AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE BOARD OF COSMETOLOGY AND BARBERING.

This bill clarifies the options for becoming licensed as a master barber. In particular, a cosmetologist will be able to become licensed as a master barber after one year of post-licensure work experience and a 35-hour course in shaving. The reciprocity provision requires that an applicant from a state with less stringent licensure requirements than those of Delaware have work experience. The provision has been amended to require one continuous year of licensed experience obtained within the 5 years immediately preceding application. This amendment will address the ongoing challenge where applicants from neighboring states have difficulty becoming licensed in Delaware. The limitation on daily work hours has been stricken. Part-time applicants at times need to work more than 10 hours per day to meet licensure requirements. The 40 hours per week cap remains. The apprenticeship provision has been amended to permit a licensed instructor to supervise up to 5 apprentices. Revisions clarify that only temporary hair removal is within the scope of practice for cosmetologists and aestheticians. Finally, the reinstatement provision has been revised to provide that, if a licensee has not renewed his or her license within 5 years, that licensee can apply for reinstatement by taking the practical examination again.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PRESCRIPTIONS.

This Bill requires Podiatrists, Dentists, Doctors, Nurses and Optometrists who issue prescriptions to utilize electronic prescriptions except under certain exceptions.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 5 AND TITLE 6 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO BANKS, OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, AND THE RATE OF INTEREST ON CERTAIN DEBT.

This Act amends various chapters under Title 5 to facilitate the modernization of certain practices and procedures at the Office of the State Bank Commissioner. In particular, this Act authorizes the State Bank Commissioner to require applicants for financial services licenses for mortgage loan brokers (Chapter 21), licensed lenders (Chapter 22), money transmitters (Chapter 23), check cashers (Chapter 27) and motor vehicle sales finance companies (Chapter 29) to provide fingerprints for purposes of criminal background checks. Mortgage loan originators licensed by the State Bank Commissioner pursuant to Chapter 24 already are required to provide fingerprints in connection with license applications, and many other states also require criminal background checks for other types of financial services licensees. This Act also authorizes the State Bank Commissioner to expand the Office's participation in a multi-state automated licensing system, by using that system to process license applications for money transmitters, check cashers, and motor vehicle sales finance companies. That same system is currently used for processing license applications for mortgage loan brokers, licensed lenders, and mortgage loan originators. Lastly, this Act establishes a sunset provision of July 1, 2019 for §2509E of Title 6 concerning the maximum rate of interest on debts for federal workers in response to a federal government shutdown.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE CREATING A PSYCHOLOGY INTERJURISDICTIONAL COMPACT.

This Act, the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT), is an interstate compact designed to facilitate the practice of telepsychology and the temporary in-person, face-to-face practice of psychology across state boundaries. PSYPACT has become operational as at least seven states have enacted PSYPACT legislation. Through PSYPACT, licensed psychologists are able to apply for and use Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) certificates, which include the E.Passport to practice telepsychology and the Interjurisdictional Practice Certificate (IPC) to conduct temporary in-person, face-to-face practice in PSYPACT states.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PETITIONS FOR CHANGE OF NAME.

Currently, Family Court has jurisdiction over name changes for minors when considered in conjunction with establishing parentage, as well as adult name resumption related to divorce proceedings. Outside of that context, a name change must be filed in the Court of Common Pleas. This bill provides for Family Court to assume jurisdiction over all minor name change petitions, as recommended by the Jurisdiction Improvement Committee established by the Delaware Supreme Court Order of November 7, 2017. The bill exempts the name change matters in Family Court from newspaper publication requirements. Under the bill, the Court of Common Pleas retains its jurisdiction over other adult name change petitions.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 19 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE DIVISION OF UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION.

This bill would increase the maximum weekly benefit amount that would be payable to claimants seeking unemployment compensation benefits from the Delaware Division of Unemployment Insurance from $330 a week to $400 a week. The funds necessary to pay the increased weekly benefit amounts would be paid from the Unemployment Trust Fund. This bill would also freeze the taxable wage base used by employers to determine what portion of employee’s wages are subject to unemployment insurance tax assessments, for the period July 1, 2019 to October 29, 2020, to allow the Division of Unemployment Insurance and the Unemployment Compensation Advisory Council to analyze whether to revise the taxable wage base formula into the future.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 19 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE RECOUPMENT OF OVERPAYMENT OF BENEFITS.

