LEGISLATIVE REPORT

JUNE 2009

 

The following bills that could impact ACEC member firms or their clients have been introduced.

 

  1. HOUSE BILL NO. 198 – This Bill would enter the State of Delaware in an agreement with other states to elect the President by popular vote. Delaware would pledge its electoral college votes based upon the popular votes of the entire nation, not on how the citizens voted. The Bill is in the House Housing & Community Affairs Committee.
  2. SENATE BILL 132 – This Bill would provide that all land use ordinances by any local or county government would have to be review by the Office of State Planning prior to approval by the governing body. This Bill is out of Committee, but is anticipated to be rewritten. This Bill is a detriment to local planning and we should strongly oppose this bill or any rewrite.
  3. SENATE BILL 118 – This Bill would create a process similar to the DAPE Certificate of Authorization for surveyors.
  4. HOUSE BILL 241 – This Bill will increase the tax liability on Limited Liability Companies. This Bill has been assigned to the House Revenue and Finance Committee. This is the first of several revenue Bills that seem to target businesses and higher wage earners, but none of the Bills seem to include any increase in user fees such as gas tax or tolls.
  5. HOUSE BILL 242 – This Bill would increase the percent of personal income tax rates for the top three tiers, 5.65% for incomes between $25,000 and $60,000, 6.95% for incomes between $60,000 and $100,000 and 7.45% for incomes above $100,000. This bill has been assigned to the House Revenue and Finance Committee. A separate House Bill numbered 238 proposes an increase in personal income tax percentages slightly different than 242. It does not increase the lower tier but shows the second tier at 6.95% and the upper tier at 7.95%.
  6. HOUSE BILL 240 – This Bill increase the cap for the Franchise Tax from $165,000 to $195,000. This Bill has been assigned to the House Revenue and Finance Committee.
  7. HOUSE BILL 234 – This Bill would place a charge of $0.25/barrel of oil transferred between one ship and another within Delaware waters (lightering).
  8. HOUSE BILL 231 – This Bill would grant parents up to 16 hours of unpaid leave per year to attend meetings concerning the education of their children. While this does not have a direct financial impact on our member firms, it could have an indirect impact by potentially reducing billings for those employees who partake of the unpaid leave. This Bill has been assigned to the House Education Committee.

 

 

  1. HOUSE BILL 229 – This Bill would ban the use of cell phones in cars. It does not include a waiver if a hands free system is used. I believe that we should oppose unless a hands free exemption is added to the Bill.
  2. HOUSE BILL 213 – This Bill would require that all Delaware Licensed Businesses include information about their business license in any advertising.
  3. SENATE BILL 160 - This Bill would require all three counties adopt the International Plumbing Code.