Rep. Ed Osienski

Senate Substitute No. 1 for Senate Bill No. 48 enacted a requirement that contractors bidding for large public works contracts provide craft training of apprentices and journeymen. This Act expands how contractors can satisfy this craft training requirement as follows: 1. Creates the option to make an annual payment to the Department of Education’s apprenticeship and training fund instead of providing the craft training. 2. Clarifies that the craft training may be provided by a contractor or subcontractor through agreement with another organization. 3. Broadens the range of craft training programs that satisfy the current requirement to be consistent with the definition of "craft training" under § 6902 of Title 29 and Constitutional law. This Act also clarifies that the craft training requirement applies to each craft included in the contract. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 11(a) of Article VIII of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of three-fifths of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to impose a fee.

This Act mandates that the Department of Health and Human Services, in conjunction with the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to establish Maximum Contaminant Levels for specific contaminants found in drinking water in this state. Such contaminants include PFOA and PFOS, which are man-made chemicals that have been used in industries in this state. These chemicals were found to be associated with increased risks of chronic diseases. The Environmental Protection Agency, thus far, has not established a maximum contaminant levels, but only health advisories. The establishment of maximum contaminant levels is essential in order to protect the health and safety of all Delawareans from dangerous contaminants in drinking water.

This Act clarifies that yard waste is included in the types of trash and litter that it is illegal to discard on a highway. This Act also defines “yard waste.” This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

This Act clarifies that an employer is liable to an employee for liquidated damages if the employer does not make wages available during the next payday after an employee quits, resigns, is discharged, suspended, or laid off. The only difference between Senate Substitute No. 1 for Senate Bill No. 212 and Senate Bill No. 212 is this revised Synopsis. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual and revises the section heading to accurately describe the content of the section.

This Act removes the broad exemption in the Freedom of Information Act for the University of Delaware and Delaware State University and creates the following specific exemptions for some records of public institutions: 1. Confidential letters or statements related to admission, employment, or honors. 2. Proprietary information related to study or research. 3. Personal fundraising strategies relating to and confidential financial and personal information about identifiable donors or prospective donors. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. 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 charter issued to a corporation for educational purposes sustained in whole or part by the State, including the University of Delaware and Delaware State University.

This Concurrent Resolution recognizes the class of 2020’s challenge faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Delaware

This bill creates a pilot program for the Red Clay School District to utilize external camera systems on their school buses to catch motorists that illegally pass school buses and to punish these motorists by issuing them a civil penalty. The purpose of this bill is to protect children as they are in the process of boarding and exiting the school bus and to spread awareness of school bus traffic safety. At least 16 states have implemented similar legislation, including Pennsylvania in 2018. As Red Clay School District already has these cameras in operation, this program grants the authority to begin issuing violations to motorist that illegally pass school buses in their district.

This Concurrent Resolutions authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to expand regional rail connections.

This Act prohibits multiple service charges for residential trash collection service. However, under this Act, specific charges are allowed for the following: 1. Late or nonpayment of an amount due. 2. Replacement of a container. 3. Collecting waste that cannot be collected using the container. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

A placard must be prominently displayed at all entrances of massage and bodywork establishments that have failed to obtain a valid license or have a license that is suspended, revoked, or expired. This bill provides that no placard can be removed unless the establishment is validly licensed and the removal of the placard is approved by the Division of Professional Regulation. This bill makes the unlawful removal of the placard a Class A misdemeanor, punishable of up to 1 year in jail and up to a $2300 fine.