Sen. Brian Pettyjohn

This Act creates the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force to study and make findings and recommendations regarding whether Delaware should become the point of contact to conduct background checks for firearms transfers.

This Act clarifies existing law so that an individual is not disqualified from possessing or purchasing a firearm because the individual is a registered qualifying patient under the Delaware Medical Marijuana Act. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

The National League of Families POW/MIA flag is a “symbol of our Nation's concern and commitment to resolving as fully as possible the fates of Americans still prisoners, missing, or unaccounted for in all U.S. wars” 36. U.S.C. § 902. In 1989, the United States required the National League of Families POW/MIA flag be flown on Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, National POW/MIA Recognition Day, and Veterans Day. In 1991, Delaware enacted Senate Bill No. 87, Chapter 88 of Volume 68 of the Laws of Delaware, which required certain state buildings to fly the POW/MIA flag each day. Senate Bill No. 87 was not drafted as an amendment to the Delaware Code and so was not included in the Delaware Code. This Act codifies Senate Bill No. 87 into § 408 of Title 29 to conform § 408 with existing Delaware and federal law in recognition of this State's commitment to our Veterans. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

This bill requires that inadvertent out-of-network services be included in individual and group health insurance policies as well as group and blank health insurance policies. This bill defines inadvertent out-of-network services are those services that are covered under a policy or contract of health insurances, but are provided by an out-of-network provider in an in-network facility, or when in-network health care services are unavailable or not made available to the insured in the facility. Inadvertent out-of-network services also includes laboratory testing ordered by an in-network provider but performed by an out-of-network laboratory.

This Act removes the exclusive jurisdiction of the Superior Court for offenses under § 4836 of this Title on the basis of the voluntary and involuntary exclusion lists. This would allow the Court of Common Pleas to hold jurisdiction over these offenses as these are class A misdemeanor offenses.

This bill clarifies definitions relating to airbags, counterfeit supplemental restraint system components, nonfunctional airbags, and supplemental restraint systems, and prohibited trade practices.

This bill increases the minimum amount of property damage that triggers the mandatory reporting of a vehicular collision to police from $500 to $2,000. This bill also increases the minimum amount of property damage requiring police agencies to investigate from $1,000 to $2,000. This increase makes Delaware more consistent with other states and reflects the Legislature’s intention in 1997 to increase the amount annually by $100.

This Act adds testifying at a hearing held by a standing committee of the House of Representatives or Senate or joint committee of the General Assembly within the definition of “swears falsely,” which applies to Delaware’s perjury laws. This addition means that false testimony to a standing or joint committee would subject a person to prosecution for perjury. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

This act restores the $500 senior real property tax credit.

This Act postpones the effective date of Senate Bill No. 67, enacted in 2019, from January 1, 2020, to July 1, 2020. The clerks of the peace for all 3 counties have indicated they intend to postpone implementation of Senate Bill No. 67, so as to allow additional time for engagement with leaders of faith communities to identify any additional changes to the marriage registry structure or to its implementation or enforcement.