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Legislative Wrap »

April 21, 2017

Bills aimed at giving opportunity to succeed
House Democrats unveiled a package of bills, called the Fair Shot Agenda, April 5 designed to help Delawareans in the areas of their workplace, education and family life.

House Bill 3, sponsored by Rep. Debra Heffernan, D-Bellefonte, makes full-time state employees, including teachers, eligible for 12 weeks of paid maternity or paternity leave after one year of employment. Under the bill, new parents would be eligible for leave for up to one year after the birth of the child or adoption of a child under the age of 6.

House Bill 113, sponsored by Rep. Paul Baumbach, D-Newark, would make the state's Earned Income Tax Credit refundable and capable of exceeding the tax amount otherwise due. The credit would be phased in, increasing 1 percent per year from 6 percent of the corresponding federal earned income credit in 2018 until it reaches 15 percent of the federal EITC in 2027.

House Bill 126, sponsored by Rep. Sean Lynn, D-Dover, would expand the eligibility criteria for childcare assistance in Delaware.
The bill would allow unemployed parents and guardians to begin receiving child care assistance as they seek new employment opportunities for up to 90 non-consecutive days each year.

The final piece of legislation, a draft proposal sponsored by Rep. David Bentz, D-Newark/Bear, would establish the Complete Your Degree Grant Program. The program would provide resources to students who are re-enrolling in a publicly funded associate degree program in Delaware. Under the bill, a student must meet the general eligibility requirements for a SEED scholarship; have not been enrolled in a college program for at least two years; have earned a minimum of 30 semester hour credits toward an associate degree; and have an adjusted gross income that does not exceed $36,000.

Bill standardizes civil forfeitures
Sen. Colin Bonini, R-Dover South, introduced a bill April 5 that standardizes forfeitures across all crimes, simplifies procedures and addresses counterproductive incentives in the law. Senate Bill 60, which has bipartisan support, does not change the authority of law enforcement to seize property suspected of being associated with crime or limit in any way prosecutors' ability to charge and prosecute suspected criminals. The bill ensures that those individuals proven guilty of a crime do not keep the fruits of their crime. SB60 has been assigned to the Senate Judicial & Community Affairs Committee.

Bill sets money aside in rent disputes
Rep. Bill Carson, D-Smyrna, introduced a bill April 6 that sets forth the framework by which a homeowner will pay the disputed rent increase amount to the community owner until final resolution of the rent increase dispute. Under House Bill 131, the community owner must keep each payment of the disputed rent increase amount in an escrow account in a federally insured banking institution and provide in writing the location of the account to the Delaware Manufactured Home Relocation Authority and the Consumer Protection Unit of the Attorney General's Office, and the account number within 30 days of the first disputed rent increase payment. This bill prohibits the community owner from using the escrowed funds for any purpose not expressly permitted by this subsection. HB131 has been assigned to the House Manufactured Housing Committee.

Bill changes nurse licensure requirements
Sen. John Walsh, D-Stanton, introduced a bill April 5 changing the multi-state nurse licensure requirements. As proposed in Senate Bill 59, all nurses practicing under a multistate license must meet a minimum set of licensure requirements, including a fingerprint federal criminal background check. Nurses who fail to meet these requirements will not be eligible for a multistate license, and multistate privileges will be removed from nurses when disciplinary actions are taken against a home state multistate license.

If Delaware fails to enact the enhanced nurse multistate licensure compact, Delaware nurses with current multistate licenses will no longer be permitted to practice in states that have enacted the enhanced version. Currently, 13 states have adopted this enhanced compact, and legislation to adopt it is pending in 15 other states. SB59 has been assigned to the Senate Sunset Committee.

Bill broadens agritourism definition
Rep. Harvey Kenton introduced a bill April 6 intended to promote agritourism activities within Delaware by broadly defining what constitutes agritourism. For example, under House Bill 129, farm and dairy markets, microbreweries and distilleries, mazes, rodeos and farm-oriented miniature golf would be added to the list of activities that could be described as agritourism. HB 129 has been assigned to the House Agricultural Committee.

Bill helps victims get information
Sen. Brian Bushweller, D-Dover/Central Kent, introduced a bill April 5 that ensures victims of crime are afforded as much information as is available to assist them through the trial, sentencing and post-conviction phases of a criminal case. Senate Bill 58 has been assigned to the Senate Judicial & Community Affairs Committee.

Bill requires information before guilty plea
Rep. Trey Paradee, D-Cheswold, introduced a bill April 6 that creates a Fair Notice chapter in state code. Specifically, House Bill 128 requires individuals considering a plea of guilty in a criminal court of law be provided information related to the collateral consequences of a conviction. HB128 also requires additional notice be provided to a person convicted of a crime at the time of sentencing and upon release. The bill has been assigned to the House Judiciary Committee.

Bill fines loose snow and ice non-removal
Sen. Gregory Lavelle, R-Sharpley, introduced a bill April 4 that would increase penalties associated with ice and snow dislodging from a moving vehicle and causing physical injury or property damage. Under Senate Bill 57, a vehicle may be stopped prior to the snow and ice dislodging and be posed with a civil penalty of $25 to $75. If the snow or ice does actually cause damage, a non-commercial motor vehicle shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $200 or more than $1,000 for each offense. A commercial motor vehicle shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $500 or more than $1,500 for each offense. No motor vehicle points shall be assessed for a violation of this section. SB57 has been assigned to the Senate Transportation Committee.

Bill raises injury, damage coverage of vehicles
Rep. Bryon Short, D-Highland Woods, introduced a bill April 4 raising the minimum automobile bodily injury and property damage limits to reflect the current economic conditions. According to the synopsis of House Bill 114, the minimum automobile liability limits have not been raised in Delaware since July 19, 1983. The bill has been assigned to the House Economic Development/Banking/Insurance/Commerce Committee.

 

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