” to clarify that the executive branch, cabinet-level officer of an entity under review must be present at public hearings under the JLOSC Act. Other states have an equal mix of requiring the presence of the cabinet-level official, requiring the presence of the division-level leader, or not clarifying which of the 2 positions must be present. This Act contemplates circumstances under which a person other than the cabinet-level officer may be more appropriate to appear at JLOSC hearings, and therefore authorizes the officer, with the JLOSC Chair’s approval, to appoint a designee to meet the officer’s obligations, or the JLOSC Committee to designate a person other than the officer. This Act also makes changes to specific deadlines that are out-of-step with JLOSC’s practices and needs. In doing so, this Act also clarifies language regarding JLOSC staffs’ duties and requirements for the JLOSC’s draft report. Finally, this Act makes technical changes to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.