This House Concurrent Resolution honors and recognizes the leadership and achievements of African Americans and urges the celebration of Black History Month.
This Senate Concurrent Resolution designates March 4, 2021 as "Delaware Giving Day."
This Act is the second leg of a constitutional amendment to add race, color, and national origin to § 21 of Article I of the Delaware Constitution to explicitly declare that protection against discrimination based on race, color, and national origin is one of Delaware's fundamental rights. The first leg of this constitutional amendment was Senate Bill 191 of the 150th General Assembly, published in Chapter 287 of Volume 82 of the Laws of Delaware. On passage of this second leg by this General Assembly this amendment will become part of the Delaware Constitution. Since the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution was adopted on July 9, 1868, with Delaware ratifying it in 1901, at least 15 states have added a provision to their state constitution that prohibits the denial or abridgement of equal rights under the law based on race, color, or national origin. In 2019, Delaware amended the state constitution to prohibit the denial or abridgement of equal rights under the law based on sex, but no such prohibition exists as to race, color, or national origin. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 1 of Article XVI of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly when the General Assembly amends the Delaware Constitution.
This Senate Concurrent Resolution declares that gun violence is a public health crisis, that ending the gun violence devastating Delaware is a policy priority, and supporting policy and legislative solutions that will make schools safe, confront armed hate and extremism, prevent suicide, and center and support survivors of gun violence.
On November 3, 2015, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a report titled "Elevated Rates of Urban Firearm Violence and Opportunities for Prevention – Wilmington, Delaware" in which the CDC made 2 major recommendations: (1) the creation and adoption of a robust risk assessment tool and (2) an integrated, statewide data collection system. To date, no meaningful action has been taken at any level to implement the CDC's recommendations. This Act adopts the CDC's recommendations and directs the pertinent State agencies to implement these recommendations.
This resolution honors Vice President-elect Kamala D. Harris for her service and dedication to the United States of America and the inspiration she provides to women and people of color, and offers appreciation and support for her historic Vice Presidency.
This Senate Concurrent Resolution honors and recognizes the leadership and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and urges all citizens of the First State to participate fittingly in the observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on January 18, 2021.
This Senate Concurrent Resolution proclaims January 23, 2021, as "Maternal Health Awareness Day" in the State of Delaware.
This Act is the first leg of a constitutional amendment that repeals the provisions regarding legislative districts that were found unconstitutional in the 1960s by the Supreme Court of the United States and the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. Sections 2 and 2A of Article II of the Delaware Constitution are unconstitutional because these sections do not apportion seats in the General Assembly so that each vote is equal. This constitutional amendment also repeals § 2B of Article II of the Delaware Constitution because the only purpose of § 2B is to clarify that § 2A of Article II does not impact how delegates are elected to a Constitutional Convention under § 2 of Article II. This Act replaces the unconstitutional provisions with the existing redistricting requirements established under Chapter 8 of Title 29, which meet the requirements under the Constitution of the United States. Specifically, the requirements for legislative districts are as follows: 1. The House of Representatives is comprised of 41 members, chosen for 2-year terms. 2. The Senate is comprised of 21 members, chosen for 4-year terms, except that terms are staggered at the first biennial general election following redistricting so that 10 Senators are elected for 2-year terms and 11 Senators are elected for 4-year terms. 3. The General Assembly must determine the boundaries of legislative districts using the following criteria: contiguous territory; nearly equal in population; bounded by major roads, streams, or other natural boundaries; and do not unduly favor any person or political party. 4. The General Assembly must redistrict whenever necessary after each federal decennial census. This Act also repeals the obsolete process in the Constitution that has the Governor and chairs of 2 political parties conduct the redistricting. Current law does not provide a specific process by which the General Assembly redistricts legislative districts, so this Act provides the General Assembly with the power to enact general laws establishing rules and procedures for redistricting. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 1 of Article XVI of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to amend the Delaware Constitution. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.
This legislation allows the Delaware Commission of Veterans’ Affairs to employ the spouses of veterans and retains the stipulation that the Executive Director of the Commission must be a veteran.
