Posts Tagged ‘delaware general assembly’
Del. 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…
Read MoreDel. Recreational Marijuana Bill Clears House Committee
A state House committee has cleared legislation that would allow adults in Delaware to legally use marijuana for recreational purposes, while setting up a legal framework to regulate cultivation, sale and possession of marijuana. “Today, we heard from numerous members of the public – advocates, veterans, retired law enforcement officers, educators and even faith leaders…
Read MoreDel. State Rep. Gerald Brady Charged With Shoplifting
A Wilmington lawmaker who has already announced his resignation from the House of Representatives has been charged in connection with two shoplifting incidents. Newark Police said Tuesday that they received a report earlier this month about a man who was leaving a supermarket with a cart full of merchandise without paying. An employee confronted the…
Read MoreRevised Del. Paid Family & Medical Leave Bill Introduced
A revised version of a bill that would make paid family and medical leave available for working Delaware families has been introduced in the General Assembly. Sponsors said Monday that Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill One has undergone a number of changes since the introduction of the Healthy Delaware Families Act last spring. “Through…
Read MoreDel. GOP Lawmakers Will Again Press For Tax Relief Bills
Sponsors of bills to cut taxes for Delawareans will try again to get surplus state revenues returned to taxpayers. Republican lawmakers have introduced a total of five bills that look to reduce Delawareans’ tax burden. Representative Rich Collins, R-Millsboro is sponsoring a measure (House Bill 191) that would cut the state’s personal income tax rates…
Read MoreVIDEO | Gov. Carney Highlights Education, Budget Stability, Workforce, Support For Family Leave In State Of The State Address
Governor John Carney stressed budget sustainability, workforce development, housing, education and the environment among other priorities as he delivered his 2022 State of the State Thursday afternoon to a joint session of the Delaware General Assembly. Carney also touched upon the state’s ongoing commitment to expand access to broadband internet More spending specifics will come…
Read MoreDel. House Panel Advances Medical-Aid-In-Dying Bill
A bill to allow terminally ill people in Delaware to end their lives with a doctor’s assistance has passed a House committee. The panel heard nearly three hours of testimony Wednesday from people mostly in favor of the measure, House Bill 140, which has also been brought up in various forms several times. Under the…
Read MoreDel. Bill Would Require “Comparative Political Ideology’ Instruction In 10th Grade
Are Delaware students learning all they should know about the U.S. and its founding principles, and how they compare and contrast with communist or totalitarian systems? State Senator Bryant Richardson, R-21st of Sussex County is sponsoring a bill that would require instruction to 10th-grade students in “comparative political ideology.” According to Richardson, such a course…
Read MoreAnother Recreational Marijuana Bill Introduced In Del. General Assembly
A revised bill to allow recreational use of cannabis by adults in Delaware has been reintroduced into the General Assembly. According to its supporters, the measure (HB 305) has some bipartisan-backed amendments that were introduced days before the previous bill stalled out last June. The Delaware Cannabis Advocacy Network Thursday said it was the best…
Read MoreDel. Sunset Panel Will Consider 9 Entities In 2022
Five councils, three commissions and a committee will be reviewed by the Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Committee of the Delaware General Assembly in 2022. While being selected for review does not indicate problems or concern with an entity’s performance, the process is part of the committee’s commitment to review all applicable agencies, commissions, councils…
Read MoreDel. Restaurants, Bars May Be Able To Keep Expanded Outdoor Spaces
Delaware bars and restaurants that expanded outdoor seating during the COVID-19 pandemic would no longer face a sunset provision, under a bill introduced in the General Assembly. The measure would also allow for continuation of to-go sales of alcohol. Representative Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach and State Senator Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes are sponsoring a bill that…
Read MoreDel. Legislative Committee Hearings Will Take Place Virtually At Least Through Jan.
When Delaware lawmakers resume the General Assembly session Tuesday, House and Senate committees will meet virtually in January utilizing Zoom. The actions are being taken by House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach and Senate President Pro Tempore David Sokola, D-Newark in response to increasing COVID-19 cases and the spread of the omicron variant. “While I…
Read MoreSen. Darius Brown Booted From Another Committee Following Reported Blow-up With Another Lawmaker
State Senator Darius Brown, D-Wilmington, has lost another legislative committee position following a reported outburst directed at a colleague at a recent bill-signing event. Brown also faces trial next month on charges that he punched a woman and threw a glass at a Wilmington-area restaurant last May. The chair of the Senate Rules and Ethics…
Read MoreTrial Date For Del. State Auditor McGuiness Set In May ’22
Delaware State Auditor Kathy McGuiness will have her day in court in May 2022. McGuiness was indicted last month on corruption-related charges, and has pled not guilty. The trial date was set following a private conference this week, presuming there is not a plea deal. McGuiness also will retain the services of attorney Steve Wood…
Read MoreDel. Senate Goes Back To Session Tue. – Here’s Why
The Delaware State Senate is set to reconvene next Tuesday to consider a House Concurrent Resolution (HCR42). The House voted along party lines Monday to pass the measure, which seeks State Supreme Court guidance in cases where elected officials face indictments. The Senate had passed a similar resolution (SCR63), but by the time the House…
Read MoreDel. Insurance Department To Regulate Pharmacy Benefit Manager Industry
The Delaware Department of Insurance will regulate the pharmacy benefit manager industry. PBMs are a multi-billion dollar intermediary business that influences the costs of medications and what is covered by prescription drug plans. State Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro said through a new state law (HB 219), the department will have the ability to take enforcement…
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