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Delaware farmers’ markets set new sales record: $2.1 million

Photos are available for media use on Flickr. DOVER – Delaware’s community farmers’ markets set a new sales record in 2013, with shoppers buying more than $2.1 million in fresh produce and other goods, the Department of Agriculture said Tuesday. Gov. Jack Markell and Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee announced the news at an annual […]




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Consumer caution urged on firewood sales

As Delawareans stock up their firewood supplies, state officials remind buyers and sellers that firewood must be sold and advertised only by cords. Under Delaware Code, firewood and stove wood must be advertised, offered for sale, and sold only by a cord measure or fractions of a cord or cubic meter. Selling firewood by truckload, rack, face cord or pile is not permitted under state law.



  • Department of Agriculture

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Delaware farmers’ market sales double in five years; $2.6 million season sets new record

Delaware farmers’ markets had a record $2.6 million sales season, double that of just five years ago, thanks to dramatically increasing interest in local food and farm-fresh products, the Delaware Department of Agriculture announced today. “This record-setting season is a reflection of Delaware’s thriving local food movement,” said Governor Jack Markell.



  • Department of Agriculture
  • Former Governor Jack Markell (2009-2017)
  • Office of the Governor

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Forest Service offering tree planting grants for Chesapeake Bay

The Delaware Forest Service's Urban and Community Forestry (U&CF) Program is offering a new "Partnership Tree Planting Grant" to nonprofit groups who own property within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The U&CF Program will award eight (8) $1000 matching grants on a first-come, first-served basis to qualifying nonprofit groups who apply by February 27, 2015.




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Food safety certification course offered to potential on-farm food entrepreneurs

Agricultural entrepreneurs who want to produce certain foods in their on-farm kitchens can receive food safety training and become certified under Delaware law at an upcoming workshop. The eight-hour Food Safety for Entrepreneurs program will be Saturday, Feb. 28, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Department of Agriculture offices near Camden, 2320 South DuPont Highway.



  • Department of Agriculture

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Food safety certification course offered to potential on-farm food entrepreneurs

Agricultural entrepreneurs who want to produce certain foods in their on-farm kitchens can receive food safety training and become certified under Delaware law at an upcoming workshop.




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Governor’s Weekly Message: Celebrating Ongoing Agricultural Efforts at the Delaware State Fair

Governor Markell shares his highlights from Governor’s Day at the 2015 Delaware State Fair.




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Delaware farmers’ markets sales set $3 million record

Delaware farmers' markets broke through another record last year, surpassing $3 million in sales, demonstrating the continued interest in local foods and farm-fresh products.



  • Department of Agriculture
  • Former Governor Jack Markell (2009-2017)
  • Office of the Governor

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Food safety certification course offered to potential on-farm food entrepreneurs

Agricultural entrepreneurs who want to produce certain foods in their on-farm kitchens can receive food safety training and become certified under Delaware law at an upcoming workshop.



  • Department of Agriculture

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Grants available to help farmers, agribusinesses with marketing, research and sales

More than $300,000 in federal grant funding is now available for projects to help produce, market or access Delaware-grown fruit, vegetables and certain other crops. The Delaware Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program through June 3.



  • Department of Agriculture

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Tickets for Delaware Agricultural Industry Dinner on sale

Tickets and sponsorships for the 46th Annual Delaware Agricultural Industry Dinner on Jan. 19 are now available.



  • Department of Agriculture

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Delaware farmers’ markets sales hit $2.9 million

Delawareans still value local foods and farm-fresh products as demonstrated by a strong 2016 farmers' market season with over $2.9 million dollars in direct sales, the Delaware Department of Agriculture announced today.



  • Department of Agriculture
  • News

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Delaware to offer produce safety training

Fruit and vegetable growers who want to learn about produce safety, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), developing food safety plans and the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule are encouraged to attend several upcoming workshops. On March 16 and 17, the “Delaware FSMA Produce Safety Alliance Training, Produce Food Safety Updates, and Food Safety Plan Writing Workshop” will be held at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington. The workshop will be from 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day. Lunch will be provided and registration is free, courtesy of the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant and the Delaware Department of Agriculture.




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Food safety certification course offered to potential on-farm food entrepreneurs

Agricultural entrepreneurs who want to produce certain foods in their on-farm kitchens can receive food safety training and become certified under Delaware law at an upcoming workshop jointly sponsored by the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension and the Delaware Department of Agriculture. The eight-hour “Food Safety for Entrepreneurs” program presented by Dr. Sue Snider of the University of Delaware will take place Saturday, March 25, at the Delaware Department of Agriculture, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.



