Delaware Bills

signed · Delaware · House Jun 14, 2022

HB 270: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DISTRICT ENROLLMENT CHOICE PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS.

Since 1996, students across Delaware have participated in school choice. Currently, reorganized school districts do not follow the same processes thus causing confusion and barriers for families seeking to access choice for their children. The Act aims to streamline the school choice process, making it easier and clearer for parents, guardians, and school administrators to navigate. This Bill gives priority to siblings of students who live in the reorganized school district where the school is located and to siblings of students who do not live in the reorganized school district where the school is located. The Act also updates what constitutes "good cause" to include change of residence or child's participation in an inpatient or day treatment program.

in committee · Delaware · Senate Jun 14, 2022

SB 324: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 20 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

This Act recognizes the statutory authority of the Governor to act in the event of an emergency or disaster. During protracted emergencies and disasters, particularly those lasting more than 60 days, good governance requires participation by the General Assembly to approve renewal of Emergency Orders. This approval requirement may be waived only when it is not possible for both houses of the General Assembly to convene a quorum. The Governor retains the authority to terminate Emergency Orders without approval when the emergency or disaster has passed. Any new non-weather related emergency order issued within 6 months of the termination of a prior order and based upon substantially similar reasons shall be invalid unless approved by the General Assembly. Additionally, any non-weather related emergency order that requires the closure of any business, industry, religious, or non-profit facility must specifically delineate which type of business or facilities are to be closed.

passed both · Delaware · Senate Jun 14, 2022

SCR 115: CONGRATULATING THE CLASS OF 2021 EAGLE SCOUTS FOR HAVING ATTAINED THE HIGHEST RANK ONE CAN EARN IN THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA.

This resolution congratulates the class 2021 Eagle Scouts for having attained the highest rank one can earn in the Boy Scouts of America.

signed · Delaware · Senate Jun 14, 2022

SB 187: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 22 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO RESIDENTIAL ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more and more popular. Between 2012 and 2016, EV sales grew at an annual rate 32%. In 2017, growth in sales reached 45%. Batteries for EVs have become much cheaper in the last 10 years, enabling EVs to compete with traditional, fossil-fueled vehicles. In addition, major vehicle manufacturers are pledging to go all electric. Some researchers are predicting that EV sales will outnumber those of traditional, combustion engine vehicles by 2040. However, only minimal electrical charging infrastructure is available today. Like Senate Bill No. 187, this Substitute will make it easier and more convenient to own an electric vehicle in this State in the years to come, resulting in increased purchases of electric vehicles, promoting cleaner air and water, and resulting in improved health outcomes for Delawareans and a reduction of greenhouse gases to curtail global warming. Specifically, like Senate Bill No. 187, this Substitute achieves these ends by requiring municipalities with a population of 30,000 or more to develop a procedure to obtain permission for the installation of an electric vehicle charging station on real property zoned for residential use that abuts a residential street. This Substitute differs from Senate Bill No. 187 as follows: (1) By removing the requirement that an ordinance adopted by a municipality establish the qualifications required by the licensed electrician who installs an electric vehicle charging station. (2) By clarifying that a municipality may not require an individual owner of real property to install an electric vehicle charging station for another person, including a tenant, guest, or customer, unless the requirement is adopted as part of a municipal zoning or building code that is of general applicability. This Substitute 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 municipal charter, whether directly, by amendment to a specific municipality’s charter, or, as in this Act, indirectly, by a general law.

signed · Delaware · House Jun 14, 2022

HB 355: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE FORT DUPONT REDEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVATION CORPORATION.

This Act is to fortify the Declaration of Purpose for the Fort DuPont Complex. This Act does the following: Changes the composition of the Board by adding the Director of the Prosperity Partnership, the co-chairs of the Capital Improvement Committee, a director appointed by the Speaker of the House, and a director appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate; and by eliminating the Secretary of DHSS, the four directors appointed by the Mayor of Delaware City, and the three directors elected by the Board. Specifies that the Director of OMB or his/her designee will be the Board Treasurer. Requires the Board to elect a Vice-Chair from among its members who may carry out the duties of Chair if the Chair is unavailable. Prohibits the executive director or any employee of the Corporation any gift from the Corporation, the Board or any member of the Board valued in excess of $200.00 or from receiving housing as part of their compensation package. An employee may rent, lease, or purchase any property on the Fort DuPont Complex unless for fair market value and only through a standard rental or sale process. Requires a deputy executive director to be hired. Requires all hires to be approved by the Board. Requires the executive director to provide an annual written report of the activities of the Corporation to the Chair of the Board.

signed · Delaware · House Jun 14, 2022

HB 323: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 18 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO MERGERS OR CONSOLIDATION OF INSURERS.

