Sen. Brian Pettyjohn

Many of the State’s waters do not meet water quality standards to support their designated uses, such as for drinking, swimming or supporting aquatic life. The Clean Water for Delaware Act establishes a framework for assessing needs and planning and implementing projects that support Delaware’s efforts to improve the quality of the State’s water supply and waterways. A Delaware Clean Water Trust account is created as a funding source for executing projects highlighted by this framework. The Trust account will have oversight from the Clean Water Trust Oversight Committee (the “Committee”). The Committee will draw upon recommendations from the Water Infrastructure Advisory Council, (WIAC), the county Conservation Districts’, experts in the effected Cabinet agencies and other public input with the goal of assisting municipal and county governments and others in implementing affordable water quality projects. The Committee is required to develop and publish an Annual Report and multi-year Strategic Plan for Clean Water with annual updates.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests that the Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance study the extension of Medicaid coverage through the first year postpartum. Insurance coverage is a critical factor in determining women's access to affordable postpartum care and is a key strategy for reducing preventable maternal mortality and to close the disparity in the maternal mortaility rate among black women and women of other races.

This bill is the first leg of a Constitutional Amendment to require a 3/5 vote of each House of the General Assembly to enact a law that would enable a county to enact a tax or increase a tax rate above a rate currently authorized by state law. The General Assembly cannot increase a State tax or enact a new State tax without enacting such a law by a three-fifths vote of each House. This bill applies the same rule to State legislation enabling a county to take such action.

This Concurrent Resolution recognizes January 9, 2020, as "Law Enforcement Appreciation Day" in Delaware.

Requesting the Division of Research, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Delaware Department of Technology & Information cooperate in creating a detailed and implementable plan to stream audio and video of all floor proceedings of the House of Representatives and Senate, and the public committee action of both legislative chambers; record all such material; and make these recordings available to the public via a web-based archive. The resolution further requests the 151st General Assembly and the governor to vote on the finished plan and authorize the funding needed to implement it.

This House Concurrent Resolution extends the date by which the report of the task force for the Recruitment and Retention of Volunteer Firefighters for the Delaware Volunteer Fire Service.

This Act requires that a former foster parent of a child be considered a preferential placement option for a child when the child is placed for adoption less than 13 months after the end of the foster placement.

Section 1 of this bill moves the date of primary elections for statewide office, county office, and municipal office to the fourth Tuesday in April, which is the date of the presidential primary (in presidential election years). The dates for submitting and withdrawing notification of candidacy have been adjusted accordingly. Section 2 of the bill changes the deadline for a minor political party selecting its candidate at the party’s convention. Section 3 of the bill changes the deadline for filing certificates of nomination from September 1st to April 1st. Section 4 changes the “closed” period in which a voter is not allowed to change his or her political affiliation to match the 60-day limit in 15 Del. C. § 3189 for presidential primaries.

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 2012, Delaware required the National POW/MIA flag to be flown on National POW/MIA Recognition Day. This bill expands the dates on which the flag shall be flown, consistent with federal law and Delawareans' commitment to our veterans.

Recently, the Department of Justice has dismissed misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence in the Court of Common Pleas in Sussex County and refiled the same misdemeanor charges in the Superior Court in Sussex County. This Act ends that practice by vesting exclusive original criminal jurisdiction for a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence in the Court of Common Pleas. If a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence otherwise may be joined properly with a felony within the jurisdiction of Superior Court, the violation of this section is within the jurisdiction of Superior Court.