The opioid epidemic spreading through Delaware has reached critical levels, with 210 fentanyl-related deaths in 2017. This legislation will update the schedule for Fentanyl analogues, consistent with language used by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The Forensic Chemistry Unit at the Division of Forensic Science has confirmed the presence of these analogues in Delaware, but some of which are not currently scheduled under Title 16. This is directly related to continuous structural modifications of Fentanyl by illicit manufacturers. This legislation will close that gap and provide clarity to Title 16, consistent with federal law, by addressing ever-changing structural modifications being made in the illicit manufacture of Fentanyl. This legislative is aimed to curb the manufacture and distribution of illicit Fentanyl analogues and has no impact on the legal manufacture of Fentanyl for medical use.

Prime Sponsor: Poore; Status: Signed

I am pleased to announce that HB 5 – a bill I was proud to sponsor alongside my good friend Rep. Val Longhurst – passed both chambers and is set to be signed by Gov. Carney in the near future

HB 5 is an important measure within our criminal justice reform package that was at the top of our agenda this past month. This piece of legislation works to make our justice system less crowded and more fair by returning sentencing discretion to our judges.

Currently, some statues require sentence stacking for people who have been convicted of more than one offense. In the worst cases, these outdated requirements tie the hands of our judges and can lead to long stays in prison for relatively minor crimes.

In 2019, we know that we can do better than that.

Once signed by Gov. Carney, HB 5 will replace those lines of code with newer, more flexible language that allows judges to use their discretion in sentencing to reach a result that fits the crime committed. More specifically, that means that judges can order jail sentences to be served all at once (concurrently) or one at a time (consecutively). This discretion will be extended for most nonviolent crimes but will not be offered in the most serious cases of assault and other violent crimes.

SB 78 is one of the bills that I couldn’t wait to work on this year and covers a topic that is extremely important to me. It passed the Senate earlier this year and made it through the House on the last day of session, meaning we are just one signature away from consent education becoming Delaware law.

Senate Bill 78 is a piece of legislation that would require public and charter schools to add instruction about the meaning of consent and respecting each other’s personal boundaries to existing health/sex ed curricula. The bill also provides a clear definition of consent to allow for consistent instruction across school districts.

Despite the work Delaware has done to implement sex education in our schools, it lags behind neighboring states like Maryland and New Jersey that already require public schools to include consent education in their health instruction.

Rather than simply instructing our children on how their bodies work, this bill will teach our kids how to better navigate adult relationships and respect others.

Consent is being talked about more now than ever before, and that’s welcome news to parents, educators, and legislators in our state. Teaching our children to respect personal boundaries isn’t an empty gesture, it’s a much-needed policy that can cut down on cases of sexual assault, domestic violence, and other violent crimes. When I volunteered in a rape crisis center, I saw first-hand the outcome of not talking about this issue. As a Senator, I am proud to do whatever I can to take us in a different direction.

Thank you to my colleagues in the House and Senate for passing this bill before the deadline. We got every single one of the 62 legislators representing our state to vote yes on SB 78 and I am so proud and encouraged to see something this important get unanimous support.

Onward to the bill signing!

I recently introduced Senate Bill 60 to protect juvenile victims of human trafficking from facing punishment. Many people don’t realize that these children are often faced with criminal charges for the crime of being trafficked/used for prostitution. That is just plain wrong. The focus must be shifted to their well being, safety, and growth if we are going to make meaningful steps toward ending human trafficking and protect our children. I look forward to passing this bill as quickly as possible and I am grateful to my colleagues and supporters for helping to get this bill on the agenda this year.

I stood alongside Gov. Carney, my colleagues in the General Assembly and students throughout the state to support legislation that would raise the legal smoking age to 21.We owe it to our children to put their health first and I’m proud to be a co-sponsor of this important legislation.

Senate Bill 25, sponsored by Sen. Townsend and Rep. Minor-Brown proposes an amendment to Delaware Code which would prohibit the sale of tobacco products, or tobacco substitutes to people under the age of 21 in our state. Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the State of Delaware.Teens are at a heightened risk for the negative side effects of nicotine, because of the state of their brain development. Additionally, the growth of alternative tobacco products, such as JUUL, vapes, and more, it is imperative that we consider the health costs, and concerns that stem from these products and the impact they will have on the young people in our state, for years to come.

Significant legislation sponsored or co-sponsored by Senator Poore during the 2015 session.

HB-2

Senate Sponsor[s]: Poore Senate

Co-sponsor[s]: Blevins, Bushweller, Ennis, Peterson, Townsend

Requires ongoing sexual assault training for police officers and deputy attorney generals in the criminal and family divisions.
Status: Signed into law

Significant legislation sponsored or co-sponsored by Senator Poore during the 2015 session.

HB-1

Senate Sponsor[s]: Peterson Senate

Co-sponsor[s]: Blevins, Hall-Long, Henry, Poore

Mandates that responsible employees of colleges and universities report incidents of sexual assault committed against students to law enforcement within 24 hours of notification. School law enforcement must make reports to the proper municipal/state law enforcement agencies with 24 hours as well as issuing monthly reports to the state Justice Department every 30 days. Exclusions include people with privilege against disclosure and sexual assault victim advocates. Also mandates that institutions train staff in the reporting requirements. Authorizes the State Justice Department to fine institutions found in non-compliance.
Status: House Administration Committee

Significant legislation sponsored or co-sponsored by Senator Poore during the 2015 session.

SJR-1

Sponsor[s]: Poore, Henry, Blevins, McDowell, Townsend

Co-sponsor[s]: Hall-Long, Peterson

Requires all law enforcement agencies, legal departments, hospitals and prosecutorial agencies to report to the Attorney General’s Office the number of untested sexual assault kits in their possession and their date of collection. The Criminal Justice Council is directed to prepare an aggregated report by Jan. 11, 2016. The CJC also is mandated to develop strategies to ensure better responses to sexual assault from the criminal justice and medical communities.
Status: Signed into law

Significant legislation sponsored or co-sponsored by Senator Poore during the 2015 session.

SB-102

Sponsor[s]: Blevins

Co-sponsor[s]: Poore

Extends from 10 months to one year the time from installation of an ignition interlock device (after which a person may seek full restoration of driving privileges) and adds a minimum of 30 days’ community service for second offenses within 10 years to bring state law into compliance with federal regulations and avoid withholding of federal highway funding.
Status: Senate Judiciary Committee