This bill requires that the Commissioner’s retention of any outside attorneys, actuaries, accountants, and other experts in the review of any application for merger or consolidation of a domestic insurer be at the expense of the party applying for such merger or consolidation. This bill aligns the payment of the Commissioner’s expenses for mergers and consolidations with other acquisitions under Chapter 50 of Title 18 of the Delaware Code. This bill also makes technical changes to conform to the requirements of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

signed · Delaware · Senate Jun 14, 2022

SB 253: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO INFLUENZA IMMUNIZATIONS.

This bill provides flexibility for nursing and assisted living facilities to make hiring decisions contingent on staff influenza vaccination status.

signed · Delaware · Senate Jun 14, 2022

SB 246: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 18 AND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO INSPECTION OF PUBLIC RECORDS.

Delaware’s Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) was intended to create a State-wide and generally applicable standard for citizens’ access to public records and to further the accountability of government to the citizens of this State. To ensure consistency in the processing of requests for public records, and to ensure the goals of FOIA are being realized, this bill amends earlier-enacted provisions in the Delaware Insurance Code and Administrative Procedures Act related to public inspection of State agency documents to incorporate by reference the requirements of the later-enacted FOIA statute.

passed · Delaware · Senate Jun 14, 2022

SB 305: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 7 AND 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

This Act, known as the Delaware Climate Change Solutions Act, follows the issuance of Delaware’s Climate Action Plan in 2021, and establishes a statutory requirement of greenhouse gas emissions reductions over the medium and long term to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change due to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions on the State, establishing a mandatory and regularly updated plan to achieve those emissions reductions and develop resilience strategies for the State, and requires State agencies to address climate change in decision-making and rulemaking.

signed · Delaware · House Jun 14, 2022

HB 307: AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF SOUTH BETHANY RELATING TO MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS AND ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL.

This Act amends the Town of South Bethany Charter to provide the correct citation to charter provisions relating to residency. Additionally, the Council organizational meeting will be within 30 days after the election of members instead of being the first Saturday after the elections.

passed both · Delaware · House Jun 14, 2022

HB 411: AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE II OF THE DELAWARE CONSTITUTION RELATING TO LIMITATIONS ON THE TIME AND FREQUENCY OF LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS.

This Act is the first leg of a constitutional amendment that would prohibit the regular session of the General Assembly from extending beyond 5:00 p.m. on the last day of June, unless the session is recalled by the Governor or the presiding officers of both Houses. This changes the time beyond which a regular session of the General Assembly may not extend from midnight on June 30 to 5:00 p.m., which changes the time at which the presiding officers of both Houses must act to recall the General Assembly into special session. This means the General Assembly no longer has to remain in session until midnight to recall itself into special session. This Act does not change the date of or process for “final adjournment,” as defined in Opinion of the Justices, 175 A.2d 543, 545 (Del. 1961) (“‘[F]inal adjournment’ . . . means the adjournment sine die of the second regular session, or, in the absence of such adjournment, the extinguishment of the particular General Assembly by reason of expiration of the terms of office of the members.”). In addition, this Act contemplates that each House will continue its traditional practice of recessing to the call of the chair. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 1 of Article XVI of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to amend the Delaware Constitution.

in committee · Delaware · House Jun 10, 2022

HB 473: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 15 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ELECTION CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS.

Campaign contribution limits have not been changed since 1991. Since then, the cost of a 1st class stamp has increased from 29 cents to 58 cents today. Since 1991, the Consumer Price Index has risen by at least 90 percent. The Act authorizes the Commissioner of Elections, as of January 1 after each general election, to adjust and set new election campaign contribution limits for statewide and non-statewide elections based upon the change to the Consumer Price Index that occurs since the most recent adjustment to these contribution limits.

Bill results