By Tyler Micik Today wraps up another busy week for the General Assembly as they head into break over the next two weeks for Joint Finance Committee (JFC) markup. The JFC is responsible for drafting the state’s annual operating budget and grant-in-aid acts. The committee met in February and held public hearings to discuss Governor Carney’s recommended budget and will finalize the budget over the next two weeks. The General Assembly will return to session on Tuesday, June 7, which is also the State Chamber’s End-of-Session Policy Conference. The Conference will be held at Delaware State University from 10am – 12:45pm. Senate President Pro Tempore David Sokola and Speaker of the House Peter Schwartzkopf will discuss the current state of affairs in the 151st General Assembly as we near the end of the legislative session. The conference will also feature presentations on key topics including consumer protection, Ready in 6 and site readiness, and workforce development. You can learn more and register here. Several bills saw movement this week. Of note was HB420. This bill is the first of three expected proposals from Representative Bush to improve efficiency within the states permitting process for economic development projects. The bill would make the state's Preliminary Land Use System (PLUS) process optional. The State Chamber is supportive of the bill because it as a crucial step in improving the permitting process for economic development projects here in Delaware. According to the KPMG report on permitting efficiency, the state’s PLUS process adds approximately three months to the permitting process. The speed of decisions is critical, and this proposal improves efficiency without putting health and safety at risk. It would also help Delaware compete for economic development projects, which in turn provides good paying jobs and opportunities for Delawareans. The bill passed the House and now heads to Committee in the Senate. Other bills that saw movement:
The State Chamber will continue to review and work these bills as the legislative session draws nearer to its June 30 close. As always, please direct feedback to me at tmicik@dscc.com. We also hope to see you on June 7 at our End-of-Session Policy Conference where these bills and more will be discussed. Register by clicking the image below.
0 Comments
By Tyler Micik
Last week was busy for the General Assembly as several bills saw movement and were introduced. First, Senate Substitute 2 for Senate Bill 1, the Healthy Delaware Families Act was signed by Governor Carney on Tuesday, making Delaware the 11th state to offer a statewide paid family and medical leave insurance program. It offers eligible Delaware workers up to 12 weeks of paid leave to address a worker’s own serious health condition; to care for a family member with a serious health condition; to bond and care for a new child; or to address the impact of a family member’s military deployment. The legislation takes effect on January 1, 2025. You can read the full press release and watch the signing ceremony here. Other bills that saw movement:
Newly introduced bills included:
Bills the Chamber continues to monitor:
Lastly, the Delaware Retail Council (DRC) met for their quarterly meeting and discussed Organized Retail Crime (ORC) in addition to several other issues facing the retail industry. Organized Retail Crime was mentioned as problem for many retailers here in Delaware, especially given Delaware’s position along the I-95 corridor. Also, HB212, an act known as the “plastic bag ban” which passed last year was discussed. The bill required a phased in approach to limit the use of single-use plastic bags. The final phase takes effect July 1st and makes restrictions applicable to stores regardless of size. The State Chamber is always looking for feedback from members on how any of these proposals may impact your company or employees. Please direct feedback to me at tmicik@dscc.com. By Tyler Micik A proposal known as the Community Workforce Agreement Act has yet to be introduced, but will likely surface soon as the General Assembly returns to session next week. A draft version of the bill has been released, which you can view here. The proposal mandates that all public works projects over $3 million be subject to a Community Workforce Agreement (CWA). This means that all contractors and subcontractors would have to sign an agreement with organized labor to perform work on said projects. Government contracting should be based on sound, credible criteria. Public officials have a duty to be fiscally responsible and avoid favoritism in the procurement process. This is a problem for many reasons, but two are most obvious. The first is the fact that workers will come from outside of Delaware to work these jobs. That means these workers will earn wages working on Delaware projects and return home to places like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or Maryland where they’ll use their hard-earned income to improve their homes and neighborhoods. How does that benefit working-class neighborhoods in Newark, Wilmington, Dover, or Bear? Put simply, it doesn’t and that’s not fair. The second reason is price and quality. All Delawareans deserve the right to earn a paycheck and have equal access to state work, regardless of organizational membership. Open competition and competitive bidding for all public projects ensures contracts are awarded to those who will do the best work at the best price. Members from the Delaware Manufacturing Association (DMA) such as John Gooden, president of M. Davis & Sons, stated the following about the proposal: “Statements like, ‘Community workforce agreements, therefore, give Delaware an effective This proposal is just one of many that will have an impact on the business community and Delawareans. HB262, the Data Broker and Consumer Protection Act, deters innovation and places burdensome reporting requirements on businesses that sell data. The State Chamber is opposed to the bill and submitted a letter in opposition, which you can view here. Several organizations have signed onto the letter thus far, including:
- Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce - Consumer Data Industry Association - Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement - Delaware Business Roundtable - Delaware Hotel and Lodging Association - Delaware Restaurant Association - Georgetown Chamber of Commerce - Internet Coalition - New Castle County Chamber of Commerce - Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce - State Privacy and Security Coalition - TechNet If you have feedback on any of these proposals or others, please direct it to me at tmicik@dscc.com. By Tyler Micik
This week was a busy week for the General Assembly and the last before they go on Easter Break for two weeks. Several bills are worth mentioning: HB262: The Data Brokers and Consumer Protection Act was released from House Appropriations on Wednesday and now heads to the House for a full vote. If passed, it would require businesses that sell data to pay a fee, register with the Consumer Protection Unit of the Department of Justice, and answer a series of questions regarding their use of personal information that would be published on the departments website to inform consumers. The State Chamber sent a multi-organizational letter to Rep. Griffith (the bill sponsor), the House Appropriations Committee, and leadership in opposition to the bill which you can view here. You can view a copy of the bill here and amendment here. If you would like your organization added onto the letter, please email me at tmicik@dscc.com. HB371 & HB372 also saw movement this week. Earlier this year, Rep. Osienski introduced HB305, which would have legalized and taxed recreational marijuana in one proposal. Given the new tax, it required a 3/5 majority but was defeated having received an insufficient number of votes. These two bills, HB371 & HB372, are the latest round of proposals to legalize recreational marijuana. HB371 removes all penalties for possession of one ounce or less of marijuana, except for those who are under 21 years of age. The bill was released from House Health and Human Development on Wednesday and now moves to the House for a full vote. HB372, or the Delaware Marijuana Control Act, regulates and taxes marijuana in the same manner as alcohol. The bill was also released from House Revenue and Finance on Wednesday and now heads to House Appropriations. HA1 to HB372 has been placed with the bill. The amendment is supported by the State Chamber and gives employers the flexibility to keep and maintain their policies regarding drugs and alcohol. Other bills that saw movement:
The Chamber is always looking for feedback from members on how any of these proposals may impact your company or employees. Please direct feedback to me at tmicik@dscc.com. By Tyler Micik Although this week was a fairly quiet week in Dover, the State Chamber hosted our annual Spring Manufacturing and Policy Conference on Wednesday, March 16th. The half-day, virtual conference featured keynote remarks from Governor John Carney and NIIMBL's Director Kelvin Lee, two panel discussions, and the chance to network. The first panel, Where Did All the Workers Go?, addressed the labor shortage here in Delaware and across the country. Scott Malfitano, chair of the Delaware Workforce Development Board moderated a conversation with Nakishia Bailey of Dot Foods; Taryn Dalmasso from Edgewell Personal Care; Dale Cook of Mountaire Farms; and the National Association of Workforce Board's (NAWB) Ron Painter. The discussion highlighted several factors that are impacting the labor market: aging population, automation, adult learning, and the need for funding. By 2030, all baby boomers will be 65 or older. With low birth rates and immigration, the exchange rate of people entering the workforce is not keeping up with the exit. In addition to the knowledge and skill gaps that manufacturers are experiencing, it is becoming increasingly more difficult for nighttime/weekend shifts to be filled with workers due to the fact that child care isn't offered during those hours. Lacking the skills and experience to have the leverage to choose their hours over more senior employees, low-skill and entry-level workers are often forced to stay home and care for their children instead of working. Automation was also discussed. Ron Painter referenced a study out of Canada which found that low-skill and high-end positions increased due to automation while middle skill roles and management decreased. He stressed that with this sort of knowledge, manufacturers need to rethink how they onboard and upskill their workforce when the traditional method of “moving up the ranks” is no longer an option with technology replacing those middle level roles. NAWB estimates that estimates it will cost $80 billion to upskill the American workforce to meet global needs and standards. So, what’s the solution? The panelists stressed that businesses need to lead on identifying alternative funding and training solutions that work for their people. Investing in your own talent is a sure way to grow your workforce. The second panel, Playbooks for the Future, turned toward “what’s working” and how we can build upon successful workforce programs like Zip Code Wilmington, Delaware Pathways, Intern Delaware, and Elevate Delaware. Michael Fleming, president of the Delaware BioScience Association moderated a conversation with Desa Burton of Zip Code Wilmington; Kelly DeCurtis of Delmarva Power; M. Davis & Son's John Gooden; and Steve Jackson from Aviation High School in New York City.