  • Delaware Health and Social Services
  • Department of Agriculture
  • Division of Public Health
  • Delaware Department of Agriculture
  • Delaware Division of Public Health
  • food safety
  • University of Delaware Cooperative Extension

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Supporting Delaware growers to meet third party food safety trends

Delaware fruit and vegetable growers can now receive financial support in obtaining a third party audit to verify they are following effective food safety practices. The Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) is extending its Food Safety Audit Cost-Share Program for growers to include any third party food safety audit, not just USDA Harmonized GAP audits.




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Sales at Delaware farmers’ markets second highest in 2017

Media: Photographs are available for use on Flickr. DOVER, Del. – Delaware celebrated the second highest farmers’ market season with more than $3 million dollars in sales in 2017. Both residents and visitors of the state continue to buy locally because of the fresh, high quality products that Delaware’s farm families grow. “These numbers are […]




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Delaware offers produce safety trainings to help farmers meet FSMA requirement

DOVER, Del. – The Delaware Department of Agriculture is offering two one-day courses in March to help farmers growing fruits and vegetables comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. “About 1 in 6 Americans gets sick each year from foodborne illness,” said Secretary of Agriculture Michael T. Scuse. “The Food Safety […]



  • Department of Agriculture
  • Delaware Department of Agriculture
  • farmers
  • Food Safety Modernization Act
  • Produce Safety Rule
  • training

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Volunteers needed to plant trees on March 17 and 18 at Blackbird State Forest, enhancing the Chesapeake Bay

Volunteers of all ages are needed this month to help plant 8,800 hardwood seedlings along the Cypress Branch at Blackbird State Forest to enhance the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The planting will take place on Saturday, March 17, and Sunday, March 18, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day at Blackbird State Forest’s Naudain Tract, 2076 Harvey Straughn Road, Townsend, Delaware 19734. The weekend tree planting is a “rain or shine” event. Equipment, including shovels, will be provided. Volunteers are encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather and wear boots or other work shoes. Snacks will be provided and commemorative T-shirts and patches will be given to both youth and adult volunteers on a first-come, first-served basis. The project is a cooperative partnership between the Delaware Forest Service, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Division of Watershed Stewardship, and the Girl Scouts of the USA.



  • Department of Agriculture
  • Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
  • Division of Watershed Stewardship
  • Forest Service
  • New Castle County
  • Blackbird State Forest
  • Chesapeake Bay watershed
  • Delaware Forest Service
  • DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship
  • Girl Scouts
  • tree planting

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Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission names Associate Steward and Safety Steward for 2018

Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission (DTRC) Chairman W. Duncan Patterson announced at the Commission meeting on March 8, 2018 that two candidates, Cynthia L. Smith and Robert E. Colton had been selected for the positions of Associate State Steward and Safety Steward respectively. "Both of these individuals have a deep respect for the racing industry and the people involved in racing," said DTRC Executive Director John F. Wayne. "They will fit in well, maintaining the high level of regulatory oversight that the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission expects and deserves.”



  • Department of Agriculture
  • News
  • Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission
  • horse racing

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Delaware adopts regulations for Produce Safety Rule compliance

DOVER, Del. – The Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) Food Products Inspection was granted statutory authority on June 11, 2019 to enforce compliance with the Produce Safety Rule in the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The Food Safety Modernization Act is a proactive approach to prevent foodborne illnesses by strengthening the food supply. These regulations, […]



  • Department of Agriculture
  • food safety
  • Food Safety Modernization Act
  • produce
  • Produce Safety Rule

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Regarding imposing of anti-dumping duty on all imports of Recordable Digital Versatile Disc [DVD] of all kinds originating in, or exported from Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam

 Regarding imposing of anti-dumping duty on all imports of Recordable Digital Versatile Disc [DVD] of all kinds origina




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FormsAuthentication.SignOut in ASP.Net MVC

Here Mudassar Ahmed Khan has explained with an example, how to use FormsAuthentication.SignOut method for implementing Logout functionality in ASP.Net MVC Razor. This User Login form will be implemented using Custom Forms Authentication and Entity Framework in ASP.Net MVC Razor.




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Absalom Jones Interior Light Fixture Replacement

Agency: OMB Closing Date: 7/9/2020




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Absalom Jones Gymnasium Floor Renovations Re-Bid

Agency: OMB Closing Date: 7/9/2020




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Group Vision Insurance - Request for Proposal

Agency: DHR Closing Date: 5/15/2020




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Investment Advisory Services - Request for Proposals

Agency: TRE Closing Date: 5/15/2020




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The National Core Indicators Project for Developmental Disabilities Services

Agency: HSS Closing Date: 5/12/2020




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SB 7 w/ SA 1

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

Since 1975, the Delaware Population Consortium has prepared a unified set of statewide population projections each year. These projections are used for a variety of purposes including capital planning, policy analysis, comprehensive planning, and transportation planning. All 3 counties are required by State law to utilize these projections to prepare their required comprehensive plans. However, the Delaware Population Consortium does not exist in State law. This Act formally creates the Delaware Population Consortium, identifies its membership and work products, and requires that all counties, municipalities, school districts, and State agencies use the Consortium’s projections for planning and policy purposes.



