SEE LATEST
SPONSORED LEGISLATION
SB67 - An Act To Amend Title 11 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Misconduct By Public Officials.
Sarah McBride, Kimberly Williams, Kyle Evans Gay
Last updated about 1 year ago
16 Co-Sponsors
This Act updates the crime of official misconduct to ensure appropriate accountability of public servants who abuse their positions of power and public trust. The statute establishes a grade in the penalty for the official misconduct to be commensurate to the gravity of the misconduct. In addition, this statute conforms the discrimination language to the language used in the Hate Crimes statute. It also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.
STATUS
Passed
HB3 - An Act To Amend Title 14 Relating To School Attendance.
Valerie J. Longhurst, Laura Sturgeon, Debra J. Heffernan
Last updated over 1 year ago
20 Co-Sponsors
According to a recent CDC survey, the COVID pandemic exacerbated an existing mental health crisis for students. One in 5 school aged children has a mental health condition, and 45% of children may have experienced a traumatic event. This bill provides for excused absences for the mental or behavior health of a student and requires that any student taking more than 2 such excused absences will be referred to a behavioral health specialist. This bill provides a supplemental tool to identify students struggling with mental and behavioral health issues and legitimizes these struggles faced by many students. Moreover, this bill makes clear that the mental and behavioral health of students is a priority in this State.
STATUS
Passed
SB101 - An Act To Amend Title 16 Of The Delaware Code Relating To The Uniform Controlled Substances Act.
Stephanie L. Hansen, Spiros Mantzavinos, Bryan Townsend
Last updated over 1 year ago
16 Co-Sponsors
This Bill amends the Uniform Controlled Substances Act to establish quantity tiers specific to drug offenses involving fentanyl. This update to the UCSA accounts for the high potency and lethality of fentanyl relative to other substances in its current statutory category, and the rise in deaths and suffering related to fentanyl throughout Delaware communities.
STATUS
Introduced
HB200 - An Act To Amend Title 14 Of The Delaware Code Relating To School-based Mental Health Services.
Valerie J. Longhurst, Marie Pinkney, Debra J. Heffernan
Last updated 3 months ago
26 Co-Sponsors
This Act establishes a mental health services unit for Delaware high schools. The unit is phased in over 3 years, beginning in FY2024, to arrive at a final ratio of 250 full-time equivalent students grades 9-12 for a full-time school counselor, school social worker, or licensed clinical social worker. Additionally, a unit ratio of 700 full time equivalent students for grades 9-12 for employment of a full-time school psychologist. This Act defines mental health services as prevention, response, and coordination services delivered to students in high schools. Mental Health disorders are the most common health problem for school aged youth. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), one in five youth are affected by a mental health disorder. Additionally, 50% of lifetime mental illnesses begin by age 14. Untreated mental illness leads to negative outcomes including increased risk of dropout, homelessness, substance abuse, other chronic illnesses, incarceration, and possibly suicide. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, ninety percent of people who have taken their own life have had an underlying mental health condition, and suicides are on the rise. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, suicides are now the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10-14. Delaware schools need trained and experienced mental health professionals to provide prevention and support programs and services to students. This bill will lower ratios of students to counselors and increase access to mental health services for high school students. Districts and charters should prioritize the hiring of school counselors who provide mental health services over those who provide career counseling.
STATUS
Passed
SB106 - An Act To Amend Title 16 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Maternal Mental Health.
Kyle Evans Gay, Elizabeth Lockman, Krista Griffith
Last updated about 2 months ago
24 Co-Sponsors
This Act modernizes and expands the concept of maternal mental health by replacing the definition of maternal depression with the more encompassing definition of perinatal mood and anxiety disorder. This Act contemplates treatment for any caregiver who may be affected by perinatal mood and anxiety disorder. This Act avoids use of gender-based pronouns as recommended by the Legislative Drafting Manual.
STATUS
Passed
HCR19 - Recognizing The Easterseals/cai Volleyball Challenge And The Volleyball Ambassador, Carolyn Jerzak In The 17th Year Of Democrat And Republican Team Participation.
Valerie J. Longhurst, Nicole Poore, Kevin S. Hensley
Last updated over 1 year ago
20 Co-Sponsors
This resolution recognizes the Easterseals/CAI Volleyball Challenge occurring March 25 at William Penn High School and March 26 at Delaware State University, an event that raises funds for an organization providing services and support to Delawareans with disabilities and senior citizens and their families.
STATUS
Engrossed
HCR36 - Recognizing April 6, 2023, As Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Or "aka Day At The Capital" In Delaware.
Sherry Dorsey Walker, Darius Brown, Eric Buckson
Last updated over 1 year ago
30 Co-Sponsors
This Concurrent Resolution recognizes April 6, 2023, as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated or AKA Day at the Capital in Delaware.
STATUS
Engrossed
HCR42 - Recognizing The Month Of May 2023 As Mental Health Awareness Month.
Valerie J. Longhurst, Nicole Poore, Sherry Dorsey Walker
Last updated over 1 year ago
22 Co-Sponsors
This Concurrent Resolution recognizes the month of May 2023 as Mental Health Awareness Month.
STATUS
Engrossed
HB170 - An Act To Amend Title 11, Title 16, And Title 29 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Human Trafficking Of Children.
Kimberly Williams, Nicole Poore, Kyle Evans Gay
Last updated over 1 year ago
18 Co-Sponsors
This Act does all of the following regarding suspected human trafficking of children:
STATUS
Introduced
HCR22 - Recognizing The 4th Thursday In March As National Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day.
Sherry Dorsey Walker, Darius Brown, Elizabeth Lockman
Last updated over 1 year ago
36 Co-Sponsors
This Concurrent Resolution supports Congressional efforts to proclaim the 4th Thursday in March a National Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day.
STATUS
Engrossed
BIOGRAPHY
INCUMBENT
Senator from Delaware district SD-014
COMMITTEES
Delaware Senate
BIRTH
--
ABOUT
--
OFFICES HELD
Delaware Senate from Delaware
NEXT ELECTION
