Sen. Dave Wilson

This concurrent resolution proclaims the month of April, as “Nonprofit Impact Month” to affirm the importance of organizations in the nonprofit sector and the impact of their work for every citizen in our State, to celebrate the accomplishments of the past year, and to acknowledge our ongoing responsibility to support a robust social impact sector for citizens, communities, and economic development across the State.

In 2016, according to the Division of Forensic Science, 308 people died from overdoses in Delaware. To address the devastating effects that the opioid epidemic has had on the citizens and families of the state of Delaware, this Act will: 1.) Impose a tax on the first sale of opioids in the State at a rate of 10% of the purchase price. Revenue generated from the tax will be used to support opioid addiction treatment options in Delaware, including residential programs, as well as to educate the public on the dangers of opioid addiction and available treatment options in Delaware; 2.) Direct civil legal settlement proceeds resulting from matters related to opioids be deposited to the Opiate Stewardship Fund; 3.) Authorize the Governor to appoint and fund the position of the newly-created Policy Advisor. The full-time Policy Advisor will serve at the pleasure of the Governor and will be tasked with addressing only opioid addiction-related matters; and 4.) Establish the Opiate Stewardship Advisory Council. The council will be charged with prioritizing where revenue generated from the opioid tax is best spent in order to assist those who are addicted, as well as their families. This council – building on the progress made by the Behavioral Health Consortium and other related medical and state agency committees – will be a separate entity that is responsible solely for advising in the treatment-related tasks of the newly-created Policy Advisor.

Delaware law currently prohibits tasting and sale of craft beer, distilled spirits, and wine at Farmers’ Markets or Agricultural Themed Events. The bill's intent is to allow tasting of products, offer limited purchase opportunities, and promote how local craft beverages benefit our agriculture industry and where to purchase the products year round. This bill allows holders of a “Farmers’ Market Permit or Agricultural Themed Event Permit” to conduct tastings and sell craft beer, mead, cider, distilled spirits, and wine in sealed containers for off-premise consumption at retail prices at off-site farmers’ markets or agricultural themed events during the months of April through November. This bill requires the Department of Agriculture to certify that the event is an Agricultural Themed Event or Farmers’ Market. No more than 5 Permit Holders may sell at a Farmers’ Market and no more than 8 Permit Holders may sell at Agricultural Themed Events.

This bill protects non-profit organizations that accept and persons who donate wild game to non-profit organizations or provides services related to the processing of such donated wild game from certain types of liability.

Commemorating the week of March 18 through 24, 2018 as Delaware Ag Week and urging all Delaweareans to celebrate and to learn more about Delaware's modern agricultural industry, and to pay tribute to the farmers, the agricultural community, and the educators who provide the research and the education so vital to sustaining our agricultural industry.

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 Act is the first leg of a constitutional amendment that requires the General Assembly to wait 48 hours from the introduction of the budget appropriation bill, bond and capital improvement act, and act making appropriations for certain grants-in-aid bill, or any substantive amendment or substitute bill to such bills before voting on such legislation unless the General Assembly by a three-fourths vote waives this requirement. The purpose of this provision is to allow all interested persons, including legislators, a reasonable amount of time to review the three significant financial legislative acts before voting on such legislation. This restriction can be waived if three-fourths of each House of the General Assembly agrees to act in a shorter time period.

This bill insures an ongoing and necessary funding source to DELJIS for the purpose of providing local law enforcement with connectivity, maintenance, and technical support for the CJIS system.

This Resolution recognizes March 19th as Celebrating Women in Public Office Day in Delaware.

This concurrent resolution establishes the Veterans Higher Education Task Force to study and make findings and recommendations regarding veterans’ access to higher education in Delaware.