Delaware Bills

passed · Delaware · House Jun 21, 2019

HB 116: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO WEAPONS.

Importers, manufacturers, and dealers of "destructive weapons" are licensed and regulated under Federal law. Under existing Delaware law, importers, manufacturers, and dealers of destructive weapons are not permitted to deliver them to purchasers in Delaware who are otherwise permitted to own such weapons, such as military or police forces. This bill will permit properly licensed importers, manufacturers, and dealers to possess and store destructive weapons in this State and engage in activities associated with the sale and delivery of such weapons to (or from) qualified purchasers.

passed · Delaware · House Jun 20, 2019

HR 13: RECOGNIZING JUNE 2019 AS AMATEUR RADIO MONTH IN DELAWARE.

Passed In House by Voice Vote

passed both · Delaware · House Jun 20, 2019

HCR 55: HONORING THE YOUNG WOMEN FROM ACROSS THE STATE OF DELAWARE PARTICIPATING IN THE 2019 SESSION OF DELAWARE GIRLS STATE.

This concurrent resolution recognizes and honors the young women of Delaware participating in the 2019 session of Delaware Girls State.

introduced · Delaware · House Jun 20, 2019

HB 245: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO RECOVERY HOUSING ACCREDITATION AND LICENSING.

This bill creates licensing for recovery housing, which is housing for individuals recovering from substance use disorders that provides a safe and supportive substance-free environment and that may include peer support and other recovery support services. Right now recovery housing has no oversight although DSAMH has broad authority to license any setting that treatment is provided. This bill creates guidelines for the Division to actually oversee recovery housing and for recovery housing to obtain licensure by the Division.

passed both · Delaware · Senate Jun 20, 2019

SCR 35: RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF JUNE 2019 AS MYASTHENIA GRAVIS AWARENESS MONTH.

This resolution recognizes the month of June 2019 as Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month.

in committee · Delaware · House Jun 20, 2019

HB 244: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 6 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO MARINAS AND FUELS.

This bill will allow marinas in Sussex County to sell gasoline that does not contain ethanol. Sussex County comfortably meets the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ground level ozone, and removing ethanol from marine fuel will have no significant impact on ambient ozone levels. The State of Maryland now allows the sale of non-ethanol gasoline in certain counties that are adjacent to Sussex County and Delaware businesses are losing sales to their Maryland counterparts.

in committee · Delaware · Senate Jun 20, 2019

SB 136: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 3 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

The purpose of the Bill is to protect farmers and ranchers from nuisance lawsuits filed by individuals who inhabit areas where agricultural operations lawfully exist, and who exercise nuisance actions to attempt to stop operation and production. This Bill protects farms and agricultural operations that use commonly accepted agricultural practices from being considered a nuisance in areas zoned for agricultural uses and operations that have existed for a period of 1 year or longer. This will enable the State to protect the production of food, fuel and fiber within the state. AR Districts provide for a full range of agricultural activities and protect agricultural lands, as one of the State’s most valuable natural resources, from the depreciating effect of uses deemed objectionable, hazardous or unsightly (Kent County Zoning Code Chapter 205-60 Article VI and Sussex County Zoning Code Chapter 115-19 Article IV). Moreover, AR Districts serve as a transitional buffer zone between agricultural and residential uses and are also intended to protect watersheds, water resources, and forest areas. Kent and Sussex county ordinances permit specified land uses within AR Districts to provide for a wide range of agricultural uses and farm related services while also providing for low-density residential development in areas that are rural in character and where farming may not be the optimum land use activity. New Castle County Unified Development Code (UDC) permits agricultural uses in eight Urban and Suburban-Transition Districts and seven Suburban and Special Character Districts (UDC Chapter 40). Permitted uses within these districts include crop production and animal production, and any other agricultural uses as recognized by Delaware law. Additional uses, permitted for Limited Review, include Farm Market and Clearing activities (UDC Land Use tables 40.03.110 A and 40.03.110 B). It is the express intention of this act to establish as the policy of this State the protection of agricultural operations from nuisance actions, where recognized methods and techniques of agricultural production are applied, while, at the same time, acknowledging the need to provide a proper balance among the varied and sometimes conflicting interests of all lawful activities in Delaware.

signed · Delaware · House Jun 20, 2019

HB 102: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CRIMES.

