Rep. David Bentz

This bill would increase the maximum weekly benefit amount that would be payable to claimants seeking unemployment compensation benefits from the Delaware Division of Unemployment Insurance from $330 a week to $400 a week. The funds necessary to pay the increased weekly benefit amounts would be paid from the Unemployment Trust Fund. This bill would also freeze the taxable wage base used by employers to determine what portion of employee’s wages are subject to unemployment insurance tax assessments, for the period July 1, 2019 to October 29, 2020, to allow the Division of Unemployment Insurance and the Unemployment Compensation Advisory Council to analyze whether to revise the taxable wage base formula into the future.

This Concurrent Resolution acknowledges June as LGBTQA+ Pride Month and recognizes the 50th Anniversary of Stonewall.

This Act, the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT), is an interstate compact designed to facilitate the practice of telepsychology and the temporary in-person, face-to-face practice of psychology across state boundaries. PSYPACT has become operational as at least seven states have enacted PSYPACT legislation. Through PSYPACT, licensed psychologists are able to apply for and use Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) certificates, which include the E.Passport to practice telepsychology and the Interjurisdictional Practice Certificate (IPC) to conduct temporary in-person, face-to-face practice in PSYPACT states.

This Act establishes the Quality Improvement Advisory Council (“Advisory Council”) to promote collaboration and problem-solving with stakeholders in the system of care administered by the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (“the Division”). The Division, in consultation with the Advisory Council, must submit an annual report to the General Assembly and the Department of Health and Social Services on specific performance measures affecting services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Under this Act, the Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Committee will review the Advisory Council in 2022 to determine whether it has been an effective tool for collaboration between the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services and the provider community.

This Bill requires Podiatrists, Dentists, Doctors, Nurses and Optometrists who issue prescriptions to utilize electronic prescriptions except under certain exceptions.

This Act updates the definition of hospital, raises the fees associated with hospital licensing, and imposes an additional fee for plan reviews prior to construction or renovation of hospitals.

This Act increases the age requirement for compulsory school attendance in Delaware from 16 to 18 years of age. The age increase is phased in over a 2-year period; accordingly, there is a 1-year interim period where the compulsory school attendance age requirement will be 17 years of age. The Act further provides that a child may be exempt from the age requirement for compulsory school attendance if the child has received a high school diploma or a diploma of alternate achievement standards or obtains permission to withdraw from school from the superintendent of the district in which the child is enrolled or from the president of the board of the charter school in which the child is enrolled. To obtain a waiver from the date of enactment of this Act until August 31, 2022, a child must be at least 16 years old. To obtain a waiver on or after September 1, 2022, a child must be at least 17 years old. The Act preserves the exemption under which a child may be excused from compulsory attendance upon request of the child's parent or legal guardian coupled with supporting written documentation from a qualified health professional.

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.

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

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.