General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., Jan. 22, 2020

The General Assembly and the Governor have finally, finally, found a partial funding source for the much-touted Clean Water Initiative.  $50 mill, to be exact. From projected state surplus revenue.  Another $50 mill could come from a Federal match and already-allocated moneys.  BTW, I used the Delaware State News article b/c I’m captivated by the notion of the Traveling Photo Op.  Notice that Carney does everything but place his arm around Dave McBride and say, “I love you, ya big lug.”  Of course, the initiatives, for all intents and purposes, were pushed by Rep. Val Longhurst and Sen. Bryan Townsend.

Here’s the problem that is left unsolved: Where will the other $400 mill for the $500 million project come from?:

Although officials spoke optimistically about the impact the state’s investment can have, that sum would only put a dent in the needs: A prior water bill states more than $500 million is needed to tackle drinking water, stormwater and wastewater issues over the next five years. Removing toxic pollutants from waterways throughout the state would by itself cost at least $75 million, that measure notes.

Hey, credit where credit is due.  We at least have about $100 mill to address a serious problem. We didn’t as of 24 hours ago. 

Which reminds me: HS1/HB 200(Longhurst), which is the enabling legislation creating the mechanisms for the initiative, will be considered in the House Natural Resources Committee today.

Here is yesterday’s Session Activity Report.  Little of note, except that HB 144(Bush), which ‘expands the offense of Assault In The Second Degree’ to include victims of said assaults to include ‘other health care treatment providers and employees and hospital security personnel who are injured while performing their work-related duties’.  This isn’t the first, and won’t be the last bill expanding so-called protected classes.  This way lies more prison overcrowding.  But it’s sure popular in political pieces. Is there an election this year?

Today’s House Committee highlights, other than the clean water bill:

*HB 169(K. Johnson) ‘…changes the relationship between physicians and physician assistants from supervisory to collaborative, in recognition of the evolving role of physician assistants and reflecting the education, training, and experience required for licensing, which emphasizes the team-based practice model’.  I couldn’t agree with this bill more. Sunset Committee.

*HB 268(K. Williams) ‘requires that individual, group, State employee, and public assistance insurance plans provide coverage for epinephrine autoinjectors for individuals who are 18 years of age or under…’ Health & Human Development. 

*HB 285(Longhurst) ‘requires all public and charter schools which have students in grades 6-12 to provide free feminine hygiene products in 50% of the bathrooms used by students who can have a menstrual cycle’. Health & Human Development.

A look at those last two bills should tell you that good things can happen, even amidst the comfortable corruption that permeates the Hall.

*HB 277(Longhurst) ‘establishes the crimes of possession of an unfinished firearm frame or receiver with no serial number, possession of and manufacturing a covert or undetectable firearm, possession of and manufacturing an untraceable firearm, and manufacturing or distributing a firearm using a three-dimensional printer. This bill also makes it a crime to possess a firearm frame or receiver with a removed, obliterated, or altered serial number.’ Hey, a gun bill that even Sens. Poore and McBride support. Guess that means it has a chance to pass. Administration.

*HB 318(Heffernan) ‘requires the Department of Education to establish and implement a curriculum on the Holocaust and genocide for students in grades 6 through 12.’ Administration.

Today’s Senate Committee highlights:

*SB 169(Hansen) establishes procedures to prevent the proliferation of revenge porn.  It’s clear that a lot of work went into the careful crafting of this bill. Whoever did this work deserves praise. Transportation Committee, not sure why.

*SB 204(Hocker) ‘requires public schools to begin their school year after Labor Day’.  Because, you know, anything the Sussex Chamber wants supersedes anything educational in nature.  Hmmm. Sussex Chamber. So that’s why Dave McBride is a sponsor. Education.

While there is no House Agenda on Wednesdays, the Senate has one.  I especially like SB 96(McDowell).  Might as well quote the entire synopsis to provide context:

In January of 2015, the Office of Civil Rights & Public Trust was created by the Attorney General to establish a centralized office within the Department of Justice for the investigation of matters concerning civil rights enforcement and the prosecution of matters concerning violations of the public trust. This office must remain an independent entity within the Department of Justice to avoid conflicts with other Department of Justice duties and thus effectively enforce laws protecting the public trust and civil rights. Thus, this Act creates the Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust within the Department of Justice which will be separate from the other Divisions within the Department of Justice and have a Director who reports directly to the Chief Deputy Attorney General, to avoid conflicts of interest with the work of the other Divisions. This Act also clarifies the current scope of the Department of Justice’s ability to investigate and bring civil rights actions to protect the civil rights of all Delawareans.

If one is serious about effectively enforcing civil rights laws, then this helps ensure that result.

Man, a day full of goodwill from me to (most of) our legislators.

Don’t get used to it.