This Act enacts the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact (ITMC). The Council of State Governments partnered with the Department of Defense and the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) to support the mobility of licensed teachers through the development of this new interstate compact. The ITMC will create reciprocity among participant states and reduce barriers to license portability and employment. The Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact (ITMC) is an interstate occupational licensure compact. Interstate compacts are constitutionally authorized, legislatively enacted, legally binding agreements among states. The ITMC will allow teachers to use an eligible license held in a compact member state to be granted an equivalent license in another compact member state, lowering barriers to teacher mobility and getting teachers back into the classroom more seamlessly. The ITMC utilizes a different model than other interstate occupational licensure compacts. Compact member states submit licenses that are eligible for the compact and meet a set of criteria outlined in the legislation. To be eligible, a license must require a bachelor’s degree and completion of a state-approved program for teacher licensure like a teacher preparation program at a college or university. Furthermore, for a license to be eligible under the ITMC, the license must be unencumbered, which means it is not restricted, probationary, provisional, substitute, or temporary. Teachers holding a compact-eligible license can apply for licensure in another member state and receive the closest equivalent license without submitting additional materials, taking state-specific exams or completing additional coursework. Special carveouts were created for some populations in the ITMC to support equitable access. Due to the mobility patterns of military spouses, the barriers to receiving a license that would be considered unencumbered under the compact are much higher. Teachers meeting the definition of an eligible military spouse will be able to use a temporary or provisional license for the purposes of the ITMC. Career and Technical Education Teaching Licenses often do not require a bachelor’s degree as a requirement for licensure, so the compact allows these licenses to be considered eligible without that requirement. The ITMC will not close any existing pathways to teacher licensure or teacher mobility. The ITMC aims to provide additional tools to state licensing authorities to more efficiently license out of state teachers and get them into the classroom. State licensing authorities will also appoint their state’s representatives to the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact Commission, which serves as the administrative body of the ITMC. In addition to the NASDTEC, the following organizations contributed to the development process for the ITMC: • National Association of Elementary School Principals. • American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. • National Education Association. • Council of Chief State School Officers. • Education Commission of the States. • Southern Regional Education Board. • American Association of School Administrators. • National Conference of State Legislatures. • National Association of State Boards of Education. • National Governors Association. • National Council on Teacher Quality. • National School Boards Association. The ITMC must be enacted in 10 states to become effective. The ITMC has been enacted in 8 states and legislation to enact it is pending in 13 states.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill updates overtime pay rules for non-exempt employees working for the Delaware Department of Transportation. Starting July 1, 2024, these workers will receive time-and-a-half pay for any hours worked beyond 37.5 hours in a single week. The change applies specifically to the DOT and ensures that overtime compensation begins once an employee exceeds the standard 37.5-hour threshold.
This Act clarifies portions of Chapter 49 of Title 6 and Chapter 63 of Title 21 of the Delaware Code pertaining to motor vehicle dealers. These additions and modifications are intended to further improve our State’s franchise laws and ensure that Delaware consumers have a stable, reliable, convenient, and competitive retail network for automobile sales and service. This Act is an effort to continue to ensure that the relationship between dealers and the manufacturers and distributors is as fair and equitable as possible and provides the highest level of consumer protection. The Act includes the following provisions: Definitions. The Act amends § 4902 of Title 6 and clarifies the definitions of “motor vehicle” and “new motor vehicle” to reflect technological advances and changes in industry business practices in the state, and adds a definition of “electric motor vehicle”. The Act defines the new terms “sell,” "selling," "sold," "exchange," "retail sales," and "leases". Warranty and Predelivery Obligations to New Motor Vehicle Dealers. Dealers are required by contract to perform warranty work for manufacturers. The Act amends § 4903 of Title 6 in order to ensure that dealers are fairly paid for performing manufacturer-directed repairs related to warranty repairs, maintenance programs and recall work. Intrusive Audits. Dealers are required by existing law to wait up to 30 days for payment for motor vehicle warranty repairs in order to allow the manufacturer to review and approve payment submissions. Manufacturers are also allowed to later audit such repairs and payments. The Act affords manufacturers a full 6 months to audit warranty claims but will reasonably prevent intrusive and time-consuming audits after 180 days, unless the audit involves cases of alleged fraud. Franchise Termination Compensation. Under existing law, manufacturers must repurchase certain motor vehicles, parts and special tools in the event of the termination of the dealer’s franchise agreement. The Act amends § 4907 of Title 6 and specifies a 90-day timeframe for payment and clarifies that it is the manufacturer’s responsibility to cover the cost of returns. Return of Unnecessary Tools & Equipment. The Act allows a dealer a limited opportunity to return and be reimbursed for the cost of certain tools and equipment that were required as a part of an electric vehicle program or agreement between that dealer and the manufacturer, if the dealer determines within two years after receipt that such tools and equipment are unnecessary or that sales volume and utilization are low enough to prevent the dealer from realizing a reasonable return on those forced investments. Failure or Refusal of Manufacturer to Accept Returns. The Act amends § 4913 of Title 6 by providing that it violates Chapter 49 for a manufacturer to fail or refuse to accept the return or to fully reimburse a dealer for the cost of parts, tools, equipment, chargers and other infrastructure required under the franchise agreement, or as part of a program, policy, or other initiative related to the sale or service of electric motor vehicles. Sale & Subscription of Over-the-Air Features. The Act allows manufacturers to directly sell options, add-ons, features, improvements and upgrades by remote transmission to consumers, provided that the dealers are afforded an equal opportunity to sell the same products and services, and further provided that the manufacturer reasonably compensates the dealer for direct sales or subscriptions to the dealer’s customers for a specified period of time. Association Standing. The Act adds a new § 4920 to Title 6 on the subject of Association Standing. Franchise laws have been enacted in all 50 states to recognize compelling state interests in protecting consumers and in regulating the disparity in bargaining power between motor vehicle manufacturers and their franchised dealers. Because dealers have a single source for their new motor vehicles, parts and accessories, many are reluctant to raise a single voice to object to unlawful activity by their manufacturer. The Act grants statutory standing to a large association of dealers to bring a legal action, in very limited circumstances, to ensure compliance with applicable law. Licensing. The Act amends provisions of §§ 6301 and 6302 of Title 21 of the Delaware Code related to the Sale of Motor Vehicles. The Act adds definitions of “new motor vehicle,” “new motor vehicle dealer,” “used motor vehicle,” and “used motor vehicle dealer” to § 6301. Section 6302 is amended to provide that a manufacturer, importer, or distributor who was licensed as a motor vehicle dealer is not eligible to receive any additional licenses. The Act is supported by the Delaware Automobile and Truck Dealers’ Association, Inc.