  • Delaware - Signed

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HB 63 w/ SA 2

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SAFE STORAGE OF FIREARMS.

This Act revises the crime of "unlawfully permitting a child access to a firearm," an existing class A misdemeanor under Delaware law. The offense is renamed "unsafe storage of a firearm" to place emphasis on firearm safety and proper storage. Under the revised statute, a crime is committed when a person intentionally or recklessly stores or leaves a loaded firearm where a minor or other person prohibited by law, or “unauthorized person,” can access the firearm, and the unauthorized person obtains the firearm. The unauthorized person’s use of the firearm to inflict serious physical injury or death is not an element of the offense, but is an aggravating factor. For the purposes of this offense, “stores and leaves” does not include when firearm is carried by or under the control of the owner or another lawfully-authorized user. Under this Act, the offense is a class B misdemeanor if there are no aggravating circumstances. If, however, the unauthorized person uses the firearm to commit a crime, uses the firearm to inflict serious physical injury or death upon anyone, or transfers the firearm to another unauthorized person, the offense is a class A misdemeanor. It is an affirmative defense that the person stored the firearm in a locked container, disabled it with a tamper-resistant trigger lock, or stored it in a location a reasonable person would have thought was safe from access by unauthorized persons. This Act provides an exception for firearms manufactured in or before 1899, or a replica to such firearms, if the replica is not designed or redesigned for using rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition. This Act also makes technical changes to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.



  • Delaware - Signed

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SB 34 w/ SA 1

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE CREATING A PRESCRIPTION OPIOID IMPACT FUND.

This Act creates a Prescription Opioid Impact Fund (“Fund”) through a prescription opioid impact fee (“Fee”) that is paid by pharmaceutical manufacturer. The anticipated revenue from the Fee is $2.8 million in 2020, $2.7 million in 2021, and $2.5 million in 2022.: 1. The fee is based on the total of the Morphine Milligram Equivalent (“MME”) in each manufacturer’s products dispensed in Delaware, based upon data already reported to the Prescription Monitoring Program (“PMP”). The PMP data contains the mandatory reports by pharmacists of every prescription opioid dispensed in the State. The PMP data does not include prescription opioids administered in hospitals, provided directly to patients by hospice, or dispensed by veterinarians. 2. The fee is assessed on manufacturers who exceed a threshold of 100,000 MMEs dispensed each quarter. 3. The Fee is calculated at a rate of either 1 penny per MME for a name brand prescription opioid dispensed and reported in the PMP or ¼ of a penny per MME for a prescription opioid that is a generic. The Act also provides that Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services, after receiving recommendations from the Behavioral Health Consortium, the Addiction Action Committee, and the Overdose System of Care Committee, will award grants and contracts from the money in the Fund for the following activities: 1. Opioid addiction prevention. 2. Opioid addiction services, including the following: 3. Inpatient and outpatient treatment programs and facilities, including short-term and long-term residential treatment programs and sober living facilities. 4. Treating substance use disorder for the under-insured and uninsured. 5. Emergency assistance relating to prescription opioids, including purchasing Naloxone. 6. Administrative costs of implementing the Fee and Fund, up to 15% of the amount in the Fund. Finally, this Act expires in 5 years, unless terminated sooner or extended by the General Assembly, so that the Fee is only continued if it is effective and is not creating negative unintended consequences.



  • Delaware - Signed

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SB 27 w/ SA 1

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

This Act, named the Share the Care Act, permits an individual employed by a personal assistance services agency to administer medications to an adult individual who resides in the individual’s own home if a responsible caregiver does the following: 1. Authorizes the direct care worker to do so. 2. Prepackages the medication by date and time. 3. Provides written instructions regarding the administration procedure. 4. Enters into an agreement with a personal assistance services agency governing the administration of the medication by the direct care worker.



  • Delaware - Signed

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HB 72 w/ SA 1

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 12 AND 25 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DECEDENTS’ ESTATES AND FIDUCIARY RELATIONS AND PROPERTY.

