Sen. Nicole Poore

Health care spending in Delaware is higher than the national average and has historically outpaced the State’s economic and revenue growth, contributing to the State’s current structural deficit. To combat ever rising costs, this Joint Resolution authorizes the Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services to undertake the actions necessary to establish a health care benchmark, and designating the State’s 2018 fiscal year as a planning year. The Secretary is directed to consult with stakeholders in developing the benchmark.

The “Advanced Wireless Infrastructure Investment Act” creates a new Chapter 16 of Title 17 that will accelerate investment in mobile broadband infrastructure and ready the State for the next wave of economic development in the digital economy. In recognition of the shift from landline to wireless communications, the Act authorizes wireless providers access to the State’s rights of way and establishes a Statewide policy for deployment of small wireless cells to meet the growing demand for wireless services which provide Delaware citizens with access to advanced technology, information and 911 services.

For purposes of clarity regarding Delaware's commitment to supporting Delawareans with disabilities, including military service-related disabilities, this Act codifies existing county-level tax exemptions. Absent this Act, Delaware will continue to be one of the only states, if not the only state, that is silent at the state level with regard to exemptions for service-related disabilities. This Act requires a county government to provide exemptions to real property taxes for individuals with a disability that are at least as generous as the exemptions currently provided by the county government. In addition, if a county government provides an additional exemption to real property taxes for individuals with a disability who became disabled as a result of service in and while in the service of any branch of the United States armed services, the county government must provide exemptions that are at least as generous as the exemptions currently provided by the county government.

This Joint Resolution creates an Advisory Panel to the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council (DEFAC) that is tasked with developing a report concerning the State’s historic budgeting practices, the need for reasonable restrictions on the use of budget surpluses, the benefits of a budget stabilization fund, and such other matters as the Advisory Panel deems appropriate. A preliminary report shall be submitted to the General Assembly and the Governor no later than May 1, 2018.

This bill establishes the Behavioral Health Consortium that will provide oversight and coordination of the State’s private and public bodies to address behavioral health issues in Delaware.

This bill increases the line of duty death benefits from $150,000 to $200,000 for those persons covered under Chapter 66, Title 18 of the Delaware Code. Additionally, the bill increases the maximum amount payable in any year from $30,000 to $40,000.

This Act replaces the stillbirth certificate with a certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth, clarifies what documentation is required upon the occurrence of a stillbirth, and makes technical corrections to the Vital Statistics laws to accurately reflect current practices. This Act does not change the current reporting requirements regarding births or deaths. This Act shall be known as "Lorenzo's Law" in memory of Lorenzo Joseph DiSalvo who was born on July 3, 2016. Lorenzo is the son of Kimberly Ann DiSalvo and Chad William DiSalvo. His maternal grandparents are Thomas and Cheryl Favoroso and paternal grandparents are Joseph (deceased) and Marla DiSalvo.

This bill eliminates the "10-day hold" before registering a voter who is eligible to vote. This bill also allows the Department in lieu of the Board to remove voters who no longer reside in Delaware.

This bill eliminates the outdated provisions relating to mobile registration while maintaining the right of any person to register to vote at any county office of the Department of Elections.

This bill replaces the National Change of Address process with another non-discriminatory process of cancelling the registrations of persons who are no longer permanent residents of Delaware. It also gives the Department of Elections, instead of the State Board of Elections, the authority to cancel registrations of persons who authorize the cancellation of their registrations because they are no longer permanent residents of Delaware.