This Act establishes requirements for the handling of treatment records for all of the following health-care providers under Title 24: 1. Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (certified nurse practitioners), Chapter 19. 2. Licensees under the Board of Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Professionals, Chapter 30: mental health professional counselors and associate counselors, chemical dependency professionals, marriage and family therapists, professional art therapists. 3. Psychologists, Chapter 35. 4. Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Chapter 39. Under current law, a patient or client does not have a right or clear procedure by which to obtain a copy of their record when one of these practitioners closes a practice, dies, terminates a patient relationship, or is incapacitated. The requirements established under this Act are modeled on the patient record requirements and procedures for physicians and correspond with the changes that would be enacted under House Bill No. 105 (152nd). These requirements and procedures also apply when a patient or client requests copies of their records. Under existing law, the governing boards established under these chapters have authority to promulgate regulations, if necessary, to address intersections between the requirements under this Act and professional codes of ethics. Sections 5 through 8 of this Act make technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual and corrects the spelling of the word “health-care” to be consistent throughout these chapters.
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Speeding is a contributing factor in many serious injury motor vehicle crashes and roadway fatalities. This Act adds operating a motor vehicle at a speed of 90 miles an hour or more to the definition of reckless driving.
This Act increases the length of time for a valid temporary tag from 60 days to 90 days. This Act also adds a new provision requiring temporary tags be issued through a temporary tag system, approved by the Division of Motor Vehicles, to further reduce fraud in the issuance of temporary tags, unless the Division of Motor Vehicles determines the temporary tag issuer must continue using temporary registration plates.
This Act relates to the Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Committee's ("Committee") review of the Provider Advisory Board ("Board"). As part of that review, the Committee approved a recommendation to consolidate the functions of the Board into the functions of the Delaware Early Childhood Council ("DECC"). The Board's review is held over to 2024, and Committee staff will monitor and report back to the Committee in 2024 on the implementation of the recommendation to consolidate these functions. To ensure that the functions consolidated into the DECC remain accurate, this Act reflects the changes to the Board's functions under § 3007A, Title 14 that do not take effect until July 1, 2024.
This Act amends §134, Title 17 of the Delaware Code to allow for Secretary’s designee to sign traffic resolutions within incorporated towns and cities. The same authority already exists for traffic resolutions in unincorporated areas.
This Act requires drivers to change lanes or reduce their speed while approaching a stationary vehicle displaying warning signals, including vehicle hazard warning lights, road flares, traffic cones, cautions signs, or any non-vehicular warning signs.
Frequently, driver license applicants over the age of 18 require more than six (6) months practice time behind the wheel and to prepare for the skills exam. By providing the permit for a total of one (1) year, it will eliminate the need to request the extension and decreases the risk of them having to retake the knowledge exam if they do not request the extension prior to the six (6) months expiration of their permit, thus eliminating the need to start the process over. The limited window of one extension after the 6-month period is a frequent complaint from customers.
This Act is a result of the Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Committee's review of the Delaware Byway Advisory Board ("Board"). First formed in 2000, the Board has served in an advisory role relating to the Delaware Byways Program. The Board's primary purpose is to assist in and make recommendations regarding in the designation, development, operation, management, and promotion of Delaware byways. During the initial development of the Delaware Byways Program, the Board consulted with the Department of Transportation’s planning division to create the Delaware Scenic and Historic Highways Program Guide in 2001. The Guide defined the creation, organization, and ongoing management of designated byways in Delaware. Six byways were designated in Delaware between 2002 and 2010. The Board met regularly from 2000 through 2005, with its last known meeting in 2005. The Delaware Byways Program no longer accepts applications for new byways, and the existing 6 byways are self-governed by byway management organizations and individual corridor management plans. For these reasons, and with the support of the Department of Transportation, the Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Committee concluded that, although the Board once served an important role relating to byways in Delaware, the Board is no longer meeting its statutory duties or fulfilling a state need, and that the Board should be terminated. This Act therefore terminates the Delaware Byway Advisory Board.
This Bill allows for the use of green lights on state owned and operated snow removal equipment and vehicles during winter weather operations. Studies have shown green lights are more visible to the traveling public during winter weather conditions.
This is an omnibus bill that updates several aspects of the Delaware Public Utility Code, Title 26, including the following: (a) Expanding the public notice options for the Public Service Commission in order to reduce costs, increase transparency, and raise public awareness of Commission proceedings; (b) Amending the statute which sets the salary of Commissioners to provide for a salary as appropriated in the annual State Operating Budget; (c) Increasing the utility assessment rate; and (d) Eliminating references to the Water Supply Coordinating Council, which reached its sunset date of January 31, 2022.