This Week in Dover

By Tyler Micik

​The Delaware General Assembly returned to session on Tuesday after a five-week break. Of note this week:

SB58: Removal of Copay Requirements for Delaware Families In Need – Provides financial support to Delaware families seeking childcare by removing copays for Delaware families earning up to 200% of the federal poverty level and reimburses Purchase of Care (POC) providers for 15 absent days per child per month. This bill may help employers attract new workers and retain current employees who may be faced with the choice of working or staying home with their children. It’s also a benefit to early childcare centers in that it will increase the number of paid absent days for POC recipients which in turn could incentivize more early childhood providers to accept POC children. Increasing the number of paid absent days will go a long way to helping early childhood providers maintain financial stability within their centers.

State Chamber Position: Support
Status: Released from Senate Health & Social Services Committee and assigned to Senate Finance

SB59: Act to Establish a Statewide Rate of Purchase of Care for Child Care Providers – Directs the Department of Health and Social Services to pay a statewide rate to all childcare providers that is aligned with the New Castle County rate (as determined by the 2021 Delaware Local Child Care Market Rate Survey) through existing program funds. Childcare providers are struggling to find and attract talent because they are unable to compete for workers due to funding limits. Kent and Sussex County childcare programs currently receive 40% less than those in New Castle County – while they face the same costs for staff and supplies.  

State Chamber Position: Support
Status: Released from Senate Health & Social Services Committee and assigned to Senate Finance

SB43: Display of Human Trafficking Public Awareness Signs - This Act adds additional State facilities and categories of establishments to § 787 of Title 11, which would be required to display public awareness signs about human trafficking. Such facilities and categories include state service centers, wellness centers, residential childcare facilities, transitional and independent living service providers for youth aging out of foster care, shelters for victims of domestic violence or sexual assault or individuals experiencing homelessness or food insecurity, hotels, convenience stores along a major highway, gas stations along a major highway, casinos, restaurants with liquor licenses, poultry processing plants, bus or train stations, bars, massage establishments, and shopping malls. The Act includes specific locations on the premises where establishments must display a public awareness sign and adjusts the process by which the Delaware Anti-Trafficking Action Council may designate establishments required to display public awareness signs. Additionally, it allows the Council to promulgate regulations to designate other categories of establishments that must display public awareness signs, designate a specific location on the premises for a category of establishments where a public awareness sign must be displayed, and change requirements for what must be included in a “public awareness sign”, as defined in this Act. It also establishes an enforcement process, including the requirement that establishments will receive a warning before any civil penalties are assessed. If an establishment does not correct the noncompliance, its owner is subject to a civil penalty of up to $500 for their first offense and up to $2,500 their second.
 
State Chamber Position: Opposed
Status: Released from Senate Judiciary Committee and assigned to Senate Finance

HB41: Digital Right to Repair - Currently when an electronic product such as a phone or electronic game breaks, it is only allowed to be repaired by the manufacturer. Parts are not available whether you are a consumer or a local repair shop. This Act requires the manufacturer to make parts, documentation, tools, and updates available on fair and reasonable terms.

State Chamber Position: Engaged and gathering feedback
Status: Released from House Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce Committee and moves to the House for a full vote

HB1 & HB2: Legalization of Recreational Marijuana – Would legalize and tax recreational marijuana in the same manner as alcohol. HB1 removes all penalties for possession of one ounce or less of marijuana and HB2 is the “regulation and tax” piece. The State Chamber thanks Representative Osienski for taking our concerns into consideration and incorporating language into the bill that gives employers the flexibility to keep and maintain their policies regarding drugs and alcohol. You can view a copy of the amendment here.

State Chamber Position: Neutral based on amended language
Status: Both bills passed the House and have been assigned to committee in the Senate

We expect to see movement on more bills next week such as SB51, known as the Polystyrene bill, and we will continue to keep our members updated as these proposals move forward. As always, if you have feedback on any of the bills mentioned above or others, please contact me at [email protected]. We want to hear from you! 

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