Delaware Bills

passed both · Delaware · House Jun 19, 2019

HCR 51: RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF JUNE, AS NATIONAL HOMEOWNERSHIP MONTH IN DELAWARE.

This resolution recognizes June, 2019 as National Homeownership Month in Delaware.

passed both · Delaware · House Jun 19, 2019

HCR 53: RECOGNIZING JUNE AS “CARIBBEAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH” IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

This House Concurrent Resolution recognizes the month of June 2019 as “Caribbean American Heritage Month” in the State of Delaware.

passed · Delaware · Senate Jun 19, 2019

SB 141: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Both the Delaware Strategic Fund (Title 29, Chapter 87A, Subchapter II) and the Delaware Technical Innovation Fund (Title 29, Chapter 87A, Subchapter III) provide funding for Delaware businesses, including new businesses in growing technology-related fields. The Delaware Strategic Fund is intended to assist in the development of startup strategies such as seed capital and incubator programs. The Delaware Technical Innovation Fund is intended to promote coordination with Delaware’s institutions of higher education and the private sector to commercialize innovative products and processes developed by small businesses. This act encourages Delaware’s institutions of higher education to assist foreign-born, student entrepreneurs, who are engaged in the development of new businesses and technologies in Delaware, to provide them with assistance in maintaining proper legal status within the United States. Presently, thirteen universities in six states offer Global Entrepreneur in Residence Programs which have been successful in assisting foreign-born, student entrepreneurs in creating new businesses, new jobs, and attracting additional capital investment for their development and expansion. This act will add a provision comparable to those found in Global Entrepreneur Residence Programs within the existing frameworks provided by the Delaware Strategic Fund and the Delaware Technical Innovation Fund. This will encourage the creation and development of new businesses and new technologies in Delaware, without creating a new program with new funding needs. This Bill also includes a 3-year sunset provision.

passed · Delaware · Senate Jun 19, 2019

SB 123: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FINES, COSTS, PENALTIES, AND FORFEITURES.

It is an unfortunate reality that many offenders have difficulty re-entering society. Without the ability to provide for themselves and their families through gainful employment, 67.8% of released prisoners are rearrested within three years of release nationally. One of the reasons that offenders have difficulty is because they often face the unrealistic requirement to pay off large fees and fines, which grow with interest if not paid, at the same time as they have to pay for housing, food, care for children, or other necessities of life. Failure to pay can result in the offender found to be in violation while on probation or being denied a pardon. Furthermore, most offenders tend to be non-affluent, and the state spends resources chasing fines and fees it will not recover. Unlike motor vehicle fines under Title 21, which generate large sums of revenue, fees and fines under Title 11 and 16 are modest and collection costs are high. The social costs in terms of impacting rehabilitation and successful re-entry are even higher. To address this problem and to give the Department of Correction a positive incentive to reward participation in work programs in its facilities or in the community, this Act authorizes the Department of Correction to give minimum wage to inmates to pay off fees or fines by participating in an earned credit program established by the Department of Correction. The court would establish how many hours need to be worked in order to discharge this financial obligation by computing the hours based on the then prevailing state minimum wage hourly rate. The Department of Correction will establish an earned credit program and certify to the court when the individual has completed the required number of hours. The earned credit program cannot be used to discharge other financial obligations owed, such as restitution, child support obligations, or bail.

passed both · Delaware · Senate Jun 18, 2019

SCR 49: RECOGNIZING JUNE 19, 2019 AS "JUNETEENTH INDEPENDENCE DAY" IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

This resolution proclaims June 19, 2019 as Juneteenth Independence Day in Delaware and encourages the people of Delaware to reflect upon the significant roles and many contributions of African Americans and to celebrate this day with appropriate activities and events.

passed · Delaware · Senate Jun 18, 2019

SR 8: ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO RESEARCH, DISCUSS, AND MAKE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT AND SUNSET COMMITTEE'S REVIEW OF THE DIVISION FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED.

The Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Committee ("JLOSC") reviewed the Division for the Visually Impaired ("DVI") in 2019. As a result of that review, 31 recommendations for changes affecting DVI were presented for JLOSC's consideration. JLOSC determined that, to properly consider and decide whether to adopt 28 of the recommendations, a task force should be created to research, discuss, and report back to JLOSC its findings on the implementation of the 28 recommendations. JLOSC decided to form the task force through a simple resolution. This Resolution establishes the Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Committee Task Force (“Task Force”) on the Division for the Visually Impaired. In addition to the 9 members of the Task Force, several consultants are also named, either individually or by organization, to share their expertise with the Task Force. The Task Force must hold its first meeting by August 15, 2019, and submit a final report of its findings and recommendations to JLOSC by January 3, 2020. The Task force will not approve the implementation of a recommendation or authorize or require a change in any statute, policy, or practice. The Task Force is designed, authorized, and limited to do only the following: - Research the background of and relevant information relating to JLOSC’s Recommendations 2 through 29. - Discuss the merits and concerns of each recommendation. - Report back to JLOSC on what the Task Force found in its research and discussions. Consultants are specified to ensure their participation in the Task Force, while the number of members is kept limited in the interest of meeting quorum and scheduling requirements more easily.

passed · Delaware · Senate Jun 18, 2019

SR 9: ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO RESEARCH, DISCUSS, AND MAKE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT AND SUNSET COMMITTEE'S REVIEW OF THE DELAWARE HEALTH INFORMATION NETWORK.

The Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Committee ("JLOSC") reviewed the Delaware Health Information Network (“DHIN") in 2019. As a result of that review, 4 recommendations relating to statutory changes to DHIN’s govnering statute were presented for JLOSC's consideration. JLOSC determined that a task force should be created to research, discuss, and report back to JLOSC its findings on the implementation of 3 of the 4 recommendations. JLOSC decided to form the task force through a simple resolution. This Resolution establishes the Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Committee Task Force on the Delaware Health Information Network (“DHIN”). In addition to the 11 members of the Task Force, several consultants are also named, to share their expertise with the Task Force. The Task Force must hold its first meeting by August 31, 2019, and submit a final report of its findings and recommendations to JLOSC by January 10, 2020. The Task force will not approve the implementation of a recommendation or authorize or require a change in any statute, policy, or practice. The Task Force is designed, authorized, and limited to do only the following: - Research the background of and relevant information relating to JLOSC’s Recommendations 2, 4, and 6. - Discuss the merits and concerns of each recommendation. - Report back to JLOSC on what the Task Force found in its research and discussions. Consultants are specified to ensure their participation in the Task Force, while the number of members is kept limited in the interest of meeting quorum and scheduling requirements more easily.

passed both · Delaware · House Jun 18, 2019

HCR 50: ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO HELP WITH THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS FOR THE DELAWARE VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE.

This joint resolution is designed to establish a task force to study and make findings concerning the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters.

passed both · Delaware · Senate Jun 13, 2019

SCR 20: HONORING USO DELAWARE FOR ITS IMPORTANT AND INSPIRING WORK SUPPORTING MILITARY MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

This resolution honors USO Delaware for their important and inspiring work supporting military members and their families.

passed both · Delaware · House Jun 13, 2019

HCR 49: RECOGNIZING THE YOUNG MEN FROM ACROSS THE STATE OF DELAWARE PARTICIPATING IN THE 2019 SESSION OF DELAWARE'S BOYS STATE.

This Resolution recognizes the young men participating in the 2019 session of Delaware's Boys State and commends its sponsor, the American Legion Department of Delaware.

passed both · Delaware · House Jun 12, 2019

HCR 48: RECOGNIZING JUNE 15, 2019, AS “DELAWARE ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY”.

This House Concurrent Resolution recognizes June 15, 2019, as “Delaware Elder Abuse Awareness Day” and encourages all of Delaware’s citizens to learn about how to protect and nurture our elderly citizens.

passed · Delaware · House Jun 12, 2019

HR 12: REQUESTING THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNCIL TO EXAMINE THE EXPANSION OF ADVOCACY AND LEGAL RESOURCES FOR MINORS WHO ARE VICTIMS OF TEEN DATING AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS.

This House Resolution requests the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (“DVCC”) to examine the expansion of domestic violence, teen dating violence, and sexual violence advocacy and legal services to minors. The DVCC may study the issue with assistance from various organizations outlined in the Resolution to provide recommendations to the General Assembly by May 31, 2020.

Bill results