Delaware Bills

passed both · Delaware · Senate Jun 29, 2023

SCR 92: REAFFIRMING THE LONGSTANDING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE OF DELAWARE AND TAIWAN.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution reaffirms Delaware’s commitment to strengthen the longstanding partnership with Taiwan, supports Taiwan’s efforts to secure the signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement and an Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement with the United States; commends Taiwan’s vibrant full-fledged democracy; and continues to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation and contributions in international organizations.

passed both · Delaware · House Jun 29, 2023

HCR 59: DIRECTING THE DIVISION OF RESEARCH AND LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION SYSTEMS TEAM OF THE OFFICE OF THE CONTROLLER GENERAL TO INVESTIGATE THE COST OF, IMPACT OF, AND METHODS AND TIMEFRAME FOR IMPLEMENTING A REQUIREMENT TO INCLUDE HYPERLINKS TO LAWS CROSS-REFERENCED IN LEGISLATION AND DELAWARE LAWS PUBLISHED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

This Concurrent Resolution does all of the following: (1) Directs the Director of the Division of Research and the Director of the Legislative Information Systems Team of the Office of the Controller General to investigate the cost of, impact of, and methods and timeframe for implementing a requirement to include hyperlinks to laws cross-referenced in legislation and Delaware laws published by the General Assembly. (2) Requires the Director of the Division of Research and the Director of the Legislative Information Systems Team of the Office of the Controller General to submit a written report of their findings and recommendations no later than March 1, 2024.

passed both · Delaware · House Jun 29, 2023

HCR 75: COMMENDING THE STUDENTS SELECTED AS SECRETARY OF EDUCATION SCHOLARS FOR 2023.

This Concurrent Resolution commends and congratulates the Secretary of Education Scholars for 2023.

in committee · Delaware · Senate Jun 29, 2023

SB 196: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO 24/7 EMERGENT PHYSICIAN CARE CENTERS.

This legislation establishes a voluntary certification program for 24/7 Emergent Physician Care Centers and is designed to help Delawareans chose the right level of walk-in, medical care. The importance of 24/7 Physician Care Centers in the delivery of urgent and emergent health care services in times of crisis was exhibited during the recent COVID-19 Pandemic. Currently, Delawareans have no assistance in determining the varying levels of services available at urgent care facilities. This legislation creates the category of and defines the minimum level of services necessary for 24/7 Emergent Physician Care Centers. The minimum requirements for 24/7 Emergent Physician Care Centers include being open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, having a Delaware licensed physician and registered nurse on site at all times, providing lab and diagnostic imaging services, providing on-site splinting, fracture care and suturing, and not refusing care to any person due to inability to pay or lack of identification.

signed · Delaware · Senate Jun 29, 2023

SB 105: AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF SELBYVILLE RELATING TO IMPACT FEES.

This Act amends the Charter of the Town of Selbyville to allow the Town to impose an impact fee to contribute to the costs of operations of volunteer fire companies, ambulance companies, public libraries, or police departments providing services within the Town. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 1 of Article IX of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to amend a charter issued to a municipal corporation.

signed · Delaware · Senate Jun 29, 2023

SB 142: AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF DELAWARE CITY RELATING TO VACANCIES AND FORFEITURE OF OFFICE.

This Act amends the Charter of Delaware City, providing for use of a special election to fill vacancies in the office of Councilperson. Specifically, the Act authorizes the Mayor, within 14 days of the vacancy, to set a date for a special election and notify the Department of Elections of the same.

signed · Delaware · Senate Jun 29, 2023

SB 139: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 18 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO UNDERINSURANCE MOTORIST COVERAGE.

This Act eliminates the need to file a lawsuit against a person, who has caused injury with the person's vehicle, when that person's liability insurer has offered the limits of liability coverage to the injured person and the injured person’s underinsured motorist insurer either consents to the settlement or fails to timely reply to the request for permission to settle. The goal of this Act is to have fewer lawsuits filed merely to obtain permission to accept liability insurers' offer to settle a claim. This Act is not intended to require any person to seek permission from an underinsured motorist insurer to resolve a bodily injury claim.

passed both · Delaware · House Jun 29, 2023

HCR 71: RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER AS GLUTEN-FREE DIET AWARENESS MONTH.

This resolution recognizes November 2023 as Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month in Delaware.

signed · Delaware · Senate Jun 29, 2023

SB 56: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.

This is an omnibus bill that updates several aspects of the Delaware Public Utility Code, Title 26, including the following: (a) Expanding the public notice options for the Public Service Commission in order to reduce costs, increase transparency, and raise public awareness of Commission proceedings; (b) Amending the statute which sets the salary of Commissioners to provide for a salary as appropriated in the annual State Operating Budget; (c) Increasing the utility assessment rate; and (d) Eliminating references to the Water Supply Coordinating Council, which reached its sunset date of January 31, 2022.

failed · Delaware · House Jun 29, 2023

HB 232: AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF LEWES.

This Act amends the Charter of the City of Lewes as follows. This Act modifies City contract requirements by 1) raising the aggregate contract value threshold for which competitive bidding shall not be required to $50,000 rather than the previous threshold of $25,000; 2) adding an exception to the competitive bidding requirement for certain existing contracts, which were previously competitively bid at the State or County level; and 3) adding an exception to the competitive bidding requirement for contracts made pursuant to a cooperative or joint purchasing agreement. This Act also modifies the City’s power and authority to borrow money and issue bonds or certificates of indebtedness by 1) clarifying the City’s authority to borrow money and issue bonds or certificates of indebtedness to provide funds for purchase real estate. This Act also modifies the assessment of taxes by 1) permitting the City to appoint a qualified firm to serve as the City Assessor or utilize County property assessments in lieu of appointing a City Assessor; and 2) modifies the appellate process for the assessment of taxes in certain situations. This Act also places a cap on the City’s power to collect taxes for any and all municipal purposes upon certain real property at one half of one percent (0.5%) of the full assessed value of land and improvements within the City, or $5,000,000, whichever is greater, rather than the previous cap of $3,500,000. The Act also modifies the refund of taxes and penalties for delinquent taxes. This Act also modifies the notice requirements and procedures relating to the City’s power to cause to be paved or repaved the sidewalks of said city or any part or portion thereof, to cause to be repaired or re-laid existing curbs or gutters.

signed · Delaware · House Jun 29, 2023

HB 113: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 19 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATED TO UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE.

This Act amends the renewal period for obtaining background checks for employees of the Department of Labor who have access to Federal Tax Information. This amendment is necessary to conform to revisions of the federal Internal Revenue Service in Publication 1075, which shortened the renewal period from 10 to 5 years. The language is intended to allow conformity with this and any future revisions to the renewal period.

passed both · Delaware · Senate Jun 29, 2023

SCR 98: RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPASSIONATE RELEASE AND MAKING A COMMITMENT TO CONSIDER MODIFICATIONS TO DELAWARE'S EARLY RELEASE FRAMEWORK FOR INCARCERATED PEOPLE.

This resolution recognizes that the compassionate release of incarcerated people—such as elderly individuals experiencing infirmities, in addition to individuals in terminal or severe medical circumstances—can promote individual and community-wide justice while preserving public safety and realizing fiscal efficiencies. The resolution acknowledges the merit of immediately considering early release of all statutorily eligible incarcerated persons and commutation for individuals who would be eligible if Delaware were to have a stronger model of compassionate release, encourages all stakeholders involved in such consideration to assist, and pledges that the General Assembly will explore and consider potential modifications to Delaware’s early-release framework.

Bill results