AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS.

Added a full legislative findings section (Section 8751) with nine subsections documenting Delaware's immigrant population (115,129 foreign-born individuals, 11.6% of state population), economic contributions ($1.1 billion in tax revenue, $3.6 billion spending power), and educational attainment (42.6% hold bachelor's or graduate degrees).

The Office's duty to coordinate with other entities changed from coordinating with the 'State Refugee Coordinator within the Department of Health and Social Services' (as proposed in HA 1) to coordinating with the 'Office of Immigration Assistance within the Department of Justice' (in final text).

The Advisory Committee membership was completely restructured. HA 1 proposed adding the Secretary of State, Attorney General, and three public members appointed by the Governor, Speaker, and President Pro Tempore. The final text instead includes the Director of the Delaware State Housing Authority, Secretaries of Labor, Education, and Health and Social Services, a Human and Civil Rights Commission member, and six Governor-appointed members (immigrant integration organization, higher education, language access, healthcare access, refugee resettlement, and one public member).

Added a definitions section (Section 8752) defining Advisory Committee, Department (Department of State), Director, Office, and Secretary.

Added Section 8753 establishing the Office within the Department of State and providing that the Secretary appoints a Director who serves at the pleasure of the Secretary and is exempt from classified or state service.

HA 1 removed the requirement for the Advisory Committee to hold at least one public hearing per year. The final bill text retains this requirement in Section 8758(c), stating the Advisory Committee shall conduct at least one public hearing each year.

HA 1 proposed adding authority for the Office to receive, administer, and disburse federal, state, local, or private funds including grants and gifts, and to enter into memoranda of understanding and contracts. This funding authority does not appear in the final bill text shown.

HA 1 proposed adding a privacy protection provision stating that records containing information about individuals who sought services from the Office are not 'public records' under the Freedom of Information Act. This provision does not appear in the final bill text shown.

Sponsorship expanded from Rep. Ortega alone (House) to Sen. Brown, Rep. Ortega, and Rep. Wilson-Anton with 20 Senate and 5 House cosponsors, and the chamber changed from House of Representatives to Delaware State Senate.