Section 1 of the Act addresses statutes under Chapter 33 of Title 12 and (i) clarifies the definition of governing instrument in section 3301(e) to include cross-references to new section 3343; (ii) adds a definition of “published fee schedule” to section 3301(h) as a cross-reference to the schedule or formula required by section 3561 to be filed periodically with the Court of Chancery; (iii) clarifies that section 3303(a) permits a trustor within a governing instrument to vary laws concerning the terms of powers of appointment over trust property; (iv) revises section 3322 regarding the appointment of agents by fiduciaries and the delegation of trust powers to provide that the standard of care applicable to a fiduciary when performing duties delegated to an agent shall apply to the fiduciary when selecting and monitoring the agent (and not to the agent), and to permit trust beneficiaries to release the fiduciary from liability for future conduct in monitoring agents—all to correct inconsistencies and conform the law to prevailing practice; (v) clarifies that under subsection 28 of section 3325 (which already permits a division of a trust for any reason), division along family lines is permitted; (vi) clarifies that under section 3338, the requirement for “holders of powers” to join in nonjudicial settlement agreements includes both those who hold powers of appointment and those who hold powers to remove or appoint fiduciaries or nonfiduciaries; (vii) clarifies that section 3341’s provisions regarding the consequences of a merger also apply in the case of trust decantings under section 3328 where a new trust is not created; (viii) clarifies section 3342 (merely by setting off an existing phrase with dashes) that modification with the trustor’s consent is permitted so long as the provisions as modified could have been included in the trust’s governing instrument if the trust were created on the date of the modification; (ix) adds a new section 3343 providing that where a governing instrument authorizes appointment of a successor trustee, multiple trustees may be appointed and fiduciary duties may be allocated among them; and (x) adds a new section 3344 providing that with respect to grantor trusts under the Internal Revenue Code, certain trustees are deemed to have discretion to reimburse a trustor (i.e., the grantor) of such a trust for that trustor’s income tax liabilities attributable to that trust—but without making the trustor a beneficiary of the trust, and not if the provisions of this section would reduce a charitable deduction available to any person for federal or state income or transfer tax purposes. Section 2 of the Act addresses statutes under Chapter 35 of Title 12 and (i) clarifies in section 3528 that after a decanting, the terms of the predecessor trust’s governing instrument are deemed to include the decanting power, in accordance with federal law requirements regarding certain charitable deductions; (ii) clarifies in section 3528 that the standard under section 3315, governing a trustee’s exercise of discretion, also applies to a trustee’s decanting authority in section 3528; (iii) clarifies subsections (c) and (c)(2) of section 3536 (subsection (c)(2) being moved within subsection (c) and expanded) that a trustor eligible for reimbursement from a trust of that trustor’s income tax liabilities attributable to the trust under section 3344 is not a beneficiary of the trust; (iv) clarifies the wording of subsections (c)(4) and (e) of section 3536 (subsection (c)(4) being created from existing wording in former subsection (c)(1) and expanded) regarding a trustor’s right to release a beneficial interest contingent on surviving the trustor’s spouse so as to accelerate the next succeeding beneficial interests; (v) clarifies section 3544 that a trustee has no duty to inquire into or confirm the validity of previous nonjudicial modifications, decantings, mergers, and the like; (vi) amends section 3545 to allow a trust instrument to be executed at a trustor’s direction (intended for situations where a trustor cannot physically sign the governing instrument, thus paralleling a similar provision that has existed for decades in Delaware’s wills statutes), and clarifies section 3545 that (as is the predominating practice) counterpart execution of trust instruments is permitted (subject to existing requirements regarding witnesses); (vii) modifies section 3547 to provide that takers in default under certain nongeneral powers of appointment cannot be virtually represented by the holders of such powers if there is a material conflict of interest—but also clarifies that those who must consent to the exercise of a power must also consent to any such virtual representation by the holder of the power; (viii) adds a cross-reference within section 3547(e) (regarding virtual representation) to section 3322 (regarding delegation); (ix) modifies section 3570 of Delaware’s Qualified Dispositions in Trust Act to allow a trustor to retain within a trust the ability to appoint and serve as a designated representative for a beneficiary under section 3339; (x) clarifies subsection (a)(2) of section 3585 to provide that the report procedure described in that subsection may be used while the trustee is in the process of resigning (and not just after completion of the act of resignation or the effective date of a resignation); and (xi) clarifies that section 3586 applies to governing instruments (which term is defined in section 3301(e)) and not just to trust instruments. Section 3 of the Act addresses statutes under Chapter 5 of Title 25 and (i) makes technical corrections to sections 501 and 504 regarding the method authorized in 2016 by which the donee of a power of appointment over trust property may avoid the application of the general default rule of section 501(a) of title 25 (which provides that interests in property created by the exercise of such a power of appointment are deemed to have been created at the time of the exercise of the power); and (ii) modifies section 505 to conform it with the Uniform Powers of Appointment Act, by allowing powerholders who have a nongeneral power of appointment the option of exercising the power in trust and creating a further nongeneral power of appointment (and not just a further general power of appointment as the existing language provides). Section 4 of the Act provides effective dates.



  • Delaware - Signed

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SB 16 w/ SA 1

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATES FOR MOTORCYCLES.

This Act authorizes the Division of Motor Vehicles (“Division”) to issue special registration plates to motorcycle clubs without having to enact a special law for each request. A motorcycle club must have 50 applications for its special registration plate before the Division is required to issue a special registration plate; however, the requirement is reduced to 25 for certain motorcycle clubs. This Act is limited to owners of a motorcycle who are members of a motorcycle club and have completed or are enrolled in, and complete, an experienced rider course. This Act assesses a 1-time, $20 fee, $10 of which must be deposited by the Division into a special account to be used by the Division only for the expenses incurred in the administration of the motorcycle rider education program.



