This bill sets forth revisions to the Code related to Adult Protective Services. The bill updates language to reflect best practices and current names of agencies and class positions.
This Act requires long-term care facilities to offer the influenza vaccine to all employees with direct contact with patients. It also requires the facility to keep a record of a signed statement from each employee that the vaccine has been offered.
This Act dissolves the Delaware Interagency Council on Homelessness (DICH). The DICH has been an important venue for significant progress in addressing homelessness in Delaware. However, changes to the primary source of federal assistance for resources for homelessness required the establishment of a Continuum of Care. The similar goals, tasks, and membership of the Continuum of Care have made the DICH obsolete and duplicative of these efforts. Delaware’s Continuum of Care was established in July 2015 and is charged with statewide coordination to address homelessness including the review system performance, identifying system gaps, and advancing solutions. It is a membership body with open membership to any who would like to participate and the membership elects the Continuum of Care Board. The Continuum of Care Board includes representation similar to that of the DICH: state agencies, local government, service providers, and advocates. Until the establishment of the Continuum of Care Governance Charter in 2015, the DICH was also responsible for many systems tasks that now must be completed by the Continuum of Care. There is significant overlap in membership between the DICH and the Continuum of Care and combined with the Continuum of Care’s responsibility for the tasks previously handled by the DICH, it is difficult to get a quorum at DICH meetings and it is not feasible or sensible to have 2 separate, active entities working on the same issues.
Section 1 of this Act increases the aggregate amount of Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credits that can be approved in any 1 fiscal year from $500,000 to $1 million. Section 1 of this Act also makes a technical correction to use “persons,” which is a defined term for purposes of the Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credit, instead of “firms,” which is not defined, and to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. Section 2 of this Act provides the Delaware State Housing Authority with funds to administer the Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credit program.
Section 1 of this Act transfers from the Department of Safety and Homeland Security to the Department of Health and Social Services the responsibility for establishing, administering, adopting rules and regulations, and setting fees for courses of instruction and programs of rehabilitation for those whose licenses have been revoked for driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or any drug, or both. The Department of Health and Social Services’ Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health is better positioned to establish and operate programs aimed at treating substance abuse issues. Section 1 of this Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual and to update language in this Act that is no longer consistent with language in § 4177 of Title 21. Section 2 of this Act delays the Act’s effective date for 6 months.
This Act restores the Delaware Prescription Drug Payment Assistance Program (“Program”), which was eliminated in the Fiscal Year 2018 Annual Appropriations Act. This Act replaces Senate Bill 148 and makes the following additional changes: (1) Delays implementation of the Act until January 1, 2019, to coordinate with the Medicare Part D benefit year to enable the Department of Health and Social Services (“Department”) to make necessary system changes. (2) Makes changes to the defined term “prescription drugs.” (3) Removes provisions required to be included in rules and regulations promulgated by the Department. (4) Adds provisions that may be included in rules and regulations promulgated by the Department. (5) Makes technical corrections to conform the provisions of the restored Program to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.
The Delaware National Guard is a crucial partner in the preparedness, planning and in conducting operations in the event of radiological incidents. This Act’s modification to § 181 corrects an unintended flaw from a previous change to Title 20, affecting the manner in which National Guard members are paid for Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) events. The previous change in Title 20 impedes the National Guard’s efforts to recruit personnel, who have developed a high level of proficiency achieved through consistent monthly training. The change allows the Delaware National Guard to ensure ample participation and encourage returning members to build upon previous training and processes. This request has no impact to the State’s general funds as it is paid through Special Funding provided by Public Service Enterprise Group. This Act’s modifications to § 185 updates the requirements for the employment and administration of state employees working for the Delaware National Guard. The Delaware National Guard has administered their state employees similar to the federal military technician program which includes dual status and non-dual status technicians. In the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, the non-dual status federal technician position was eliminated and technicians were converted into Title 5 employees. The change in the federal law impedes the employment and administration of some state employees. The change allows for the proper employment and administration of all Delaware National Guard state employees.
This Act permits an insurance company to apply for and receive a salvage certificate, clear of all liens, after payment of a total loss claim, if the insurance company has not been able to obtain the properly endorsed certificate of title. This Act also permits a licensed auto actions to apply for and receive a salvage certificate, clear of all liens, if the auto auction took possession of motor vehicle at the request of an insurance company and the motor vehicle has been abandoned at the auto auction facility for more than 30 days. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.
This Bill eliminates the prohibition against hunting for deer on Sundays. Additionally, it maintains the applicable agency regulating public lands authority and discretion to regulate, including prohibition of, deer hunting on Sundays. Lastly, the bill allows for the harvesting of deer on Sundays through DNREC’s deer depredation programs.
This Act removes from the definition of “free standing emergency departments” those emergency departments that are owned by an existing, licensed hospital in this State that has already been authorized and licensed to provide emergency services. This Act also makes technical changes.
