Sen. Marie Pinkney

This bill eliminates the requirement that Justice of the Peace Court constables reside within the State of Delaware. The residency requirement was established when Constables were independent officers, and had their own bonding requirements and penalties for failure to do the business of the Court. Constables are now employees of the Justice of the Peace Court and the residency requirement is no longer needed. The removal of the requirement will allow the Justice of the Peace Court to recruit from a larger pool of candidates and to retain existing trained and skilled employees.

Maddy summaryHB 475 authorizes the State of Delaware and the Delaware Transportation Authority to issue bonds and allocate funds for capital improvements during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. The bill allows the state to sell general obligation bonds and the transportation authority to sell revenue bonds to raise money for infrastructure projects. It also directs the use of existing funds from the Transportation Trust Fund and other state accounts to support these initiatives. By amending relevant statutes, the legislation sets specific rules and limits on how these financial resources can be spent.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates March 8, 2024, as International Women's Day in the state of Delaware. It directly affects all Delaware residents by encouraging them to celebrate and acknowledge the contributions of women throughout the state and nation. The resolution highlights the historical achievements of women, including current state legislators, and calls for a day of commemoration rather than implementing new laws or policies.

This Act clarifies that for purposes of the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program, where an employee is leased by an employee leasing company or a professional employment organization, "employer" refers to the employer client of the employee leasing company or professional employment organization, and not to the employee leasing company or professional employment organization. This Act is a substitute for and differs from Senate Bill No. 248 by omitting language concerning whether individuals covered by certain collective bargaining agreements are "employees" for purposes of the Program.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates April 2024 as "Financial Literacy Month" in Delaware to raise awareness about personal finance education. It highlights the importance of teaching financial skills in schools to help students make better decisions about money, college, and careers. The resolution calls for collaboration among educators, businesses, and community groups to promote financial knowledge across the state. While it does not create new laws or funding, it serves as a symbolic recognition of the need for improved financial education.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates November 2024 as Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month in Delaware to honor the importance of safe food environments for individuals with celiac disease and other gluten-related conditions. It highlights the health risks associated with untreated celiac disease, such as malnutrition and bone weakness, and acknowledges the legal protections required for schools to accommodate these dietary needs. The resolution serves as a formal recognition of the community's efforts to support those who must avoid gluten due to medical necessity or sensitivity.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates June 2024 as Black Music Appreciation Month within the state of Delaware. It serves as a formal recognition of African American musical contributions, including genres such as gospel, blues, jazz, and hip hop. The resolution does not change laws or allocate funding but simply acknowledges the historical and cultural significance of Black music in American history.

This Act is the first leg of an amendment to the Delaware Constitution to prohibit the imposition of the death penalty. 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 substitute bill provides more clarity on the process by which a tenant may file an action in the Justice of the Peace Court to withhold rent payments in escrow. Specifically, the bill provides what the tenant must file in order to bring such action and how such actions proceed in court. This substitute bill also provides the remedy of termination of lease when the conditions of the rental unit threatens the life, health, or safety of the tenant or a member of the tenant’s household. This substitute bill also clarifies the appeal process for actions to withhold rent payments in escrow. This substitute bill also provides a tenant the right to raise as an affirmative defense to an action for summary possession filed by the landlord that a condition exists that threatens the life, health, or safety of the tenant or a member of the tenant’s household if the tenant satisfies specific requirements. If the Court determines that the tenant has satisfied those requirements, the Court may order that in lieu of summary possession, the tenant pay all base monthly rent owed to the landlord to an escrow account established by the Court. The Court may order the landlord to remedy the conditions alleged by a specific date. If both the landlord and tenant comply with the Court’s order, the amount held in escrow will be paid to the landlord within 30 days, and no judgment for possession shall be entered. Finally, this substitute bill provides that the Act will take effect 180 days after its enactment into law in order to provide the Justice of the Peace Court sufficient time to enact rules to implement the Act.

This is a substitute for House Bill No. 326. Non-profit hospitals are granted tax-exempt status on the premise that they serve a vital role in promoting the health and well-being of the communities they serve. Community benefit spending is a means by which hospitals fulfill this obligation. Such spending includes activities like providing uncompensated care, supporting medical research, offering health education and prevention programs, subsidizing community clinics, and addressing social determinants of health. Like House Bill No. 326, this substitute bill requires Delaware’s non-profit hospitals to provide the state and public with an annual report outlining their community benefits spending, bringing Delaware in line with 31 other states, including all of Delaware’s neighboring states, that require reporting. Like House Bill No. 326, this substitute bill defines “community benefits program,” outlines the minimum contents that must be included in a community benefits activity report, and requires that the report be made available to the public. This substitute contains provisions allowing the report to be submitted electronically to State officials on an annual basis. It differs from the original bill in that the deadline for submitting the report is changed from January 31 of each year to 30 days after a hospital files a federal Form 990. This substitute also contains technical changes to reference and accord with appropriate law and regulations, and broadens the list of information that must be included in the community benefits report.