Bill Sponsor
Delaware House Bill 398
Session 151
An Act To Amend Title 11 Of The Delaware Code Relating To The Human Trafficking Interagency Coordinating Council.
Became Law
Became Law
Signed by Governor on Aug 4, 2022
Sponsors
Democrat
Kimberly Williams
Democrat
Nicole Poore
First Action
May 3, 2022
Latest Action
Aug 4, 2022
Origin Chamber
House
Type
Bill
Bill Number
398
State
Delaware
Session
151
Sponsorship by Party
Summary
This Act renames the Human Trafficking Interagency Coordinating Council as the Delaware Anti-Trafficking Action Council (Council) for the purpose of providing a clearer description of the work that the Council performs. This Act also transfers the Council from under the authority of the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) to the Criminal Justice Council. DHSS's clerical staffing duty is removed. This Act requires the Council to appoint an Executive Director, who will serve at the Council's pleasure. The Executive Director shall support the Council in carrying out its statutory duties. Subject to the approval of a quorum of the Council and within the limits of any appropriation made by the General Assembly or available funding from another funding source, the Executive Director shall also employ staff and contract for services as necessary to assist the Council with performing its duties. By providing the Council with staff, the Council will be better able to comply with its statutory mandates under Delaware's Human Trafficking law. It will also be able to pursue grant funding opportunities that it previously did not have the infrastructure to support. Additionally, this Act broadens several existing statutory duties of the Council to ensure the Council has the flexibility necessary to perform its work and allows it to pursue work that may broaden opportunity to obtain grant funding. This Act also clarifies that one member of the Council must be an individual with prior experience in working with victims of human trafficking in a legal or advocacy capacity and that this individual may reside in any county. This Act also clarifies how this member must be appointed. This Act adds additional reporting requirements, clarifies that the report is intended to be an annual report, and adds that the report must also be submitted to the Executive Director of the Criminal Justice Council. This Act removes language related to the initial startup of the Council because this language is no longer relevant. This Act also repeals § 787(k)(2)j. of this Title because the paragraph contains language that is no longer relevant. Procedural requirements for Council business are located in § 787(k)(4), so the procedural requirements in § 787(k)(2)j. were moved to § 787(k)(4)b. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual, including corresponding corrections to internal references in § 787(l) and § 787(m) since paragraphs within § 787(k) have been renumbered. The Council wishes to name this Act for and honor the late Ms. February O’Donnell and the late Ms. Amy Day. Ms. O’Donnell, a human trafficking survivor, and Ms. Day, a victims’ services volunteer who started the nonprofit, Meet Me At The Well, were remarkable women who helped lead the way in Delaware’s fight against human trafficking.
Actions (12)
08/04/2022
Office of the Governor
Signed by Governor
06/28/2022
Senate
Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
06/22/2022
Senate
Reported Out of Committee (Finance) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits
06/15/2022
Senate
Assigned to Finance Committee in Senate
06/15/2022
Senate
Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in Senate with 2 Favorable, 2 On Its Merits
06/07/2022
Senate
Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate
06/07/2022
House
Passed By House. Votes: 41 YES
06/03/2022
House
Suspension of Rules in House
05/19/2022
House
Reported Out of Committee (Appropriations) in House with 5 Favorable
05/12/2022
House
Assigned to Appropriations Committee in House
05/11/2022
House
Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in House with 6 Favorable, 1 On Its Merits
05/03/2022
House
Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House
Sources
Record Created
May 3, 2022 7:14:38 PM
Record Updated
Aug 5, 2022 7:50:53 PM