Rep. Ron Gray

This bill increases the amount that a tenant may deduct from rent in order to have necessary work done on the rental premises if the landlord fails to repair or maintain the premises after proper notice. The original amount of $200 was selected at the time that the Landlord Tenant Code was drafted in 1996. The amended amount of $400 reflects inflation of rent and cost of repairs.

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 increases the minimum amount of property damage that triggers the mandatory reporting of a vehicular collision to police from $500 to $2,000. This bill also increases the minimum amount of property damage requiring police agencies to investigate from $1,000 to $2,000. This increase makes Delaware more consistent with other states and reflects the Legislature’s intention in 1997 to increase the amount annually by $100.

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.

This bill requires a landlord to provide 15 days written notice to a single room tenant prior to the termination of a rental agreement for any reason other than a material violation. This notice provision ensures that the tenant has time to find suitable housing prior to the termination of their current lease, while still permitting a landlord to quickly remove a tenant renting a single room within a house.

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.

This bill would allow a court of competent jurisdiction to dismiss minor equipment violations upon a showing that repair(s) have been made. The sections include inoperative horn, missing rear-view mirror, improper window tint, and inoperable headlights, taillights, turn signal lights, and lighting on a motorcycle.

This bill reincorporates the Charter of the Town of Millville. The bill updates various processes, including the municipal election, annexation, competitive bidding, and the Town budget. The bill also updates the descriptions and duties of the Secretary and Treasurer. The bill removed antiquated language and clarified language in matters such as assessments and repairs.

This amendment repeals Title 16 § 7204 in its entirety. This particular section prescribes a practice that is typically unused and handled through a traditional warrant process by charging a previous section of this chapter brought by a law enforcement officer. Additionally, the act of recovering a container possessed by someone other than the owner is more appropriately handled through the civil replevin process.