Daily Report for 3/20/2024

Governor's Actions

No legislation is Signed by Governor Today

New Legislation Introduced

BillCurrent StatusSponsorSynopsisTitle
HCR 94PassedChukwuochaThis Resolution recognizes the pertinent work of social workers throughout Delaware and the entire country, encourages the creation and expansion of Social Work programs, and recognizes March 2024 as Social Work Month in the State of Delaware.RECOGNIZING MARCH 2024 AS SOCIAL WORK MONTH IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.
HA 1 to HB 310PassedChukwuochaThis Amendment corrects a technical error. 
HA 1 to HS 1 for HB 255StrickenOsienskiThis Amendment makes a technical change regarding the handling of fee payments. 

Legislation Passed By Senate

BillCurrent StatusSponsorSynopsisTitle
SB 209Out of CommitteePooreThis act adds adult sibling of a decedent to the definition of next of kin in Chapter 47 of Title 29 of the Delaware Code relating to the Division of Forensic Science. This expansion of the definition of next of kin will, for example, allow the Medical Examiner to release the personal property of a decedent to an adult sibling of a decedent, when there is no other next of kin. It will also allow the Medical Examiner to provide a copy of a post mortem examination report to an adult sibling, upon written request, when there is no other next of kin.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DIVISION OF FORENSIC SCIENCE AND THE DEFINITION OF NEXT OF KIN.
SS 1 for SB 212CommitteeBrownLike Senate Bill No. 212, Senate Substitute No. 1 for Senate Bill No. 212 codifies the Bureau of Health Equity (BHE) in the Division of Public Health, which includes the Office of Minority Health and the Office of Women’s Health. The purpose of the BHE is to ensure that everyone in Delaware will achieve their full health potential by eliminating health disparities, particularly among all racial and ethnic minority groups. The BHE works with communities to address social determinants of health, focusing on prevention, health, and wellness in the broader population instead of treatment focused on individuals. Health disparities are preventable differences in the quality of health or health care between 2 or more groups of people based on a shared characteristic of the individuals within each group, such as race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status and the differences between the groups regarding access to health care or burdens, prevalence, or incidence of disease or violence. Delaware has been recognized nationally for successfully reducing some health disparities, including being the first state to virtually erase racial disparities in colorectal cancer screening and treatment, by combining individual patient assistance from nurse navigators and care coordinators with community-based outreach efforts that used trusted messengers, including leaders of faith-based communities. However, 10 years after achieving this success with colorectal cancer screening and treatment, many health disparities remain in Delaware. Codifying the BHE ensures that this critical work continues. In addition, this Act identifies the Primary Care Reform Collaborative and the Office of Value-Based Health Care Delivery as state entities that the BHE should collaborate with because these entities are addressing health disparities through insurance payments to providers. This Act also makes technical corrections to § 7905 of Title 29. Senate Substitute No. 1 for Senate Bill No. 212 differs from Senate Bill No. 212 as follows: • Changes the Delaware Code designation for the BHE to § 7905B to avoid confusion with § 7905A in Chapter 79A of Title 29. • Revises the definition of “health disparity”. • Adds that a purpose of the BHE is to promote conditions that are vital to promote health and well-being. • Removes the requirement that the BHE provide training on cultural competency because this is no longer a function that the BHE has the expertise or staff to provide.AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE BUREAU OF HEALTH EQUITY.
HCR 95PassedNealThis House Concurrent Resolution recognizes the month of March 2024 as “Multiple Sclerosis Month” in the State of Delaware.RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF MARCH AS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS MONTH IN DELAWARE.

Legislation Passed By House of Representatives

No Legislation Passed By House

Senate Committee Assignments

Committee
Education
Elections & Government Affairs

House Committee Assignments

Committee
Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce
Public Safety & Homeland Security

Senate Committee Report

Committee
Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology
Education
Executive
Health & Social Services
Judiciary
Labor

House Committee Report

Committee
Administration
Gaming & Parimutuels
Health & Human Development
Judiciary

Senate Defeated Legislation

No Senate Defeated Legislation

House Defeated Legislation

No House Defeated Legislation

Nominations Enacted upon by the Senate

NomineeStatusCommission/BoardReappointment
Mufti, Mustafa A.ConfirmedMember, Adult Corrections Healthcare Review CommitteeNew