  • Delaware - Signed

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HB 46 w/ HA 2, HA 4 + SA 2

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 25 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO A DELAWARE MANUFACTURED HOME OWNER ATTORNEY FUND.

This Act creates a Delaware Manufactured Home Owner Attorney Fund ("Attorney Fund") by collecting a $0.50 monthly assessment per lot from manufactured home owners who rent a lot in a community governed by the Manufactured Home Owners and Community Owners Act. The Attorney Fund will be administered by the Department of Justice to contract with an attorney or agency who will provide legal representation and advocacy for manufactured home owners enforcing existing rights in disputes with community owners. This Act does all of the following: 1. Clarifies that tenants and landlords continue to each pay half of the monthly assessment, currently $5.00, which is deposited in the Delaware Manufactured Home Relocation Trust Fund. 2. Directs $0.50 of each tenant’s portion of the monthly assessment to the Attorney Fund. 3. Reduces the obligation of the landlord by $0.50 for each rented lot. This Act is drafted so that if both this Act and House Bill No. 45 are enacted in 2019, the changes made by this Act will be incorporated into the revisions to Chapter 70 of Title 25 made by House Bill No. 45. Sections 1 and 2 make the same technical corrections as House Bill No. 45 and Sections 1 and 3 make additional technical corrections, to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.



  • Delaware - Signed

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HB 40 w/ SA 1

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE FORT DUPONT REDEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVATION CORPORATION.

This bill: (1) increases the number of directors on the Board and allows the Board to appoint four additional directors; (2) implements clarifying language; (3) sunsets the former Advisory Council to replace it with a subcommittee structure to allow greater participation from members of the public and to allow the Corporation to appoint and receive assistance and expertise from a greater variety of experts; and (4) allows the Board of Directors to amend the Certificate of Incorporation with approval from the General Assembly.



  • Delaware - Signed

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HB 114 w/ HA 1 + SA 1

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 13 AND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PUBLIC ACCESS TO VITAL STATISTICS RECORDS.

This Bill raises the time periods for public access to individual vital records from 72 years to 80 years after the date of birth, and from 40 years to 50 years after the date of death or marriage.



  • Delaware - Signed

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HB 205 w/ HA 1 + SA 1

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.



  • Delaware - Signed

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SS 1 for SB 37 w/ SA 1

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 4, TITLE 10, TITLE 11, AND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING EXPUNGEMENT OF RECORDS OF ADULT ARREST AND CONVICTION.

