Delaware Bills

in committee · Delaware · House Jun 21, 2022

HB 416: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO LEAVES.

This Act provides state employees 30 days of leave with pay to attend training camp or special duty on orders as members of the military reserve of the United States or the National Guard. This is an increase from 15 days leave with pay currently provided.

Bill Carson (D) Trey Paradee (D) Bill Bush (D) · 13 co-sponsors

in committee · Delaware · House Jun 21, 2022

HB 437: AN ACT TO CREATE THE EXPANDED PROTECTION FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND HOMES GRANT PROGRAM.

This bill seeks to create the Expanded Protection for Our Communities and Homes (EPOCH) Grant Program through a one-time appropriation of $20 million. The grant money would be distributed to every Delaware police agency that chooses to participate. The distribution would consist of a minimum standard allocation made to each agency and an allocation based on the number of uniformed officers authorized for each agency. EPOCH grants could be used by the recipient agencies to recruit new officers; promote or encourage careers in law enforcement; initially pay the salaries of newly hired officers; pay for overtime to facilitate additional work to address issues of local concern (including traffic enforcement); and implement programs designed to improve public safety in the area of the agency’s jurisdiction. The grant allocations would be available for the agencies to use for up to three years, after which any unused and unencumbered funding would return to the General Fund.

in committee · Delaware · House Jun 21, 2022

HB 484: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 17 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ENTRANCE PERMITS.

This bill expedites the issuance of a temporary entrance permit for commercial and economic development projects.

in committee · Delaware · House Jun 21, 2022

HB 465: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 30 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE ENTERTAINMENT JOB ACT.

The Delaware Entertainment Job Act is intended to encourage jobs creation, artistic endeavors and investment in the film, television, esports and videogame industry in the State of Delaware, and the attendant benefits for the economy and job growth. Delaware is one of the only states in the Mid-Atlantic and country without some form of tax credit at a time when production of original content for streaming and at theaters is at an all-time high. Thirty-three states have some sort of production incentive. This legislation will provide for a thirty-percent, transferable tax credit for an investment in the state in a film, television, esports or videogame production. All qualified productions will be required to have an audit of their expenditures following the completion of production in the state before any credits will be awarded. Further, all qualified productions will be required to provide training through an internship program so that citizens may be able to gain a valuable trade. The credits will be administered by the Delaware Film, Television, and Digital Entertainment Office in cooperation with Department of Finance.

in committee · Delaware · House Jun 21, 2022

HB 413: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES.

This Bill requires motor vehicle insurance policies, under the personal injury protection provisions (PIP), to provide coverage for up to $650 for any 1 person extricated and $1200 for all persons extricated in any 1 accident by an emergency medical services vehicle. Emergency medical services vehicle is a vehicle duly licensed in Delaware that uses rescue tools used by emergency rescue personnel to extricate the injured person from a vehicle. The Act also requires the Insurance Commissioner to develop a uniform billing form for reimbursement and that volunteer fire and ambulance companies submit financial reports regarding expenses incurred in the use of rescue tools to the State Fire Prevention Commission.

in committee · Delaware · House Jun 16, 2022

HB 366: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 15 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES.

This Act requires a candidate’s political committee’s contribution and expense report, provided to the Department of Elections, to include the primary employer and job title of each person contributing to the committee. The Act requires the Department to review every committee report for any contribution or expense violation and to note the report, on the Department’s website, as either “submitted but not reviewed” or “reviewed and final”. The Act also requires the Department of Elections to provide a telephone number and online form for reporting alleged campaign financing violations with an option for the informant to provide their contact information to the Department. This Act also allows reporting parties who unintentionally receive or make a prohibited contribution to return or reimburse the contribution or pay the contribution to the State Treasurer. The Act also eliminates the ability of anyone who makes or accepts a prohibited campaign contribution from donating the money to a designated Title 30 charitable organization. The Act requires anyone who knowingly accepts an unlawful campaign contribution to pay the money to the State Treasurer for deposit to the General Fund. This Act also makes technical changes to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

in committee · Delaware · House Jun 16, 2022

HB 483: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 30 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO REALTY TAXES AND THE DELAWARE FARMLAND PRESERVATION FUND.

