Delaware Bills

in committee · Delaware · House May 2, 2019

HB 39: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 15 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ELECTIONS.

This bill provides for election day registration for presidential primary, primary, special, and general elections whereas currently the deadline is the fourth Saturday prior to the date of the election. Moreover, same day registration at polling places will be permitted with submission of valid government issued identification or other generally accepted proof of identification.

John J. Viola (D) Sherry Dorsey Walker (D) · 18 co-sponsors

in committee · Delaware · House May 2, 2019

HB 136: AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE II OF THE DELAWARE CONSTITUTION RELATING TO LIMITATIONS ON THE TIME AND FREQUENCY OF SESSIONS.

This Act is the first leg of a constitutional amendment that would ensure that legislative business is conducted at a reasonable time during a special session to enable the public to monitor and participate in the legislative process. Specifically, this Act: (1) Prohibits the regular session of the General Assembly from extending beyond 7:00 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 7:00 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 change negates the Supreme Court’s ruling in Opinion of the Justices, 405 A.2d 694 (Del. 1979), that “the General Assembly, by operation of law, is required to stop its session at midnight of June 30th annually and it cannot continue by Legislative initiative unless ‘the session is recalled by . . . the mutual call of the presiding officers of both Houses.’” (2) Requires that a session of a special session adjourn or recess to the call of the chair not later than 11:59 p.m. on June 30, unless otherwise provided by a resolution passed by a 2/3 vote of all members elected to both Houses. (3) Prohibits a session of a special session from being called to order before 9:00 a.m. on any other calendar day or being adjourned or recessed to the call of the chair later than 9:00 p.m. on any other calendar day, unless otherwise provided by a resolution passed by a 2/3 vote of all members elected to both Houses. 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 the General Assembly will continue its traditional practice of recessing to the call of the chair to enter a temporary recess of a special session, from which a presiding officer may then recall the officer’s House at that officer’s pleasure.

in committee · Delaware · Senate May 1, 2019

SB 82: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 AND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DEADLY WEAPONS.

This Act replaces Senate Bill No. 69 (150th General Assembly) and does the following: (1) Creates an application process to obtain a handgun qualified purchaser card, to authorize the purchase of a handgun, or a firearms qualified purchaser card, to authorize the purchase of firearms other than a handgun. Like Senate Bill No. 69, this Act then requires licensed importers, manufacturers, or dealers, as well as unlicensed persons, to require an individual to present the individual's handgun qualified purchaser card or firearms qualified purchaser card before selling or transferring a firearm to an individual. (2) Requires that an applicant complete a firearms training course within 2 years before the date of application, similar to what is required by Delaware’s concealed carry permit law. (3) Sends to law-enforcement information that is already collected at the time of sale and required under federal law to be made available to law-enforcement. This change assists law-enforcement in the criminal investigations they already conduct. This Act differs from Senate Bill No. 69 in the following ways: (1) It makes clear that § 904A of Title 24 is not intended to prohibit law-enforcement officials from keeping records of sales and transfers of firearms for their use during criminal investigations or prosecutions. (2) It exempts individuals licensed to carry a concealed deadly weapon from the requirements under this Act to complete a firearms training course. Individuals licensed to carry a concealed deadly weapon must already complete a firearms training course to be licensed. Finally, this Act makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

passed both · Delaware · Senate Apr 18, 2019

SCR 25: HONORING THE DELAWARE BIOTECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE AND THE DELAWARE BIOSCIENCE CENTER FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY (BIOSCIENCE CAT) FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN DELAWARE’S ECONOMY THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF ACADEMIC-INDUSTRIAL LIFE SCIENCE RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution commends the Delaware Biotechnology Institute and the Delaware Bioscience Center for Advanced Technology (Bioscience CAT) for their outstanding efforts to strengthen Delaware’s economy through the support of academic-industrial life science research collaborations and to enrich the lives of Delaware’s young people by providing them with opportunities to observe and pursue scientific research.

passed both · Delaware · House Apr 18, 2019

HCR 35: AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE INTERAGENCY PHARMACEUTICALS PURCHASING STUDY GROUP TO REVIEW AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO LEVERAGE THE BULK PURCHASING POWER OF THE STATE TO NEGOTIATE LOWER PRICES.

