Posts Tagged ‘delaware general assembly’
Teachers’ Compensation, Court Fines, Fees… And Bedbugs: Del. General Assembly Resumes Session
New Delaware legislation is designed to make the teaching profession more attractive by ensuring that compensation for public educators is competitive with other school districts in the region.The bill (SB 100) would establish the 13-member Public Education Compensation Committee. It would work with educators, school administrators, local school boards and parents to examine current rates…
Read MoreDel. Living Donor Protection Act Becomes Law
Delawareans who have donated an organ or tissue will be protected from discrimination by insurance companies, under a bill signed by Governor John Carney. “The Delaware General Assembly has done important work attempting to prevent discriminatory practices and this bill further protects Delawareans,” State Senator Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes said. “Having to pay a higher rate…
Read MoreSchool Tax Hike Without A Referendum? Del. Legislation Addresses That Possibility
Delawareans could face increases in their school property taxes without a referendum being held, but legislation to be introduced in the General Assembly would address that scenario.The state’s three counties have been reassessing their properties in compliance with terms of a lawsuit settlement over the fairness of Delaware’s school funding formula. In Sussex County, there…
Read MoreDel. Family Leave Bill Gets Final Approval In General Assembly
The House of Representatives and the Delaware State Senate gave final approval Thursday to legislation that would provide eligible full-time workers with up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave a year and up to six weeks of paid family caregiving, medical or military leave every two years. The measure, SS2 for SB1, has been…
Read MoreDel. Bill Addresses Access To Abortion Medications
Physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses would be permitted to prescribe approved medications for termination of a pregnancy in Delaware, under a bill that has passed the State Senate.The sponsors said this legislation addresses a provision in the state code that allows only qualified physicians to prescribe and administer abortion medications. Requirements surrounding these…
Read MoreDel. Realty Transfer Tax Could Be Reduced Under New Legislation
Delaware’s realty transfer tax would be reduced by 25-percent under a bill with bipartisan sponsorship in the General Assembly. (HB 358)The transfer tax, which is typically split between the buyer and seller of a home, was increased five years ago during difficult economic times that faced the state.The measure has 15 Republican sponsors and 13…
Read MoreDel. Rebate Program Advances In General Assembly
A program to make direct one-time payments to Delawareans of $300 is halfway through being approved by the General Assembly.The 2022 Delaware Relief Rebate Program (HB 360) was overwhelmingly approved in the House of Representatives Thursday. It was introduced just a few days earlier, with the goal of helping hundreds of thousands of people meet…
Read MoreDel. Civics Education Bill Gets Hearing In Senate Committee
Legislation to require that Delaware students in grades ten and twelve be assessed in US history, government and civics will be considered in the Senate Education Committee today (Wednesday).The bill (SB 232) is sponsored by State Senator Bryant Richardson, R-Seaford. The requirement would take effect with the 2023-24 academic year.The civics assessment would cover: The…
Read MoreLegislation Would Create Office of Inspector General in DE
Legislation soon to be introduced in the General Assembly aims to create the Office of Inspector General in The First State. “The inspector general would be charged with investigating complaints of waste, fraud, abuse or corruption regarding state employees or state agencies,” said the bill’s sponsor, State Rep. Mike Smith (R-Pike Creek Valley). “While we…
Read MoreRevised Del. Police Accountability Bill Introduced, Draws Early Criticism
A revised bill to revise the Delaware Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights has been introduced in the Delaware General Assembly.Sponsors of SS 1 for SB 149 said Monday that it would be a step toward opening serious and substantial police misconduct records to public view, something Delaware has lacked for more than 25 years.…
Read MoreRetired Army General Enters Race For Del. House 20th District
A lifelong Delawarean and long-time Sussex Countian is stepping up to try to keep State House District 20 in Republican hands. Retired Army Colonel Dallas Wingate told WGMD’s Mike Bradley Monday that that his military career matters in this election. “My last post of importance was with the Delaware National Guard as the Operations Chief.…
Read MoreDel. Senate Advances Tax Relief Bills For Retired Military, Active Fire-EMS
Thousands of retired military service members and Delaware first responders could get relief on their taxes. One measure passed by the State Senate Tuesday would exclude up to $12,500 worth of military pension income from state tax calculations for all retired service members, regardless of age, starting in 2023. “Our nation’s retired service members, each…
Read MoreDel. Legislation Would Direct Surplus State Funds To Adults & Children
