Rep. Stephen Smyk

This Act, consistent with longstanding practice throughout the State expressly recognized in the existing statute, clarifies the manner in which criminal justice agencies may inform the public of information related to arrests. In addition, this Act provides the State Bureau of Identification the ability to share information with the Federal government to maintain on-going monitoring of individuals who have already undergone background checks. Finally, it provides that fingerprints and similar information collected will be retained for future comparison purposes.

The Division of Forensic Science (“Division”) produces numerous postmortem examination reports, autopsy reports, and laboratory reports annually. Given the high volume, and consistent with National Association of Medical Examiners accreditation standards, this Act expands the period of time within which the Medical Examiner must complete a written report from 30 to 90 days. In addition, while “next of kin” is defined for purposes of the authority to provide corneas to eye banks, other references to “next of kin” in Chapter 47 of Title 29 (regarding the Division’s authority) are undefined. This Act provides a clear definition for Division employees and the public regarding who qualifies as “next of kin” and is intended to ensure that the confidential reports prepared by the Division are released only to the appropriate individual.

This Act includes Probation and Parole Officers in the Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families under the definitions of Law-Enforcement Officer under the Law-Enforcement Officer’s Bill of Rights.

This Act grants legal guardians the standing to petition or oppose a petition to change minors' surnames.

Section 5301(3) of Title 7 provides that it is the Department of State’s (“Department”) duty “to protect and encourage the preservation of archaeological resources located on privately owned lands in this State.” This Act enables the Department to better fulfill this duty by requiring a person required to submit a project for pre-application review under § 9204 of Title 29 to submit the following as part of the review process: (1) Any existing archeological report or survey concerning the property that is in the applicant’s possession. (2) Any proposal to conduct an archeological report or survey of the property prepared for or at the request of the applicant. This Act replaces Senate Bill No. 248.

Section 5301(3) of Title 7 provides that it is the Department of State’s (“Department”) duty “to protect and encourage the preservation of archaeological resources located on privately owned lands in this State.” This Act enables the Department to better fulfill this duty by requiring both of the following: (1) A person who proposes or plans to subdivide or rezone privately owned land subject to pre-application review under § 9203 of Title 29 to submit to the Director the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs (“Director”) any proposed or existing study or report on archaeological resources on the privately owned land. (2) The Director to review the study or report submitted and provide comment relating to the protection or preservation of archaeological resources on the privately owned land.

In 2006, Delaware enacted “Jessica’s Law,” which requires first time offenders convicted of a specified sexual offense against a child under 14 years of age and individuals previously convicted of a Class A or B sexual offense in Title 11 and subsequently convicted of a specified sexual offense sentences be sentenced to at least 25 years in prison, up to life. The specified sexual offenses in “Jessica’s Law” are Rape in the Third Degree (where the defendant engages in sexual penetration with the victim without the victim’s consent or with a victim who is under 16 years of age and causes physical injury or serious mental or emotional injury); Rape in the Second Degree; Rape in the First Degree; Dangerous Crime Against a Child; Sexual Offender Unlawful Sexual Conduct Against a Child; and Sexual Abuse of a Child by a Person in a Position of Trust, Authority, or Supervision in the First Degree (where the defendant engages in sexual penetration or sexual intercourse with a child under 16 years of age). Data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Nation Incident-Based Reporting System indicates that 1 of every 7 victims of sexual assaults is under the age of 6. This Act updates “Jessica’s Law,” enhancing penalties for especially vulnerable victims, as follows: (1) Requiring that an individual convicted of one of the specified offenses in “Jessica’s Law” be sentenced to an additional 5 years in prison if the victim is a child under the age of 7. (2) Requiring that an individual convicted of Unlawful Sexual Contact in the First Degree (involving a child under the age of 13) or Kidnapping in the Second Degree (for the purpose of violating or abusing the victim sexually) be sentenced to at least 5 years in jail if the victim is a child under the age of 7. (3) Requiring that an individual convicted of Kidnapping in the First Degree (for the purpose of violating or abusing the victim sexually) be sentenced to at least 10 years in jail if the victim is a child under the age of 7. Additionally, this Act requires the Superior Court to impose these sentences upon the application of the State.

This Substitute Act implements certain recommendations adopted by the Lottery & Gaming Study Commission in 2015 and the Video Lottery Advisory Council in 2017, in recognition of significant changes in the regional gaming marketplace and the State’s desire to remain competitive in the face of a proliferation of gaming venues in neighboring states. This Substitute Act adjusts the revenue sharing model in a way that ensures that the State continues to benefit from video lottery proceeds, ensures continued employment and horse racing at the State’s three video lottery facilities, and ensures that the video lottery agents will be able to reinvest capital in their facilities, market their facilities, and maintain their high standards of customer service. Effective July 1, 2018, this Substitute Act does all of the following: 1. Reduces the State’s share of gross table game revenues from 29.4% to 15.5%. 2. Suspends the table game license fee due June 1, 2019, and continues to suspend the fee in subsequent fiscal years if each agent increases expenditures on marketing, wages, and benefits by its pro rata share of the license fee. 3. Increases purses for horsemen by 0.6%, phased-in over two years. 4. Reduces the State’s share of gross slot machine revenues from 43.5% to 41.5% or 42.5% to 40.5%, as applicable, with additional reductions of 2% possible for each video lottery agent starting with the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019, based on qualified capital expenditures reaching 3% of video lottery net proceeds. The Substitute Act also removes the prohibition against video lottery agents operating on Christmas or Easter. The Substitute Act differs from the Act with respect to the increases in purses for horsemen, a revised basis upon which to calculate the State’s share of gross slot machine and table games revenues, and requirements for video lottery agents to increase capital expenditures, marketing, wages, and benefits to continue the suspension of table game license fees and receive additional reductions in the State’s share of video lottery net proceeds. Sections 2, 5, and 6 of this Substitute Act are drafted to amend the law in effect at the time the changes are to take effect.

The Act made changes to motor vehicle franchising practices, by doing the following: (1) Prohibiting a new motor vehicle manufacturer from recovering its costs for compensating its dealers for recalls or warranty parts and service by reducing the amount due to the dealer or imposing a charge. (2) Establishing the process for and method of compensating a dealer for a recall related to a used motor vehicle. (3) Providing a process by which a dealer may protest a franchise termination with the Public Service Commission. (4) Protecting consumer data. (5) Making technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. This Substitute Act incorporates these changes and makes an additional change to § 4903(b) of Title 6.

This concurrent resolution recognizes the achievements and efforts of the staff of the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, who worked to earn accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums for Delaware’s state museums and collections, the highest recognition afforded to museums in the United States.