Rep. Kim Williams

This Act increases funding for preschool children with disabilities who are not counted in either "intensive" or "complex" special education units by revising the current ratio of 12.8 students per unit to 8.4 students per unit for preschool children included in the basic unit count. This is the same ratio in effect as of July 1, 2023, for K-3 basic special education. The Act also consolidates the K-3 Basic Special Education Unit with the 4-12 Basic Special Education Unit as the ratio is the same for each group as of July 1, 2023. This substitute bill is different from original HB33 in that it omits the “Preschool 2 Basic Special Education Unit.” The preschool funding change is effective July 1, 2023.

This Act does all of the following regarding suspected human trafficking of children: 1. Ensures the sharing of information between the Child Protection Accountability Commission (CPAC) and the Delaware Anti-Trafficking Action Council. 2. Expressly requires a multidisciplinary response to these cases, similar to child deaths and serious physical injury. 3. Even though human trafficking of children is child abuse, specifically delineates it throughout the child abuse multidisciplinary investigative response. 4. Codifies a review panel and oversight committee within CPAC for these cases, with the same authority, subpoena power, and immunities provided to the system that reviews child abuse deaths and near deaths. 5. Establishes that the Office of the Child Advocate will staff the review panel and oversight committee. This Act also makes minor technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

During the 151st General Assembly, House Bill No. 328 was passed updating the law relating to drag racing and other speed contests. This bill makes a small change to that law by specifying that tag-surrender in lieu of impoundment is available as a penalty only for Delaware-registered vehicles.

Currently, all health insurance plans subject to requirements under Delaware law must include at least 1 formulation of epinephrine autoinjectors on the lowest tier of the carrier's drug formulary for individuals who are 18 years of age or younger. This Act expands this requirement to all covered individuals, regardless of age, by January 1, 2024. This Act also makes a technical correction to §§ 3571Y of Title 18 to add standard language about applicability, which is already in § 3370D of Title 18.

This Act makes clear that a school district may deny a request from a charter school to have the school district where the charter school is located to transport students residing in that district. If the school district denies the request, the charter school is to receive the payment provided by the State under existing law.

This Act amends Chapter 30A of Title 14 to clarify that screening will not be conducted if a parent declines developmental screening or notifies the licensee that the child is already receiving early intervention services or special education and related services. It further clarifies that the child care provider will conduct the screening where the parent or guardian fails to do so only upon receipt of parental consent. Because this section of the code has a version that is effective until July 1, 2024, and a version that is effective thereafter, the change appears in both versions to make clear that it is intended to change the pre and post-July 1, 2024 versions.

This resolution recognizes the week of May 8-12, 2023 as “Teacher Appreciation Week”.

This Concurrent Resolution commends the 2023 Delaware State Teacher of the Year, Ashley Lockwood, and all of the District Teachers of the Year.

This Act charges the Department of Safety & Homeland Security, in cooperation with the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and the Department of Transportation, to present a report and plan to the General Assembly no later than October 1, 2023 for a comprehensive motor vehicle noise and abatement program. The agencies are charged with considering developments in technology, other state and federal standards, and proposing changes as necessary to Delaware law and recommendations for changes in equipment and procedures.

House Bill No. 34 requires school boards, including charter schools, to permit public comment on each agenda item presented for a vote at a school board meeting. The public comment period must take place before the school board vote on an agenda item. The school board may reasonably restrict the time, place, and manner of the public comment period. House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 34 makes the following changes: 1. Clarifies that public comment is not required on procedural items on the agenda that require a vote such as a request to approve minutes or enter into executive session; 2. Removes language referring to open meetings; and 3. Makes other non-substantive changes to improve the bill’s clarity.