Rep. Mike Smith

This Act requires Delaware Medicaid to provide an enhancement to the acute care per diem rate for psychiatric facilities for hard to place pediatric behavioral health inpatients. The per diem enhancement is limited to an inpatient stay of 14 days. The applicability of the per diem enhancement is determined based on whether admission criteria is met. This Act also creates a Quality Oversight Committee designed to identify quality metrics for facilities admitting patients as well as provide biennial recommendations to the General Assembly’s Joint Finance Committee regarding eligibility categories and enhancement rates.

This Act provides a tuition waiver for victims of human trafficking who are enrolled in the University of Delaware, Delaware State University, or Delaware Technical Community College.

Of the 41 states with a state income tax, 27 states fully exempt military retirement pay from state income taxes and 12 states partially exempt military retirement pay. In 2022, Delaware increased the pension exclusion for military pensioners under 60 to $12,500. This Act phases in, over 3 years, an increased exemption for military pensions from state income taxation, regardless of age, so that in taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, the exemption will be $25,000 for all military pensioners.

This Act creates a professional loan-to-grant incentive program to encourage Delawareans to pursue careers in nursing at long-term care facilities. Funding for the incentive program is to be appropriated annually by the General Assembly, in an amount not less than $1 million. Qualifying nursing students who agree to fulfill a 4-year service obligation at a long-term care facility may apply for loans to assist with expenses associated with (a) prelicensure education at a (i) State Board of Nursing approved nursing education program that is authorized to prepare persons for licensure as a registered nurse or a (ii) State Board of Nursing approved practical nursing education program, or (b) a graduate-level education at an advanced practice registered nurse program accredited by a national accrediting body. Individuals who have been employed for at least 1 year as a nurse in a Delaware long-term care facility and who have obtained qualified educational loans are eligible to apply for loan repayment under this Act. Loan repayment will be subject to the availability of funds and will be allocated at the discretion of the Delaware Higher Education Office. An applicant may receive only 1 loan payment per year, not to exceed $5,000, and may not receive more than 4 loan repayments under this program. The program will be administered by the Delaware Higher Education Office.

This Act amends the Fiscal Year 2023 Bond and Capital Improvements Act to (1) list the allocations of the School Construction Market Pressure Contingency Fund and clarify that funds cannot exceed the CN scope. Further, this Act amends Fiscal Year 2024 Bond and Capital Improvements Act to (2) revise language adjusting Federal Fund reporting dates to align with federal timelines; (3) ensure any alternative yard waste drop-off plan and relocation must provide the same level of service as the existing Polly Drummond Yard Waste site; (4) reallocate Resource, Conservation and Development funding for drainage improvement projects; (5) authorize the cancellation of any notes and forego all amounts owed under the loan agreement between the Diamond State Port Corporation (DSPC) and the Transportation Trust Fund; (6) authorize $400,000 of the Cover Crop Investment to be allocated to the Delaware Nutrient Management Commission for alternative projects; (7) authorize school districts to bond, if needed, the local match to market pressure and clarify that funds cannot exceed the scope of the Certificate of Necessity; (8) authorize the Department of Transportation to use Community Transportation Funds for one-time reimbursements for various projects; (9) reallocate Community Reinvestment Funds to the MOT Senior Center; (10) authorize the Department of Health and Social Services to donate land to the Wilmington Renaissance Corporation; (11) authorize funds to be used for the Carvel State Office Building window replacement project; (12) authorize funding to be used for construction or renovation of the Cleveland White building; (13) donate, sell, or transfer all or part of the property known as “Elbert-Palmer School”; (14) authorize funds for the demolition of the former Elbert-Palmer School and related site work; (15) authorize Caesar Rodney School District’s Certificate of Necessity 2210B to be extended and will now expire on November 15, 2024; (16) authorize Municipal Infrastructure Funds for the Bowers Beach Boatlift to be used for Drainage Improvement; and (17) authorize the transfer of ownership of the state-owned dredge to Summit North Marina LLC.

This resolution recognizes and celebrates the Chinese New Year 2024.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution recognizes February 4, 2024, as "USO Day" in the State of Delaware and honors USO Delaware for its important and inspiring work supporting military members and their families.

This Act raises the minimum income to be subject to income tax from $2,000 to $2,500. Also, the current 6 income tax brackets are collapsed into 3 brackets, each with a slightly reduced tax rate for most taxpayers.

This concurrent resolution hereby designates January 23, 2024 as ‘Maternal Health Awareness Day” in the State of Delaware.

This Concurrent Resolution recognizes January 2024 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Delaware.