This Act disqualifies an individual who obtained an overpayment of benefits through fraud from receiving future unemployment benefits until the total overpayment, penalties, and interest are repaid in full. This change does not apply to fraud overpayments established by final decision before the effective date of this Act. This Act also broadens the manner in which a notice of overpayment may be delivered and removes the 5 year deadline for filing actions to collect overpayments due to the Department. This Act takes effect 60 days after its enactment into law. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 19 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING THE DELIVERY OF NOTICES BY THE DELAWARE DIVISION OF UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION.

This Act allows the Department of Labor ("Department") to deliver notice by methods other than through mail to reduce costs by using e-mail delivery for certain notices and makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 15 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO EARLY VOTING.

This Act establishes in-person early voting in Delaware beginning January 1, 2022. Registered voters will be allowed to vote in-person during at least 10 days before an election, up to and including the Saturday and Sunday immediately before the election at locations determined by the State Election Commissioner. This Act also charges the State Election Commissioner with determining whether such voting should occur by voting machine or paper ballot. All other procedures relating to conducting voting are the same as for general election voting. Further, this Act requires that for statewide elections there must be at least 1 in-person polling place in each county, and an additional location in the City of Wilmington.

AN ACT MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR CERTAIN GRANTS-IN-AID FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2020; SPECIFYING CERTAIN PROCEDURES, CONDITIONS AND LIMITATIONS FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF SUCH FUNDS; AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2020 APPROPRIATIONS ACT; AND AMENDING CERTAIN STATUTORY PROVISIONS.

This Act provides supplementary appropriations to certain Grants-in-Aid for Fiscal Year 2020. Section 1 – Government Units and Senior Center $25,814,321 Section 2 – One-Times and Community Agencies $21,951,119 Section 3 – Fire Companies $6,929,686 Section 4 – Veterans Organizations $358,646 GRAND TOTAL $55,053,772

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 12 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE APPOINTMENT OF GUARDIANS AND THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC GUARDIAN.

This Act allows the Public Guardian to act as a representative payee for Social Security benefits or as a VA fiduciary for Department of Veterans Affairs benefits. This Act also allows the Court to appoint a guardian with limited powers, to act as guardian for specific areas of decision-making or for a specific term. By making these changes, this Act will allow the Public Guardian to serve in a more limited role where appropriate, and assist more Delawareans who need short-term assistance, such as to qualify for Medicaid in order to arrange for long-term care or to handle routine financial matters but not make decisions about the care of the person. The ability to serve in a more limited role will increase the Public Guardian's capacity to assist people while the Non-Acute Patient Medical Guardianship Task Force studies options and develops recommendations to improve non-acute patient transitions from acute care settings to more appropriate locations. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 123 differs from House Bill No. 117 by clarifying that limited guardianships can be ordered for specific purposes, the process for terminating a limited guardianship, and that the Public Guardian serves as a representative payee or VA Fiduciary of last resort.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE FAMILY COURT ADJUDICATED DRUG COURT PROGRAM.

This Act is a recommendation following the comprehensive analysis of the Family Court Adjudicated Drug Court Program conducted by Family Court, the Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families, the Department of Justice, and the Office of Defense Services. Repeal of the Family Court Adjudicated Drug Court Program is also supported by the Government Efficiency and Accountability Review Board as noted in its 2018 Annual Report. After a comprehensive analysis of the program, it was determined that the Division of Youth Rehabilitative Services (YRS) had implemented practices, including the use of an assessment tool, that are identifying and then effectively and efficiently addressing the needs of justice involved youth with substance use disorders. The review found that YRS’ active case management practices allowed YRS to be responsive to each child’s service needs and to involve the Court as necessary. Recent juvenile justice reforms, including civil citation, are also keeping many youth from entering the justice system while simultaneously ensuring that any identified substance use disorders are addressed. Given the high level of individualized treatment services and case management youth are currently receiving inside and outside the juvenile justice system, repeal of the program was recommended.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS.

