Rep. Joseph E. Miro

This Act establishes an Educational Support Professional of the year award program throughout the State. Through this legislation, the state will formally honor and recognize the work educational support professionals, such as paraprofessionals, food service workers, custodians, and secretaries do to enhance school communities in Delaware.

This bill establishes a 20 year retirement for correction officers and specified peace officers within the State Employees’ Pension plan. The bill amends the multiplier prospectively for the calculation of pension benefits for correction officers and specified peace officers. For service prior to January 1, 2018 the multipliers of either 1.85%, 2.0% or 2.45% would continue to be in effect and then for years of service after January 1, 2018 a uniform multiplier of 2.5% for the first 20 years, plus 3.5% for years beyond 20 years. In addition, this bill amends the employee contribution for all correction officers and specified peace officers to a uniform 7%.

This Act raises the first offense of purchasing or obtaining a firearm for someone not legally qualified to own, possess or purchase one from a Class F to a Class E Felony. This change is to deter such "straw purchases" by making jail time more likely for the offender, and consequently, to reduce the number of people who cannot legally possess firearms but obtain them in this manner.

This bill repeals the Commissioner's discretion to grant a new license within 1 mile of an existing license, increases the required distance between a license application and an existing licensed establishment from 1200 to 1500 feet, and increases the number of licenses for the sale of alcoholic liquor an individual or entity may have an interest in from two to three.

This concurrent resolution proclaims the month of April, as “Nonprofit Impact Month” to affirm the importance of organizations in the nonprofit sector and the impact of their work for every citizen in our State, to celebrate the accomplishments of the past year, and to acknowledge our ongoing responsibility to support a robust social impact sector for citizens, communities, and economic development across the State.

Delaware law currently prohibits tasting and sale of craft beer, distilled spirits, and wine at Farmers’ Markets or Agricultural Themed Events. The bill's intent is to allow tasting of products, offer limited purchase opportunities, and promote how local craft beverages benefit our agriculture industry and where to purchase the products year round. This bill allows holders of a “Farmers’ Market Permit or Agricultural Themed Event Permit” to conduct tastings and sell craft beer, mead, cider, distilled spirits, and wine in sealed containers for off-premise consumption at retail prices at off-site farmers’ markets or agricultural themed events during the months of April through November. This bill requires the Department of Agriculture to certify that the event is an Agricultural Themed Event or Farmers’ Market. No more than 5 Permit Holders may sell at a Farmers’ Market and no more than 8 Permit Holders may sell at Agricultural Themed Events.

This resolution designates March 30, 2018 as "Doctors' Day" to recognize the valuable contributions made by physicians in Delaware.

This bill creates an Abandoned Cultural Property Act. The act allows museums to establish title to property that has been donated or left with the museum after any loan period has terminated and the lender cannot be found. Currently such assets drain the museum resources by taking up space and having to be cared for. Museums need a process by which they can establish clear title to abandoned, unclaimed, or unsolicited property. This law will allow more efficient use of museum funds and will assist museums to conserve, display, and ethically dispose of abandoned, unclaimed, or unsolicited property. This bill is modeled after Indiana's law. Delaware is 1 of only 4 states that has no law relating to Abandoned Cultural Property.

This Senate Resolution designates March as “Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention Month” in Delaware and encourages the Department of Health and Social Services to research methods to prevent and raise awareness of eating disorders.

This bill lowers the blood alcohol content requirement for driving under the influence from .08 to .05.