Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall

This Act makes security expenses an authorized campaign expenditure. The security expenses must be: (1) related to ensuring the safety of the candidate; and (2) associated with the candidate’s activities, duties, or status as a candidate or elected official. Security expenses include home or office electronic security systems, personal security, and other security-related equipment or devices for a candidate. Security expenses may not be used to purchase firearms. This Act requires that the Commissioner promulgate rules to implement this Act within 3 months.

While the exact number of nurse vacancies in Delaware fluctuates, healthcare providers agree that the current shortage is unsustainable. Nursing shortages lead to missed nursing care, higher morbidity, and mortality rates. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) outlines a number of contributing factors impacting the current national nursing shortage. One is a lack of nursing school faculty - including the preceptors that provide supervision and instruction for clinical practice. Since Delaware’s nursing education programs must require clinical learning experiences provided by these preceptors, nursing students have difficulty completing the required coursework necessary for degree and licensure. Section 1 of this Act provides for an annual appropriation in an amount determined by the General Assembly to the Delaware Nursing Workforce Initiative or similar nonprofit to administer a program to provide funding to hospitals and clinical facilities to implement or continue offering preceptorship programs. Section 2 provides that this Act is effective 6 months after enactment.

This Act clarifies portions of Chapter 84 of Title 21 of the Delaware Code pertaining to new recreational vehicle, vessel, or new recreational trailer manufacturer-dealer agreements. The Act includes the following provisions: Definitions. The Act amends § 8401 of Title 21 and clarifies the definitions of "new recreational trailer" and "new recreational vehicle" and adds definitions of "all-terrain vehicle," "off-highway vehicle," "side-by-side vehicle," and "vessel." Written agreements. Manufacturers are required to specify in writing to their new recreational vehicle dealers licensed in the state the dealers' obligations for pre-delivery preparation, manufacturer-sponsored maintenance programs, manufacturer extended warranty, certified pre-owned warranty, manufacturer-issued service contracts, parts exchange programs, recall, and warranted service on the dealers' products. In addition, manufacturers must compensate their new recreational vehicle dealers for these services and provide the dealers with a schedule of compensation and the time allowances for the performance of the work and services. Termination, cancellation, nonrenewal, or alteration of a dealership. In the event a new recreational vehicle dealer terminates, cancels, or fails to renew a manufacturer-dealer agreement for good cause, and the manufacturer fails to cure the deficiencies, at the new recreational vehicle dealer's election and within 45 days of the termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal, the manufacturer must, in addition to its existing obligations, compensate the dealer for any transporting, handling, packing, storing, and loading of any returned parts, tools, and equipment. Warranty obligations. With respect to parts reimbursement, reasonable compensation to a new recreational vehicle dealer may not be less than the rate charged by the dealer for like services to nonwarranty customers for nonwarranty parts, service, or actual wholesale cost, plus a minimum 40% handling and the cost of any freight to return the warranty parts to the warrantor. A new recreational vehicle dealer must notify the warrantor within 180 days if it is unable to perform any warranty repairs. In addition, a schedule of compensation for warranty services must include reasonable compensation for diagnostic work, parts, repair service, and labor. Time allowances for the diagnosis and performance of warranty work and services must be reasonable and adequate. With respect to manufacturer-sponsored maintenance programs, manufacturer extended warranty, certified pre-owned warranty, manufacturer-issued service contracts, parts exchange programs, recall and warranty parts, and labor reimbursement, reasonable compensation may not be less than the rate charged by the dealer for like service to non-warranty customers for nonwarranty parts, services, and repairs. If a manufacturer furnishes a part of a component to a dealer at no or a reduced cost, the manufacturer must compensate the dealer in the same manner as warranty parts compensation, less the dealer cost for the part or component as listed in the manufacturer's price schedule. Association standing. An association that has at least 4 recreational vehicle dealers as members, substantially all of whom are new recreational vehicle dealers within the State, and that represents the collective interests of its members, has standing to file a petition or civil action against a manufacturer regulated under this chapter for itself or on behalf of any or all of its members. Such an association also has standing to intervene in an action against a manufacturer regulated under this chapter previously filed by an individual member or members of the association to enforce the provisions of this chapter. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

