DOVER — Speaker of the House Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, announced Wednesday a new leader has been chosen for the House Health and Human Development Committee.

Former Chairman Michael Barbieri resigned his General Assembly seat to take another job. Rep. Debra Heffernan, D-Edgemoor, will serve as the new chairwoman of the committee. She was previously the vice chair.

The committee assignments for Rep. David Bentz, D-Newark, who won a special election last month, were also announced by the speaker.

He will be the vice chairman on the Health and Human Development Committee and will take up some Mr. Barbieri’s old committee seats, serving on the Education, Energy, Labor and Natural Resources committees.

Rep. Bentz served as Mr. Barbieri’s aide for the past three years and was on his staff on the Health and Human Development Committee.