Rep. Shannon Morris

This Act prohibits the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control from promulgating rules and regulations restricting the sale of fuel-powered cars, trucks, and SUVs in Delaware. This Act does not change the emission standards fuel-powered vehicles must currently meet. The provisions of this bill would be retroactive to March 1, 2023.

This bill allows the fleet inspection program to be applicable to a fleet of 10 or more vehicles (instead of 15) and counts trailers requiring inspection to count as fleet vehicles. Additionally, an inspection may be performed at any qualified inspection and repair facility authorized by the Secretary of Transportation instead of being limited to such facilities at the fleet headquarters.

This Act increases the Senior Real Property Tax credit to $750 from $400 as authorized in the Appropriations Bill for fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, which effectively amended Title 29, § 6102(q)(3) from $500 to $400.

This Concurrent Resolution requests the Delaware State Fire School propose a plan for the safe disposal of aqueous film forming foam (AFFF), due to the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) they contain from Delaware Fire Departments and companies. The Delaware State Fire School is to provide a report to the President Pro Tempore, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Office of the Controller General, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. The report is also to include the cost of disposal and the cost to obtain safe, viable, alternatives. The concept would be to fund this disposal foam and remove it from the Delaware Fire Service by a one-time exchange of this foam voluntarily and allowing the Fire Service the opportunity to replace AFFF with a new compliant supply at no cost to them.

This Concurrent Resolution recognizes March 10th as "Harriet Tubman Day".

This Concurrent Resolution requests the Delaware State Fire School propose a plan for the safe disposal of aqueous film forming foam (AFFF), due to the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) they contain from Delaware Fire Departments and companies. The Delaware State Fire School is to provide a report to the President Pro Tempore, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Office of the Controller General, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. The report is also to include the cost of disposal and the cost to obtain safe, viable, alternatives. The concept would be to fund this disposal foam and remove it from the Delaware Fire Service by a one-time exchange of this foam voluntarily and allowing the Fire Service the opportunity to replace AFFF with a new compliant supply at no cost to them. This report would establish a cost line item for the 2023-24 Bond Bill.

This bill seeks to create the Expanded Protection for Our Communities and Homes (EPOCH) Grant Program through a one-time appropriation of $20 million. The grant money would be distributed to every Delaware police agency that chooses to participate. The distribution would consist of a minimum standard allocation made to each agency and an allocation based on the number of uniformed officers authorized for each agency. EPOCH grants could be used by the recipient agencies to recruit new officers; promote or encourage careers in law enforcement; initially pay the salaries of newly hired officers; pay for overtime to facilitate additional work to address issues of local concern (including traffic enforcement); and implement programs designed to improve public safety in the area of the agency’s jurisdiction. The grant allocations would be available for the agencies to use for up to three years, after which any unused and unencumbered funding would return to the General Fund.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution honors and recognizes the leadership, achievements, and sacrifices of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and urges all citizens of the First State to participate fittingly in the observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on January 16, 2023.

Federal law permits states to require federal firearms licensees (FFLs) to conduct background checks through a state agency, or point of contact, instead of directly through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). This Act creates the Firearm Transaction Approval Program (FTAP) within the State Bureau of Identification (SBI) of the Delaware State Police and designates the SBI's FTAP as the point of contact between an FFL and the federal databases checked by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for purposes of conducting background checks for firearm purchases or transfers. By establishing SBI as the point of contact for all firearm purchases or transfers in this State, SBI becomes responsible for determining if a potential buyer or transferee is prohibited from receipt or possession of a firearm under § 1448 of Title 11 of the Delaware Code or federal law. This enables SBI to search other databases in addition to relying on the required NICS check, enhancing background checks conducted in this State. This Act enables firearms dealers who suspect a straw purchase has or is occurring to notify SBI using the same hotline that is established for background checks through FTAP. Finally, this Act makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

This bill creates a special license plate for Whitetails Unlimited.