Friends and neighbors,
Spring is finally here, which means things are getting busier in Legislative Hall and across the 12th District.
In Delaware, our regular legislative session runs each year from the second Tuesday in January through June 30. To watch Senate proceedings live or if you want to come back later to watch recordings of past proceedings, click here. To view daily Senate Agendas, click here. To view upcoming committee meetings, legislative session start times, and more, click here.
In this email, you’ll find information on legislation I sponsored, community news, and local resources.
As always, please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, comments, community concerns, or just to say hi. I can be reached by email at nicole.poore@delaware.gov, on Facebook, or by calling my Senate office at (302) 744-4164.
Sincerely,
Nicole Poore
Senator, District 12
Around the 12th District
The annual atTAcK addiction “E-Racing the Stigma” 5K/Rally happened again this year on March 5. Over 2,000 runners and walkers participated to raise awareness about addiction. It’s an honor for this incredible event to take place in the 12th District.
Last weekend, the Delaware Rare Action Network celebrated Rare Disease Day. This was another milestone in our awareness campaign.
While we are starting to see things getting back to normal after the pandemic, many advocacy organizations and community groups are still meeting virtually.
Last month, I toured the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) of Delaware with Representative Kim Williams at their Wilmington location. The CAC aims to reduce the devasting long-term effects that child abuse has on children, their families and society through immediate, coordinated, child focused services, education, and advocacy.
It was truly eye opening to see the CAC in-person. Thank you to Randy Williams and everyone at the CAC for welcoming us and teaching us more about what they do each day to help children in Delaware.
The deadline for organizations to submit applications for the FY23 Community Reinvestment Fund is May 15, 2022.
Eligible applicants include county and local governments, community-based nonprofit organizations, and private sector nonprofit organizations.
Please direct any questions to the Office of the Controller General at 302-744-4200 or send an email to Bond_Public_Comment@delaware.gov.
Legislative Update
Far too many student athletes have experienced some form of abuse from a coach or trusted adult in an athletic setting — what’s worse, there isn’t always an easy way to report the incident. That’s why I introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution 74, which encourages Delaware sports organizations to utilize the services and best practices recommended by the U.S. Center of SafeSport.
I am proud to say that SCR74 passed the Senate unanimously.
Over the coming weeks, I will be introducing the Safety and Accountability for Everyone (S.A.F.E.) package, a series of bills designed to protect our children in their classrooms, after school activities and beyond. These bills will target codes of conduct, sexual exploitation on social media, and grooming tactics.
Rock Your Socks Day
For many years now, I have been proud to sponsor the resolution recognizing March 21 as Rock Your Socks Day.
It was so great to be back in person to celebrate alongside my colleagues, Governor Carney, and the families of children with Down syndrome in Legislative Hall!
COVID-19 Update
Delaware’s State of Emergency has come to an end, for the time being.
With COVID-19 cases falling back to numbers not seen since August, Governor John Carney recently announced that the mask mandate for K-12 schools, school buses and childcare facilities has been lifted as of Tuesday, March 1.
Vaccine and testing requirements for educators and state employees also expired on March 1, and the mask requirement in most state facilities has been lifted.
The end of the mask mandate for schools, childcare facilities and state buildings is consistent with new masking guidelines issued by the CDC at the end of February: https://bit.ly/3M9HjGh
DelDOT Update
DelDOT is set to begin phasing in a speeding enforcement on I-95 through the construction zone in the City of Wilmington.
All vehicle owners that exceed the posted speed limit of 45 MPH will receive a base fine of $20 with an additional amount added for each mile per hour over the posted work zone speed limit, plus additional fees in accordance with state law.
The program stems from a spike in crashes that occurred along the I-95 work zone in Wilmington in 2021. There were 423 crashes in the I-95 work zone in Delaware last year, an increase of 49% in the same area from 2019.
Please drive safely and be sure to leave extra time in your commute.
Roth Bridge (SR 1) Deck Repairs
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Philadelphia District has begun replacing the concrete deck overlay on the Senator William V. Roth, Jr. Bridge (SR-1) in Delaware. The repair work requires lane restrictions and changing traffic patterns, as well as single and double lane closures.
In April and May, northbound two-lane closures will occur daily from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Southbound two-lane closures will occur daily from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. There will be no northbound lane closures during the week from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and no southbound lane closures during the week from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. There will be single lane closures on both northbound and southbound lanes at all other times.
Use a picture of the Roth Bridge again like the email blast.
Bridge Painting New Castle County, SR 1 Overpasses
DelDOT will begin painting nine bridges along the SR 1 corridor and one along SR 71 in early April. Late evening/night-time single lane closures will be required on SR 1 to set up and break down platforms.
Dragon Run Tide Gates Replacement
Project Description: Replacement of tide gates.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: Fall 2023
Project Update: Design is underway.
SR9 Delaware Street (N-055) Railroad Crossing Safety Improvements
Project Description: This project in the City of New Castle will replace, in-kind, the existing hot mix at-grade crossing surface on SR 9 / Delaware Street, perform drainage improvements at the crossing, close Eighth Street at Delaware Street and improve both the railroad and roadway signals to improve safety, visibility and meet current standards. The closure of Eighth Street will prevent vehicles from stopping on the tracks while making turns and remove an intersection that is too close to the tracks.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: TBD
Project Update: The proposed detour of SR 9 / Delaware Street will make use of Moores Avenue, Boulden Boulevard, DuPont Highway and I-295. A public workshop was held in 2018 and meetings with the Town Council have been held in 2018 & 2019. Initial meetings were held with emergency management services, but will continue as the project schedule gets closer.