Early, sustained exposure to peanut and egg proteins in the infant diet significantly reduces the risk that an infant will develop a peanut or egg allergy, saving lives and future health care costs. Following multiple clinical studies, the current guidance of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology and the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, which is followed by pediatricians, recommends that by age 6 months, all infants should be introduced to both peanut and egg protein and that unless contraindicated, all infants should regularly consume peanut and well-cooked egg protein until they reach the age of 1 year, to reduce the risk of developing peanut or egg allergies. This Act requires that all health insurance plans subject to requirements under Delaware law, including Medicaid, provide coverage, at no cost when prescribed to infants, of at least 1 early peanut allergen introduction dietary supplement and at least 1 early egg allergen introduction dietary supplement. This Act applies to all policies, contracts, or certificates issued, renewed, modified, altered, amended, or reissued after December 31, 2025.
This Act ensures that educators hired after the effective date of this Act, who earned graduate degrees prior to becoming educators, receive credit on the salary schedule for those degrees regardless of the specific subject area of those degrees. Once an individual is employed as an educator, in order to receive credit for any graduate degrees earned after that time, such degree must be in the subject area in which the educator is employed.
This Act repeals the DELJIS Fund fee imposed on criminal defendants. The elimination of this fee was recommended by the Criminal Legal System Imposed Debt Study Group created by House Bill 244, as amended by House Amendment No 2, of the 151st General Assembly, in its December 7, 2023 report. Any outstanding balances owed for this fee shall be discharged upon the Act’s effective date. Per the Study Group’s recommendation, the Act will become effective upon the specific appropriation of General Fund monies to replace DELJIS’s full spending authority of the repealed fee.
This Act repeals the Senior Trust Fund Fee, the Interstate Compact Fee, and the Substance Abuse, Rehabilitation, Treatment, Education and Prevention Fund Fee imposed on criminal defendants. The elimination of these fees was recommended by the Criminal Legal System Imposed Debt Study Group created by House Bill 244, as amended by House Amendment No 2, of the 151st General Assembly, in its December 7, 2023 report. The Criminal Legal System Imposed Debt Study Group also recommended replacement of lost revenue for affected agencies as needed with General Funds. In repealing these fees, the General Assembly also intends to eliminate any outstanding balances owed on these fees.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Delaware's real estate tax laws to exempt the 2% realty transfer tax on contracts for building affordable housing units. The exemption specifically applies when the construction is funded by the federal government, the state, or local counties and municipalities. By removing this tax fee, the legislation aims to lower costs for developers working on government-financed affordable housing projects. The law defines "affordable housing units" using the existing legal definition found in Title 30 of the Delaware Code.
For over 30 years, the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) has invested in home repair programs that make necessary repairs to improve the health and safety conditions in the homes of Delawareans. This Act codifies a “Housing Repair and Modification Fund,” which will be administered by DSHA and serve low- and very-low income homeowners in need of home repair assistance.
This Act creates a clearer and workable system for ensuring that manufactured home communities with health and safety violations and conditions that threaten the health and safety of people in the community cannot continue to raise rents on residents without fixing the conditions and providing a safe community for its residents. This substitute differs from the original bill in that it does the following: (1) Adds definitions to § 7003 for the whole chapter. (2) Creates a section that provides requirements for what a community owner must do when it receives a citation or experiences a failure of services related to water, sewer, or utilities distributed by the community owner, including having to fix the problem within 10 days or give detailed reasons why it cannot be completed in that timeframe as well as provide a surety bond for 150% of the estimated cost if it cannot be done in that timeframe. (3) Specifies that a community owner cannot impose a rent increase if it does not comply with the requirements of new section governing such repairs. (4) Changes the court in which community owners may dispute a citation for purposes of receiving a rent increase from Superior Court to the Justice of the Peace Court. This Substitute also makes the new version of § 7051A sunset on July 1, 2026. It reinserts the current version of § 7051A into the code on July 1, 2026, when the new version sunsets.