Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tuesday, May 11, 2021

The next two weeks may well be the key to the entire Session.  Other than the money bills, if you want to have the General Assembly consider serious legislation this year, you had better get it moving.

Which is why the introduction of SB 1 is so exciting.  I remember when the General Assembly was debating unpaid medical and family leave.  The Usual Suspects raised the ‘slippery slope’ argument–if you pass this, pretty soon they’ll (‘they’ being the people who need it) want paid medical and family leave.  I remember thinking, “And your point is?”  The argument worked then, we didn’t pass family leave legislation in Delaware (not in Pete DuPont’s Delaware Way Universe, even though Carper was in office at the time). The Feds beat us to it.  One element of the DuPont legacy is the extent to which the Chamber and other assorted business entities had close to veto power over anything one might label as progressive.

SB 1 (S. McBride):

…creates a statewide paid family and medical leave insurance program. Delaware employees can access up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave through the State’s paid leave trust fund for a qualifying event, including for the following: (1) To address a worker’s own serious health condition (2) To care for a family member with a serious health condition. (3) To bond with a new child. (4) To handle safety matters for victims of domestic violence. (5) To address the impact of a family member’s military deployment.

It’s a complicated bill that creates a board similar to the Unemployment Compensation board.  It will be funded through payroll contributions.  Private plans, should they meet the standards, will also be permitted.  A lot of work, a lot of work, has gone into the crafting of this bill.  Props all around.

You may wonder why SB 1 is just being introduced even though it’s obviously not the first bill to be filed this session.  The answer is that sponsors, upon the approval of the presiding officer, may reserve a bill number.  Just as in the case of SB 15, the minimum wage bill, which was given the symbolic ’15’ number.

Here’s what’s important: While I do not know the fate of this bill, the fact is that, in 2021, 13 Delaware State Senators have signed onto this bill as sponsors.   That’s incredible.  Only 18 State Reps have signed on, meaning that the Usual Suspects of Bush, Bennett, Ol’ Lump, and a couple of others, could well decide the fate of this bill.  On the plus side, Krista Griffith, whose vote has been in question on minimum wage, is a sponsor on SB 1.

OK, back to One Legislative Day At A Time.

The House will hold committee meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday, and will only run an Agenda on Thursday.  But it’s quite the Agenda.  Featuring HB 75 (Bentz), which legalizes ‘no-excuses’ absentee voting; and HB 88 (K. Williams),  which eliminates the training minimum wage and youth training wage. Not to mention, OK, I’ll mention it, a bill that legit strengthens Delaware’s consumer protection laws.

Here is today’s Senate Agenda.

Highlights from today’s Senate Committee meetings, of which there are only two:

*Hmmm, does this strike you as a shot across the bow of  the USS Matt Meyer?  SB 122 (Poore) ‘provides that the County Attorney of New Castle County…is appointed by the County Executive with the advice and consent of the New Castle County Council.’  While, in isolation, this can be viewed as reasonable, the question must be “Why now?”.  There’s an answer, and it’s not, “It just seems like a good idea.”   Who has the inside skinny on this? Elections & Government Affairs.

*HB 29 (Baumbach) puts an end to the post-filing deadline game of musical chairs for those who have filed for one office, and want to switch to another. (Whatever will the Potter cabal do?)  The bill passed the House unanimously, look for the same result in the Senate, perhaps by week’s end.  Elections & Government Affairs.

*SB 133 (Sturgeon) ‘incorporates the science of reading into Delaware’s public and charter schools by requiring, beginning July 1, 2023, that teacher preparation programs which prepare elementary school, early childhood education, or special education teachers or reading specialists must provide instruction in evidence-based reading instruction.’ Education.

Today’s House Committee highlights:

*HB 146 (Shupe) seeks to end municipal voter registration requirements as they apply to resident voters.  Instead, the municipalities would utilize the State’s Voter Registration System.  I think this would end a lot of confusion and at least a little controversy.  Good bill.  Administration.

*SS1/SB 3 (Lockman).  Looks like Rep. Sean Lynn’s got another marathon on his hands today.  This bill:

(1) Creates an application process to obtain a handgun qualified purchaser card to authorize the purchase of a handgun. While an applicant will incur costs related to fingerprinting and required training, a fee will not be charged to obtain the permit. (2) Requires licensed importers, manufacturers, or dealers, as well as unlicensed persons, to require an individual to present the individual’s handgun qualified purchaser card before selling or transferring a firearm to an individual. (3) Requires that an applicant complete a firearms training course within 5 years before the date of application, similar to what is required by Delaware’s concealed carry permit law. An individual licensed to carry a concealed deadly weapon is exempt from this requirement as they must already complete a firearms training course to be licensed. (4) Sends to law-enforcement information that is already collected at the time of sale and required under federal law to be made available to law-enforcement. This change assists law-enforcement in the criminal investigations they already conduct. (5) Makes clear that § 904A of Title 24 is not intended to prohibit law-enforcement officials from keeping records of sales and transfers of firearms for their use during criminal investigations or prosecutions.

SS1/SB 3 passed the Senate on a 13-8 vote.  Wonder if Lauren Witzke puts in an appearance. Brandishing a weapon.  Judiciary.

*SB 68 (Ennis).  I neglected to mention this bill when it was considered in the Senate, but I think it’s a good bill. So did the Senate, which passed it unanimously.  SB 68 ‘expands eligibility for the Department of Correction’s Education Assistance Fund beyond correctional officers to employees who hold a position at paygrade 15 or below and meet the other existing requirements.’ Corrections.

*HB 23 (Ramone) is the Trone Brothers Special Interest bill that would give them yet another license to put other liquor stores out of business.  Not that they need the money. It’s been sitting around since December of 2020.  BTW, the Trone Brother who bought his seat in Congress? He says he’s not gonna run for Governor in Maryland.  The last thing this General Assembly should do is to give these monopolists yet more power, I don’t care how many campaign checks they cut.  Business Lapdog.

*HB 147 (Shupe) is merely designed to undercut and delay minimum wage legislation.  You know, with a survey. Bury it.  Business Lapdog.

Hoo-boy, this is my fave time of the legislative year.  Back tomorrrow with more Good Stuff.