This bill increases the amount that a tenant may deduct from rent in order to have necessary work done on the rental premises if the landlord fails to repair or maintain the premises after proper notice. The original amount of $200 was selected at the time that the Landlord Tenant Code was drafted in 1996. The amended amount of $400 reflects inflation of rent and cost of repairs.
This Act permits an individual to practice dentistry for the Division of Public Health (Division) under a provisional license. Delaware law provides several routes for entering practice on an interim basis until full licensure can be obtained, however, none of these routes specifically permit hiring by the Division with the intent to practice in a state-supported dental clinic. This Act will assist the Division in recruiting dentists to serve those in need. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.
This Act postpones the effective date of Senate Bill No. 67, enacted in 2019. Senate Bill No. 67 was to become effective on January 1, 2020; however, the Clerks of the Peace for all 3 counties have indicated that they intend to postpone implementation of the requirements set out in Senate Bill No. 67. This postponement is in order to allow additional time for engagement with leaders of faith communities and to identify any additional changes to the marriage registry structure or to its implementation or enforcement.
Section 1 of this Act addresses a condition of confinement issue that could adversely affect inmate rehabilitation efforts by eliminating solitary confinement imposed by the sentencing court. Section 2 of this Act clarifies language in the Code that states inmates will be assigned to programs based on a risk and needs assessment relative to their criminogenic risk factors and that inmates are consequently assigned to programs that correspond with those criminogenic risk factors. Section 3 of this Act makes changes to recidivism reports compiled by the Statistical Analysis Center. Section 3 of this Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual, including removing a deadline that has already occurred.
This bill increases the minimum amount of property damage that triggers the mandatory reporting of a vehicular collision to police from $500 to $2,000. This bill also increases the minimum amount of property damage requiring police agencies to investigate from $1,000 to $2,000. This increase makes Delaware more consistent with other states and reflects the Legislature’s intention in 1997 to increase the amount annually by $100.
Recent high-profile attacks on judges and their families are a constant reminder to those that choose public service that they may be doing so at the risk of their and their loved ones’ lives. The death of U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas’ son, Daniel Anderl, in New Jersey is tragically just one example – numerous instances of threatening and harassing behavior targeted at judicial officers rarely make prime time news but nonetheless impacts them. The rise and use of social media and online access to information has made it more difficult for judicial officers to maintain their privacy. This Act would allow judicial officers to make a written request that their personal information not be published and remain confidential. The Act takes effect 1 year after its enactment to allow for implementation.
This bill changes the requirements for members to be appointed to the Delaware Emergency Medical Services Oversight Council. The bill also clarifies that a member may serve for a term of up to three years and is eligible for reappointment and the number of members needed to constitute a quorum. In addition, the bill allows for removal of a member by the Governor under certain circumstances and clarifies that the Council may adopt bylaws for adopting operating procedures. The bill also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.
This bill adds the Department of Correction, Bureau of Prisons and Bureau of Community Corrections' vehicles to the list of "authorized emergency vehicles" identified in Chapter 41 of Title 21 that are afforded certain privileges when responding to an emergency.
This bill provides that for correction officers and specified peace officers, the amount of ordinary service or disability pension benefits given to state employees shall also include the following: (1) Before January 1, 2022, 2.45% of his or her final average compensation multiplied by years of service above 25 years; (2) On January 1, 2022, 2.5% of his or her average compensation multiplied by the number of years of service up to 20 years, plus 3.5% of his or her average compensation multiplied by the number of years of service above 20 years. The increased multipliers that take effect on January 1, 2022, reflect increased costs, reduced benefits, and the need to recruit and retain qualified and competent correction officers and specified peace officers with a modernized pension benefit. In addition, this bill amends the employee contribution for all correction officers and specified peace officers to a uniform 7%. Specified peace officers means (1) Probation and parole officers employed by the Department of Correction; (2) Capitol Police officers; (3) Department of Natural Resources police officers; (4) University of Delaware Police; (5) State Fire Marshal officers; (6) Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement agents; (7) Justice of the Peace Court constables; and (8) Probation and parole officers in the Serious Juvenile Offender Unit and senior probation officers employed by the Division of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families.
This Act allows counties to use Realty Transfer Tax funds to pay expenses related to assessments and reassessments of real property and associated improvements. Further, it permits New Castle County to expand potential referees of tax assessment appeals beyond members of the Bar of the State of Delaware.
Senate Bill No. 65 establishes the Focus on Alternative Skills Training Program ("FAST"). FAST will provide tuition assistance, to Delaware residents who have obtained a high school diploma, Diploma of Alternate Achievement Standards, or a Delaware secondary credential, which includes earning a GED, and have enrolled in an approved non-degree credit certificate program. The Workforce Development Board will create a list of non-degree credit certificate programs approved for the FAST program. Senate Substitute No. 1 for Senate Bill No. 65 differs from Senate Bill No. 65 as follows: 1. Extends eligibility from 18 to 24 months after an individual graduates from high school. 2. Increases the maximum amount of assistance that an individual may receive from $9,000 to $10,000. 3. Allows tuition payments for up to 12 months instead of 6 months. 4. Requires FAST to be implemented within 6 months of enactment, instead of 1 year. 5. Acknowledges the expected availability of federal funds for FAST. 6. Sunsets FAST 2 years after enactment.
This Act clarifies that yard waste is included in the types of trash and litter that it is illegal to discard on a highway. This Act also defines “yard waste”. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. This Substitute Bill differs from Senate Bill No. 47 by removing all of the following to avoid a potential conflict of the changes exceeding the scope of the bill’s title: (1) The upper limit to the fine for a first violation of subsections (a), (b), (c), or (d) of § 4189 of Title 21. (2) The changes addressing the redesignating error. (3) The revision of the word “section” to “subsection” in the penalty provision regarding the penalty for violating all subsections besides subsection (e) of § 4189 of Title 21.