This bill updates the real estate appraisers’ practice act to comply with federal law by clarifying the definition of federally-related transaction and adding a definition for federal financial institutions regulatory agencies. Changes to these definitions would render Delaware’s definitions consistent with federal law. Section two of the bill changes the renewal for appraisal management companies (AMC) from every two years to annually to facilitate the renewal procedure for the Division of Professional Regulation. Section three of the bill eliminates the current allowance in Delaware for a revoked or suspended real estate appraiser to have an ownership interest in an AMC, and section four disallows AMCs from removing an appraiser from its appraiser panel without prior notice. Delaware’s law currently allows AMCs to do so if the appraiser was only added to the panel in the previous 60 days. Federal law does not have any such allowance.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES.

This Act creates a Deputy Secretary position within the Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families (“Department”) and exempts the position from the Merit System under Chapter 59 of Title 29. The Secretary of the Department may establish the powers, duties, and functions of the Deputy Secretary. This Act removes the limit on qualified persons the Secretary of the Department may appoint as special investigators for the Department. Lastly, this Act makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FINFISHING IN TIDAL WATERS.

This bill streamlines the process by which the Department may incorporate into its regulations tidal finfish management measures that have been adopted and specified in a regional or federal fisheries management plan or rule. This bill also eliminates procedures for the promulgation of tidal finfish regulations that the Delaware Administrative Procedures Act has rendered obsolete.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE REGARDING DEFAULT BEVERAGES IN CHILDRENS’ MEALS IN RESTAURANTS.

This bill requires the State food safety standards for restaurants to include a system for requiring healthy beverages to be offered as the default beverage with a combination children’s meal inclusive of a drink, sold together at a unit price. It does not prohibit the restaurant’s ability to sell, or a customer’s ability to choose, a substitute or alternative beverage as-requested by a customer. This effectively creates an “opt in” instead of an “opt out” for many sugar-rich drink choices for children. This bill also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF NEWARK.

This Act amends the municipal Charter of the City of Newark to permit the City of Newark to provide sanitary sewer service to properties outside of the Newark corporate limits without annexing these properties. Under this Act, sewer services may be provided to properties outside of the Newark corporate limits at the request of the property owner and if approved by New Castle County and the City of Newark. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 13 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNCIL.

This Act adds one more member, a licensed health care professional knowledgeable in the screening and identification of domestic violence cases appointed by the Council, to the Fatal Incident Review Team of the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council. The Act also updates language regarding victims of domestic violence to include survivors. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 18 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PHARMACY BENEFITS MANAGERS.

Over 80% of pharmaceuticals in the United States are purchased through pharmacy benefits manager (“PBM”) networks. PBMs serve as intermediaries between health plans, pharmaceutical manufacturers and pharmacies, and PBMs establish networks for consumers to receive reimbursement for drugs. Given the scope of PBMs in the healthcare delivery system, this Act is designed to provide enhanced oversight and transparency as it relates PBMs. Specifically, this Act does the following: (1) Requires PBMs to register with the Insurance Commissioner. (2) Permits the Insurance Commissioner to issue cease and desist orders based on fraudulent acts or violations of Chapter 33A of Title 18 committed by PBMs. (3) Requires PBMs to maintain certain records. (4) Permits the Insurance Commissioner to examine the affairs of PBMs. (5) Grants the Insurance Commissioner the authority to enforce Chapter 33A of Title 18 by imposing fines, requiring PBMs to take affirmative actions, and suspending, denying, or revoking a PBM’s registration. In addition, this Act updates existing law regarding maximum allowable cost lists and establishes a more transparent appeals process for a pharmacy to rely on if a PBM does not reimburse the pharmacy the amount owed under their contract or the maximum allowable cost list. Finally, this Act makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 30 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO MOTOR FUEL TAX.

This Act does all of the following: (1) Imposes a 5 cent per gallon tax on certain aviation jet fuel. (2) Provides the procedures for collecting the tax. These procedures are the same as the procedures under Subchapter II of Chapter 51 of Title 30; however, this Act makes technical corrections to those procedures to conform the law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. (3) Gives the Department of Transportation ("Department") authority to establish regulations and otherwise enforce the collection of the new tax. (4) Requires the Department to deposit the proceeds of the tax into the Transportation Trust Fund. (5) Requires the Department to file a report with the Controller General by September 1 of each year detailing the revenue received under this subchapter and the expenditures associated with the Department's responsibilities concerning aviation in this State. This Act takes effect on July 1, 2019.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF NEWARK.

