Sen. Bruce C. Ennis

This bill changes the adjudication process from nonbinding arbitration to an administrative hearing. This change reflects the nature of the hearings that have occurred under this section. This bill also permits any party to request from Superior Court a stay of the hearing officer’s decision if an appeal has been filed.

This Act would facilitate EV and grid-integrated electric vehicle interconnection by including the Society of Automotive Engineers industrial safety standard, J3072, which sets safety requirements for EVs that provide power from their batteries back to the electric grid.

This Act corrects the language regarding veterans who received a general discharge under honorable conditions to be consistent with federal law and makes the surviving spouses of eligible veterans eligible for assistance from the Delaware Veterans Trust Fund.

This bill establishes a 20 year retirement for correction officers and specified peace officers within the State Employees’ Pension plan. The bill amends the multiplier prospectively for the calculation of pension benefits for correction officers and specified peace officers. For service prior to January 1, 2018 the multipliers of either 1.85%, 2.0% or 2.45% would continue to be in effect and then for years of service after January 1, 2018 a uniform multiplier of 2.5% for the first 20 years, plus 3.5% for years beyond 20 years. In addition, this bill amends the employee contribution for all correction officers and specified peace officers to a uniform 7%.

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 Act raises the first offense of purchasing or obtaining a firearm for someone not legally qualified to own, possess or purchase one from a Class F to a Class E Felony. This change is to deter such "straw purchases" by making jail time more likely for the offender, and consequently, to reduce the number of people who cannot legally possess firearms but obtain them in this manner.

This Act extends the Delaware Manufactured Home Relocation Trust Fund until July 1, 2024.

This bill makes clear that farm equipment and implements of husbandry, including when being temporarily moved or transported by a manufacturer, dealer, business, or commercial transport company, shall not be subject to the weight requirements of Section 4502 and therefore not subject to overweight fees by the Secretary under Section 4504.

This Concurrent Resolution observes April 2018 as the 2018 Month of the Military Child and April 17, 2018 as the official Day of Recognition of the Military Child in the State of Delaware.