Sen. Spiros Mantzavinos

This bill creates a new chapter in Title 30 and establishes the STEM Talent Advancement and Retention Program (“STAR Program”) and the STEM Talent Advancement and Retention Fund (“STAR Fund”). The purpose of this STAR Program is to incentivize and attract individuals graduating with an associate, bachelor’s, graduate, or post-graduate degree in STEM to stay and work in Delaware. An applicant must be employed with a Delaware-based employer defined as (1) having its principal place of business in Delaware; or (2) at least 51% of its employees working at a Delaware based location; or (3) registered to conduct business in Delaware and reported Delaware tax liability in the previous year. Successful applicants will receive tax credits for education loan expenses up to a maximum of $1,000 for an associate degree, $4,000 for a bachelor's degree, and $6,000 for a graduate or post-graduate degree for up to 4 consecutive years. The award may not exceed the education loan expense incurred by the applicant. The Department of Finance shall administer the program in conjunction with the Delaware Center for Life Science Education and Training ("Center"). The Department will form a Fund Committee of 5-8 individuals that must include the Executive Director of the Center, or their designee, and individuals with knowledge and expertise in STEM employment in Delaware. The fund shall be funded on an annual basis by the General Assembly in a minimum amount of $100,000. The Department may also seek federal funds, grants, or private contributions to fund the STAR Fund. The Department may not commit to awards that exceed the amount contained in the Fund. This Act is effective 10 days following the date of publication in the Register of Regulations that funds have been appropriated to implement the provisions of this Act and Notice by the Controller General is published with the Register of Regulations. This Act is to be implemented the earlier of the following: (1) 6 months after the Act’s effective date; or (2) Notice by the Secretary of Education in the Register of Regulations that final regulations have been promulgated. This Act expires 5 years after its effective date unless otherwise provided by a subsequent Act of the General Assembly.

This Resolution proclaims June 19, 2024, as "Juneteenth National Independence Day" in Delaware and encourages the people of Delaware to reflect upon the significant roles and many contributions of African Americans, and to celebrate this day with appropriate activities and events.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution designates the week of June 10-16, 2024, as "National Men's Health Week" throughout the State of Delaware. The bill aims to raise awareness about men's physical and mental health issues by encouraging open conversations and promoting preventative care during this specific time period. It does not create new laws or funding but serves as an official state recognition to support existing national health awareness efforts.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution recognizes the valuable contributions that the Lions Clubs International makes to our local communities, as well as the world at-large, by designating June 12, 2024, as "Delaware State Lions Day" in the State of Delaware.

Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution designates Wednesday, June 12, 2024, as Women Veterans Day throughout the State of Delaware. The measure directly affects the state's official calendar and serves to acknowledge the historical contributions and sacrifices of women who have served in the U.S. military. By passing this concurrent resolution, the Delaware General Assembly formally recognizes the service of over 7,000 women veterans residing in the state. The text highlights key milestones in women's military service, such as the 1948 law that allowed women to serve as permanent regular members of the armed forces. This action is a commemorative gesture rather than a change to laws or government operations.

This House Concurrent Resolution reaffirms Delaware's commitment to strengthen the longstanding partnership with Taiwan, supports Taiwan’s efforts to secure the signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement and an Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement with the United States; commends Taiwan’s vibrant full-fledged democracy; supports the reopening of a Delaware Trade Office in Taiwan; and continues to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation and contributions in international organizations.

This Act is the first leg of a constitutional amendment to eliminate the limitations on when an individual may vote absentee and authorizes the General Assembly to enact general laws providing the circumstances, rules, and procedures for absentee voting in this State. This Act is in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in Albence v. Higgins, 2022 Del. LEXIS 377 (Del. 2022). This Act requires all absentee ballots to include an oath or affirmation that the qualified voter’s vote is free from improper influence. This oath or affirmation is in lieu of the oath or affirmation required under Section 3 of Article V of the Delaware Constitution. Amending the Delaware Constitution requires not only the passing of the changes in this Act, but also passage of the same changes after the next general election by the next General Assembly. This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 1 of Article XVI of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to amend the Delaware Constitution.

