Sen. Stephanie Hansen

This Bill amends the membership of the Behavioral Health Consortium to include two members of both the House and Senate, a member from the Ability Network of Delaware, and the Mental Health Association in Delaware. The Bill also extends the date the first report is due from March 1, 2018 to April 16, 2018.

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 broadens the eligibility requirement for an appointment to a board of adjustment in jurisdictions which have adopted a home rule charter.

This Act extends the amount of notice that an insurer must provide to a policyholder before cancelling an automobile policy for the nonpayment of a premium from 10 to 15 days.

This Concurrent Resolution recognizes April 10, 2018, as "Equal Pay Day".

This Act establishes a framework for assessing needs, planning and implementing projects, and providing a funding source to enhance and accelerate Delaware’s efforts in cleaning up its contaminated water resources, ensuring that all our citizens have safe drinking water, reducing flooding, and protecting jobs in agriculture and tourism. Most of the State’s waters do not meet water quality standards to support their designated uses, such as for drinking, swimming or supporting aquatic life. This Act increases the level and reliability of funding available to restore Delaware’s streams, rivers, bays, and groundwater through construction of much needed wastewater, drinking water, and drainage projects and increased use of agricultural best practices. Over the next 5 years, more than $500 million in water and wastewater system upgrades are needed statewide, including systems for underserved communities and numerous at-risk systems currently operated by homeowner’s associations in Sussex County. More than $150 million in stormwater upgrades are needed throughout the State along with more than $75 million for removing toxic pollutants from various waterways. In addition, demand for agriculture cost-share funds used to reduce pollution from nutrients far surpasses available resources. This Act creates a Clean Water Trust, supported by dedicating several existing revenue sources and a proposed new dedicated Clean Water Surcharge that will be levied on personal income tax payments and business license fees. The surcharge will be capped at $40 for individual tax filers, $80 for individuals filing a joint return, and $45 for business licenses. The Clean Water Surcharge will be used for capital projects, not to grow government; the allowance for administrative expenses is capped at 10% after the first 2 years and companion legislation creating a constitutionally protected “lock box” is being introduced to provide permanent protection against the fee being diverted for operating expenses. Total revenues from the surcharge are estimated to be approximately $20 million annually. The dedicated Clean Water Surcharge could leverage as much as $50 million in total financing annually for clean water investments and support more than 800 direct and indirect jobs per year. The Trust will be managed by a 5-member Board comprised of the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the Secretary of Finance, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Health and Social Services, and an appointed member with financial expertise. The Trust is authorized to issue Clean Water Revenue Bonds for projects approved by the General Assembly and will administer the funds through the already existing Water Infrastructure Advisory Council with the goal of assisting municipal and county governments and others in implementing more affordable water quality projects through low-interest loans, grants, and public-private partnerships. The Trust and the Council are required to develop a Clean Water Plan with an annually updated 5-year Strategic Plan. The Trust is required to undergo an audit each year and to report annually to the General Assembly on its activities and its progress toward meeting the goals of the Clean Water Plan.

This resolution adds a new Rule 30 to the Senate Rules relating to Anti-Harassment Policy and Training.

This House Concurrent Resolution designates March 27, 2018 "Girl Scout Day" in the State of Delaware.

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 Resolution recognizes March 19, 2018 as "Women in Public Office Day" in Delaware.