This Act amends the municipal Charter of the City of Newark as follows: 1. Eliminates the ability of artificial entities to vote in elections to borrow money. 2. Limits voters who are eligible to vote both as a qualified voter and as an owner of property to only 1 vote in an election to borrow money. 3. Shortens the time for the owner of real estate to redeem property assessments from 1 year to 6 months. 4. Updates outdated provisions regarding telegraph poles, qualifications for city manager, election procedures, and the Delaware Freedom of Information Act. 5. Makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual, including making provisions contained in this Act gender neutral.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF MILTON RELATING TO CONTRACTS AND ENUMERATION OF POWERS.

Section 1 of this bill amends the Charter of the Town of Milton relating to purchasing contracts. Specifically, the bill: raises the monetary thresholds to be more in line with the State of Delaware, Material and Non-Professional Service Purchase Thresholds, known as policy 5.3.1; clarifies that the Town need not competitively bid again if the results were unreasonable or not independently reached; and adds a new exclusion for purchases made pursuant to the State of Delaware procurement process or from a vendor on the General Services Administration Federal Supply Schedule. Section 2 of the bill clarifies that the Town may levy and collect property taxes on an annual and on a quarterly supplemental basis.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 18 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE.

This bill makes three changes to health insurers and their relationships to providers. First, it limits the number of records that can be requested by a payer from a provider for post claim adjudication audits within a specific period of time. Second, it establishes a minimum filling standard for claims to be made. And third, it details requirements for electronic medical claim submissions and payment remittance. The goal is to reduce the overall cost to collect and make the process of claims, payments, and post claim adjudication audits more efficient especially as more insurers require electronic claims.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 3 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

This Act allows the Department of Agriculture to establish fees that may be charged for participation in the Delaware Hemp program.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 3 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

The purpose of the Bill is to change the requirement in the seed law for germination testing from 14 months to 9 months prior to sale.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATES FOR THE DELAWARE STATE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION CENTENNIAL.

This Act authorizes the Division of Motor Vehicles to issue special registration plates to commemorate the Delaware State Education Association centennial. It also allows the Division to collect a 1-time administrative fee of $15 to be deposited into a special fund and used by the Division for administrative costs.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 9 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO TAXES.

This Act allows Sussex County, by duly enacted ordinance, to impose a local lodging tax of no more than 3 percent of rent on rooms in a hotel, motel or tourist home located in the unincorporated areas of the County. Such funds may only be used in Sussex County for the capital and operating costs of beach nourishment, waterway dredging, economic development, tourism programs, recreational activities, and water quality and flood control projects.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF DOVER RELATING TO THE IMPOSITION AND COLLECTION OF A LODGING TAX.

This Act amends the Charter of the City of Dover to give the City Council the authority to impose and collect a lodging tax.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 18 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FEES COLLECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE.

Delaware is currently ranked highest in the nation for form filing fees. This Act ensures that Delaware stays competitive as an insurer domicile by preventing the Insurance Commissioner from charging more than $2000 per filing for form filing fees.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION FUND.

This Act requires the Secretary of the Department of Transportation to publish the transaction history for funds allocated to each member of the General Assembly under the Community Transportation Fund.

AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 242, VOLUME 81 OF THE LAWS OF DELAWARE RELATING TO SELLING OR POSSESSING FIREWORKS; EXCEPTIONS.

This bill removes the 3 year sunset provision that was part of House Bill No. 53, as amended, enacted on May 10, 2018 of the 149th General Assembly. This will allow the on-going use of certain ground-based and hand-held sparklers.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SEXUAL OFFENSES.

This bill adds the intentional touching of another person with semen to the definition of sexual contact. By doing so, the act of a person intentionally touching another person with semen without consent becomes the crime of unlawful sexual contact third degree.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO REAL ESTATE SERVICES, BROKERS, ASSOCIATE BROKERS, AND SALESPERSONS.