A gas tax holiday does not look possible in Delaware, but several Republican lawmakers are proposing to allow each Delawarean to get a share of the state’s growing revenue surplus.GOP lawmakers Monday said they are floating a proposal to direct about $100-million from the budget surplus and provide $100 rebates to every Delaware adult and…
Read MoreDel. Marijuana Bill Fails To Clear Hurdle In House
For the first time in nearly four years, a bill that would regulate and legalize recreational use of cannabis (marijuana) by adults in Delaware received a vote in the House of Representatives Thursday. And, like in 2018, it did not get enough votes to pass. House Bill 305 would have required a two-thirds super majority,…
Read MoreDel. State Sen. Bruce Ennis Announces Retirement
A longtime Delaware state lawmaker plans to step down at the end of his current term in November.State Senator Bruce Ennis, D-Smyrna, a lifelong Smyrna resident, was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1982.He won a special State Senate election in 2007 for the seat held by the late James T. Vaughn Senior.…
Read MoreDel. Legislation Would Allocate Funds For Schools To Hire Permanent Substitute Teachers
Many Delaware schools are facing a shortage of substitute teachers, and now legislation has been introduced in the General Assembly that would allow for hiring of permanent, full-time substitutes. The measure would provide funding for schools to hire up to two full-time substitute teachers starting with the 2023-24 school year. Training, the per-diem rates and…
Read MorePoll Indicates Support For Paid Leave In Del., But Concerns Remain
Supporters of a bill that would require paid that paid family and medical leave be offered in Delaware said Wednesday that a new poll finds overwhelming support for it.According to the Delaware Cares Coalition for Paid Leave, the survey was conduced by Change Research last month of what it called a representative sample of 552…
Read MoreProposed Amendment Seeks to Protect Parental Rights in Delaware
Two Delaware lawmakers are proposing to amend the state constitution to confirm that parents have a fundamental right to the “care, custody and control of their child.” State Rep. Charles Postles (R-Milford North) and State Sen. Bryant Richardson (R-Seaford) maintain that the Parental Rights Protection Amendment is needed to safeguard parental authority against government encroachment. Rep. Postles said one high-profile…
Read MoreDel. Bond Bill Committee Accepts Applications For Capital Grants
Delaware community groups and local organizations are invited to take part in a formal process to apply for capital grants, under a program begun by the General Assembly’s capital budget-writing committee. The panel, also known as the Bond Bill Committee, was able to establish the Community Reinvestment Fund utilizing an influx of one-time funds that…
Read More“Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” Introduced in Del. General Assembly
The “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” is the name given to a bill in the Delaware General Assembly. If passed, it would “generally require that a student athlete compete on teams or in sports associated with their biological sex, as determined at or near birth, and based on a person’s birth certificate.” “I was alarmed…
Read MoreDel. Bills Address Mental Health Services, Coverage, Access
Three bills to be filed in the Delaware General Assembly would treat mental health screening and treatment services with the same importance as the annual physical or cancer screening in terms of availability of services. One proposal would require Delaware health insurers to cover an annual behavioral health well check for every insured person. Other…
Read MoreDel. Legislation Would Ensure Health Insurance For All Children, Sponsors Say
All children in Delaware would be ensured of health insurance coverage under legislation introduced Tuesday as the Cover All Delaware Children Act. Sponsors of the bill said the Department of Health and Social Services would be directed to develop and operate a medical coverage program for children who are nototherwise covered, including children who are…
Read MoreDel. Legislative Women’s Caucus Hopes To Address Gender Disparities In Several Areas
Making Delaware a better place for women to live, work and raise a family is the goal of the Delaware Legislative Women’s Caucus. The caucus will be co-chaired by House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst, D-Bear and Senator Marie Pinkney, D-New Castle. “During my time in the Legislature, I’ve been fortunate to work alongside so many…
Read MoreDel. Legislation Targets Fake COVID-19 Vax Cards
Fake COVID-19 vaccination cards are targeted in new legislation filed in the Delaware General Assembly. The measure (HB 302) would add a definition of phony vaccination cards to the crime of second-degree forgery. “More and more, we have seen cases of individuals forging vaccination cards to circumvent guidelines or requirements to get vaccinated. This isn’t…
Read MoreVIDEO | Gov. Carney Presents FY ’23 Budget
Delaware Governor John Carney has presented his Fiscal Year 2023 Recommended Budget , which will be reviewed by the General Assembly’s Joint Finance committee starting Tuesday. “We made it through the worst of the pandemic without cutting services or raising taxes. Responsibly managing our state budget is more important than ever. This budget proposal will do just…
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