This Act allows tenants who are being evicted for failure to pay rent to remain in their homes if they pay all amounts owed prior to being evicted. It also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Drafting Manual. This Substitute differs from the original Act by incorporating the changes from Senate Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill No. 116 which includes the following changes: - Increased the time from 12 to 24 months for the lookback period for restricting the number of times the right of redemption is available to a tenant. - Puts a requirement to proactively file with the court a request for a stay of the writ if payment is made after the writ of possession has been posted. - Makes clear that payment after posting of the writ only stays the writ until the payment has cleared and dismissal is not required until such time. This Substitute also adds the following changes based on further input from stakeholders: - Makes it clear that this Act only applies to evictions based on failure to pay rent. - Clarifies that any rent that is due under the terms of the lease must also be paid, in addition to any demanded past due and per diem rent, for redemption to apply. - Adds language that the landlord may restrict any payments to methods accepted under the terms of the lease, and the landlord may further restrict any payments made after judgment is entered to certified checks or money orders.

House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 407, like the original, does all of the following: clarifies the ability of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) to respond to emergent situations, expands the jurisdiction from which DNREC may file to recover costs, and makes certain changes to amounts deposited into the Hazardous Substance Cleanup Act Fund. Section 1 provides definitions for “Abate,” “Emergency,” and “Removal Action.” Section 2 clarifies the ability of the Secretary or their authorized employees or agents to determine if an emergency exists and take immediate action to abate the emergency without obtaining public comment. Section 3 allows the Department to authorize removal actions to address releases without first obtaining public comment, and to incorporate the removal action into any proposed plan of remedial action by DNREC. Section 4 expands the jurisdiction of the courts which DNREC may bring enforcement actions and recover costs. Section 5 increases the civil penalty for each fraudulent act from up to $10,000 to $40,000. Section 6 extends the end date from January 1, 2029, to January 1, 2037, for monies to be deposited into the Hazardous Substance Cleanup Act Fund (the “Fund.”) Section 7 provides the effective date of this legislation. This Substitute differs from the original House Bill No. 407 in that it removes references to the realty transfer tax.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Delaware law to automatically make children eligible for state-funded child care assistance once they are placed in foster care. By removing the need for a separate application process, the legislation aims to ensure that children in foster care can immediately access care services without delay. The change directly impacts the Department of Health and Human Services, which administers the Purchase of Care program, and the families and foster parents caring for these children.

This Substitute for House Bill No. 383 specifies by position title which Department of Transportation employees must be paid overtime after working 37.5 hours in a week beginning July 1, 2026.

This Act simplifies the licensing requirements for youth camps that are accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) by requiring that the Department of Education's Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) deem a youth camp as meeting all equivalent health and safety requirements necessary for a youth camp license if the youth camp has ACA accreditation through August 30 of the current calendar year. By streamlining the OCCL licensing requirements for youth camps, this Act also increases the availability of summer child care that is eligible for provider reimbursement from the Purchase of Care (POC) program. Under existing OCCL regulations, a youth camp has the option of applying for either license exempt status or a license. To obtain a license, a youth camp must meet very detailed and specific requirements that are challenging, if not impossible, for many youth camps. ACA accreditation requires that a camp satisfies health and safety requirements that are similar and equivalent, but not identical, to the OCCL license requirements. However, an ACA accredited but license-exempt youth camp is unable to receive POC provider reimbursement because under the state plan for the federal Child Care and Development Fund, license exempt child care providers are not eligible for provider reimbursement. This Act also codifies the following policies that are in the current OCCL child care licensing regulations: • A youth camp license and the definition of “youth camp”. • The requirement that a youth camp must have a valid Division of Public Health permit to be licensed or approved as license exempt. • The school-age care, programs, and activities that are exempt from child care license requirements. This Act is effective immediately and § 3003A(c)(4)b. of Title 14 must be implemented no later than December 31, 2026. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

