Delaware Bills

in committee · Delaware · Senate Jan 29, 2020

SB 208: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE LITTER CONTROL LAW.

The intent of this Act is to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in the environment and to raise awareness of the need to properly dispose of balloons. To that end, this Act imposes a civil penalty for the violation of intentionally releasing 5 or more balloons filled with air or lighter-than-air gases, to prevent litter which blights our communities and environment and causes harm to wildlife and marine animals. The release of multiple balloons at 1 time is a single offense under this Act. This Act also establishes that intentionally releasing 1 to 4 balloons at 1 time is littering. Exceptions are provided for the following: - A balloon that is released for scientific or meteorological purposes, on behalf of a governmental agency, or under a governmental contract. - A hot air balloon that is recovered after launching. - A balloon that is released and remains indoors. - A balloon that is filled with water for recreational purposes and recovered after recreation. - A balloon that is negligently or unintentionally released. Under this Act, the intentional release of 1 or more balloons is a civil violation, penalized as follows: - The first violation is subject to a civil penalty of at least $25. - A second or subsequent violation within 2 years of the first is subject to a civil penalty of $75 and up to 8 hours of community service for a second violation within 2 years of the first violation. The mass release of balloons is penalized as follows: - A first violation is subject to a civil penalty of at least $250 and up to 8 hours of community service. - A second or subsequent violation within 2 years of the first is subject to a civil penalty of at least $350 and up to 25 hours of community service. Under this Act, a retail or wholesale establishment that sells balloons must post a notice for customers that the intentional release of balloons is unlawful. This Act also makes a technical correction to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. All law enforcement agencies in Delaware, including enforcement personnel of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, have the authority to enforce this chapter. The Justice of the Peace Court has jurisdiction over violations of this chapter.

in committee · Delaware · House Jan 29, 2020

HB 284: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE COMMISSION OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS.

This legislation allows the Delaware Commission of Veterans’ Affairs to employ the spouses of veterans and retains the stipulation that the Executive Director of the Commission must be a veteran.

passed · Delaware · House Jan 29, 2020

HB 144: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ASSAULT.

House Bill 212 enacted by the 148th General Assembly (80 Del. Laws c. 287) expanded the offense of Assault in the Second Degree to include the intentional assault of ambulance operators, rescue squad members, and nurses injured while performing work-related duties. As a result of increasing workplace violence directed against healthcare providers, this Act further defines Assault in the Second Degree to include other health care treatment providers and employees and hospital security personnel who are injured while performing their work related duties.

in committee · Delaware · House Jan 29, 2020

HB 265: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 9 AND 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO EXEMPTIONS FROM TAXATION ON REAL PROPERTY.

This Act fully exempts county property taxes and local school taxes for a disabled veteran with a 100% VA rated service-connected, permanent and total disability or for a disabled veteran who is receiving 100% disability compensation due to individual unemployability. The 100% rating and disability compensation is determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. This Act sets forth the minimum requirements that a claimant in any county must meet in determining eligibility for the exemption. Each county may impose additional requirements as necessary for eligibility. The minimum requirements are as follows: (1) the disabled veteran must be legally domiciled in the State for a period of time established by the county; and (2) the property for which the exemption is sought must be solely owned by the disabled veteran (or jointly with spouse) and used as his or her primary place of residence.

passed both · Delaware · House Jan 28, 2020

HCR 75: RECOGNIZING JANUARY 27TH, 2020 AS INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY AND THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBERATION OF AUSCHWITZ.

This Concurrent Resolution recognizes January 27th, 2020 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 75th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz.

passed both · Delaware · House Jan 28, 2020

HCR 74: RECOGNIZING 350DE, A GRASSROOTS ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION DEDICATED TO ENDING THE USE OF FOSSIL FUELS WORLDWIDE.

This Concurrent Resolution recognizes 350DE, which is a grassroots environmental coalition dedicated to ending the use of fossil fuels worldwide.

passed · Delaware · House Jan 28, 2020

HB 28: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 6 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO AUTO REPAIR FRAUD PREVENTION, AND PROHIBITED TRADE PRACTICES.

This bill clarifies definitions relating to airbags, counterfeit supplemental restraint system components, nonfunctional airbags, and supplemental restraint systems, and prohibited trade practices.

in committee · Delaware · House Jan 28, 2020

HB 257: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE HEALTH CARE COMMISSION.

This substitute act establishes a Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program for new primary care providers to be administered by the Delaware Health Care Commission. Under the loan repayment program, the Health Care Commission may award education loan repayment grants to new primary care providers of up to $50,000 per year for a maximum of 4 years. Priority consideration may be given to DIMER-participating students and participants in Delaware-based residency programs. Sites eligible to apply for grants on behalf of their new primary care providers must be located in underserved areas or areas of need and must accept Medicare and Medicaid participants. Grants to hospital sites must be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the applicant hospital and the disbursement of grants from the program is contingent upon an initial, one-time contribution to the Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program, in an amount Fiscal Year 21 appropriation of State funds up to a maximum of $1 million, from Delaware health insurers.

in committee · Delaware · House Jan 28, 2020

HB 288: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO AN INTERSTATE COMPACT PROHIBITING COMPANY-SPECIFIC SUBSIDIES.

This Act, the Interstate Compact Prohibiting Company-Specific Subsidies (“Compact”), is an interstate compact designed to eliminate and prohibit corporate welfare. This Act provides that no participating state under the Compact (“member state”) may offer or provide company-specific tax incentives, grants, or any other company-specific subsidy to an entity whose headquarters, manufacturing facilities, office space, or other real estate developments are located in any other member state or to incentivize an entity located in any other member state to relocate its headquarters, manufacturing facilities, office space, or other real estate developments to its state. Furthermore, the Act establishes a board of compact administrators to enforce and govern the Compact. Lastly, this Act will become effective upon the adoption of the Compact by two or more member states.

passed · Delaware · House Jan 28, 2020

HB 281: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO REPORTS OF ACCIDENTS.

This bill increases the minimum amount of property damage that triggers the mandatory reporting of a vehicular collision to police from $500 to $2,000. This bill also increases the minimum amount of property damage requiring police agencies to investigate from $1,000 to $2,000. This increase makes Delaware more consistent with other states and reflects the Legislature’s intention in 1997 to increase the amount annually by $100.

in committee · Delaware · Senate Jan 24, 2020

SB 36: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PERJURY.

This Act adds testifying at a hearing held by a standing committee of the House of Representatives or Senate or joint committee of the General Assembly within the definition of “swears falsely,” which applies to Delaware’s perjury laws. This addition means that false testimony to a standing or joint committee would subject a person to prosecution for perjury. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

in committee · Delaware · Senate Jan 24, 2020

SB 165: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 13 OF THE DELAWARE CODE REGARDING DSCYF CUSTODY.

This Act recognizes the importance of sibling relationships to promote continuity and sustain family relationships for children in foster care by doing all of the following: 1. Requires a child's service plan include contact information and details regarding sibling visits, unless sibling visits are not in the best interest of either child. 2. Requires DSCYF to arrange visits with siblings when requested by a child, unless the visit is not in the best interest of a child, would violate a protection order, or would have a detrimental effect on the prosecution of a criminal case. 3. Provides a child with specific rights regarding their siblings, including placement near or with siblings if possible, and the ability to maintain frequent and meaningful contact if placement together is not possible. This Act also requires that a child, age 14 or older receive a written document containing the child's rights regarding placement and contact with siblings. This Act is known as the "Foster Child Siblings Bill of Rights".

Bill results