This bill allows a person who is arrested or convicted of any crime, except a violent felony, which was a direct result of being a victim of human trafficking may file an application or for a pardon or expungement or make a motion to vacate judgment. This bill also makes changes to the Human Trafficking Interagency coordinating by adding another member of the judicial branch and a representative of the Department of Education. This bill also adds locations where a public awareness sign must be placed.

in committee · Delaware · Senate Jun 20, 2019

SB 163: AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A STRATEGIC REVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES AND PRESENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING A COMPREHENSIVE RESTRUCTURING THEREOF TO THE JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE.

The Department of Health and Human Services (“DHSS”) was established in 1970 by legislative enactment with a broad and crucial mandate: to supervise the health, wellbeing, and life of Delaware citizens. In the decades since, the population of Delaware has increased, and the needs of Delaware citizens have required increasingly complex and costly medical interventions, particularly for those most vulnerable among us, such as the elderly and those suffering from addiction. To serve this broad array of individual needs, DHSS has adapted to provide personalized and individualized services to citizens at a level of direct care. Additionally, the broad language of DHSS’ authorizing statute has required it to maintain focus on other policy initiatives, such as promoting public health and administering healthcare through Medicaid while maintaining compliance with state and Federal laws and regulations, which themselves have grown in complexity. Given the advancements in both individualized care and the policy landscape, the inevitable conclusion is that DHSS’ dual roles must be separated into two separate Departments with Cabinet-level representation. Doing so will ensure that Delawareans receive high-quality care on an individualized basis, and will recommit a separate agency to its important policy objectives, such as maximizing efficiency and reducing the cost associated with waste that arises when an agency’s functions become too manifold for the agency to be efficient and effective. This Bill establishes a committee of members from various state agencies, as well as the legislative and executive branches and individuals representing the healthcare industry and Delaware citizens. The strategic mission of this Committee is to implement a separation of DHSS’ current organizational structure into two separate cabinet-level Agencies. The Bill also establishes a timeline for action by the Committee that will encourage it to act quickly and with clear direction to maximize efficiency and reduce the costs associated with waste.

signed · Delaware · Senate Jun 20, 2019

SB 60: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CRIMES.

This bill clarifies that in order to be found guilty of prostitution the person must be 18 years or older.

signed · Delaware · House Jun 20, 2019

HB 193: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 16 AND 18 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE HEALTH INSURANCE INDIVIDUAL MARKET STABILIZATION REINSURANCE PROGRAM.

This Act creates the Delaware Health Insurance Individual Market Stabilization Reinsurance Program & Fund (the “Program”). The Program will be administered by the Delaware Health Care Commission in order to provide reinsurance to health insurance carriers that offer individual health benefit plans in Delaware. The Program will be funded with passthrough funds received from the federal government under the Affordable Care Act, funds provided by the Federal Government for reinsurance, and through a 2.75% annual assessment based on insurance carrier’s premium tax liability.

signed · Delaware · Senate Jun 20, 2019

SB 53: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO EXCEPTIONS TO SELLING OR POSSESSING FIREWORKS.

Diwali is a 5-day festival of lights, celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains across the world. The dates for Diwali change each year, but it usually falls in October or November. Fireworks are an essential component of Diwali and the third day of Diwali is the height of the festival. In recognition of the many Indo-Americans living in Delaware, this Act permits the sale and possession of sparklers and ground-based sparkling devices during a 30-day period before and including the third day of Diwali and the use of these items on the third day of Diwali.

Bill results