How can Delawareans build upon successes like these and replicate models that work to address the needs in manufacturing and other industries important to the state? This is a conversation the State Chamber will continue to explore. The Delaware Manufacturing Association held their quarterly board meeting after the event to talk about the conference, discuss issues manufacturers are facing, and talk about possible solutions. The Delaware State Chamber of Commerce welcomes its newest team member, Kerri Welcher, who stepped into the role of events manager this week. Kerri will help to advance the organization’s mission of networking and advocacy through planning and managing our calendar of proactive and responsive events. A Delaware native, Kerri has spent most of her life in the First State. She recently graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in Hospitality Business Management. Prior to joining the State Chamber, she worked at the Brandywine Zoo helping to plan and manage their events. Kerri resides in New Castle, DE with her husband and our two "fur babies" who enjoy taking nature walks. In her spare time, Kerri loves to paint and entertain friends and family where she shows off her impressive cooking skills. Please welcome Kerri to the Delaware State Chamber! Or join us next week at our Networking Breakfast at MySherpa to meet her in person! By Tyler Micik As the General Assembly returned to session, so did the public to Legislative Hall. After two years, The State Capitol building reopened its doors so people can attend hearings on session days. Lawmakers and visitors are also no longer required to wear masks or face coverings in the building, although it is strongly recommended where people cannot maintain safe social distancing. Unvaccinated individuals are strongly encouraged to wear masks at all times when interacting with other people. However, House and Senate committees will meet via Zoom until further notice. But it’s likely they’ll transition to a hybrid format soon, with the House considering having in-person committee meetings starting next week. You can view the Senate’s memo here and House memo here to learn more. With the flurry of bills before the General Assembly, two of particular note that were heard were SS2 for SB1, or the Healthy Delaware Families Act, and HB 305, which would legalize recreational marijuana. The Healthy Delaware Families Act proposes to create a statewide paid family and medical leave insurance program. The bill passed the Senate by a 14-7 vote on Tuesday following a two-hour discussion. This latest version of the bill includes a few changes such as the use of PTO, which can be counted towards the total amount of leave; a reduction in the number of weeks an employee can take for parental leave (applies to companies under 25 employees through 2031); and allows for the grandfathering in of private plans in existence at the time of passage that offer comparable or greater benefits through 2030. The bill now heads to the House for consideration. The Delaware State Chamber and Delaware Business Roundtable issued a joint statement on the Healthy Delaware Families Act that can be viewed here. The recreational marijuana bill was heard in the House on Thursday. The State Chamber advocated for HA 7 to be introduced and placed with the bill and it passed the House by voice vote. The amendment gives businesses the flexibility to keep and maintain their current polices with regards to drugs and alcohol. However, the bill was defeated in the House after receiving a 23-14 vote in favor of the legislation, with 4 lawmakers choosing not to vote. The bill required a three-fifths majority, or 25 votes, because of the new tax it would impose. The bill now remains dead until next year when it can be reintroduced. By Verity Watson There has been a flurry of activity in the state capitol over the last few months, including the beginning of legislative session and the Governor’s State of the State and budget proposal, and Joint Finance Committee budget hearings. Governor John Carney’s budget proposal emphasizes long-term sustainable budget growth in the midst of a historic influx of federal dollars flowing to the state. A focus on one-time spending versus growing the base budget continues to be a defining theme of his administration. The proposed operating budget would grow the budget by 4.6 percent from the current year to a total of $4.99 billion. The proposed bond and capital infrastructure budget totals $1.18 billion. Some highlights include:
The Governor highlighted initiatives in his State of the State Address that the State Chamber has been actively engaged in. The long-awaited substitute version of the Healthy Delaware Families Act was unveiled in January and incorporated many of the changes asked for by the State Chamber. The new version—which has the full backing of the Governor—was debated and released from the Senate Health and Social Services committee and is expected to be voted on by the full Senate in March. Among other changes, the new bill breaks up the types of leave that will be required to be offered depending on the size of the business. The State Chamber, in partnership with Delaware SHRM and Delmarva SHRM, hosted the bill sponsor, Senator McBride, along with representatives from the Governor’s Office, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Finance to discuss the logistics of the proposal, the impact it will have on your business, and remaining concerns. A recording of this discussion is available at www.dscc.com/webinars. The legislature stood in recess in February while the Joint Finance Committee worked to craft the budget for the next fiscal year. When they return the week of March 8th, there will be a new face in the chamber of the House of Representatives. The resignation of Representative Gerald Brady triggered a special election for his Wilmington seat which, due to redistricting, will relocate to the Long Neck area in Sussex County later this year. The General Assembly is expected to work expeditiously over the coming months to pass their collective and individual legislative priorities heading into the end of the fiscal year. Given that it is the second leg of the 151st General Assembly, all legislation must be worked to enactment or will need to be reintroduced in January. By Tyler Micik
The Delaware Manufacturing Association (DMA) recently met to discuss SB 1, the Healthy Delaware Families Act; HB 305, legalization of recreational marijuana; and HB 288, paid time off to vote. Manufacturers like many others are facing significant labor shortages despite offering competitive wages, sign-on bonuses, good benefits packages, and more. The board met to talk about these proposals and share their feedback on the potential impact these bills, if passed, would have on the manufacturing industry--which employs more than 27,000 Delawareans. Other topics discussed included President Biden’s vaccine mandate, which was blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court. The mandate would have required companies with 100 or more employees to get vaccinated or produce a negative test result on a weekly basis staring January 4th. Lastly, the board discussed the State Chamber’s Spring Manufacturing and Policy Conference. The conference will be held virtually on March 16th from 8:30 – 11:30am. The event will feature Dr. Kelvin Lee, institute director at the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL). Dr. Lee will share how NIIMBL is working to ensure the U.S. cements its leadership in global biomanufacturing to further economic development, enhance national security, and provide improved patient access to cutting-edge therapies—today and in the future. The conference will also feature a keynote address from Governor John Carney and a discussion on the State Chamber's policy priorities to improve Delaware's economic climate and encourage manufacturers to both relocate and grow in our state. You can register for the event here. By Tyler Micik Members of the State Chamber’s Employer Advocacy Committee met last week for their first meeting of the year. The committee was joined by Secretary of Labor Karryl Hubbard, who gave an update on the Department of Labor (DOL), sharing their policy priorities and current projects. Late last year, the DOL composed a list of five goals or pillars known as the Department of Labor Framework for the Future:
The committee was also joined by the Department’s Barry Butler and Thomas “Chip” Riddleberger who highlighted the Delaware JobLink, one resource offered by the DOL. Delaware JobLink is a self-service tool for employers to post job openings and find and hire candidates. “Currently there’s around 19,000 active jobs posted on Delaware JobLink Additionally, last year, the DOL hosted and assisted with over 35 job fairs throughout the state. Services like Delaware JobLink play an important role in connecting employers with job seekers at a time when employers are struggling to fill open positions. To find out more about Delaware JobLink, visit joblink.delaware.gov. Committee members also reviewed several important policy issues, including paid family and medical leave and recreational marijuana legalization. First, SS 1 for SB 1—or the Healthy Delaware Families Act—creates a statewide paid family and medical leave insurance program. This latest version has undergone substantial revisions from the original bill that was introduced last year. Employers with 25 or more employees are required to provide up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave and up to 6 weeks paid medical and family caregiving leave. Employers with 10 or more employees but less than 25 are only required to provide up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave. Under current law, small businesses, those with 50 or fewer employees, are exempt from the 1993 Federal FMLA law. Second, HB 305—the Delaware Marijuana Control Act—would allow adults over the age of 21 to legally possess and consume under one ounce of marijuana for personal use. It does not permit individuals to grow their own marijuana. Participants on our policy committees are instrumental in helping the State Chamber review bills, develop feedback, and recommend amendments. Consider joining the conversation and help shape policy in the First State by joining a committee. Contact me at tmicik@dscc.com to learn more. DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR'S EMPLOYER SERVICES: |
Archives
March 2024
Categories
All
|