Rep. Mike Smith

This Act adds procedural requirements to meetings of the State Employee Benefits Committee (SEBC), revises the membership of the SEBC, and requires that the Secretary of the Department of Human Resources inform State employees and retired State employees (eligible pensioners) about changes in benefits coverages affecting eligible pensioners who are receiving or eligible to receive retirement benefits under the state employees' pension plan, including proposed changes. This Act adds the following requirements to SEBC meetings: 1. If the SEBC or a subcommittee is holding a virtual meeting, the chair or vice-chair must attend at the anchor location. 2. The chair of a subcommittee must be a voting member of the SEBC. 3. The SEBC must approve a request for proposals to select a carrier or third-party administrator for the health care insurance plan for State employees or eligible pensioners during an open meeting and that the draft request for proposals must be included with the meeting notice and agenda. 4. Adds standard language for the SEBC regarding the conduct of open meetings by public bodies, including requirements for quorum and when a member designates another individual to attend a meeting. This Act revises the membership of the SEBC by doing all of the following: 1. Removes the Delaware retiree appointed by the Governor and adds 2 members who are Delaware residents eligible to receive health care insurance under Chapter 52 of Title 29 under a pension or retirement plan. The President Pro Tem of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives each appoint 1 of these members. 2. Makes the Secretary of the Department of Human Resources a non-voting member of the Committee. 3. Changes the leadership of the SEBC so that only the Director of the Office of Management and Budget serves as chair and the vice-chair is elected annually by the members of the Committee. The vice-chair must be a voting member of the Committee and may not be a cabinet secretary or hold a position of equivalent rank in the executive branch. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. This Act is known as the “Delaware State Employee Benefits Committee (SEBC) Transparency and Accountability Act”.

This Act repeals the option of providing health care insurance to state pensioners under Medicare part C, known as a Medicare Advantage Plan. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. This Act is known as "The Delaware Medicare Supplement Selection Act".

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the expiration date for Delaware's existing laws regarding xylazine, a drug often found in the opioid crisis. By deleting the specific clause that set the current regulations to end on November 29, 2024, the legislation ensures these rules remain in effect indefinitely. The changes directly impact state health officials and law enforcement who rely on these statutes to manage drug testing and control substance issues. Once signed by the governor, the state maintains its legal framework for addressing xylazine without needing to renew it annually.

This resolution calls on the General Assembly to encourage the Delaware medical community to educate the citizens of Delaware about the forced organ harvesting that occurs in China, in the event they decide to travel to China for an expedited transplant.

This bill provides important consumer protections for property insurance contracts by improving the reliability of mailed notifications of policy cancellation or renewal. Section 1 of this bill requires insurers to deliver any homeowners’ notices of cancellation or nonrenewal by USPS certified mail or USPS Intelligent Mail barcode. Further, whereas currently an insurer can cancel or non-renew a policy because of two non-weather-related claims over the lifetime of the policy, this legislation provides a reasonable claims lookback period for non-weather-related claims, as is already the case for claims in other portions of this subsection of the Code. Section 2 of this bill precludes an insurance carrier from refusing to renew a homeowners’ policy based on non-weather claims unless 2 or more claims occur within the 36-month period immediately preceding the expiration of the current policy period.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates October 6, 2024, as "National Coaches Day" throughout the State of Delaware to honor sports coaches. It serves as a formal recognition of the role coaches play in teaching life skills and motivating athletes, rather than creating new laws or funding. The resolution applies to all sports coaches within the state and marks the date as an official observance.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates June 15, 2024, as "Delaware Elder Abuse Awareness Day" to highlight the issue of elder abuse within the state. The resolution does not change laws or create new programs but instead encourages all Delaware residents to learn more about protecting older adults from neglect, financial exploitation, and other forms of harm. By recognizing this specific date, the bill aims to increase public awareness and mobilize community action against elder abuse.

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 act requires a commercial entity that knowingly or intentionally provides pornography and other materials defined as harmful to minors to verify the age of individuals accessing the material. Civil liability and a civil penalty are imposed on commercial entities that fail to comply with verification requirements. Additionally, an internet provider or user of an interactive computer service on the internet is not subject to liability. This act is modeled after similar laws in Virginia, Utah, and Louisiana.

This Act allows Delaware voters who are not affiliated with a political party to vote in a political party's primary election. Currently there are approximately 170,000 registered Delaware voters who are not affiliated with a political party. Members of a political party are not allowed to crossover and vote in another political party's primary election.