This bill increases the amount of realty transfer tax receipts transferred to the Delaware Farmland Preservation Fund to adjust for inflation. This funding amount has not been increased since 2005.

in committee · Delaware · House Jun 16, 2022

HB 220: AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE I OF THE DELAWARE CONSTITUTION RELATING TO PROTECTING DELAWARE’S NATURAL RESOURCES.

This is the first leg of an amendment to the Delaware Constitution to conserve, protect and maintain Delaware’s natural resources, including its water, air, soil, flora, fauna, ecosystems and climate. This Amendment would create an inherent and inalienable right for all Delawareans to a clean and healthy environment. The Amendment would also declare that the State, including all of its branches, agencies, and political subdivisions, as trustee of the State’s natural resources. By enacting this amendment Delaware would join other States which have or are seeking similar provisions, in their respective Constitutions, creating the same inherent and inalienable rights for their citizens.

passed · Delaware · House Jun 16, 2022

HB 333: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 16 AND 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DECLAWING CATS.

This Act amends Title 16 by prohibiting all persons from declawing a cat; a procedure defined as a onychectomy, dactylectomy, phalangectomy, tendonectomy, or any other procedure that removes a portion of the paw or digit of a cat in order to remove a claw or cuts or modifies the tendon of the limb, paw, or digit of a cat to prohibit the extension of a claw. The Act excludes declawing a cat for therapeutic purposes as defined in the Act. A violation under the Act will be considered a civil offense subject to a civil fine up to $1,000. This Act also amends Title 24 specifying that if a veterinarian or a veterinarian technician is found to have declawed a cat, such act will be considered to have been acting “cruel to animals”, and they will be subject to professional disciplinary action.

in committee · Delaware · Senate Jun 15, 2022

SB 329: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 9 AND 22 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT

This Act intends to ensure that political subdivisions of this State follow the state and federal laws governing immigration.

in committee · Delaware · House Jun 15, 2022

HB 393: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 30 OF THE DELAWARE CODE ESTABLISHING A $280 TAX CREDIT FOR DELAWARE RESIDENTS WITH DELAWARE TAXABLE INCOME THAT DOES NOT EXCEED $35,000 FOR THE 2022 TAX YEAR.

This Act creates a $280 tax credit for resident individuals with $35,000 or less of taxable income in 2022. The purpose of this Act is to encourage persons to join the labor force and to treat employed, lower income individuals similarly to how House Bill 285 exempted unemployment benefits from being taxed.

signed · Delaware · House Jun 15, 2022

HB 397: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 AND TITLE 30 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATED TO BUDGET AND FISCAL REGULATIONS FOR STATE AGENCIES AND ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.

This Act is the Department of Finance's Annual "housekeeping" legislation. Specifically: (1) Section 1 of this Act removes an antiquated statewide refund cap from budgetary practice. (2) Section 2 of this Act ensures the procedure for calculating County Seat payments for State-owned properties is consistent with the maximum amount appropriated for this purpose. (3) Section 3 of this Act updates background check requirements for Division of Revenue staff and contractors to align with federal requirements. (4) Section 4 of this Act ensures regular updates are made to census tract definitions used as part of the Creation of Employment and Qualified Investment tax credit. (5) Section 5 of this Act limits eligibility for New Economy retained jobs credits, as intended by the Commitment to Innovation Act. (6) Section 6 of this Act clarifies the definitions of “lessor” and “lessee” for Occupational and Business License Taxes to reflect modern leasing transactions. (7) Section 7 of this Act excludes manufacturing companies from a 2% State Realty Transfer Tax on construction contracts made within the first year of a realty transfer. (8) Section 8 of this Act provides for severability. This Act also makes technical correction to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

Bill results