Delaware Bills

signed · Delaware · Senate Aug 23, 2021

SJR 4: DESIGNATING AUGUST 31, 2021, AS "INTERNATIONAL OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY" IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

This Senate Joint Resolution designates August 31, 2021 as "International Overdose Awareness Day" in the State of Delaware and directs the State flag to be lowered to half-staff at State facilities and encourages local governments, businesses, and Delawareans to do the same.

Stephanie Hansen (D) Jack Walsh (D) Bryan Townsend (D) · 17 co-sponsors

signed · Delaware · House Aug 19, 2021

HB 100: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FREE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

This Act establishes a mental health services unit for Delaware elementary schools. The unit is at a ratio of 250 full-time equivalent students grades K-5 for a full-time school counselor, school social worker, or licensed clinical social worker. Additionally a unit ratio of 700 full time equivalent students for grades K-5 for employment of a full-time school psychologist. This Act defines “mental health services” as prevention, response, and coordination services delivered to students in elementary schools. Mental Health disorders are the most common health problem for school aged youth. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), one in five youth are affected by a mental health disorder. Additionally, 50% of lifetime mental illnesses begin by age 14. Untreated mental illness leads to negative outcomes including increased risk of dropout, homelessness, substance abuse, other chronic illnesses, incarceration, and possibly suicide. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, ninety percent of people who have taken their own life have had an underlying mental health condition, and suicides are on the rise. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, suicides are now the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10-14. Delaware schools need trained and experienced mental health professionals to provide prevention and support programs and services to students. Currently, as reported by Delaware school districts, 86% of elementary schools do not employ a school social worker, and ratios of students to school counselors and school psychologists far exceed national best practices. This bill will lower ratios and increase access to mental health services for elementary school students.

signed · Delaware · Senate Aug 10, 2021

SB 160: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 18 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO INSURANCE AND LINE-OF-DUTY DISABILITY POLICIES FOR CERTAIN EMERGENCY RESPONDERS.

This allows a policy to be purchased by the Insurance Coverage Office to cover cancer for active Volunteer Firefighters, Paid Firefighters, Fire Marshals, Fire Instructors, Fire Police, EMTs, and Paramedics of the State of Delaware exclusive of those in private sector. This policy will be funded by an assessment calculated based on reporting of gross premiums by insurers writing certain lines of insurance under § 705 of Title 18. The benefits will provide a lump sum for early and advance stages of cancer and monthly income benefits for 36 months.

signed · Delaware · House Aug 10, 2021

HB 223: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 21 AND 25 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO POSSESSORY AND OTHER CERTAIN LIENS ON MOTOR VEHICLES.

This Act clarifies that when a motor vehicle is subject to a possessory lien either through towing or because of failure to make payment to a garage owner for services rendered to the motor vehicle, the possessory lien does not extend to personal property located in the motor vehicle, and such property shall be returned to the owner if the owner claims the items prior to the sale of such vehicle This Act also clarifies that “abandoned personal property” does not include personal property inside an abandoned motor vehicle if the owner of the personal property files an answer to a Petition seeking full title and interest to the personal property.

signed · Delaware · House Aug 10, 2021

HB 214: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 14 AND 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DISABLED VETERANS’ SCHOOL TAX CREDIT.

This Act creates the Disabled Veterans Property Tax Relief and Education Fund. Pursuant to this legislation, school districts are authorized to create a credit against school taxes for up to the full amount of school tax liability for property owned by a veteran with a 100% disability rating who is domiciled in this state. The full amount of such credit will be reimbursed by a transfer from the State’s General Fund to the County Receiver for distribution to such school districts. It has a delayed effective date to allow for implementation of the program.

signed · Delaware · House Aug 10, 2021

HB 16: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 30 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO TAXES ON PERSONAL INCOME.

