Legislative Wrap-Up »

Prescription assistance for seniors approved by Senate

The Senate unanimously approved reinstating the Delaware Prescription Drug Payment Assistance Program June 12 to help senior citizens pay for their medications. Senate Bill 228 restores $2 million a year for the program, which was cut under last year's austerity measures. The program is offered to Delawareans 65 and older who are under 200 percent of the federal poverty level or have prescription drug expenses that exceed 40 percent of their annual income.

The bill has support on the House side with a statement released by Speaker of the House Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth. “I am so pleased to see legislation to re-establish the Delaware Prescription Drug Payment Assistance Program pass the Senate,” he said. “The detrimental cut that was made last year to the program needed to be restored – this program provides much-needed relief to our seniors and their prescription drug costs.”

If passed in the House and signed by Gov. John Carney, the program will return in January 2019.

Bill aims to improve state construction

Contractors who routinely run over schedule, over budget, or short of quality standards might lose state business under legislation passed June 12 by the Senate. Senate Bill 208, sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Nicole Poore, D-New Castle, corrects a wrinkle in Delaware law that requires state agencies to accept the lowest bid for public works projects, even from contractors with a poor record of performance.

The bill comes in response to complaints of construction projects delayed by insufficient planning and shoddy workmanship. In practice, the lowest bid on a public works project may not always be the least expensive. Poor planning and unforeseen problems recently caused a bridge repair project in New Castle to run roughly four months over schedule and $1 million over budget, said Poore. Current law requires state agencies to collect contractor performance reviews during the prequalification process, but it does not include an objective standard to evaluate past performance.

Under SB 208, state agencies awarding contracts on the basis of best value would be required to consider performance ratings, and a stakeholder panel would be formed to advise Delaware Department of Transportation officials on the content of a performance based rating system. Contractors on most transportation projects would be required to meet or exceed a minimum performance rating or permit the department to retain 5 percent of payments made to the contractor.

If passed by the House of Representatives and signed by Gov. John Carney, SB 208 would take effect on Jan. 1, 2019.

Drone harassment a crime

Flying a drone to harass people or invade their privacy is now a crime in Delaware. Gov. John Carney signed the law June 12, which would result in a class B misdemeanor for a first offense and subsequent offenses, increasing to a class A misdemeanor if a person is injured or property is damaged as a result of a drone.

Good Samaritans, emergency responders face no liability for administering naloxone

Emergency responders, volunteers and Good Samaritans are now immune from liability for administering naloxone to anyone overdosing on drugs. Gov. John Carney signed the law June 12 that exempts individuals rendering emergency care from liability. This includes firemen, policemen, volunteer ambulance or rescue squad members or lay members of the public serving as Good Samaritans.