Rep. Ruth Briggs King

This Act creates a new Utilities Coordination Council, as recommended by the Utilities Coordination Working Group established by SCR No. 48 from the 150th General Assembly. The purpose of the Council is to review and recommend best practices for efficient utility relocations on transportation projects on Delaware's highways. Additionally, the Council will be responsible for implementation, accountability, and the resolution of any specific utility delays.

This Act permits an individual to practice dentistry for the Division of Public Health (Division) under a provisional license. Delaware law provides several routes for entering practice on an interim basis until full licensure can be obtained, however, none of these routes specifically permit hiring by the Division with the intent to practice in a state-supported dental clinic. This Act will assist the Division in recruiting dentists to serve those in need. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

This bill adds the Department of Correction, Bureau of Prisons and Bureau of Community Corrections' vehicles to the list of "authorized emergency vehicles" identified in Chapter 41 of Title 21 that are afforded certain privileges when responding to an emergency.

This bill provides that for correction officers and specified peace officers, the amount of ordinary service or disability pension benefits given to state employees shall also include the following: (1) Before January 1, 2022, 2.45% of his or her final average compensation multiplied by years of service above 25 years; (2) On January 1, 2022, 2.5% of his or her average compensation multiplied by the number of years of service up to 20 years, plus 3.5% of his or her average compensation multiplied by the number of years of service above 20 years. The increased multipliers that take effect on January 1, 2022, reflect increased costs, reduced benefits, and the need to recruit and retain qualified and competent correction officers and specified peace officers with a modernized pension benefit. In addition, this bill amends the employee contribution for all correction officers and specified peace officers to a uniform 7%. Specified peace officers means (1) Probation and parole officers employed by the Department of Correction; (2) Capitol Police officers; (3) Department of Natural Resources police officers; (4) University of Delaware Police; (5) State Fire Marshal officers; (6) Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement agents; (7) Justice of the Peace Court constables; and (8) Probation and parole officers in the Serious Juvenile Offender Unit and senior probation officers employed by the Division of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families.

Senate Bill No. 65 establishes the Focus on Alternative Skills Training Program ("FAST"). FAST will provide tuition assistance, to Delaware residents who have obtained a high school diploma, Diploma of Alternate Achievement Standards, or a Delaware secondary credential, which includes earning a GED, and have enrolled in an approved non-degree credit certificate program. The Workforce Development Board will create a list of non-degree credit certificate programs approved for the FAST program. Senate Substitute No. 1 for Senate Bill No. 65 differs from Senate Bill No. 65 as follows: 1. Extends eligibility from 18 to 24 months after an individual graduates from high school. 2. Increases the maximum amount of assistance that an individual may receive from $9,000 to $10,000. 3. Allows tuition payments for up to 12 months instead of 6 months. 4. Requires FAST to be implemented within 6 months of enactment, instead of 1 year. 5. Acknowledges the expected availability of federal funds for FAST. 6. Sunsets FAST 2 years after enactment.

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 Substitute Bill differs from Senate Bill No. 47 by removing all of the following to avoid a potential conflict of the changes exceeding the scope of the bill’s title: (1) The upper limit to the fine for a first violation of subsections (a), (b), (c), or (d) of § 4189 of Title 21. (2) The changes addressing the redesignating error. (3) The revision of the word “section” to “subsection” in the penalty provision regarding the penalty for violating all subsections besides subsection (e) of § 4189 of Title 21.

This Act expands eligibility for the Department of Correction's Education Assistance Fund beyond correctional officers to employees who hold a position at paygrade 15 or below and meet the other existing requirements. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual, including by creating a new Subchapter III of Chapter 89 of Title 29, because the Department of Correction's Education Assistance Fund is not related to the topic of Subchapter II.

This Act makes permanent and temporary changes to the Adult Correction Healthcare Review Committee ("ACHRC") which is a committee that serves in an advisory capacity to the Governor, General Assembly and the Commissioner of the Department of Correction on all matters relating to the provision of inmate health care services. The permanent changes include adding to ACHRC a healthcare professional who by virtue of the professional's training, education, and specialization hold expertise in correctional health and allowing either a psychiatrist or forensic psychologist to serve as a member. The temporary changes address the Department's response to COVID-19 from March 12, 2020 to March 30, 2021. This Act requires ACHRC to provide a report to the Governor, General Assembly and Commissioner a report regarding the efficacy and appropriateness of the Department's response identifying total numbers of correctional officers and inmates who tested positive and died from COVID-19 or COVID-19 related illnesses. The report also identifies the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement and assesses the medical treatment provided to inmates who tested positive for COVID-19. The Act authorizes ACHRC to request records, consult with additional medical professionals and engage additional staff. Finally, for 2021 and 2022, the Chairpersons of the House and Senate Corrections Committees will be voting members of ACHRC, but cannot designate another individual to attend meetings or vote.

This Act removes the October 5, 2021 sunset provision in Chapter 196, Volume 81 of the Laws of Delaware so that the rule of the road for bicycles approaching or entering intersections with 2 or fewer lane roads, § 4196A (c) of Title 21 of the Delaware Code, will remain law.

Current law grants an active Delaware volunteer firefighter, active Delaware volunteer EMT, or life-member of a Delaware volunteer fire department who is a Delaware resident a free surf fishing vehicle permit each year. Current law allows an active Delaware volunteer firefighter, active Delaware volunteer EMT, or life-member of a Delaware volunteer fire department who is not a Delaware resident to purchase a surf fishing vehicle permit each year at the Delaware resident rate. This Act grants all of these individuals the option of choosing a surf fishing vehicle permit or an annual permit to enter state parks and recreation areas.