Section 1 of this Act modifies Delaware’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to allow recipients to choose the most beneficial credit to be applied against their Delaware Personal Income Taxes. Under this Act, recipients can choose between a non-refundable credit of up to 20% of the value of the corresponding federal EITC or a refundable EITC credit of up to 4.5% of the value of the corresponding federal EITC. Section 2 of this Act makes the change to Delaware’s EITC effective for the tax year in which the Secretary of Finance provides the Registrar of Regulations with notice that the personal income tax release of the Integrated Revenue Administration System is implemented. This delay in effective date is necessary to ensure that tax law changes can be properly and efficiently implemented in the Division of Revenue’s modernized Integrated Revenue Administration System, which is currently under development. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

signed · Delaware · Senate Aug 10, 2021

SB 55: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL ACCESS TO EPINEPHRINE AUTOINJECTORS.

This Act creates emergency access to epinephrine that allows an institution of higher education to acquire and stock a supply of epinephrine autoinjectors if an employee or agent has completed a training program. This Act allows the individual who has completed the training program to provide an epinephrine autoinjector to someone experiencing anaphylaxis for immediate self-administration or administer an epinephrine autoinjector to someone experiencing anaphylaxis. Before an individual administers an epinephrine autoinjector under this Act, the individual must notify EMS immediately, and after administration, must report the administration to the prescribing health-care provider. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the creation of the new subchapter and to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual..

signed · Delaware · Senate Aug 10, 2021

SB 125: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO EDUCATION.

This bill provides that the spouse and any child of a member of the active military service of the United States, who has been assigned to duty elsewhere immediately following assignment to duty in Delaware, shall be deemed to be an in-state resident for the purposes of determining the tuition, fees, and other charges at Delaware public universities, colleges, or community colleges as long as the spouse or child remains enrolled at such institution.

signed · Delaware · Senate Aug 10, 2021

SB 117: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO EDUCATION AND PURPLE STAR SCHOOLS.

This bill allows schools and school districts to submit an application to the Department of Education to have a school designated as a Purple Star School.

signed · Delaware · House Aug 10, 2021

HB 48: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE HEALTH CARE COMMISSION.

This Act establishes a Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program for new primary care providers to be administered by the Delaware Health Care Commission. Under the loan repayment program, the Health Care Commission may award education loan repayment grants to new primary care providers of up to $50,000 per year for a maximum of 4 years. Priority consideration may be given to DIMER-participating students and participants in Delaware based residency programs. Sites eligible to apply for grants on behalf of their new primary care providers must be located in underserved areas or areas of need and must accept Medicare and Medicaid participants. Grants to hospital sites must be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the applicant hospital and the disbursement of grants from the program is contingent upon an initial, one-time contribution to the Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program, in an amount Fiscal Year 21 appropriation of State funds up to a maximum of $1 million, from Delaware health insurers. This Act also provides that the Delaware Healthcare Commission may award Health Care Provider Repayment grants on a prorated annual basis.

signed · Delaware · House Aug 9, 2021

HB 178: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO YEAR-LONG TEACHER RESIDENCY PROGRAMS.

Year-long teacher residency programs are a partnership between an educator preparation program and a Delaware school district or charter school to provide a year-long immersive experience for teacher candidates, allowing them a full and supported, on the ground experience of teaching in a Delaware school. The teacher resident also receives a stipend while participating in the program, which may be used to defray education and living expenses. These programs are the gold standard for teacher preparation and they assist in attracting and retaining quality, diverse educators. For the last several years, the General Assembly has appropriated funds in the annual budget to support and sustain these programs. This bill codifies the program and establishes guidelines for how and when the funds will be awarded and what they may be used for. The Department of Education continues to be charged with administration of the funds.

signed · Delaware · House Aug 4, 2021

HB 21: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO AN ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSE COMPACT.

This Act adopts the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Compact. The Compact benefits the public by improving continuity of care, increasing license portability for advanced practice registered nurses, and increasing access to APRN care. Under the Compact, APRNs licensed in a Compact member state may practice in another Compact member state. In adopting the Compact, the state-based licensure system is preserved but communication between states is enhanced. This Act takes limited effect for the purpose of establishing and convening the Interstate Commission of APRN Compact Administrators (Commission) to adopt rules relating to its operation when 7 states have enacted it into law.

Bill results