Sen. Bryant Richardson

This resolution recognizes the Easterseals/CAI Volleyball Challenge occurring March 8 at University of Delaware Carpenter Sports Building, an event that raises funds for an organization providing services and support to Delawareans with disabilities and senior citizens and their families.

Maddy summaryThis House Concurrent Resolution (HCR 5) designates January 23, 2025, as "Maternal Health Awareness Day" in Delaware. It is a symbolic resolution raising public and professional awareness about maternal health issues, including preventable pregnancy-related deaths and racial disparities. The resolution does not create new laws, funding, or programs - it simply establishes a designated day to highlight existing initiatives like maternal safety bundles and doulas, and to encourage future efforts in maternal care. The bill affects Delaware residents generally by promoting awareness of maternal health challenges.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution designates January 9, 2025, as "Law Enforcement Appreciation Day" in Delaware. It symbolically honors Delaware law enforcement officers for their service without creating new policies, requirements, or funding. The resolution expresses legislative gratitude for officers' dedication to community safety and public protection. As a ceremonial measure, it has no direct legal or financial impact on residents or agencies.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution honors and recognizes the leadership, achievements, and sacrifices of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and urges all citizens of the First State to participate fittingly in the observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on January 20, 2025.

This Act sunsets the Provider Advisory Board (“Board”) and is a result of the Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Committee's ("JLOSC") review of the Board. The Board was created in 2011 at JLOSC's recommendation when it reviewed the Office of Child Care Licensing ("OCCL"). The original purpose of the Board was to advise the OCCL regarding the adoption, promulgation, and amendment of rules and regulations required to carry out the Delaware Child Care Act, focusing on early care and education, family child care homes, and school age centers. In 2019, the Board's purpose was expanded to encourage OCCL to communicate with providers and encourage OCCL to enforce the Delaware Child Care Act in a manner that recognizes that most child care providers are private businesses that need stable and reasonable regulations. In 2020, both the Board and the OCCL were moved from the Department of Service for Children, Youth and their Families to the Department of Education. The move has increased the frequency of communication between licensed child care providers and agency units, including the Office of Early Learning and the Delaware Early Childhood Council. JLOSC sponsored Senate Bill No. 135 of the 152nd General Assembly, which added the Board's duties to those of the Delaware Early Childhood Council. Before and since SB 135 was enacted, the OCCL has adopted, promulgated, or amended regulations in the absence of the Board's advice. The OCCL is meeting the needs the Board was intended to address, without the Board's assistance. For these reasons, JLOSC concluded that the Board is not fulfilling its statutory duties or meeting a state need, and that the Board should be sunsetted. This Act therefore sunsets the Provider Advisory Board. Because the Extended Learning Opportunities Subcommittee included a member from the Board, this Act also replaces that member with a licensed provider that serves children not yet kindergarten age. Otherwise, sunsetting the Board would have the unintended consequence of making the subcommittee a member short. Separate legislation fulfills JLOSC's recommendation that a third center-based early care and education provider be added to the Delaware Early Childhood Council.

This Act is a result of the Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Committee's ("JLOSC") review of the Provider Advisory Board ("Board"). Based on its findings, JLOSC recommended sunsetting the Board, which is addressed in separate legislation. This Act fulfills JLOSC's related recommendation, to add a third center-based early care and education provider to the Delaware Early Childhood Council ("DECC"). In 2023, JLOSC sponsored Senate Bill No. 135 of the 152nd General Assembly, which consolidated the functions of Board into the functions of DECC. The Board's review was held over to 2024, when JLOSC evaluated the implementation of SB 135. JLOSC concluded that consolidating the Board's duties into DECC was successful. JLOSC also concluded that, given the findings of its 2023 review of the Board and evaluation of the Board's activities since the enactment of SB 135, the Board is not meeting a state need. JLOSC therefore recommended sunsetting the Board and adding a third center-based early care and education provider to DECC. This Act fulfills the addition to DECC.

This Act is a result of the Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Committee's ("JLOSC") review of Adult Protective Services ("APS"). JLOSC approved recommendations to modify several areas of the APS statute, Chapter 39 of Title 31. Based on the recommendations, this Act does all of the following: - Establishes timelines for when the Department of Health and Social Services ("Department") must begin an investigation after receiving a report concerning an allegation of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an adult who is impaired or incapacitated. - Establishes the Department's responsibility to conduct ongoing training programs for relevant staff. - Removes the Adult Protective Services Advisory Council from section 3903, Title 31. This council is absorbed into the existing Council on Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities, through separate legislation. - Modifies the reporting requirement of § 3910(a), Title 31, to specifically establish that health-care professionals have a duty to file a report with the Department when the professional has reasonable cause to believe that an adult who is impaired or incapacitated is in need of protective services; clarifies that privilege does not relieve an individual from the duty to report. - Removes language in § 3904(d)(1) regarding a fee schedule and income criteria process that the Department has not used and does not plan to institute. - Makes many technical changes to modernize and conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows farm wineries in Delaware to apply for a license to operate a restaurant on their property. Currently, the law prohibits farm winery owners from running other businesses like importers or retailers, but this change creates an exception for food service. By amending the state code, the legislation enables these wineries to serve food to customers alongside their wine sales. The bill was passed by both the House and Senate and was signed into law by the Governor.

Senate Bill No. 288 of the 151st General Assembly (Chapter 371 of Volume 83 of the Laws of Delaware) created a pilot program whereby motorcyclists are permitted to use pulsating headlights as a way to alert other drivers of their presence, without allowing the use of flashing lights that would otherwise be used on emergency vehicles. SB 288 contained a sunset clause providing that the pilot program would expire on January 1, 2025, unless the General Assembly took action to extend or remove the sunset clause. This Act extends the sunset clause until June 30, 2030. The main reason for the extension is that many motorcycle owners have and are continuing to replace their lights with LED technology... up until 2024 the technology of a modulating device was not available for the LED lights only standard lighting had that option. To be able to better see if the pulsating lighting is effective the pilot program should be extended to adequately gauge what the new LED systems effectiveness is.

This Act requires the Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families (DSCYF) to provide new luggage to children in foster care to use for the transportation of their personal belongings when entering custody, moving from one placement to another, or exiting custody, and makes clear that disposable bags and trash bags may not be used for these purposes. It requires the Department to establish and maintain an inventory of new luggage for this purpose. The Department must annually provide a report containing a current accounting of supply inventory and inventory management procedures. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.