Delaware Bills

in committee · Delaware · House Mar 28, 2019

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.

in committee · Delaware · House Mar 28, 2019

HB 101: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO EDUCATION.

This Act requires high needs elementary schools, including high needs elementary charter schools, to have school-based health centers. The State will pay the start-up costs for each school-based health center at 2 centers per year until each high needs elementary school has a center. High needs elementary schools are defined as any elementary school in the top quartile of 3 or more in percentage of low-income students, percentage of English learners, percentage of students with disabilities, percentage of minority students, or having 90% of its students classified as low-income, English learners, or minority. This act also allows high needs elementary schools having pre-existing school-based health centers to apply for reimbursement of previously expended funds necessary to establish said health center.

in committee · Delaware · House Mar 28, 2019

HB 18: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DIRECTING THE PROCEEDS FROM CHARITABLE VIDEO LOTTERY MACHINES TO AND CHANGING THE ELIGIBILITY FOR THE DELAWARE VETERANS TRUST FUND.

This Act makes all veterans with a minimum discharge of general discharge under honorable conditions eligible for assistance from the Delaware Veterans Trust Fund, effective January 1, 2020. This Act also directs 3% of the proceeds returned to the State from the proceeds of charitable video lottery machines operated by veteran’s organizations to the Delaware Veterans Trust Fund, effective July 1, 2019, so that there are sufficient funds to assist the expanded number of individuals who will be eligible for assistance. This Act also makes technical corrections to improve clarity of existing law and to conform it to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

in committee · Delaware · House Mar 21, 2019

HB 48: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

This bill provides State funding to kindergarten through third grade for basic special education. State funding already occurs for intensive and complex special education during these grades. Currently the basic special education funding runs from fourth through twelfth grade. This bill is an effort to promote earlier identification and assistance for basic special education needs which should then mitigate costs over the long term. Pursuant to its terms, funding for K-3 special education will be phased in gradually over 4 years.

in committee · Delaware · House Mar 20, 2019

HB 83: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO STATE EMPLOYEES' PENSION PLAN.

This Act provides that the amount of ordinary or disability pension payable to a 9-1-1 operator includes 2.45% of the 9-1-1 operator's final average compensation multiplied by years of service above 25 years, the same multiplier as applied to corrections officers and specified peace officers. This Act also makes a technical correction.

in committee · Delaware · House Mar 13, 2019

HB 85: AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE XV OF THE DELAWARE CONSTITUTION RELATING TO THE RESIGNATION OF ELECTED OFFICERS SEEKING ANOTHER OFFICE.

This Act is the first leg of an amendment to the Delaware Constitution requiring an individual elected to an office of this State, or one of its political subdivisions, to resign from the officer's current elected office if the officer seeks to be a candidate for another office of this State, or one of its political subdivisions, if the term of the office sought runs concurrently with the term of the office held.

in committee · Delaware · House Mar 13, 2019

HB 70: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 18 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FEES AND CHARGES COLLECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE.

This Act would add a fee schedule specific to requests made by insurance companies to the Department of Insurance for expedited service of charter documents, copies of documents on file in the Department, certification and affixing of official seals, and certified copies of insurer certificates of authority or of any license issued under Title 18. This Act also requires the Insurance Commissioner to promulgate a rule to establish the timeframe during which requests must be received in order to receive expedited service. The Department of Insurance’s Bureau of Examination, Rehabilitation and Guaranty routinely processes expedited requests to satisfy insurers’ timelines. Currently, the Department of Insurance receives approximately 20 such requests per month. Implementing this fee schedule would help prioritize these kinds of requests, while adding an additional revenue to the General Fund.

in committee · Delaware · House Mar 6, 2019

HB 27: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 30 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ITEMIZED DEDUCTIONS.

This bill allows real property tax itemized deductions to continue in Delaware notwithstanding recently enacted changes to federal income tax laws.

in committee · Delaware · House Mar 6, 2019

HB 17: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 30 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO STATE TAXES AND PRIORITY OF CLAIMS TO INTERCEPT OR REDUCE FUNDS.

This bill gives school and local government property taxes priority collection status over other claimant agencies when the collection is made by tax intercept reducing refunds.

in committee · Delaware · House Mar 6, 2019

HB 32: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 30 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DECREASING THE REALTY TRANSFER TAX.

This Act decreases by 1% the rate of realty transfer tax to be received by the State, thereby returning to the rate that was applicable prior to August 1, 2017.

in committee · Delaware · Senate Mar 6, 2019

SB 29: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PENALTIES FOR UNLAWFULLY PARKING IN AN AREA DESIGNATED FOR OR USING THE PRIVILEGES OF AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY.

This Act increases the penalties for parking in an area designated for a vehicle being used by an individual with a disability. For a subsequent offense, this Act increases the potential minimum imprisonment from 10 days to 15 days and the potential maximum imprisonment from 30 days to 35 days. The offenses subject to the increased penalty are included without change in lines 4 through 27 to add context. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

in committee · Delaware · House Feb 28, 2019

HB 60: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 AND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE ESTALBISHMENT OF A COMMUNITY COLLEGE INFRASTRUCTURE FUND.

Delaware's statewide community college system, operated by Delaware Technical Community College (“the College”), plays a critical role in the State's economy by providing workforce development, vocational training and transfer education that connects Delawareans with good paying jobs within the State and region. This Act gives the College’s Board of Trustees the authority to issue bonds to finance the cost of major and minor capital improvements, deferred maintenance, and the acquisition of related equipment and educational technology and establishes the Community College Infrastructure Fund (“the Fund”) to pay the principal and interest on such bonds. This Act also provides a mechanism, but not an obligation, for the state to provide matching funds for minor capital improvement projects consistent with existing matching provisions for public education. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

Bill results