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SPONSORED LEGISLATION
HB119 - An Act To Amend Title 21 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Rules Of The Road.
Timothy D. Dukes, Gerald W. Hocker, Valerie J. Longhurst
Last updated about 1 year ago
13 Co-Sponsors
Delaware is one of five states that does not have an open container law, which is in direct violation of federal regulations. This Bill bans open containers of alcoholic beverages in motor vehicles and provides a civil penalty for an offense. A violation of this section would not be entered on an individuals driving record.
STATUS
Engrossed
HB134 - An Act To Amend Titles 9, 10, 15, 16 And 29 Of The Delaware Code Relating To The Division Of Forensic Science And The Medical Examiner.
Franklin D. Cooke, Nicole Poore, John Walsh
Last updated about 1 year ago
3 Co-Sponsors
This is a housekeeping bill to remove outdated references to the term coroner in the Delaware Code. Created in 1682, the Office of the Coroner was one of the earliest elective offices in Delaware. The primary responsibility of the coroner was to investigate all cases in which a person died while in prison, was killed, died an unnatural death, or the circumstances of the death were unknown. It was also the duty of the coroner to arrest a person believed to have committed murder or manslaughter and to perform the duties of the sheriff when the sheriff was unavailable. The Office of the Coroner was abolished in 1969 and the responsibility for determining the cause of death is now the responsibility of the Medical Examiner. Today, it is outside the Medical Examiners scope of employment to perform many of the job duties that coroners were historically expected to do, and this bill clarifies that Medical Examiners are only responsible for investigating causes of death throughout the State under the provisions of Chapter 47 of Title 29, relating to forensic science.
STATUS
Passed
HB112 - An Act To Amend Title 10 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Juveniles.
Nnamdi Chukwuocha, Bryan Townsend, Darius Brown
Last updated over 1 year ago
18 Co-Sponsors
In 2022, the General Assembly passed HB 115, which prohibits the criminal prosecution of children under the age of 12, and limits delinquency proceedings for children under 12 to a small set of very serious crimes. This Act clarifies that children under 12 may not be arrested or placed in a detention facility pending adjudication, except where the alleged crime is one of the enumerated exceptions.
STATUS
Introduced
SB133 - An Act To Amend Title 21 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Motor Vehicles And Payment Of Motor Vehicle Fines.
Darius Brown, Kyle Evans Gay, Franklin D. Cooke
Last updated about 1 year ago
6 Co-Sponsors
The Voluntary Assessment Center was created by legislative action in 1976 (60 Del. Laws Section 509) to allow recipients of minor traffic violations to pay the fine and costs associated with the violation without the need to appear in the Justice of the Peace Court. Section 709 (i) advises that "Payment of the prescribed fine, costs, and penalty assessment is an admission of guilt, a waiver of the right to a hearing, and a complete satisfaction of the violation." Upon payment, the Court can consider the matter closed and advise the Division of Motor Vehicles of the violation for the Division's recordance purposes. Formerly, those who were unable to pay the fine in one payment were required instead to submit to a court date (which engendered additional court costs) if only to request a payment plan - a practice that seemed patently unfair. Accordingly, in 2012, the Court established a process where the Voluntary Assessment Center could accept payment of fines incrementally. Although more equitable, this new process caused unforeseen consequences. Because the current definition of payment is the total amount due, if a person makes a partial payment but does not completely pay the balance of the fine, the Court cannot consider the matter closed. The Division is not made aware of the violation and the case remains in administrative limbo. Currently, no capiases or warrants are issued for unpaid Voluntary Assessments. Instead, the Division places a flag on an individual's license and registration. It is usually only years later when an individual goes to renew their license that they respond to the Court to complete payment. Redefining payment in the definition of this section will further streamline the Court's administrative process of maintaining the record and will report to the Division the associated data in a timely manner.
STATUS
Passed
SB93 - An Act To Amend Title 19 Of The Delaware Code Relating To The Public Employment Relations Act.
John Walsh, Bryan Townsend, Edward S. Osienski
Last updated about 1 year ago
12 Co-Sponsors
This bill amends the Delaware Public Employment Relations Act by requiring that the Board, consistent with the Boards Rules and Regulations, issue written decisions following hearings on unfair labor practice charges within 30 days of the close of the record.
STATUS
Passed
SCR107 - Honoring The Life And Work Of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On The Occasion Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day".
Darius Brown, Elizabeth Lockman, Bryan Townsend
Last updated 9 months ago
37 Co-Sponsors
This Senate Concurrent Resolution honors and recognizes the leadership, achievements, and sacrifices of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and urges all citizens of the First State to participate fittingly in the observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on January 15, 2024.
STATUS
Engrossed
HB248 - An Act To Amend Title 7 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Pre-permit Community Outreach In Underserved Communities.
Kendra Johnson, Bryan Townsend, Franklin D. Cooke
Last updated 4 months ago
12 Co-Sponsors
This House Substitute bill clarifies it is only for new or substantially modified permits and specifies it is only for the following permits: (1) Clean Air permit; (2) Coastal Zone Act permit; (3) Solid waste permit; (4) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit and (5) Hazardous waste permit. As in the original bill the applicant is still required to go through a community outreach process for any qualified project, defined as a project within an underserved community or within 3 miles of an underserved community that meets the definition of a qualified project under DNRECs Regulations. Underserved community is defined as (1) A specified geographic area where the percentage at poverty level is greater than twice the State Average Median Household Income as determined by the most recent United States Census or (2) Any specified community in the most current community mapping tool on the Departments website. It is anticipated that DNREC will have an environmental justice area viewer, or similar tool, as a link on its website.
STATUS
Introduced
HCR103 - Recognizing The Month Of April 2024 As The Annual National Fair Housing Month In The
Kendra Johnson, Elizabeth Lockman, Bryan Townsend
Last updated 6 months ago
17 Co-Sponsors
This House Concurrent Resolution recognizes the month of April 2024 as National Fair Housing Month in the State of Delaware.
STATUS
Engrossed
SB215 - An Act To Amend Title 16 Of The Delaware Code Relating To State Inspections Of Long-term Care Facilities.
Spiros Mantzavinos, Bryan Townsend, Brian Guy Pettyjohn
Last updated about 2 months ago
29 Co-Sponsors
This Act requires the Department of Health and Social Services to inspect long-term care facilities on an annual basis.
STATUS
Passed
HB351 - An Act To Amend Title 21 Of The Delaware Code Relating To The Removal Of Motor Vehicles From Private Or Public Property By Private Tow Companies.
Edward S. Osienski, Stephanie L. Hansen, Elizabeth Lockman
Last updated 4 months ago
11 Co-Sponsors
This Act creates a new chapter in Title 21 pertaining to the towing of vehicles without the consent of the owner or operator. It makes violations of the chapter an unlawful practice enforceable by the Consumer Protection Unit of the Department of Justice. The Act creates the following requirements for the towing and storage of vehicles without the consent of the owner or operator:
STATUS
Engrossed
BIOGRAPHY
INCUMBENT
Representative from Delaware district HD-016
COMMITTEES
Delaware House
BIRTH
--
ABOUT
Franklin D. Cooke was born in Gem County, Idaho. He attended Idaho State University, and earned a B.S. degree in accounting in 1992. Cooke was the owner/operator of Cooke Desert Adventures from 1992-2015. He serves on the Executive Committee of the Owyhee County Republican Central Committee. Cooke and his wife Tonja have four sons. They have lived in Owyhee County for over 20 years where they own and operate a farm and ranch.read less
OFFICES HELD
Delaware House from Delaware
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