Delaware Bills

passed both · Delaware · House Jun 29, 2023

HCR 61: TO SUPPORT THE COUNTIES OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE IN THEIR EFFORT TO RESEARCH AND STUDY THE NEEDS AND FINANCES OF THE VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICES AND PAID AMBULANCE ENTITIES OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

This resolution encourages support for the counties of this State in their effort to research and study the needs and finances of the volunteer fire services and paid ambulance entities of the State of Delaware.

Ed Osienski (D) Dave Wilson (R) Frank Cooke (D) Pete Schwartzkopf (D) Bill Carson (D)

signed · Delaware · Senate Jun 29, 2023

SB 134: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT AND SUNSET ACT.

This Act updates the Legislative Oversight and Sunset Act, the governing statute for the Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Committee (“JLOSC”), to reflect updated and modern review practices and standards. The more significant changes include: - Establishing the term “entity” to denote the organization that is under review. “Agency” has been the term used, but when discussing JLOSC reviews, “agency” could mean either the organization under review or the more common usage of any State agency. Because JLOSC’s reviews routinely include references to or assistance from State agencies that are not under review, using the term “entity” to mean the organization that is under review creates a distinction intended to avoid confusion. - Clarifying quorum, including the impact of participating virtually in a meeting. - Creating a new type of review, a focused review, to replace the antiquated and rarely-used rules review and distinguish a focused review from a “full review.” A full review is the standard review that JLOSC has historically performed, in which the entire entity is assessed. A focused review, in contrast, looks at specific components within an entity. A focused review is a more efficient assessment when only certain areas of an entity need to be reviewed. - Clarifying JLOSC’s powers and duties, including updating JLOSC members’ duties versus staff duties to reflect current, modern practices. - Clearly establishing 3 types of reports produced in JLOSC’s work: self-reports from the entity under review, staff reports from JLOSC staff, and annual reports from JLOSC summarizing the work performed each year. - Codifying the confidentiality with which JLOSC and its staff have treated records from an entity under review and exceptions or waivers of confidentiality. - Establishing that a record protected against public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act does not lose its protection by virtue of the entity submitting the record as part of its review. - Clarifying the purpose and standard for conducting a performance evaluation. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. Some of the types of technical corrections include changing the plural to the singular wherever appropriate and consistent with both the Drafting Manual and § 304 of Title 1; replacing passive voice with active voice; and, to increase readability, breaking down large, block paragraphs into lists where possible.

in committee · Delaware · Senate Jun 28, 2023

SB 193: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 13 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ALIMONY.

This substitute adds emphasis to the prohibition that interim alimony may not be awarded to a party that is convicted of a violent felony. This Act prohibits an individual from receiving alimony who is convicted of committing a violent felony, where the victim is their spouse or a child under the age of 18 of either party to the divorce or annulment proceeding. Under current Delaware law an individual can abuse their partner or child and may still be awarded interim alimony or alimony. This Act mandates that such an unjust result shall be entirely prohibited.

in committee · Delaware · House Jun 28, 2023

HB 249: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL.

This Act updates certain statutory fees in Title 7 and establishes or updates certain permit and licensing fees. This Act also replaces and supersedes 1991 Del Laws. Ch. 86 (H.B. 360), An Act to Amend Titles 7 and 23 of the Delaware Code Relating to Permit Fees and Other Assessments Charged by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and to Authorize and Approve Various Permit Fees and Assessments.