This Bill amends the Board composition to provide that a slot may be filled by an audiologist or by a hearing aid dispenser which shall address the challenge in locating a hearing aid dispenser to serve on the Board. Further, this Bill adds a definition for the “practice of hearing aid dispensing” to set forth the appropriate scope of practice for hearing aid dispensers, based on their training and qualifications, in the interest of public protection. This Bill also strikes references to audiology and speech pathology aides because the Board does not license or regulate these professions. The requirements for licensure and license renewal, for speech/language pathologists and audiologists, have been amended in the interests of clarity. Upon application, a speech/language pathologist must submit proof of current certification from the American Speech and Hearing Association (“ASHA”) and audiologists must submit proof of either current ASHA certification or board certification from the American Board of Audiology. Reciprocity applicants for speech/language pathology and audiology must meet this same requirement. Also, at the time of the first renewal only, speech/language pathologists and audiologists must show the appropriate current certification. Finally, references to “excessive use or abuse of drugs” have been amended to be consistent with the definition of this term.
Sponsored bills
This resolution designates April 6, 2018 as “National Tartan Day” and commemorates the outstanding achievements and contributions made by Scottish-Americans to the United States. When the United States was first formed and the thirteen states selected their first governors, nine were of Scottish ancestry. All the members of the first American cabinet had Scottish ancestry. Delaware’s first governor, John McKinly, was born in Northern Ireland of Scottish descent. Americans of Scottish descent have played a vibrant and influential role in the development of this country. However, not until 1997 was this influence recognized by a single-year U.S. Senate Resolution that appeared in the Congressional Record of April 7, 1997. In 1998 National Tartan Day was officially recognized on a permanent basis when the U.S. Senate passed Senate Resolution 155 recognizing April 6th as National Tartan Day. This was followed by companion bill House Resolution 41, which was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on March 9, 2005. President George W. Bush signed a Presidential Proclamation on April 4, 2008 making April 6 National Tartan Day. In April of 2008, then Governor Minner issued a statement celebrating the accomplishments of Scots-Irish Americans in the First State as part of a Scots/Scots-Irish Heritage Month. April 6 commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320, which asserted Scotland's sovereignty over English territorial claims, and which was a significant influence on the American Declaration of Independence. Canada has been celebrating "National Tartan Day" since 1993. The idea and motivation for creating a similar American holiday was provided by the Scottish Coalition, a group of national Scottish- American cultural organizations.
This Concurrent Resolution recognizes the success of the Delaware Health Information Network, a locally developed health information exchange, which has become a national model and continues to grow as an independent healthcare information technology organization.
This House Concurrent Resolution designates the week of April 23rd, 2018, as "Teach Children to Save Week" and encourages all citizens to teach their children to save.
This bill changes the age of a person to whom another person can sell, give or transfer a firearm or ammunition for a firearm from 18 to 21. However, this bill permits a person to sell, give or transfer a firearm or ammunition for a firearm to a person under 21 years of age if the person under 21 is an active member of the United States Armed Forces or a law-enforcement officer or possesses a license to carry a concealed deadly weapon. The prohibition against the sale or transfer of a firearm to a person under 21 does not apply if that person is over 18 and the firearm is a shotgun or muzzle-loading rifle or if the ammunition is for such weapons. This bill does permit the transfer of a firearm or ammunition to a person under 21 so long as such transfer is without compensation and the person transferring is the parent or guardian of the person under 21 or has the permission of the parent or guardian. This bill increases the age from 18-21 for the person who must directly supervise a child under the age of 16 who is in possession of a firearm, BB, air, or spear gun.
This bill adds bump stocks and trigger crank devices to the list of firearms that may be safely removed from the community.
This bill protects non-profit organizations that accept and persons who donate wild game to non-profit organizations or provides services related to the processing of such donated wild game from certain types of liability.
Under this Act, a provider of services under § 2118(a)(2)a.1. and 3. of Title 21 may not exceed the charges permissible under the fee schedule established by the Workers’ Compensation Oversight Panel for work-related injuries. And, this Act prohibits these providers of services from demanding or requesting any payments in addition to the charges authorized by this Act. It also requires these providers of services to adhere to health care practice guidelines and be subject to utilization review. In addition, this Act requires insurers to report any pattern of overcharging, excessive treatment, or other improper actions by a healthcare provider to the Division of Professional Regulation. Finally, this Act provides that if an insurer has a contractual arrangement with a medical provider governing the fees for medical services, the contract fees would apply. The fee schedule would apply only in the absence of any such contractual arrangement.
This Bill limits a health insurer’s right to overpayment recovery to two years from the date of the original payment. The time limit does not apply where there is fraud or other intentional misconduct, when overpayment recovery is initiated by a self-insured plan, or where required by a federal or state plan. The bill also requires 30 days’ notice to healthcare providers regarding an attempt to recover overpayment as well as requiring insurers to have policies and procedures allowing challenge to the alleged overpayment. This bill affects all lines of health insurance including both individual and group policies.
This Bill modifies the impact of criminal history on an applicant's eligibility for licensure. It gives the Board discretion to grant waivers for a felony convictions for crimes committed against a person where more than 3 years have elapsed, and more than 2 years have elapsed for other felonies. The Board is precluded from considering a conviction where more than 10 years have elapsed since date of conviction. The Bill authorizes the Delaware Department of Correction to establish prison barbering training programs. These programs will provide a means for inmates to satisfy licensure requirements while incarcerated and help with employment opportunities upon release.