Sen. Laura Sturgeon

This Act provides supplementary appropriations to certain Grants-in-Aid recipients for Fiscal Year 2025. Section 1 – Government Units and Senior Centers $ 34,521,948 Section 2 – One-Times and Community Agencies $ 51,643,425 Section 3 – Fire Companies and Public Service Ambulance Companies $ 11,634,433 Section 4 – Veterans Organizations $ 698,220 GRAND TOTAL $ 98,498,026

Senate Substitute No. 1 for Senate Bill No. 252 is identical to Senate Bill No. 252 except that SS 1 for SB 252 corrects a spelling error in the synopsis to avoid confusion. This Act requires that the Department of Education (Department) perform audits of educator preparation programs (program) to assess compliance with the evidence-based reading instruction requirements, known as the "science of reading", that were enacted on June 30, 2021, by Senate Bill No. 133 (151st). If a program is not compliant with these requirements, the audit findings must specifically identify each area in which the program is not compliant, and the Department must require that the program take corrective action for each non-compliant area. If a program is compliant with all of the science of reading requirements, the Department shall award the program a specific distinction. This Act also requires that the Department use these audits to identify how teacher preparation in reading instruction can be improved and that the audit findings be included in the reports the Department already publishes about educator preparation programs.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution creates the Delaware Restoring the Family Unit Task Force to study how state laws affect family stability. The group is designed to examine specific policies in taxation, welfare, education, and recidivism to identify any factors that might discourage marriage or family unity. Its members include legislators, state agency heads, and community representatives who will meet to review these issues and submit a report with recommendations by March 2025. Although the resolution was introduced in June 2024, it was defeated by the Senate and did not become law.

This Resolution recognizes June 2024 as “Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Month” and June 27, 2024, as “Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Day”, and encourages citizens of the state to continue their work educating victims of assault or abuse, combat, serious accidents, and natural disasters about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of PTSI.

This House Concurrent Resolution urges the establishment of a medical school in the State of Delaware; calls for the formation of a formal Steering Group to guide the planning and implementation of a medical school; encourages the pursuit of partnerships with established medical schools and other medical education programs; and commits to supporting efforts to secure necessary funding needed to establish a medical school.

This bill codifies that the Superior Court Veterans’ Treatment Court is a qualified rehabilitation program under § 4177D of Title 21 of the Delaware Code for persons seeking to have their driver's licenses reinstated after a DUI. This Act makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

This concurrent resolution designates October of each year as “Dyslexia Awareness Month” in Delaware. According to the United States National Institute of Health, dyslexia is a learning disability that can hinder a person’s ability to read, write, spell, and sometimes speak. Dyslexia is the most common learning disability in children and persists throughout life with 10 percent of the population or one out of every 10 people in the United States suffering from dyslexia. Children with dyslexia who are identified as dyslexic and provided with effective reading instruction in kindergarten and first grade, will have significantly fewer problems learning to read at grade level than children who are not identified as dyslexic or provided help until third grade or after. Proper diagnosis, early and appropriate treatment, and support from family, teachers, and friends will greatly increase a child’s academic success and self-esteem; however, it is never too late for adults with dyslexia to learn to read, and process and express information more efficiently. October is National Dyslexia Awareness Month, reminding students and their parents that living with dyslexia can be tackled with early intervention. Each year during the month of October, conferences are held around the United States to promote awareness, research, and early identification of dyslexia.

Survivors of child sexual abuse that occurred in this State who have been barred from filing suit against their abusers by virtue of the expiration of the former civil statute of limitations, shall be permitted to file those claims in the Superior Court of this State at any time. This is intended to apply retroactively.

Maddy summaryThis bill mandates that Medicaid in Delaware cover doula services for pregnant and birthing individuals, affecting all health insurance carriers within the state. It requires coverage for three prenatal visits, three postpartum visits, and attendance during labor, with specific provisions for additional postpartum visits if recommended by a licensed medical professional. To implement this, the state must create a certification process for doulas and set reimbursement rates that ensure a livable income for those providing the services. The law officially took effect on January 1, 2024, and was signed into law by the Governor.

This Concurrent Resolution establishes the Public Education Funding Commission to continue the comprehensive review of public education funding for all students and populations served by district and charter schools, develop a roadmap of recommendations to implement improvements to the public education funding system, and serve as an ongoing body to review the funding annually and recommend updates and changes. The Commission will hold its first meeting by October 1, 2024, and issue its first recommendations by October 1, 2025, so the recommendations may be considered for inclusion in the Governor’s recommended Fiscal Year 2027 budget.