This House Concurrent Resolution establishes an Interagency Pharmaceuticals Purchasing Study Group ("Study Group") to coordinate the existing efforts to leverage bulk purchasing to negotiate lower prices and make recommendations to maximize the opportunities to coordinate State-funded pharmaceutical purchases.

passed both · Delaware · Senate Apr 18, 2019

SCR 39: COMMENDING THE DELAWARE STATE DENTAL SOCIETY ON THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF ITS 16TH ANNUAL “GIVE KIDS A SMILE” PROGRAM AND RECOGNIZING ITS CONTINUING EFFORTS.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution commends the Delaware State Dental Society on the success of its 16th annual “Give Kids a Smile” program and recognizes its continuing efforts to improve the dental health of Delaware’s children.

passed both · Delaware · Senate Apr 18, 2019

SCR 33: OBSERVING APRIL 2019 AS THE 2019 MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD AND APRIL 18, 2019 AS THE OFFICIAL DAY OF RECOGNITION OF THE MILITARY CHILD IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

This Concurrent Resolution observes April 2019 as the 2019 Month of the Military Child and April 18, 2019 as the official Day of Recognition of the Military Child in the State of Delaware.

passed both · Delaware · Senate Apr 18, 2019

SCR 32: RECOGNIZING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF EASTERSEALS, A LEADING ADVOCATE AND SERVICE PROVIDER FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES, VETERANS, OLDER ADULTS, CAREGIVERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution commemorates, on April 22, 2019, the 100th Anniversary of Easterseals, a leading advocate and service provider for children and adults with disabilities, veterans, older adults, caregivers and their families. The resolution further directs that the cupola atop Legislative Hall shall be lighted on the evening of April 22, 2019 with an orange light in honor of the Easterseals’ 100th Anniversary.

passed both · Delaware · House Apr 18, 2019

HCR 15: RECOGNIZING THE EASTERSEALS/CAI VOLLEYBALL CHALLENGE AND THE VOLLEYBALL AMBASSADORS, ISAIAH ROMEUS AND JACK AND JACKIE WITZMAN, IN THE 14TH YEAR OF DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN TEAM PARTICIPATION.

This resolution recognizes the Easterseals/CAI Volleyball Challenge occurring April 5-7, 2019, at William Penn High School, an event that raises funds for an organization providing services and support to Delawareans with disabilities and senior citizens and their families.

passed both · Delaware · House Apr 18, 2019

HCR 22: DESIGNATING APRIL 3, 2019 AS ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION DAY IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

This concurrent resolution designates April 3, 2019, as Engineering and Technology Education Day.

passed · Delaware · House Apr 18, 2019

HR 6: RECOGNIZING APRIL 28, 2019, AS WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY.

This House Resolution recognizes April 28, 2019, as Workers Memorial Day.

passed both · Delaware · Senate Apr 18, 2019

SCR 30: ESTABLISHING THE NON-ACUTE PATIENT MEDICAL GUARDIANSHIP TASK FORCE TO STUDY AND MAKE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE NEEDS AND OPTIONS OF NON-ACUTE HOSPITAL PATIENTS IN NEED OF MEDICAL GUARDIANSHIP SERVICES.

This concurrent resolution establishes the Non-Acute Patient Medical Guardianship Task Force to study and make findings and recommendations regarding the needs and options of non-acute hospital patients in need of medical guardianship services. A recent study concluding in 2017 found that hospital patients who did not have acute medical needs were often abandoned in hospitals. These patients often lack financial means to pay for a guardian to make medical decisions. The Office of Public Guardian does not have sufficient resources to intervene to make timely medical decisions for such non-acute patients. In addition to harming these non-acute patients with prolonged hospital stays, patients with acute medical needs are not timely and adequately served because hospital beds are occupied by such non-acute patients. This concurrent resolution establishes a task force to study and make recommendations on these issues.

Bill results