I promised to highlight the most interesting bills that were pre-filed on May 1. Looks more like I will be profiling the least uninteresting bills.
There are definitely some good bills, but they are generally incremental in scope.
Here goes:
Delaware relies on fees imposed as surcharges by the criminal legal system to generate revenue for government services. These criminal fees can be an unstable revenue generator, especially when there are recessions, pandemics, or other major economic events. This Act repeals three fees that currently fund videophone systems used by state and local agencies, personnel, equipment, and training expenses related to judicial branch security, and victim notification initiatives…In repealing these fees, the General Assembly intends to eliminate any outstanding balances owed on these fees.
HB 153 (Gorman): ‘…prohibits arrest or detention by any person who does not have explicit statutory authority to carry out an arrest or detention. The intent of this provision is to eliminate any doubt that a “citizen’s arrest” is not permitted in Delaware.’
HB 131 (K. Williams): ‘…fosters the humane treatment of animals and prevents animal cruelty by prohibiting retail pet stores from selling dogs or cats. It further authorizes retail pet stores to collaborate with animal shelters and animal rescue organizations to offer space to showcase dogs or cats for adoption.’ Said collaborations are how we got the three cats we currently have.
HB 150 (Gorman): ‘…prohibits civil arrests from being made in courthouses without a judicial warrant’. Is this aimed at ICE agents? Regardless, I’m glad that Rep. Gorman is promoting a civil liberties agenda.
HB 151 (Gorman): ‘…prohibits the operation of private detention facilities in the State of Delaware.’ This reminds me, whatever became of the prisoners who John Carney shunted off to prisons in Pennsylvania? Are they still there? Did they survive?
HB 154 (Gorman): ‘…provides immunity to nonprofit organizations who distribute new secure gun storage and safety devices to individuals so long as the devices are distributed in their original packaging and are unopened.’
HB 133 (Snyder-Hall): ‘…gives courts the discretion to waive fines and fees, in whole or in part, in appropriate circumstances. It also creates a presumption that fines and fees will not be imposed when a defendant shows evidence of certain conditions, including receiving a public assistance benefit (like Medicaid, SNAP, or veterans’ benefits) or being represented by the Office of Defense Services.’
SB 117 (Sturgeon): ‘…increases the minimum required coverage for hearing aids by requiring insurers to cover the entire cost of medically necessary hearing aids, and the services of a hearing care professional related to prescribing, fitting, or dispensing the hearing aid or earmold, for individuals younger than 24 years old, covered as a dependent by the policyholder.’
Remember, kids, incremental progress is progress nonetheless.