Delaware Bills | MyRepTracker

signed · Delaware · House Jun 14, 2017

HB 1: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 19 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO UNLAWFUL EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES.

This Act builds on some of the legislation passed by the 148th General Assembly that addressed the wage gap between men and women. When employers ask prospective employees for their wage or salary history, it perpetuates disparities in pay based on gender from one job into another. This Act prohibits employers from inquiring into an applicant's compensation history. An applicant may voluntarily disclose the information if he or she wishes to do so, and the bill explicitly permits discussion and negation of compensation expectations between an employer and applicants, so long as the employer does not affirmatively seek compensation history in the course of discussion and negotiation. An employer is permitted to seek and confirm such information after an offer, including compensation, has been negotiated, made, and accepted. The effective date of the bill is delayed by 6 months to allow employers to update their policies.

Stephanie Hansen (D) Stephanie Bolden (D) Catherine Cloutier (R) Nicole Poore (D) Debra Heffernan (D) · 17 co-sponsors

signed · Delaware · House Jun 13, 2017

HB 22: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 20 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE NATIONAL GUARD.

This Act updates the requirements for Courts-Martial to ensure that all members of the Delaware National Guard receive due process through the military justice system. This legislation amends Title 20 to correct a constitutional defect in the current statute, which fails to provide sufficient appellate process. It further codifies longstanding tradition of giving the Attorney General right of first refusal on all prosecutions to avoid double jeopardy. Provides for misdemeanor courts-martial jurisdiction in any military prosecution with appeal rights to the Superior Court of Delaware. Further, the act reconciles Title 20 with applicable federal law.

signed · Delaware · House Jun 13, 2017

HB 114: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO BODILY INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE COVERAGE ON MOTOR VEHICLES.

The purpose of this amendment is to better protect the motorists of the State of Delaware by raising the minimum automobile bodily injury and property damage limits to reflect the current economic conditions. The minimum automobile liability limits have not been raised in the State of Delaware since July 19, 1983. Most motor vehicle policies sold in Delaware provide $10,000 for property damage coverage. Bodily injury insurance proceeds are frequently used to cover the cost of not only pain and suffering, but an injured person’s medical expenses and lost wages, which have increased since 1983. For example, $15,000 in 1983 is equivalent to $35,960.54 in 2016, based on the federal Consumer Price Index – Urban statistics for 1983 and 2016. In addition, $30,000 in 1983 is equivalent to $71,921.08 in 2016.

signed · Delaware · House Jun 8, 2017

HB 41: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE STATE EMPLOYEES' PENSION PLAN.

In the 148th General Assembly, the state employees' pension law was amended by House Bill No. 363, as amended by House Amendment No. 1 to House Bill No. 363, to permit specified peace officers to retire at 25 years without any reduction. Specified peace officers will pay a higher employee contribution, and those who continue to work past 25 years of service will have the multiplier used in the calculation of benefits increased for the years past 25 years. This Act adds Delaware State University Police officers to the definition of "specified peace officers."

signed · Delaware · House Jun 8, 2017

HB 62: AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF HARRINGTON RELATING TO CITY ELECTED OFFICES AND CITY FINANCES.

This Act amends the City of Harrington Charter to impose term limits on Mayor (2 terms) and Council Members (3 terms). Further, the City Charter is amended to allow without voter approval the term on debt to be up to 40 years, which is the standard term for USDA loans; and to allow refinancing of debt without voter approval if it saves the City money by reducing the term or interest rate on the debt. Finally, this amendment to the Charter allows financing without voter approval for debt that will not require the principal amount to be repaid. All 3 changes have been approved by City Council Resolutions.

signed · Delaware · Senate Jun 8, 2017

SB 36: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 3 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO STRAY LIVESTOCK.

This Act more effectively and efficiently clarifies the enforcement authority of the Department of Agriculture regarding livestock at large. The offenses will now be civil penalties rather than criminal fines, expenses for impoundment will be reimbursed by the violator, and other sources of media can be used to give public notice of impoundment or sale of any livestock at large. This Act is intended to penalize repeat offenders that knowingly let their livestock run at large.

signed · Delaware · House Jun 8, 2017

HB 84: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FINES, COSTS, PENALTIES AND FORFEITURES.

This bill provides that civil violations or penalties under subchapters IV and V of Delaware’s Uniform Controlled Substances Act in Title 16 are included as offenses whereby a $15 penalty is assessed for the Fund to Combat Violent Crimes.

signed · Delaware · Senate Jun 8, 2017

SB 5: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE CODIFYING U.S. SUPREME COURT PRECEDENT RELATING TO THE TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY.

The United States Supreme Court’s decisions in Roe v. Wade and subsequent cases established that access to abortion is a constitutional right and that states may not prohibit abortion prior to viability. As a result of these decisions, and the exercise of prosecutorial discretion by the Attorney General, see Del. Op. Att’y Gen. No. 73-030, § III (Apr. 12, 1973), the Delaware Code's prohibitions against abortion are unconstitutional, and thus unenforceable. This Substitute makes Delaware’s laws on abortion consistent with the scope of the right protected by the United States Constitution and the practice in Delaware for the past 43 years. In doing so, this Act permits the termination of a pregnancy prior to viability, to protect the life or health of the mother, or in the event of serious fetal anomaly. This Substitute differs from Senate Bill No. 5 as follows: (1) It clarifies lines 31 through 34 related to fetal anomalies. (2) It notes, on lines 79 through 81, that informed consent for a procedure under this subchapter is required by § 4408-1.0 through 10.0, Title 16 of the Delaware Administrative Code. (3) It makes clear that nothing in this Substitute is to be construed to affect the continued effectiveness of the Parental Notice of Abortion Act, Subchapter VIII of Chapter 17 of Title 24 of the Delaware Code.

signed · Delaware · Senate Jun 8, 2017

SB 21: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 3 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

This bill vests the authority for regulating seed in Delaware with the Delaware Department of Agriculture and repeals any inconsistent act or parts of acts.

signed · Delaware · House Jun 2, 2017

HB 13: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 11, 16, AND 22 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DOGS.

This bill provides Statewide consistency in the law that protects the public from dangerous dogs and clarifies that dogs may not be held potentially dangerous or dangerous for animal control enforcement or for purposes of criminal liability based solely on breed-specific criteria. Findings to deem a dog dangerous will be based on actions of the dog, or an individualized demonstration of vicious behavior. It also prohibits municipalities from enacting breed-specific ordinances or regulations. The bill deletes outdated references to the now-defunct Dog Control Panel and replaces them with reference to the Justice of the Peace Court procedure laid out in Chapter 30F of Title 16.

signed · Delaware · House Jun 1, 2017

HB 69: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 9 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE NEW CASTLE COUNTY AUDIT COMMITTEE.

This bill amends Title 9, Chapter 14 of the Delaware Code relating to New Castle County and the members of the Audit Committee, and provides that Audit Committee members' term of service is four years, instead of one year, provided, however, that the terms of any reconstituted committee shall be established in a staggered manner. This revision will lead to increased continuity, stability, and productivity of the Audit Committee.

signed · Delaware · House May 30, 2017

HB 118: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 9 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO TAX INCREMENT FINANCING.

This legislation will allow Kent County to utilize Tax Increment Financing (TIF), an economic development tool which New Castle County already possesses.