Rep. Bryan Shupe

This act requires that an owner be reimbursed up to $1,500 annually for veterinary care expenses paid by the owner for the care of a law-enforcement canine retired from a police department of a political subdivision of the State of Delaware. The Department of Safety and Homeland Security is the implementing agency for this act.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies the definition of a "United States military pension" for Delaware state tax purposes, ensuring that income from service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard, NOAA, Public Health Service, or National Guard is treated correctly. The change specifically affects how taxpayers under age 60 calculate their tax-exempt income limits starting in the 2022 tax year, creating a distinct category for military pensions separate from other employer or state pensions. By explicitly listing the branches of service included, the legislation provides clearer guidance to military retirees and their families on which income qualifies for exclusion from taxable earnings.

This Act provides that the next of kin of a deceased police officer, member of a fire department, or member of the Delaware National Guard is entitled to a Delaware state flag if the deceased person served in at least 1 qualifying entity for at least 10 years and died in the line of duty or while an active member. This Act is a substitute for and differs from Senate Bill No. 221 in the following ways: - Applies to Delaware state flags only. - Removes language that referenced draping a flag over a casket at the deceased person's funeral service. - Removes auxiliary members of a volunteer fire department or a member of service organization providing volunteer ambulance services from list of individuals who qualify for a flag. - Uses the broader term "law-enforcement officer" and clarifies the definition. - Clarifies that a firefighter may be either paid or volunteer to qualify for a flag. - Names the following entities as responsible for providing flags: the Delaware Volunteer Firefighters Association for firefighters, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security for police officers, and the Delaware National Guard for their members.

Due to the rapidly increasing costs of materials and labor, combined with the frequency in which developers have gone out of business or otherwise been unable to complete work required within developments, this Act increases the funding required to be secured by a developer to ensure the developer fulfills the developer's obligations to construct and complete improvements within a subdivision. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

This Act creates an annexation process for the Town of Slaughter Beach to extend its boundaries in accordance with § 101 of Title 22 of the Delaware Code. There is an expedited process that requires only the Town Council’s approval if the following conditions are met: (1) All owners of a contiguous territory petition the Town for annexation. (2) If the annexation is advantageous to the Town and the territory proposed for annexation. If less than all the owners of a contiguous territory petition for annexation or if the annexation is determined to be disadvantageous to either the Town or the territory proposed for annexation, then the Town Council must decide whether to hold a special election to vote on the proposed annexation. If the Town Council passes a resolution to hold the special election, then it must proceed with the annexation if it is approved by the special election. Residents of the Town and the territory proposed for annexation who are age 18 years old and older may vote in the special election and have one vote. Property owners in the Town and the territory proposed for annexation may vote in the special election and have one vote regardless of whether the owner is an individual or a business entity and regardless of whether the owner owns multiple properties. If the annexation is approved, within 60 days, the Town Council must record a description and plot of the annexed territory in the Sussex County Recorder of Deeds. If the annexation is not approved, then the territory cannot be considered for annexation for a year from the date of the special election. Anyone opposing an approved annexation must bring an action before 60 days after the publishing or posting of notice of the annexation. 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 municipal charter.

This House Substitute bill eliminates any reference to § 4137 in Title 11 since it will remain as a separate section in the Delaware Code. This House Substitute requires all public schools to offer only students who qualify for a reduced-price meal, under the federal School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program, a free breakfast and lunch every school day. This House Substitute also eliminates a requirement that all schools and local education agencies, who qualify, must participate in the federal Community Eligibility Provision, under 42 U.S.C. §1759a (a)(1)(F) since there is no such federal mandate. This Act also removes the requirement that a parent or guardian for each student complete a household income form since that requirement is already set forth in this title. This Substitute bill also removes the delayed effective date. This Act will take effect beginning the school year following its enactment.

This Act allows a licensed brewery-pub located within the premises of a public golf courses to apply to the Commissioner for a license to sell alcoholic beverages to patrons of the golf course if the brewery-pub and public golf course share common ownership.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a one-time tax credit for small businesses in Delaware that have survived the COVID-19 pandemic. To qualify, a business must have been located in the state and employed 25 or fewer full-time employees as of December 31, 2019, while also being in good standing with tax filings as of January 1, 2024. Eligible businesses can claim a credit equal to 25% of their 2019 gross receipts when filing their 2024 or later state income tax returns, provided they apply by December 1, 2024. The legislation aims to provide financial relief to these specific businesses without speculating on broader economic outcomes.

This Act requires that the superintendent, school leader, or equivalent chief school officer who oversees a school or a charter school where students have single-digit proficiency in English language arts or mathematics, or both, collaborate with the Department of Education and school building-level administration to create a short-term plan to raise performance so that the school no longer has single-digit proficiency. This Act also requires the creation of a long-term plan for how to further improve student performance on State assessments and increase the school’s overall student body achievement proficiency level. This Act does not apply to a school with a plan for comprehensive support and improvement (CSI) or targeted support and improvement (TSI) under 20 U.S.C. § 6311, a school participating in a locally established entity that requires the creation of a plan to improve school performance, or a school required to a create a plan to improve school performance under any other State or federal law. Single-digit proficiency is based on the most recent State assessment data reported under § 124A of Title 14. Under this Act, a superintendent, school leader, or equivalent chief school officer must present the short-term plan and the long-term plan at a school board meeting for approval by the school board. Additionally, the superintendent, school leader, or equivalent chief school officer must provide annual updates, including any proposed changes to the plans as well as information about implementation of the plans. Any changes to the plans must be approved by the school board. The plans must be displayed on the school’s website or webpage and the Department’s website. The short-term plan and the long-term plan must be presented at a school board meeting and displayed on the school’s website or webpage by May 1. The superintendent may stop providing updates about the plans once certain State assessment performance conditions are met. If a school subsequently ceases to meet performance conditions, then the plan must be revised to incorporate strategies to improve performance. This Act also requires the Department to submit an annual report that contains information on schools with single-digit proficiency and schools with an overall student body achievement proficiency level of less than 20% but greater than single-digit proficiency in English language arts or mathematics, including data from prior years. This Act is effective immediately and shall be implemented the first August 1 after enactment of this Act.

This act requires a commercial entity that knowingly or intentionally provides pornography and other materials defined as harmful to minors to verify the age of individuals accessing the material. Civil liability and a civil penalty are imposed on commercial entities that fail to comply with verification requirements. Additionally, an internet provider or user of an interactive computer service on the internet is not subject to liability. This act is modeled after similar laws in Virginia, Utah, and Louisiana.