State of Delaware & Federal
Health Related & Healthcare Operational Legislation
Passed in the First Session of the
Delaware General Assembly

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Delaware Senate Bills
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This Page Last Updated: 01/11/2008

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144th
Delaware General Assembly
Passed in the First Session
January – June 2007

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Delaware Senate Bills
To view the bill and the current status, click on the bill number.

Bill Number

Description 

Status

SB 1

Worker's Compensation

Signed Into Law

SB 11

Amends the Delaware Prescription Assistance Program (DPAP) by requiring DPAP applicants to enroll in Medicare Part D before they are eligible to receive DPAP benefits.

Signed Into Law 04/05/07

SB 29 with HA 3

Amends Title 10 of the Delaware Code by Removing the Statute of Limitations for Civil Suits Relating to Child Sexual Abuse and Adding Related Provisions Regarding such Suits and providing a two-year “window” in which victims can bring civil action in cases previously barred by the current Statute.

Signed Into Law 07/10/07

SS 1 for SB 68

Workers Compensation. Section 1 of the bill clarifies the obligations of independent contractors and subcontractors with respect to maintaining workers’ compensation insurance, preserving the option for executive officers who are stockholders of the corporate entity to be exempted from coverage, requiring written certification of either coverage or that no insurance has been obtained by a subcontractor or independent contractor, and affixing the effective date for these provisions as of July 17, 2007. Section 2 of the bill clarifies that Subsection 2311(a)(5) does not create an employer-employee relationship, statutory or otherwise, between the contracting entity and the subcontractor, independent contractor, or their employees, and only clarifies the obligations of contractors, subcontractors, and independent contractors with respect to maintaining workers’ compensation insurance.

Signed Into Law 05/23/2007

SB 78
with HA 2

Health Insurance and Newborn Screening. This bill provides that certain medical formulas and food expenses in the on-going treatment of Phenylketonuria (PKU) and other inherited metabolic diseases shall be covered in health insurance contracts and also in group and blanket health insurance policies.

Signed Into Law 08/01/07

SB 79
with SA 3

Emergency Communication Systems. The Act helps to ensure the quality of the State’s emergency communications system by maintaining quality in-building communication preventing “dead zone” areas and helping to protect the citizens of the State so emergency public safety personnel can communicate.

Signed Into Law 08/28/07

SB 84 with SA 1 & SA 4

The bill replaces and updates the current Title 24, Chapter 25, Pharmacy, including provisions relating to objectives, licensure, examination, reciprocity, complaints, grounds for discipline, hearings, and sanctions. The bill also defines a certified pharmacy technician and a pharmacy technician as supportive personnel who may work only under the direct supervision of a pharmacist.

Signed Into Law 07/24/07

SB 87

Amends Title 16, Subsections 9304, 9305, and 9312 relating to the Delaware Health Resources Board.The bill corrects technical errors from a 2005 Joint Sunset Committee Bill that inadvertently omitted wording to enable the enforcement of charity care requirements. Additionally, the bill correctly references the dollar amount that must be triggered for the review of capital expenditures. Lastly the bill clarifies the 15-day timeline for the review of applications means 15 business days.

Signed Into Law 07/05/07

SB 94 with SA 1

Replaces Title 24, Chapter 52, Nursing Home Administrators and implements the recommendations for the Board of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators made by the Joint Sunset Committee during its 1998 review of the Board.

Signed Into Law 07/05/07

SB 112

Exempts licensed healthcare professionals as well as trained, non-licensed persons, acting at the direction of the Public Health Authority, from the licensing statutes and regulations for healthcare professionals. This exemption is necessary to allow trained, non-licensed persons to hand-out prepackaged medications to essential workers – Delaware’s first line of defense – without there necessarily being a licensed healthcare professional physically present to oversee the dispensing process. Trained, non-licensed persons include, but are not limited to, individuals from the Division of Public Health, the Delaware Emergency Management Agency, and DelDOT as well as fire services and law enforcement agencies.

Signed Into Law 07/24/07

SB 119

Establishes the current expenses ceiling for the Sussex County Vocation Technical School District at 23.50 cents per $100 of real property value with a rate of phrase in of 1.26 cents in Tax Year 2008, 1.26 cents in Tax Year 2009, and 1.27 cents in Tax Year 2010.

Signed Into Law 07/05/07

SB 121 with SA 1

Amends the Occupant Protection System Safety Act to conform to Federal guidelines as it relates to child passenger safety.

