This Act authorizes the creation of Family Justice Centers within Delaware to provide victims of crime with a single source to obtain resources and support services.
This Act establishes a right to counsel for indigent parents in DSCYF custody proceedings. Parent representation will primarily be provided by a legal services entity contracted with the Family Court, but may also be provided by the Office of Defense Services or a private attorney appointed by the Court.
This Act does the following: (1) Makes amendments to the administration of the Ivyane Davis Memorial Scholarship Fund by removing disbursement requirements to allow more flexibility to scholarship recipients, and clarifying that scholarship funds may be used for direct or indirect educational expenses and may not be used to reduce the amount of a waiver under the Delaware Fostering Independence Through Education Tuition Waiver Program. The Act also removes the 1 year residency requirement preceding application for the scholarship. (2) Makes amendments to the administration of the Delaware Fostering Independence Through Education Tuition Waiver Program by codifying responsibility for administering the program with the Office of the Child Advocate (“Office”), and clarifying the responsibilities of the Office and those of the institutions of higher education. The Act clarifies that the waiver applies to both full-time and part-time students and summer and winter classes. The Act also lowers the maximum age of eligibility from 26 to 25, to bring this Program into alignment with the requirements of the Chafee Educational and Training Voucher program. Finally, the Act mandates that Ivyane Davis Scholarships and Chafee Education and Training Vouchers may not be applied to reduce the amount of the waiver and that students eligible for waivers may not apply for or take out loans to reduce the amount of the waiver. (3) Amends the Office of the Child Advocate’s duties outlined in § 9005A of Title 29 of the Delaware Code to include administration of the Fostering Independence Through Education Tuition Waiver Program. (4) Makes technical corrections for uniformity of language and to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.
This Act prohibits the Family Court from imposing a sentence of incarceration or ordering the suspension of a person’s license for failure to pay court-ordered child support unless it finds that the failure to pay is wilful and not due to an inability of the person to pay the support. This Act also makes technical corrections to correct a typographical error in existing code and to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows farm wineries in Delaware to apply for a license to operate a restaurant on their property. Currently, the law prohibits farm winery owners from running other businesses like importers or retailers, but this change creates an exception for food service. By amending the state code, the legislation enables these wineries to serve food to customers alongside their wine sales. The bill was passed by both the House and Senate and was signed into law by the Governor.
This Act amends the continuing education requirements for nursing professionals, mandating that all nursing professionals receive at least one hour of continuing education in each reporting period on the recognition of sexual or physical abuse, exploitation, or domestic violence of vulnerable populations, or on the reporting obligations under the rules and regulations of the Board of Nursing. The Act removes the requirement for nursing professionals who work in adult gerontology to complete continuing education on the topic of diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias.
Senate Bill No. 288 of the 151st General Assembly (Chapter 371 of Volume 83 of the Laws of Delaware) created a pilot program whereby motorcyclists are permitted to use pulsating headlights as a way to alert other drivers of their presence, without allowing the use of flashing lights that would otherwise be used on emergency vehicles. SB 288 contained a sunset clause providing that the pilot program would expire on January 1, 2025, unless the General Assembly took action to extend or remove the sunset clause. This Act extends the sunset clause until June 30, 2030. The main reason for the extension is that many motorcycle owners have and are continuing to replace their lights with LED technology... up until 2024 the technology of a modulating device was not available for the LED lights only standard lighting had that option. To be able to better see if the pulsating lighting is effective the pilot program should be extended to adequately gauge what the new LED systems effectiveness is.
Federal and Delaware law protect the right to vote and the rights of individuals with disabilities to have equal access to voting places and public facilities. Nonetheless, recent information suggests that a substantial number of polling places in Delaware are either inaccessible to persons with disabilities or lack accessible parking, infringing on the right of all eligible persons to vote in this State. This substitute, like House Bill No. 293, requires that the Department of Elections ensure that polling places selected for elections are accessible to voters with disabilities and elderly voters. This substitute adds a provision that in addition to being accessible, the accessibility features are available to voters in any election. Like House Bill No. 293, this substitute allows certain exceptions for states of emergency, or for circumstances in which no accessible polling place in a particular polling area is available and the Election Commissioner ensures that those voters impacted are provided with an alternative accessible polling place or alternative means for casting a ballot upon advance request. This substitute limits the states of emergency that would allow an exception to natural disasters or other emergencies that render a polling place unsafe or unusable. This substitute also adds a provision allowing any person with information that the Department has not complied with this section to file an administrative complaint with the Department.
To address the significant spread and impact of Lyme Disease in Delaware, this bill creates a Lyme Disease intervention fund. The fund shall be overseen by the Department of Agriculture and shall have the goal of reducing the prevalence of Lyme disease and potential for contracting Lyme disease on State owned lands. The Department shall investigate the best ways to do that, focusing on ones that are the most effective, environmentally sensitive, and innovative. The Department of Agriculture will coordinate its efforts in the administration of the fund with the Division of Public Health and the Department of Natural Resources. The Joint Finance Committee shall determine the yearly amount of the fund.
This Act requires the Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families (DSCYF) to provide new luggage to children in foster care to use for the transportation of their personal belongings when entering custody, moving from one placement to another, or exiting custody, and makes clear that disposable bags and trash bags may not be used for these purposes. It requires the Department to establish and maintain an inventory of new luggage for this purpose. The Department must annually provide a report containing a current accounting of supply inventory and inventory management procedures. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.