In our modern society, a criminal record can limit a person’s opportunities and the quality of life they can achieve for themselves and their families for years, and even decades, after that person has completed the terms of the criminal sentence imposed. Even the existence of an arrest record with no conviction can limit job opportunities, housing, access to higher education, credit, and access to jobs that require professional licensing. The General Assembly has expanded the availability of expungement for juvenile adjudications of delinquency quite dramatically in recent years, in recognition that people can and do change and move beyond mistakes of their past. The intent of this Act is to extend that same recognition to some categories of adult records of arrest and conviction. At present, Delaware allows adults to petition to have a record expunged in only 2 circumstances: (1) for an arrest that did not lead to conviction and (2) after a pardon is granted – but for certain misdemeanor offenses only. Under this Act, a person may have a record expunged through a petition to the State Bureau of Identification (SBI) for (1) charges resolved in favor of the petitioner; (2) a record that includes violations only after the passage of 3 years; and (3) some misdemeanors after 5 years. Excluded from this SBI-only expungement process are convictions for any misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence, misdemeanor crimes where the victim is a child or a vulnerable adult, and unlawful sexual contact in the third degree. Allowing expungements for arrests without convictions and minor, isolated convictions through an application to the SBI will ease the burden on the courts and the Board of Pardons. This Act also provides that the court may grant a petition for expungement upon a showing of “manifest injustice” in the following situations: (1) 3 years have passed since the date of a single misdemeanor conviction; (2) a person has a single conviction in a felony case and 7 years have passed from the date of conviction or release from incarceration, whichever is later; (3) 7 years have passed since conviction or release from incarceration on misdemeanor domestic violence or misdemeanor conviction with child or vulnerable adult victim. A felony conviction for any of the following crimes is not eligible for expungement through this discretionary only expungement process, but may be expunged by a court following a pardon: Title 11 violent felonies; § 1136 of Title 16 (crimes against a resident of a long-term care facility; § 3913 of Title 31 (crimes against an adult who is impaired due to a physical or mental disability); and any “felony conviction involving physical or sexual assault crimes” as defined in the Beau Biden Child Protection Act. The Department of Justice will have an opportunity to state its position on the expungement petition to the court, and is empowered to seek input from any victim in the case. In all cases, the applicant for expungement must have no prior or subsequent convictions (other than traffic offenses, and underage alcohol or marijuana possession) in order to be eligible. A person is not allowed to apply for expungement under this process if an expungement has been granted within the last 10 years. Fines, fees, and restitution must be paid before an expungement may be granted; however, courts are empowered to waive outstanding fines or convert them to a civil judgement if they are unpaid for reasons other than willful noncompliance. Most Title 21 (traffic offenses), including DUI, are ineligible for expungement under this Act. However, traffic offenses (other than DUIs) will also not operate as a bar to the expungement of other charges. The Act strikes provisions in Title 10 relating to expungement of adult records in Family Court and consolidates them with the Title 11 expungement provisions. Conforming changes are made to cross-references in Title 4 and 16. This Substitute Bill differs from Senate Bill No. 37 as follows: (1) Adds Vehicular Assault in the Second Degree, Incest, Coercion, and Unlawfully Dealing with a Child to the list of crimes that can be expunged only if the individual first receives a pardon. That list previously included only Unlawful Sexual Contact in the Third Degree. (2) Makes clear that an expungement does not result in an individual’s automatic removal from the Child Protection Registry or the Adult Abuse Registry. (3) Adds certain misdemeanor property crimes to the list of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence that may be expunged only through the discretionary expungement process. (4) Permits the State Bureau of Identification to continue to promulgate regulations and impose fees for mandatory expungements under § 4373 of Title 11. This change also makes a technical correction to conform the existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. (5) Gives the Department of Justice additional time to answer a petition for discretionary expungement so that the Department has sufficient time to contact the victim of the crime. (6) Permits the victim of the crime to provide a written statement to the court when a defendant seeks a discretionary expungement and to testify at a hearing if one is held. (7) Requires, as part of the Victims’ Bill of Rights, that the Department of Justice to provide notice to the victim that the defendant is seeking a discretionary expungement; that the victim may provide a statement or testify, if a hearing is held; of the date, time, and place of any hearing; and of the court’s decision on the expungement petition. (8) Makes the following crimes not eligible for discretionary expungement following a pardon: Manslaughter, Murder in the Second Degree, Murder in the First Degree, Rape in the Second Degree, Rape in the First Degree, and Sexual Abuse of a Child by a Person in a Position of Trust, Authority, or Supervision in the First Degree. (9) Includes references to the First Offender Domestic Violence Diversion Program, under § 1024 of Title 10, so that expunged records related to this program may be accessed by criminal justice agencies to determine if an individual is eligible for the program. (10) Permits law-enforcement to access expunged records in any criminal investigation, not just a felony investigation. (11) Permits criminal justice agencies involved in the licensing of individuals to carry a concealed deadly weapon under § 1441 of Title 11 to access expunged records. (12) Makes clear that an expungement does not require the destruction of DNA taken under § 4713 of Title 29. (13) Allows the use of an expunged record in sentencing for a subsequent offense or on application for a pardon of a subsequent offense. (14) Makes clear that it is the State Bureau of Identification’s responsibility to inform federal law-enforcement of an order of expungement. (15) Makes clear that the 10 year waiting period for a subsequent expungement does not apply to an individual who is seeking a mandatory expungement because the case was terminated in the individual’s favor. (16) Removes language that would preclude an individual from obtaining an expungement if the individual has a prior or subsequent driving under the influence offense. (17) Makes an additional conforming change to remove § 1027 of Title 10, which is obsolete based on the change to § 1025 of Title 10. (18) Makes technical corrections, including to correct an internal reference and add an existing section heading to the Act for clarity. Finally, this Act is to be known as the Adult Expungement Reform Act and implementation of the Act is delayed for 180 days to allow State agencies to prepare necessary procedures and forms.



  • Delaware - Signed

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HB 142 w/ SA 1

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.



  • Delaware - Signed

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SB 84 w/ SA 2

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE NATIVE SPECIES COMMISSION.

This Act revises the Delaware Native Species Commission by doing the following: 1. Adds a member from the Delaware Department of Transportation. 2. Removes the requirement that Governor appointees be citizens of this State. 3. Requires that the members who represent stakeholder commercial interests represent those interests in Delaware. 4. Adds 2 additional public members.



  • Delaware - Signed

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SB 93 w/ SA 1

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 4 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS.

This Act permits a horse racetrack to make and sell beer on the horse racetrack premises for consumption on or off the licensed premises. This Act also makes technical corrections to existing law.



  • Delaware - Signed

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SB 132 w/ SA 1

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 18 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE GUARANTY ASSOCIATION ACT.