Signed Into Law 06/28/2007

SB 136 with SA 2

Creates a trust fund for the investment of assets for future State retiree healthcare liabilities. The Board of Pension Trustees will be the trustees of this trust fund and given the authority to invest those assets.

Signed Into Law 06/28/2007

SB 144 Adds clarity and precision to the section of Delaware's Criminal Code that establishes the defense of "Guilty, but Mentally Ill."

Signed Into Law 07/05/07

SB 150 with SA 1 Enhances and strengthens Delaware's Medical Corp by ensuring Medical Personnel that volunteer their services during emergency and/or disaster relief operations are protected from liability in the same way State emergency responders are protected.

Signed Into Law 08/07/07

SB 155 Bond and Capital Improvements Act.  The bill contains $3,000,000 for the Delaware Health Information Network (DHIN).  Signed Into Law 07/01/07
SB 160 Adjusts certain workers compensation reimbursement related matters applicable to hospitals and surgical centers.

Signed Into Law 07/17/07

SCR 7

Relating to the Promotion of Better Awareness of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Approved Vaccination Against the Human Papilloma Virus and Cervical Cancer.

Senate – Passed

House – Passed

SCR 8

Proclaims the Month of May as Lyme Disease Awareness Month, and requests the Governor to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the State of Delaware to observe the month of May with appropriate educational programs, ceremonies, and activities that will emphasize the severity of Lyme Disease and hopefully the prevention of future victims of this chronic disease.

Senate – Passed

House – Passed

SCR 10

Declares May 2007 as Melanoma and Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month in Delaware.

Senate – Passed

House – Passed

SCR 13

Endorses and supports Nemours Health and Prevention Services’ Campaign to Make Delaware’s Kids the Healthiest in the Nation.

Senate – Passed

House - Passed

SCR 20 Request the Department of Education to study the feasibility of integrating mandatory cardiopulmonary resuscitation/automated external defibrillator training into high school courses.

Senate - Passed

House - Passed

SCR 22 Expresses the desire of the General Assembly that Delaware Technical & Community College (Delaware Tech) remain an open admission institution and not be forced to turn away Delawareans seeking to improve their lives through higher education and job training, and directing the Co-Chairs of the Joint Bond Bill Committee to work with the Office of the Controller General and Delaware Tech to identify a stable funding source to finance the college's major and minor capitol improvements and deferred maintenance. (also see SB 167)

Senate - Passed

House - Passed

SCR 24 Establishes a Task Force to consider the need for adjustments to and/or revisions of Eagle's Law enacted in 2000 to establish minimum staffing levels for residential health facitlies (also see SR 11)

Senate - Passed

House - Policy Analysis & Government Accountability Committee

SJR 4

Establishing the Medicaid Modernization Task Force to study and make findings and recommendations regarding the use of Disproportionate Share Hospital Funds, the efficiency of providing managed care services to the long term care segment of the Medicaid population, and possible methods of encouraging individuals to take advantage of health insurance provided by employers.

Senate – Health & Social Services Committee

SR 9

Extends the due date of the report of findings and recommendations of the Health Service Corporation Task Force from May 15, 2007 to June 5, 2007.

Senate - Passed

SR 11 Establishes a Task Force to conder the need for adjustments to and/or revisions of Eagle's Law, enacted in 2000 to establish minimum staffing levels for residential health facilties (also see SCR 24) Senate - Passed

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Delaware House of Representatives Bills
To view the bill and the current status, click on the bill number

Bill Number

 

Description

Status

HB 31 with HA 1

Amends Title 29 of the Delaware Code relating to State Planning and County Impact Fees by removing the prohibition against County governments establishing impact fees in certain areas of the County. Kent County Government has passed an ordinance to create an impact fee to support emergency medical services for all areas of the County, but awaits repeal of this prohibition before the fee can be enacted.

Signed Into Law 05/15/2007

HB 38 with HA 2, SA 1, SA 2, SA 3, HA 3, & HA 4

Sets standards needed to become a Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist and also establishes the Board of Dietetics/Nutrition.

Signed Into Law 06/21/2007

HS 1 for HB 47
with HA 1 & HA 2

Creates the Hospital Infections Disclosure Act requiring hospitals to report quarterly data on hospital-acquired infection rates.