This Act will prohibit political subdivisions of this State from requiring real estate licensees to obtain an additional business license or pay taxes in order to list property for sellers or represent buyers for the purchase of real estate.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT.

This Act gives the Delaware Secretary of State the authority to promulgate rules and regulations for the implementation of this Act. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 3 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO LIVESTOCK AT LARGE.

This Act authorizes the Department of Agriculture to impose civil penalties consistent with the amounts imposed in other states when livestock have been found to have run at large on the public highways or on unenclosed land within the State. This Act adds a provision as exists in the Delaware False Claims Act, 6 Del. C §1204(f), allowing for the enforcement as judgments of administrative orders that are final and no longer subject to judicial review. Lastly, the Act makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE HEALTH CARE CLAIMS DATABASE.

This Act allows the Delaware Health Information Network ("DHIN") to enter into an appropriate agreement with the State Council for Persons with Disabilities (“SCPD”) to provide access to all claims data reported to the Delaware Health Care Claims Database. The SCPD’s Brain Injury Committee (“BIC”) has been discussing the BIC’s need for data with the DHIN for over a year and the DHIN and the SCPD found that utilizing existing data collection systems is more cost-effective and efficient than setting up a separate registry for Delaware’s Traumatic Brain Injury (“TBI”) patients. Access to current and accurate TBI data from the Delaware Health Care Claims Database will assist the SCPD to do the following: 1. Enhance the ability to identify scope of service needs and gaps in services. 2. Enhance the ability to leverage federal funds because past grant opportunities were denied, in part, because of a lack of reliable and useful Delaware data. 3. Incorporate the use of the data into research studies on the effectiveness of services provided, return on efforts, and cost-effectiveness.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO REORGANIZATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

This Act allows the State Board of Education to change or alter boundaries of reorganized school districts. It allows the State Board of Education to do so based upon redistricting recommendations from the newly formed Redding Consortium for Educational Equity ("Consortium"). It requires the Consortium to provide its recommendations through a transition, resource, and implementation plan for redistricting, the contents of which are specified in the Act.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO UNDERGROUND AND ABOVEGROUND STORAGE TANKS.

This Act expands the applicability of the Delaware Brownfields Development Program, Subchapter II, Chapter 91 of Title 7, by providing protection from liability for releases of regulated substances from underground storage tanks and aboveground storage tanks to any person approved as a Brownfields Developer who enters into a Brownfields Development Agreement, and otherwise meets the requirements of the Brownfields Development Program.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 18 AND 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE POLICIES.

Section 1 of this Act clarifies the definition of the term “policy” for purposes of §§ 3903-3907 of Title 18 of the Delaware Code to apply only to personal automobile insurance policies and not commercial or other types of policies. Section 2 of this Act extends the amount of notice that an insurer must provide to a private passenger policyholder before cancelling an automobile policy for nonpayment of premium from 10 to 15 days. Section 3 of this Act sets standards for cancellation and nonrenewal notice requirements for commercial automobile policies. Section 4 of this Act is a housekeeping item and adds cross reference in Title 21 to the newly-created section 3920 for commercial policies. This Act makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO LOTTERIES.

This bill reduces the required number of meetings that the Advisory Council on Video Lottery Planning and the Advisory Council on Charitable Gaming Planning must hold each calendar year and authorizes the Lottery Director to add certain sports lottery players to an involuntary exclusion list by order.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CIVIL JURISDICTION.

This Act increases the civil jurisdictional limit for the Court of Common Pleas from $50,000 to $75,000, as recommended by the Jurisdiction Improvement Committee established by the Delaware Supreme Court Order of November 7, 2017.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 9 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO USE BY NEW CASTLE COUNTY OF THE MONITION METHOD OF SALE FOR THE COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT TAXES FOR THE COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT SEWER SERVICE CHARGES.

