Rep. Charles Postles

Maddy summaryThis bill designates May 2024 as Mental Health Awareness Month in Delaware to highlight the importance of mental well-being across all age groups. It calls on citizens and government agencies to increase awareness and support for mental health resources, citing statistics on the prevalence of mental illness and the impact of the pandemic. The resolution also references recent legislative efforts to fund mental health counselors in schools, emphasizing the need for early identification and treatment of mental health conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates May 15, 2024, as Youth Prevention Day in Delaware to raise awareness about substance misuse and mental health issues among young people. The resolution encourages state agencies and community organizations to share evidence-based prevention resources and engage youth in age-appropriate support programs. It is based on statistics highlighting the prevalence of drug, alcohol, and tobacco use among adolescents and recent discussions involving local students and policymakers.

This Resolution recognizes the month of April 2024 as "National Donate Life Month" in Delaware.

This Act expands the crime of “criminal mischief” to include damaging an authorized emergency vehicle, defining them as vehicles of a fire department, fire company, police vehicles, ambulances, as well as vehicles used by a fire chief, chief engineer, or fire police officer of any duly organized fire company in performance of their duties. This Act also makes it a class E felony when the person intentionally damages an authorized emergency vehicle.

The Constitution of the State of Delaware creates 3 branches of State Government, the Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary, each having certain delineated responsibilities or powers within a framework that limits and separates the powers of each branch from the other. The doctrine of separation of powers is a fundamental part of constitutional government. The Justices of the Delaware Supreme Court have, in quoting William Blackstone, recognized that "whenever the [legislative and executive] powers are united together, there can be no public liberty". In re Request of Governor for Advisory Opinion, 722 A. 2d 307 (1998). This Act's purpose is to require the legislative branch to reasonably restrict or confirm the executive branch in its exercise of emergency powers, thereby maintaining a balance or separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches of state government. This Act recognizes the statutory authority of the Governor to act in the event of an emergency or disaster. During protracted emergencies and disasters, particularly those lasting more than 180 days, good governance requires participation by the General Assembly in person or virtually to approve extensions of Emergency Orders. This approval requirement may be waived only when it is not possible for both houses of the General Assembly in person or virtually to convene a quorum. The Governor retains the authority to terminate Emergency Orders without approval when the emergency or disaster has passed. Any new non-weather related emergency order issued within 6 months of the termination of a prior order and based upon substantially similar reasons shall be invalid unless approved by the General Assembly. Additionally, any non-weather related emergency order that requires the closure of any business, industry, religious, or non-profit facility must specifically delineate which type of business or facilities are to be closed. The time limits proposed by this Act are similar to those limits applicable to emergency regulations under the Administrative Procedures Act, 29 Del. C. § 10119. This Act shall become effective immediately upon the ending of the Governor's term of office next occurring after the enactment of this Act.

This resolution requests the Governor of Delaware provide recommendations for the future of education by addressing funding, improving academic performance, standardized testing, and school safety and climate to the 153rd Delaware General Assembly by June 30, 2025.

This act limits the repair waiver expenditure required by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to a uniform statewide amount of $450.

This resolution recognizes the week of March 17 through March 23, 2024, as “National Agriculture Week” in Delaware

This resolution directs all electric utilities in Delaware that offer net metering to solar customers to participate in a cost-benefit study and analysis of net metering in Delaware being undertaken by the Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility to address issues such as cost burdens and cost shifting to non-solar customers.

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.