Rep. Eric Morrison

In 2022, the General Assembly passed HB 115, which prohibits the criminal prosecution of children under the age of 12, and limits delinquency proceedings for children under 12 to a small set of very serious crimes. This Act clarifies that children under 12 may not be arrested or placed in a detention facility pending adjudication, except where the alleged crime is one of the enumerated exceptions.

This Act requires the State to fund a Mental Health Professional and Mental Health Coordinator position for each district and charter school by the 2024-25 school year. The Mental Health Professional and Mental Health Coordinator must develop partnerships with community-based organizations, work to establish collaborative relationships with the school, families, and local community, create an implementation plan, and undertake an assessment of the district's mental health needs.

In 2022, the General Assembly passed HB115, which prohibits the criminal prosecution of children under the age of 12 and limits proceeding against a minor as an adult to a narrow set of serious crimes alleged to have been committed by children 16 or older. This Act clarifies that children under 12 may not be arrested or detained pending adjudication, except where the alleged crime is one of the enumerated exceptions, and aligns other language in Title 10 with the limitations on transfer of children from Family to Superior Court.

This Act clarifies that police officers shall assist the Office of Animal Welfare and Department of Agriculture, as occasion requires, in enforcement of all laws for protection and control of animals. The Act prohibits the owner or person in possession or control of a dog from allowing the dog to bark for an extended period, defined as continuously for 15 minutes or more, or intermittently for 30 minutes or more. The Act exempts barking dogs if someone is trespassing on private property where the dog is located. The Act also exempts animal shelters, pet stores grooming facilities, veterinary offices and animal clinics. The Act also transfers the authority to impose and collect fines and penalties, for violations of laws relating to protection and control of animals, under this title to the enforcing agency. This Act takes effect on January 1, 2024.

This Act removes all penalties for use or possession of a personal use quantity of marijuana and marijuana accessories. It further specifies that the adult sharing of a personal use quantity or less of marijuana is legal activity for those 21 years of age or older and that those 21 or older may possess, use, display, purchase, or transport accessories and personal use quantities of marijuana without penalty. When transporting in a vehicle, those items must be in a closed container or otherwise not readily accessible to anyone inside the vehicle. The statute also specifies certain activities which remain unlawful. Finally, the definition of "personal use quantity" of marijuana is updated to include not only 1 ounce or less of leaf marijuana, but also equivalent amounts of marijuana product in other forms.

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.

This bill adds a Delaware licensed psychiatrist as a voting member of the Adult Correction Healthcare Review Committee.

This Resolution recognizes April 11-17 2023, as "Black Maternal Health Awareness Week" in Delaware.

This Act is the second leg of a constitutional amendment to the Delaware Constitution that would require legislators to remain domiciled in the districts they represent for the entirety of their term of office. The first leg of this constitutional amendment was House Bill No. 395 of the 151st General Assembly, published in Chapter 362 of Volume 83 of the Laws of Delaware. On passage of this second leg by this General Assembly this amendment will become part of the Delaware Constitution. Subsection (b) of this Act does not apply to sitting legislators who desire to change their residence to within the newly established district lines in order to continue to represent their district in the upcoming election. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 1 of Article XVI of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly when the General Assembly amends the Delaware Constitution.

This Concurrent Resolution designates March 30, 2023, as Atheist Awareness Day in Delaware.