This Act will enable New Castle County to collect delinquent sewer service charges under the procedures established by Chapter 87 of Title 9 for the collection of delinquent county taxes. Under the existing method for New Castle County established by Chapter 22, Subchapter II (Monition Method of Sale in New Castle County), of Title 9 for the collection of delinquent sewer service charges, a jury trial must be held if the property owner or an interested party submits an affidavit of defense denying the service charges in whole or in part. In addition, under Section 2211 of Title 9, County Council must first levy the delinquent sewer service charges as an assessment prior to the institution of any legal proceedings. This Act removes the existing sewer monition method of sale in its entirety and will enable New Castle County to collect delinquent sewer service charges in the same manner as taxes are collected under the less burdensome and more efficient monition method of sale established by Chapter 87 of Title 9.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FREE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

This bill creates an Expanded Learning Opportunities Subcommittee as part of the Interagency Resource Management Committee (IRMC) to provide research, recommendations, and coordination regarding before and after school programs and summer learning opportunities for school-age children. The chairperson of the subcommittee is also added to the Interagency Resource Management Committee as a non-voting member. The creation of an Expanded Learning Opportunities Subcommittee was one of the primary recommendations of the Statewide Afterschool Initiative Task Force, which was created by the 148th General Assembly. The Task Force felt that the design and delivery of services would be enhanced by a standing body tasked with tracking developments across the country and in the State, with a view towards encouraging the development of programs and funding models that maximize positive outcomes.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO EMS COMPANY VOLUNTEERS.

Individuals who volunteer their services through stand-alone EMS companies have been a valuable part of public safety to the citizens of the State of Delaware. To try to bolster the ranks of these volunteers, this bill exempts anyone applying for membership of a volunteer EMS company from paying the cost of a background check done by the State of Delaware Bureau of Identification.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE REGARDING DISSEMINATION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION.

This bill enables a key component of the Take Care Delaware program, a partnership between law enforcement and schools to adopt a trauma-informed approach to children who have been identified at the scene of a traumatic event. The Take Care Delaware program, which will start as a pilot, operates by a police officer or emergency-care provider alerting a child’s school about the child’s presence at a traumatic event that the police officer or emergency-care provider responded to. In order to avoid violations of the State Bureau of Investigation’s dissemination statute and the Victim’s Bill of Rights in Title 11, this bill creates a narrow exception to both statutes that allows police officers and emergency-care providers to send the child’s name to their school district or charter school so that the child’s teachers can ensure the child is handled in a trauma-informed way. The Take Care Delaware program is based on the national “Handle With Care” model and includes training and other best practices for law enforcement and schools to prevent and mitigate the negative impact of childhood exposure to trauma.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO RECYCLING AND WASTE REDUCTION.

This bill expands upon the existing at-store recycling program regarding the use of single-use plastic bags. The existing requirements will continue, however stores subject to this program will now be limited from providing single-use plastic bags for only specific uses thereby encouraging a shift to reusable bags. The purpose of the bill, as detailed in the preamble, is to clean up Delaware’s communities and watersheds, reduce storm water and trash management costs to taxpayers, and promote the health and safety of watersheds, wildlife and humans, and the ecosystem’s food chain. On January 1, 2021 this bill enacts a ban on stores providing single-use plastic bags at check-out.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE NURSING INCENTIVE PROGRAM.

This act will increase the numbers of Delaware nursing students eligible for the nursing incentive program by allowing Delawareans pursuing nursing careers at non-profit hospitals located in Delaware to be eligible for the program.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 31 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE PROVIDER ADVISORY BOARD.

This Act strengthens the role and responsibilities of the Provider Advisory Board in regard to the implementation and enforcement of The Delaware Child Care Act.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE CLEANUP ACT.

This Act amends the Delaware Hazardous Substance Control Act to reflect recent amendments to the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). This Act protects state, county, and municipal government entities from being deemed liable as “owners or operators” of hazardous substance release sites when they take title to or control of such properties through the exercise of their lawful governmental powers. Additionally, this Act protects land banks established pursuant to the Delaware Neighborhood Conservation and Land Banking Act when they assume ownership of potentially contaminated properties in accordance with the provisions and requirements of the Land Banking Act.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CENTRAL CONTRACTING.

This legislation expands the list of central contracts currently available to be accessed by state agencies and other allowed organizations to include professional services contracts. The legislation also adds local governments to the list of organizations that can access central contracts.