I guess that the ‘good news’ on a day with virtually no news is that several worthy bills previously discussed here cleared committees yesterday. Other than SB 17(Hansen), which addresses genetic discrimination in health insurance coverage, virtually every major bill discussed here yesterday passed out of committee. Including: HB 63(Lynn); HB 38(Bentz); HB 39(Viola); SB 22(Townsend); HB 48(K. Williams); and SB 27(Walsh).
Of course, HB 63, which requires precautions for safe gun storage, did not clear committee w/o the NRA stooges fulminating about how this is will lead to the slippery slope of gun confiscation. Gotta say one thing: They haven’t come up with any new arguments in the past 20 years.
Here is yesterday’s Session Activity Report, such as it is.
The Senate has a one-bill agenda today and, no, it’s not the tobacco legislation. SS1/SB 5(Hansen):
…addresses the serious problem of individuals dumping large quantities of trash on public and private property, by: • Defining a “substantial quantity” of litter as being more than an amount contained in a standard garbage can. • Providing enhanced penalties for the unlawful dumping of a substantial quantity of litter. • Creating the Litter Investigation and Enforcement Fund (“LIEF”), funded through restitution paid by offenders of this chapter, to support investigations to identify those who violate this chapter. This Act clarifies that a public authority or agency is not required to provide litter receptacles in a park or recreation area that is designated as a carry-on and carry-out facility.
It looks like this has been a ‘lumpy mattress’ bill, as in ‘you push down over there and something pops up over here’. This substitute was just introduced yesterday in lieu of the original, and an amendment has already been placed with the bill. It’s understandable–it’s a complicated piece of legislation. We’ll see if all the kinks have been worked out today.
There are two important and, IMHO, worthy bills, on today’s House Agenda. HB 46(Kowalko):
…creates a Delaware Manufactured Home Owner Attorney Fund (“Attorney Fund”) by collecting a $0.50 monthly assessment per lot from manufactured home owners who rent a lot in a community governed by the Manufactured Home Owners and Community Owners Act. The Attorney Fund will be administered by the Department of Justice to contract with an attorney or agency who will provide legal representation and advocacy for manufactured home owners enforcing existing rights in disputes with community owners.
In other words, it helps to provide justice for those living in manufactured housing communities. Realtor/representative Ruth Briggs King has introduced an unfriendly amendment to the bill. Defeat the amendment, pass the bill.
The National Popular Vote Compact will also be considered in the House. It will pass. The only real question is whether any R’s will vote for it.
That’s all I’ve got to work with. That’s all I’ve got.