Signed Into Law 07/12/07

HB 57 with
HA 1 & HA 2

Establishes the 2-1-1 Information Helpline to provide community social services information and referral services to a centralized location which will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The establishment of the 2-1-1 Helpline provides needed information on government and not-for-profit services that provide a variety of programs.

Signed Into Law 08/01/07

HB 92 with
HA 1, & SA 1

Creates a low-cost arbitration process that health care providers can use to resolve payment disputes with insurance carriers.

Signed Into Law 06/28/2007

HB 130
with HA 1

Amend Title 11 of the Delaware Code relating to Sex Offenders and Sexual Offenses. This Act expands the definition of sexual offenses in the Delaware Code to include advancing or profiting from child prostitution. This bill also creates a separate crime, with enhanced penalties for sex offenders who commit sexual offenses against children.

Signed Into Law 06/28/2007

HB 144

Amends Title 19, Chapter 33 relating to Unemployment Compensation. Sections 1 and 2 are technical amendments. Section 3 increases the taxable wage base from $8,500 to $10,500 effective January 1, 2008. The taxable wage base has not been increased since January 1, 1987.

Signed Into Law 06/18/2007

HB 168

Increases the amount a private business or trade school is required to post as an annual surety bond. The purpose of the surety bond requirement is to protect the contractual rights of students. This Act increases the minimum required surety bond from $5,000 to $25,000.

Signed Into Law 07/10/07

HB 178
with HA 1

Re-establishment of a Hearing Aid Loan Bank. The Hearing Aid Loan Bank was originally established by the 142nd General Assembly for the purpose of lending hearing aids to eligible children under three (3) who suffer from hearing impairment. The original act contained a sunset provision and ceased to be effective in December 2006. This Act re-authorizes the Hearing Aid Loan Bank to ensure all eligible children have access to hearing aids.

Signed Into Law 07/12/07

HB 187

Raises the permit fees of large industrial and manufacturing sources of air emissions for one year beginning January 1, 2008. This one-year increase addresses a funding shortfall in the Program. Pursuant to Sub-Section 6099, Title 7, Delaware Code, the Title V Operating Permit Program Advisory Committee will meet during 2008 to review the performance and expenditures of the program and make recommendations to the General Assembly on fees for 2009 and beyond and any other elements of the Program.

Signed Into Law 06/30/2007

HB 193

Updates and modernizes the authority of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control relating to Mosquito Control to clarify that authority to protect the public health and well being within the limits of appropriations from the General Assembly. The bill also provides for public notice to land owners and hearing on source reduction practices.

Signed Into Law 07/17/07

HS 1 for
HB 194

Allows the use of Mercury-containing vaccines for children less than 8 years of age or to pregnant women when an emergency occurs as declared by the Director of the Division of Public Health, or when there is no mercury-free vaccine manufactured or available for a specific disease.

Signed Into Law 07/12/07

HS 1 for HB 224 False Alarms and Security Systems

Signed Into Law 08/02/07

HB 249 with HA 1 Increases the cigarette tax from $0.55 to $1.15 per pack.
(also see HB 49)
Signed Into Law
HB 266 Standardizes the definitions of child abuse, dependency, and neglect throughout the Delaware Code.

Signed Into Law 07/12/07

HCR 9

Encourages the Delaware Medical Society to inform its members about postpartum depression and screening tests.

House - Passed
Senate - Passed

HCR 15

Recognizes June 14, 2007 as National Nursing Assistants’ Day and recognizes the vital role that Certified Nursing Assistants play in providing health care services.

House – Passed
Senate - Passed

HCR 30

Recognizes June 15, 2007 as Delaware Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

House – Passed
Senate - Passed

HR 29 Establishing the Woman's Healthy Heart Task Force to develop a comprehensive strategy to encourage health heart activities for women. The Task Force will report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by March 2008. House - Passed
HR 32 Directing the Delaware Economic Development Office to study the costs (public health, hospitalization, criminal justice and court services, education, taxes, social services, and insurance costs, etc.) and impact of undocumented immigration on the State of Delaware and submit a cost impact to the House of Representatives by January 8, 2008. House - Passed
HR 33 Commending Beebe Medical Center, Nanticoke Memorial Hospital, and Peninsula Regional Medical Center on establishing tobacco-free, smoke-free facilities and campuses. House - Passed
HR 38 Creates a Health Insurance Pools Task Force to perform certain analyses and make legislative recommendations by March 14, 2008. House - Passed

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