Committee Agenda Report: May 10th-11th
Prepared By Dustyn Thompson, David Rugg, Julie McIndoe
The House is back with phone-in numbers this week!
The Senate is still doing committees with virtual access (hybrid), so the registration links are provided.
Bills coming up the week of 5/10/22:
| Bill Number | Sponsor | Summary/Description | Committee | Date | Time | Registration Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HB235 | Rep. Lynn | Bill of Rights for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness to ensure that all individuals, regardless of housing status, have equal opportunity to live in decent, safe, sanitary, and healthful accommodations and enjoy equality of opportunities. | House Judiciary | 5/11/22 | 1:00 | Livestream Link 1-866-403-9129 Password: JUDICIARY |
| SB241 | Sen. Lawson | Expands the Disabled Veterans School Tax Credit to include a deceased disabled veteran's surviving spouse. | Senate Veterans Affairs | 5/11/22 | 2:30 | Register |
| SB255 | Sen. Pinkney | Allows the Department of Services for Children, Youth & Their Families, Division of Family Services Director or Deputy Director to sign the request for voluntary admission to a psychiatric treatment facility for youth in foster care. | House Health and Human Development | 5/11/22 | 11:00 | Livestream Link 1-888-272-8703 Password: HEALTH |
| HB 334 | Rep. Bentz | Allows doctors outside of Delaware to see patients virtually for telehealth appointments | House Health and Human Development | 5/11/22 | 11:00 | Livestream Link 1-888-272-8703 Password: HEALTH |
| HB378 | Rep. Morrison | Clarifies the authority of the Office of Animal Welfare and Department of Agriculture to enforce all state laws relating to protection and control of animals, including dog barking laws. The Act also transfers the authority to impose and collect fines and penalties under this title to the department. | House Health & Human Development | 5/11/22 | 11:00 | Livestream Link 1-888-272-8703 Password: HEALTH |
| HB 333 | Rep. Bennett | Prohibits declawing cats | House Health and Human Development | 5/11/22 | 11:00 | Livestream Link 1-888-272-8703 Password: HEALTH |
| HS 1 for HB 93 | Rep. Briggs King | Creates a Grants-in-Aid Committee | House Administration | 5/11/22 | 12:00 | LIvestream Link 1-800-285-6670 Password: ADMINISTRATION |
| HB 411 | Rep. Schwartzkopf | No more 3:00 AM last day of sessions (maybe) | House Administration | 5/11/22 | 12:00 | LIvestream Link 1-800-285-6670 Password: ADMINISTRATION |
| HB 375 | Rep. Bolden | This Act establishes the Racial Equity Consortium (“Consortium”) for the purposes of studying and making recommendations to address the disparities and inequities faced by persons of color in this State. |
House Administration | 5/11/22 | 12:00 | LIvestream Link 1-800-285-6670 Password: ADMINISTRATION |
| HB 351 | Rep. Morrison | Background checks for all General Assembly candidates | House Administration | 5/11/22 | 12:00 | LIvestream Link 1-800-285-6670 Password: ADMINISTRATION |
| HB 371 | Rep. Osienski | Legalizes cannabis for adults over 21+ | Senate Judiciary | 5/11/22 | 1:00 | Register Here Livestream link |
| SB 277 | Sen. McBride | This Act assists FQHCs and government-operated dental clinics in recruiting dentists to serve those most in need. | Senate Health and Social Services | 5/11/22 | 10:00 | Register |
| HB396 | Rep. Dorsey Walker | Codifies the school notification process, limiting notifications to violent felonies, crimes that occur on school property or at a school event, or where the alleged victim attends the same school and disallows schools from “double punishing” the children. | House Education | 5/11/22 | 3:00 | Livestream Link 1-888-872-8703 Password: EDUCATION |
| SB 100 | Sen. Townsend | Creates the Public Education Compensation Committee to review compensation rates for teachers | House Education | 5/11/22 | 3:00 | Livestream Link 1-888-872-8703 Password: EDUCATION |
| HB 404 | Rep. Minor Brown | The Delaware Fair Chance Licensing Act provides that it is the policy of this State to allow entry to professions and occupations with licensing requirements for individuals with a criminal history to the maximum extent consistent with public safety. | House Sunset | 5/10/22 | 12:00 | Livestream Link 1-888-272-8703 Password: SUNSET |
Top Priority Legislation This Week:
Bill of Rights for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness
HB 235 sounds ambitious. It is, but it is actually a very simple bill that does not require an amendment to the state constitution or a fiscal note. It does not create any additional protections that all Delawareans don’t already have. It just clarifies that those experiencing homelessness are still granted all the same rights as any other resident. Just a few of these very basic rights include the ability to register to vote and vote, the same expectation or privacy of their personal property as a housed person, to eat, share, accept, or give food in any public space in which having food is not prohibited.
It would empower the Attorney General’s Office to start civil proceedings against anyone found discriminating against someone experiencing homelessness and allow them to go to the Human Rights Commission and file a complaint when their rights are infringed upon.
Some jurisdictions have passed a homeless bill of rights, including Rhode Island, Connecticut, Illinois, and the United States territory of Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, far more states, counties, and cities pass laws that criminalize homelessness and poverty, regarding loitering, eating in a public place, camping under an overpass… This reinforces the intersection between homelessness and the criminal justice system and exacerbates rather than solves the problem. Since 2014, legislators and activists have been trying to pass a Homeless Bill of Rights. It has yet to get out of committee. Let’s hope this unfortunate streak is broken this Tuesday.
Cannabis Legalization Moves to the Senate
HB 371 passed the House last week and so now the bill moves to a Senate Committee. If it seems like this one is moving fast, that is because it is. In order to get the bill passed to create an actual legal market for cannabis, including a tax as is found in other states, this bill has to be passed and probably signed in order to get the votes on board.
Grants-In-Aid Committee
HS 1 for HB 93 would create a Grants-in-Aid committee separate from any of the other committees specifically to review grant applications. There have been numerous complaints over the years that legislators connected to reviewing grant applications from the non-profits are actually connected to those same non-profits, creating a stark conflict of interest. This bill would create a committee of six, three people appointed by the Speaker and three by the Pro Tempore. No more than two of each person’s appointees can be from the same political party, assuring bipartisanship. However, without ensuring that those with direct ties to the same non-profits are seeking grant-in-aid, this solution will not solve the particular problem highlighted above.
Racial Equity Consortium
HB 375 creates the Racial Equity Consortium to monitor the implementation of the recommendations from the African American Task Force. The appointments on the Consortium include The President of Delaware State University; The President of the NAACP of Delaware; The President of the Delaware chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women; The President of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League; and another five members of the public with relevant knowledge and experience in racial equity issues, appointed by the Governor. There are also two members appointed by each the Speaker and the Pro Tempore. The task force is also tasked with the following: Provide advice and support to state agencies regarding the state agencies’ role in identifying and eliminating disparities and inequities experienced by persons of color in this State; Facilitate collaborative partnerships between government agencies, nonprofit agencies, private sector agencies, and all other interested parties and organizations to eliminate racial inequities and disparities in this State; and Recommend legislation and regulations to address inequities and disparities experienced by persons of color in this State.
