From the Hall: Delaware lawmakers address animal care, vax card forgeries, input for liquor stores

By Joseph Edelen
Posted 5/15/22

DOVER — State legislators voted to expand veterinary care, punish forgers of vaccination cards and celebrate Delaware’s older citizens, among other actions, last week.

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From the Hall: Delaware lawmakers address animal care, vax card forgeries, input for liquor stores

Posted

DOVER — State legislators voted to expand veterinary care, punish forgers of vaccination cards and celebrate Delaware’s older citizens, among other actions, last week.

Changes to Standardbred Breeders’ Fund board OK’d
Senate Bill 216, sponsored by Sen. Bruce Ennis, D-Smyrna, passed in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. It would amend the state code relating to the board of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund.

The 11-member board oversees the state’s standardbred-breeding program. Its administrator is responsible for the state’s Sires and Racing programs, which consist of 48 races a year at the state’s two harness-racing tracks, Bally’s Dover and Harrington Raceway.

The bill allows the board to create and enforce rules deemed necessary to the Standardbred Breeders’ Fund and is now ready for the governor’s action.

Veterinary care could expand

SB 228 with Senate Amendment 1, sponsored by Sen. Jack Walsh, D-Stanton, was unanimously passed in the Senate on Tuesday and will now head to the House Agriculture Committee for a hearing.

The proposal would allow licensed veterinary technicians, as well as licensed veterinarians, to administer rabies vaccinations to dogs, cats and ferrets.

Sen. Walsh said input from the Delaware Board of Veterinary Medicine, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Social Services inspired the bill’s amendment, which would allow licensed vet techs to give a rabies shot to a dog, cat or ferret if he or she is under the direct supervision of a veterinarian and the animal is in the shelter it’s owned by.

The senator said there is a nationwide and statewide shortage of veterinarians, and it is becoming severe. For this reason, expanding the availability of these procedures by allowing techs to administer these shots is a must, he added.

Lawmakers condemn vaccination card forgery

House Substitute 1 for House Bill 302, sponsored by Rep. Paul Baumbach, D-Newark, passed in the House chamber Tuesday and will now be heard in the Senate Health & Social Services Committee.

The bill would make the punishment for possession or creation of a fake vaccination card forgery in the second degree. It also includes manufactured electronic vaccination documents. HS 1 for HB 302 was introduced with House Amendment 1, which lessens the severity of the penalty for first-time offenders.

Rep. Rich Collins, R-Millsboro, expressed concern with the legislation, stating that he felt laws were already in place to punish forgers. He said he believes it was introduced solely to address COVID-19 vaccination cards and that it’s time to move on from the virus and the politics it brings.

The bill required a two-thirds majority vote and passed 35-6.

Towns may have more say about liquor establishments

HB 385, sponsored by Rep. Stephanie T. Bolden, D-Wilmington, could amend state code relating to the sale of alcohol. It passed in the House on Thursday.

The bill would allow municipalities with populations over 50,000 to create and enforce rules for the location of an establishment licensed to sell alcohol, plus allows these towns to implement heavier restrictions than current law.

It would also allow the state alcoholic beverage control commissioner to refuse licenses for the sale of alcohol should plans not comply with the ordinances of any municipality.

HB 385 will be sent to the Senate Banking, Business & Insurance Committee for a hearing.

Community Action Month in Delaware

On Wednesday, House members approved House Resolution 23, sponsored by Rep. Ruth Briggs King, R-Georgetown, and Rep. Franklin Cooke, D-New Castle, which proclaims May 2022 as Community Action Month in the state.

Community Action Month promotes economic stability as an essential component of creating strong communities. The resolution states that such action promotes self-sufficiency and connects millions of families to greater opportunities.

Legislators vote to celebrate school nurses

House Concurrent Resolution 81, sponsored by Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown, D-New Castle; Sen. Laura Sturgeon, D-Woodbrook; and Rep. Kim Williams, D-Newport, was passed by both the House and Senate on Wednesday.

The resolution proclaimed May 11 as School Nurse Appreciation Day in Delaware. The bill states that today’s students are facing more complex and life-threatening health problems, which may require care in schools. These needs were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the role school nurses play.

The resolution also celebrated the work done by the National Association of School Nurses with helping students stay healthy and ready to learn.

Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month

Senate Concurrent Resolution 100, sponsored by Sen. Ernie López, R-Lewes, passed in the House on Wednesday and declares May 2022 as Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month in the state.

The resolution received support from many legislators, including the entirety of the Senate’s Republican caucus.

Cystic fibrosis is a chronic disease affecting the lungs and digestive systems of patients. The bill states that about 35,000 children and adults in the U.S. live with the disease. More than half of patients are over age 18 and can expect to live into their 40s, though the median lifespan for patients is 36 years.

The resolution aims to raise public awareness and support for such patients, with the goal of one day finding a cure for the illness.

Delaware’s older population celebrated

SCR 102 received support from both sides of the aisle and declares May 2022 as Older Americans Month in Delaware.

The resolution was sponsored by Sen. Darius Brown, D-Wilmington, and aims to provide better communities for the state’s older residents.

The bill reports that 19% of Delaware’s population is 65 and older, and the percentage is steadily increasing. It is estimated that, by 2050, every county is expected to have a population with at least 40% over age 50, with 20% of those being 65 and older.

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