This Act updates the Delaware Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association Act (Delaware Act) to conform Delaware law to revisions made to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC) Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association Model Act (Model Act). The Model Act provides a framework for protecting policy or contract owners, insureds, beneficiaries, annuitants, payees, and assignees against losses due to the insolvency or impairment of an insurer. This Act revises the methodology for assessments relating to long-term care insurance written by an impaired or insolvent insurer and includes managed care organizations and health maintenance organizations within the scope of the Delaware Act to more fairly distribute the cost of long-term care insurance insolvencies among insurers writing life, health, annuity, managed care organization, and health maintenance organization products and to ensure sufficient assessment capacity for all insolvencies. Finally, this Act makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.



  • Delaware - Signed

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SB 107 w/ SA 1

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CIVIL PROCEDURES TO RELINQUISH FIREARMS OR AMMUNITION.

This bill changes the standard of proof necessary to issue a civil gun relinquishment order from the Justice of the Peace Court. The preponderance of the evidence standard is the standard traditionally used in civil matters and is, therefore, appropriate here. This also makes the standard consistent with that required for a Lethal Violence Protective Order, which is highly similar in nature.



  • Delaware - Signed

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SB 140 w/ SA 1

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 9 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO WIRELESS COMMUNICATION LEASES FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY PARK AREAS AND OPEN SPACE.

This Act will expand New Castle County’s limited authority to lease park land or land held in public trust to include leases for erecting, maintaining and operating wireless communications facilities. State law currently limits public land leases to those for recreational purposes and related activities. At common law, the State legislature must approve transfers or changes in the use of park land; however, this function may be delegated to municipalities through legislative action. This Act is intended to abrogate the restrictions on permitted uses for public parks, held in a public trust as provided in the common law, including the restrictions set forth in Anderson v. Mayor and Council of Wilmington, 137 A.2d 521 (Del. Ch. 1958) and Lord v. City of Wilmington, 332 A.2d 414 (Del. Ch. 1975), aff'd, 378 A.3d 635 (Del. 1977), and to amend state law to permit specifically a wireless communications lease on such land as minimally intrusive and with the approval of County Council.



  • Delaware - Signed

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SS 1 for SB 128 w/ SA 1

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 19 AND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION.

This Act expands the collection procedures available to the Division of Unemployment Insurance to more closely match the collection procedures currently available to the Division of Revenue providing the Division of Unemployment Insurance with streamlined procedures to allow it to more quickly and easily execute on judgments for unpaid unemployment insurance tax assessments. These procedures include obtaining warrants for the levy and sale of property; extending liens; garnishments of wages, bank accounts, and other property; and denying or suspending professional licenses of judgment debtors. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. This Substitute differs from Senate Bill No. 128 as follows: 1. Provides authority for appeals tribunals to hear protests under § 3368 of Title 19 and hearings under § 3369 of Title 19. 2. Aligns the length of a lien of a judgment under Chapter 33 of Title 19 with the length of a lien of judgment obtained by the Division of Revenue. 3. Removes debts owed due to overpayments from garnishment. 4. Makes clarifications and technical corrections.



  • Delaware - Signed

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SB 156 w/ SA 1

AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAWS OF DELAWARE AND TITLE 4, TITLE 6, TITLE 10, TITLE 11, TITLE 15, TITLE 16, TITLE 19, TITLE 24, TITLE 25, AND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

