Wednesday, January 19, 2011

House Bill 18 - Repeal the Delaware Estate Tax

This bill would repeal the Delaware estate tax that was passed in 2009. It would be good for the economy but will not likely pass because all but one sponsor is from the minority party.

146th General Assembly

House Bill # 18

Primary Sponsor: Rep. Ramone
Additional Sponsor(s): Rep. Hudson & Sen. Simpson & Sen. Katz
CoSponsors: Rep. Lavelle, Hocker, Blakey, Briggs King, Kenton, Lee, Outten, Peterman, D. Short, Willis, Wilson; Sen. Sorenson

Introduced on : 01/19/2011

Long Title: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 3, 12, AND 30 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE ESTATE TAX.

Synopsis: This bill repeals the Delaware Estate Tax as of July 1, 2011.

Current Status: House Revenue & Finance Committee On 01/19/11

Full text of Legislation: (in HTML format)
Legis.html
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Full text of Legislation:(in MS Word format)
Legis.Doc (Microsoft Word 2007 or above required to view this document.)

Actions History:
Jan 19, 2011 - Introduced and Assigned to Revenue & Finance Committee in House

House Bill 15 - Super Majority Required for Budget Spending Exceeding Inflation

This is an extremely positive bill for the economy long term, but without a single democratic sponsor, it probably has no chance.

146th General Assembly
House Bill # 15

Primary Sponsor: Rep. Hudson
Additional Sponsor(s): Sen. Sorenson
CoSponsors: Rep. Hocker, Blakey, Briggs King, Kenton, Lee, Manolakos, Miro, Outten, Peterman, Ramone, D. Short, Willis, Wilson; Sen. Booth

Introduced on : 01/19/2011

Long Title: AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE VIII OF THE DELAWARE CONSTITUTION RELATING TO SPENDING INCREASES.

Synopsis: This is the first leg of a Constitutional Amendment requiring a Budget Bill that has a spending increase above the rate of inflation be approved by at least a 3/5ths vote of all members of each House.

Current Status:
House Appropriations Committee On 01/19/11
Full text of Legislation: (in HTML format)
Legis.html
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Full text of Legislation:(in MS Word format)
Legis.Doc (Microsoft Word 2007 or above required to view this document.)

Actions History: Jan 19, 2011 - Introduced and Assigned to Appropriations Committee in House

House Bill 9 - Restore Voting Rights to Felons

146th General Assembly

House Bill # 9
Primary Sponsor: Rep. Keeley
Additional Sponsor(s): Rep. J. Johnson & Rep. Scott & Sen. Henry
CoSponsors: Reps. Bolden, George, Kowalko, Mitchell, Mulrooney, Schooley; Sen. Venables
Introduced on : 01/18/2011

Long Title: AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE V, SECTION 2 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE RELATING TO QUALIFICATIONS FOR VOTING.

Synopsis: This Act is the first leg of a Constitutional Amendment which eliminates the existing five-year waiting period before eligible felons who have fully discharged their sentences may have their voting rights restored. This Act shall be known as the Hazel D. Plant Voter Restoration Act.

Current Status:
House House Administration Committee On 01/18/11
Full text of Legislation: (in HTML format)
Legis.html
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Full text of Legislation:(in MS Word format)
Legis.Doc (Microsoft Word 2007 or above required to view this document.)
Fiscal Notes/Fee Impact: Not Required

Actions History:
Jan 18, 2011 - Introduced and Assigned to House Administration Committee in House

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

House Bill 5 - Respond to FOIA Requests in a Timely Fashion

HB 5 sets a definite time frame for government bodies to respond to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.


146th General Assembly
House Bill # 5

Primary Sponsor: Bennett
Additional Sponsor(s): Sen. Peterson & Sen. Katz

CoSponsors:
Reps. Briggs King, Carson, Hocker, Jaques, Keeley, Kenton, Lavelle, Longhurst, Mitchell, Outten, Scott, D.E. Williams

Introduced on : 01/06/2011

Long Title:
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.

Synopsis:
This bill enhances Delaware’s Freedom of Information Act by setting a deadline when public bodies must provide a public record to a person making a request under the Freedom of Information Act.

Current Status:
House House Administration Committee On 01/06/2011

Full text of Legislation: (in HTML format)
http://legis.delaware.gov/LIS/lis146.nsf/vwLegislation/HB+3/$file/legis.html?open


Monday, January 10, 2011

House Bill 3 - Ban Transfat in Schools

Does this qualify as fiddling while Rome (the Delaware economy) burns?


HOUSE BILL NO. 3
http://www.legis.delaware.gov/LIS/LIS146.NSF/vwLegislation/2CD4EA3BFF35D9E7852577F9006102D4?Opendocument

SPONSOR:
Rep. Kowalko & Sen. Sokola

Reps. Jaques, Keeley, Longhurst, Mitchell, Ramone, Willis

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
146th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO LIMITING ARTIFICIAL TRANS FATS IN FOOD AVAILABLE OR SERVED TO STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, INCLUDING CHARTER SCHOOLS.

WHEREAS, the Governor of Delaware has identified the health and fitness of our children as a major concern for our public schools; and

WHEREAS, for the first time in over a century, children born today have an expected life span that is shorter than that of their parents; and

WHEREAS, studies have identified food additives, such as artificial trans fatty acids, commonly termed trans fats, as a major cause of coronary heart disease; and

WHEREAS, limiting a child's access to foods which contain trans fats will reduce the child's risk of contracting coronary heart disease and related health problems;

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend Title 14 of the Delaware Code by adding thereto a new section to read:

"§ 4135. Limitation of Trans Fats in Food Available or Served to Students in Public Schools.

(a) Public schools, including charter schools, and school districts, during school hours, shall not make available to students enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12 any food containing artificial trans fatty acids, as defined in subsection (b) of this section, or use food containing artificial trans fatty acids in the preparation of food items served to such students.

(b) For purposes of this section, a food contains artificial trans fatty acid if the food is labeled as vegetable shortening, margarine, or any kind of partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, or if it contains more than 0.5 gram per serving of vegetable shortening, margarine, or any kind of partially hydrogenated vegetable oil as an ingredient.".

Section 2. This Act shall take effect 90 days after its enactment into law; however, if this Act impairs a contractual obligation, then this Act shall take effect upon the expiration or termination of such contract.


SYNOPSIS
This Bill prohibits public schools, including charter schools, and school districts from making available or serving food with more than 0.5 gram of artificial trans fatty acids to students in grades K through 12.