This Act is a substitute for Senate Bill No. 4, replacing Senate Substitute No. 1 for Senate Bill No. 4. and Senate Substitute No. 2 for Senate Bill No. 4. Like Senate Bill No. 4, Senate Substitute No. 1, and Senate Substitute No. 2 for Senate Bill No. 4, this Act modernizes Delaware’s probation system, including by directing the courts, the Board of Parole, and the Bureau of Community Corrections to use the least restrictive probation and parole conditions and the most minimally intrusive reporting requirements necessary to achieve the goals of community supervision. This Act differs from Senate Substitute No. 2 for Senate Bill No. 4 by doing all of the following: (1) Continuing the process of updating the Delaware Code to use people-first language to refer to an individual on probation or otherwise involved in the criminal justice system. (2) Removing the prohibition on imposing a sentence of incarceration for a technical violation and the special sentencing matrix for certain technical violations. As a result, the definitions for “non-technical violation” and “technical violation” are also removed. (3) Removing the requirement that periods of incarceration imposed when probation violations are found for multiple offenses be served concurrently. (4) Removing the requirement that for a court, Board of Parole, or probation and parole officer to impose a condition that an individual on probation not possess or use alcohol or controlled substances there must be a reasonable relationship to the criminogenic needs of the individual. (5) Removing the prohibition on a probation and parole officer from pursuing sanctions for nonwilful violations of probation, which include the following: a. An individual on probation’s failure to complete a program when the program refuses to provide services, the program is cost prohibitive, or access to the program is restricted beyond the control of the individual on probation. b. An individual on probation’s failure to follow supervision conditions when the individual on probation’s medical conditions or disability prevent compliance. c. An individual on probation’s failure to report based on factors beyond the individual on probation’s control. (6) Removing the prohibition on a court finding a probation violation occurred based on criminal conduct that the court acquitted the individual on probation of or dismissed the underlying criminal charge for. (7) Removing the repeal of a provision that permits the Department of Correction to deny earned compliance credits to an individual on probation for other categories of offenses that the Department establishes by rules and regulations. The Department is statutorily permitted to deny credits for individuals on probation for a sexual offense, a violent felony, and any offense in the Delaware Code if the probation is imposed to collect restitution at Accountability Level I. (8) Removing the requirement that there be a finding that the individual on probation poses a substantial risk of injury to others or of intentionally failing to appear for a revocation hearing before a court could issue an arrest warrant or the Department could deputize officers to make an arrest. (9) Making clear that outstanding balances owed on the home confinement fee imposed under § 4332(b) of Title 11, which is repealed by this Act, are discharged. (10) Clarifying that the requirement that a court, Board of Parole, or probation and parole officer presumptively impose the least number of conditions, and least restrictive conditions of supervision, possible to achieve the goals of supervision applies only to special conditions of probation. (11) Not including any changes to § 4334 of Title 11 (relating to arrests for violation of conditions of supervision and disposition of those violations) in this Act. (12) Providing for a delay in the effect of this Act. This Act takes effect 180 days after its enactment into law. This Act makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

This Act updates the Grace Firestone Act to strengthen regulations for member schools regarding sudden cardiac arrest. The Act requires member schools to develop an athletic emergency action plan and have an automated external defibrillator (“AED”) less than 3 minutes from any venue where practices and competitions are held. It further requires all coaches, physical education teachers, referees, health teachers and at least one staff member delivering student behavioral health services or at least one school administrator per school to be trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and trained in the use of an automated external defibrillator. The Act requires regular maintenance checks of AED equipment to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for routine checks. The Act mandates all member schools to establish a cardiac emergency response plan and provide Stop the Bleed training to staff once every year. The Act requires the Department of Education and the Office of Emergency Medical Services to develop a survey that member schools must complete every two years to ensure compliance with these regulations.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution designates the month of June 2024, as "Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention Month" in Delaware and encourages the Department of Health and Social Services to research methods to raise awareness of, prevent, and treat eating disorders.