This bill creates the right for the parent or guardian of a child to opt out of the annual assessment, currently the Smarter Balanced Assessment System.
This bill imposes a cap on the interest rate that may be charged for “alternative financial services” at an annual rate of interest of 100%. “Alternative financial services” is a term sometimes used for payday loans, installment loans, and other credit products generally targeted towards working class people without access to more traditional banking or credit card services. Over the years, this state and others have made various efforts to regulate the industry, to assure that it is operating fairly and in a non-predatory manner. Generally, lenders in this industry have restructured their loan products to avoid such laws and regulations. See, e.g., James v. National Financial, LLC, 132 A.3d 799, 834-838 (Del. Ch. 2016). By placing a cap on interest rate in Chapter 22, the purpose of this bill is to circumscribe the ability of short-term, sub-prime lenders to take advantage of unsophisticated borrowers – regardless of the name or structure they may give the credit products. By its terms, Chapter 22 does not apply to more traditional financial products offered by banks, credit unions, credit card companies, and the like. Traditional financial products are already extensively regulated by state and federal law, and are less amenable to abuse. The bill also prohibits the use of automated withdrawals on short-term loans regulated by Chapter 22 for delinquency payments or accelerated default payments. It prohibits repeat attempts to make an automated withdrawal for at least 5 days after a declined payment, unless the borrower authorizes another attempt in writing. This will prevent borrowers from being charged multiple fees by their banks for overdrafts or declined withdrawals when licensees try repeatedly in a short time frame to process an automated withdrawal.
Designating February 6, 2017 as "Ronald Reagan Day" in Delaware
This Senate Concurrent Resolution continues the Motorcycle Rider Education Advisory Committee, which must meet at least quarterly to monitor the Motorcycle Rider Education Program, and assess the future needs of and recommend improvements to the Program.
This bill clarifies that all journeyperson applicants of sufficient age who successfully complete any apprenticeship program approved by the Board, and successfully pass the final exam associated with the Board approved program, should be treated equally for purpose of licensure. Currently the Board grants a journeyperson license only to applicants who receive one of a limited number of Department of Labor certificates of completion, despite completing the same program.
According to the American Dental Association, approximately 1/3 of Americans face challenges accessing dental care, where access challenges include difficulty getting to a dental office and overcoming financial barriers. In order to increase access to basic dental services, this bill will allow for dental hygienists to travel to certain facilities and provide dental hygiene services. Under existing law, a dental hygienist may only act under the general supervision of a dentist in the dental office, state institutions, or schools. Prior to offering these services, the facility owner/operator and the patient/legal guardian must approve of the dental services to be provided, and adequate safeguards must be provided, including the referral to a licensed dentist for consultation. This bill also updates the definition of the practice of dental hygiene services.