This Act amends the City of Rehoboth Beach’s Charter by making all of the following changes requested by The Commissioners of the City of Rehoboth Beach (Rehoboth Beach): 1. Adds qualifications for candidates to be eligible for election or appointment to serve as a member of The Commissioners, including the Mayor, and requires a candidate to file an affidavit of eligibility attesting that the candidate meets the required qualifications. A candidate for election or appointment must meet all of the following qualifications: - The candidate is not a spouse, domestic partner, or cohabitant of a serving member of The Commissioners. - The candidate does not share a financial interest with a serving member of The Commissioners 2. Eliminates mileage reimbursement for non-resident Commissioners. 3. Updates the process for fixing the salaries for members of The Commissioners, including the Mayor, by allowing The Commissioners to fix the salaries by ordinance. An ordinance to increase salaries may not take effect earlier than 6 months after the ordinance is adopted. 4. Eliminates the Mayor’s civil and criminal jurisdiction because Rehoboth Beach has an Alderman and Assistant Alderman with civil and criminal jurisdiction. Also eliminates the Mayor’s duty to keep a docket of official acts and to report fines the Mayor imposes because the Mayor’s Court is eliminated. The Alderman and Assistant Alderman are required to record all official acts in the Alderman’s docket. Also, information regarding actions taken by the Mayor and the other Commissioners is available on Rehoboth Beach’s public website. 5. Adds a new subsection under Section 13 of the Charter to clarify that the Mayor retains the power to solemnize marriages in Rehoboth Beach, even though the Mayor’s Court is eliminated. 6. Eliminates the penalties for the Mayor failing to return documents and moneys belonging to Rehoboth Beach at the end of the Mayor’s term. Due to advancements in technology, the Mayor does not physically hold moneys belonging to Rehoboth Beach and documents belonging to Rehoboth Beach are stored electronically. 7. For violating an ordinance, increases the maximum fine from $500 to $2,500 and removes the penalties of imprisonment and being ordered to work while imprisoned. 8. Updates the Auditors of Accounts section to do all of the following: - Require the appointment of 1 certified public accountant or accounting firm to serve as an independent Auditor of Accounts (Auditor) for a 5-year term. - Prohibit reappointment of an Auditor until the expiration of 5 years since the Auditor last served. - Remove the requirement that the Auditor to be a substantial freeholder in Rehoboth Beach. - Change publication of the auditor’s report from a newspaper to the Rehoboth Beach website. 9. Removes the minimum valuation for real estate or improvements subject to assessment. 10. Adds the option for Rehoboth Beach to adopt county assessments for municipal tax purposes in compliance with Chapter 11 of Title 22 of the Delaware Code. 11. If Rehoboth Beach does not adopt county assessments, requires the Tax Assessor must reassess property at least every 5 years, to mirror the county reassessments required under § 8306 of Title 9 of the Delaware Code. 12. Updates the deadline for certification of a quarterly supplemental tax list to match Rehoboth Beach’s fiscal year. 13. Requires Rehoboth Beach to calculate the rolled-back rate and to provide notice of the difference between the rolled-back rate and the tax rate set by The Commissioners, as provided in § 1105 of Title 22 of the Delaware Code. 14. Changes the deadline for preparing the City Budget from May to March and changes the deadline for levying annual taxes from June to March because Rehoboth Beach’s fiscal year begins on April 1. 15. Updates the process for fixing the compensation or salary for Rehoboth Beach’s employees, officers, and agents, other than the members of the Commissioners, to conform with modern practices. Salary or compensation is fixed in the City Budget instead of at the annual meeting. 16. Removes The Commissioners’ powers to do all of the following because the powers are no longer relevant to present day and are no longer exercised by The Commissioners: - Regulate the observance of the Sabbath Day. - Establish and regulate pounds. - Prohibit or impound wild or domestic animals. - Impose taxes on dog owners. - Collect a per capita tax on all persons who are qualified to vote in the annual municipal election. 17. Changes the cap on real estate taxes from $3,000,000 to 0.1% of the fully assessed value of all real estate located in Rehoboth Beach. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual, including reorganizing paragraphs, deleting redundant language, correcting typos and misspellings, fixing tabulation, and editing outdated or unclear language. The changes to Sections 7, 29A, and 38 of the Charter are technical changes and not substantive changes. These changes to these Sections to fix typos and misspellings, correct internal references, use consistent terms, and reorganize the Sections so that the language is more clear. This 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.

This House Joint Resolution directs the Judiciary to establish a Working Group to explore the feasibility of establishing a Housing Opportunity and Poverty Elimination (HOPE) Court Program in partnership with State agencies and community organizations and to provide recommendations for statewide implementation.