In January 2019, the Code Revisors provided the General Assembly with a list of potential technical corrections that they identified as they revised the Delaware Code to reflect legislation that was enacted by the 149th General Assembly in 2018 or as they reviewed titles of the Code. While technical in nature, these changes are beyond the authority of the Code Revisors to make and can only be done by the General Assembly through legislation. This Act also includes technical corrections identified outside of the list provided by the Code Revisors. This Act requires a three-quarters vote, erring on the side of caution if any of the sections of the Delaware Code being revised require a super-majority vote. Section 1. This Section corrects a typographical error created in § 512 of Title 4 when House Bill No. 284 was passed after House Bill No. 158 in the 149th General Assembly and House Bill No. 284 did not incorporate the revisions made to § 512 by House Bill No. 158. Sections 2 through 4. These Sections correct errors created by House Bill No. 125 of the 150th General Assembly changing the limit on the number of barrels to 6 million instead of the reference to the Code of Federal Regulations in 5 sections of the Delaware Code. The Code of Regulations limit includes a time period of a calendar year on the number of barrels and that time period was included in 2 of the 5 sections where this was changed. These sections add “in a calendar year” after the number of barrels in the other 3 sections and corrects the spelling for “million” in 1 section. Sections 5 through 6. These Sections replace a reference to § 2728 of Title 18 with a reference to § 4915 of Title 10. The synopsis to Senate Bill No. 195 of the 149th General Assembly explains that SB 195 repealed § 2728 of Title 18 because that section has been superseded by § 4915 of Title 10. Section 7. House Substitute No. 1 to House Bill No. 222 of the 149th General Assembly created lethal violence protective orders. This Section removes the word “emergency” from § 7704 of Title 10 because an order is entered after a nonemergency petition is filed and a hearing is held under § 7704 of Title 10. Section 8. Senate Bill No. 150 of the 149th General Assembly revised the Delaware Police Accreditation Commission. This Section replaces an incomplete sentence with standard organizational language regarding the ability of members to appoint a designee and makes other technical corrections. Section 9. During discussions of Senate Bill No. 10 in the 150th General Assembly, outdated language describing disqualifying felonies for eligibility to vote was identified. This Section corrects the inconsistent language by referencing Chapter 61 of Title 15, which was enacted by the 140th General Assembly and establishes when persons with felony convictions are permitted to vote. This Section also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. Section 10. This Section revises § 4944 of Title 15 to correctly identify the State Election Commissioner as the custodian of the names of electors and the spelling of Vice President, errors discovered while drafting legislation for the 150th General Assembly. Sections 11 through 16. These Sections correct the incorrect spelling of Vice President identified while drafting legislation for the 150th General Assembly. Section 17. House Bill No. 248 of the 149th General Assembly did not properly include the existing language in the Delaware Code. This Section revises § 122(3)p.2.B.VI. of Title 16 by including the language intended by House Bill No. 248 and repealing the existing provisions. Section 18. House Bill No. 431 of the 149th General Assembly, as amended, requires nursing and assisted living facilities to offer onsite influenza vaccinations to all employees every year. The Code Revisors interpreted the phrase “of the following year” to mean only 2019, the calendar year after enactment of the Act. This Section revises § 1144 of Title 16 so that it is clear that the vaccinations must be provided every calendar year. Section 19. House Bill No. 409 of the 149th General Assembly, as amended, included the phrase “any of the above” in the first sentence of § 1904 of Title 19. This Section revises this sentence to clarify that it refers to the events earlier in the sentence. Sections 20 through 21. House Bill No. 311 intended to create a 2 year grandfathering of licenses after enactment but the effective date allowed for only 1 year. This Section establishes a 2 year grandfathering period. Section 22. After House Bill No. 46 was passed during the 150th General Assembly, questions arose regarding how to interpret the new provisions. This Section makes revisions to provide clarity. Section 23. This Section repeals § 704(c) of Title 29 because the provisions in § 704(c) are repeated with more detail in § 7331 of Title 15, an error discovered while drafting legislation for the 150th General Assembly. Section 24. Senate Bill No. 227 contains a delayed effective date and a sunset provision. This Section changes the sunset provision so it is 3 years after the effective date instead of 3 years after enactment. Section 25. This Section makes Section 22 of this Act effective the day after House Bill No. 46 is enacted.



  • Delaware - Signed

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SB 175 w/ SA 1

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 RELATING TO ELIGIBILITY FOR SEED GRANTS.

Currently, the SEED program allows students a maximum of 6 semesters to complete an Associate Degree. This Bill allows SEED eligible students who complete their Associate Degree in fewer than 6 semesters to apply the remaining semesters of the grant toward a Bachelor’s Degree at either the University of Delaware or Delaware Technical and Community College.



  • Delaware - Signed

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SB 162 w/ SA 1

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF MILLVILLE RELATING TO THE POWER TO IMPOSE AND COLLECT A LODGING TAX.

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



  • Delaware - Signed

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SB 148 w/ SA 1, SA 2

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

This Act creates the Redding Consortium for Educational Equity ("Consortium"), which replaces the Wilmington Education Improvement Commission ("WEIC"). The Consortium has multiple purposes. First, it will recommend policies and practices to the Governor, General Assembly, and Secretary of Education regarding educational equity and educational outcomes in the City of Wilmington and northern New Castle County. Second, the Consortium will monitor educational progress and outcomes for students in the City of Wilmington and for all low-income, English learners and at-risk students in northern New Castle County and report on the same. Third, the Consortium will make recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly regarding improvement in public education in the City of Wilmington and northern New Castle County. Fourth, it will evaluate the need for additional or alternative educational facilities in the City of Wilmington. Fifth, it will develop policy proposals to be introduced through legislation to improve teaching and learning in district and charter schools in the City of Wilmington and northern New Castle County. Sixth, it will develop a proposal for redistricting in the City of Wilmington and northern New Castle County. Seventh, it will research the viability of the New Castle County Tax District and Tax Pool. The Act specifies who will be appointed to the Consortium and how it will be staffed. Its first meeting must occur on or before September 1, 2019.



  • Delaware - Signed

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SB 147 w/ SA 1

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ACCIDENT STATISTICS AND REPORTS.

This Act allows the Department of Safety and Homeland Security to share accident reports and the data in the reports with the Department of Transportation. This Act also allows the Department of Transportation to provide certain de-identified data from accident reports to limited requestors. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.



  • Delaware - Signed