Senate Sponsor[s]: Poore
Senate Co-sponsor[s]: Ennis
Synopsis: Increases DNREC’s ability to enter into long-term operating agreements for facilities under its control from 10 to 25 years
Status: Signed
Sponsor[s]: Poore
Co-sponsor[s]: Sokola, Townsend
[Sunset Bill] A major overhaul of the Sustainable Energy Utility that vests the powers formerly held by the SEU’s contract administrator with the executive director, who reports to the SEU Oversight Board. It eliminates specific mandates on who makes up the board to allow greater flexibility in making appointments and staggers board terms. It defines the terms of board-appointed advisory committees. It mandates the development of a three- to five-year strategic plan, comprehensive annual reports and deliver certified annual financial statements and be subject to biennial audits.
Status: Senate Ready List (as pf 9/17/2013)
Sponsor[s]: Poore
Co-sponsors: Sokola, Townsend
Synopsis: Updates laws governing the Board of Charitable Gaming by merging rules for gaming, raffles and Texas Hold ‘Em Poker; requires background checks for charitable gaming vendors and third-party vendors; allows the sale of alcoholic beverages at some charitable events excluding bingo; changes start times for bingo games; gives the board fining powers of up to $1,000 for holding events without proper licenses and permits and increases bingo prizes to a maximum of $3,000
Status: House Ready List (as of 9/17/2013)
Sponsor[s]: Poore
Co-sponsor[s]: Sokola, Townsend
Synopsis: Sunset recommendation to remove gubernatorial appointees to boards and commissions from the pension plan by deleting their “regular, part-time” status.
Status: Signed
Senate Co-sponsor[s]: Blevins, Henry, Peterson, Sokola, Townsend
Synopsis: Major overhaul of the state’s school choice program that standardizes choice application forms and the deadline for filing applications to enter the choice program and requires schools to hold public information sessions about the choice program and enrollment by 31 October. It holds open the date by which students can be accepted and eliminates discrimination based on grades or special needs.
Status: Signed
Senate Sponsor[s]: Townsend
Senate Co-sponsor[s]: Ennis, Henry, Poore, Sokola
Synopsis: Reaffirms compulsory attendance for K-12 students and requires truancy charges to be brought after 20 unexcused absences instead of 30 days.
Status: Signed
Sponsor[s]: Sokola
Co-sponsor[s]: Ennis, Henry, Poore, Townsend
Synopsis: Increases preparation requirements for new teachers by requiring Delaware teacher prep programs to increase admissions standards and completion requirements to include high-quality student teaching experiences with ongoing evaluation of participants. Requires programs to track and report on program effectiveness. Requires new teachers to pass a content-readiness exam and performance assessment before getting their tickets.
Status: Signed
Senate Sponsor[s]: Poore, McBride
Synopsis: Updates Delaware’s Oil Pollution Act by eliminating the monetary cap on damages and eliminates duplicative regulation by substituting the state’s Certificate of Financial Responsibility for shippers for Cost Guard-issued certificates.
Status: Signed
Sponsor[s]: McBride
Co-sponsor[s]: Blevins, Marshall, McDowell, Peterson, Poore, Sokola, Townsend, Venables
Synopsis: Allows Delaware to join the 40-state Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact – a nationwide law enforcement compact aimed at preventing people who have lost hunting and fishing licenses in other states for crimes, such as poaching, from being licensed in another state and committing similar crimes in those states.
Status: Signed