Dover, DE – Senate Bill 238, which establishes the Delaware Health Care Claims Database within the Delaware Health Information Network, passed the Senate unanimously on June 9th, and passed the House unanimously earlier this evening.

“Today, the General Assembly passed legislation that represents a critical step in Delaware’s health care innovation efforts,” Governor Markell said. “I greatly appreciate the leadership of Senator Bethany Hall-Long and Representative Melanie George Smith in sponsoring this important health care transparency legislation, which has been in progress for several years. I also would like to thank the Delaware Center for Health Innovation and all of the health care community stakeholders who worked with us on this consensus legislation.”

“This legislation creates much-needed transparency around health care costs, and moves Delaware toward a more efficient health care delivery system that emphasizes quality care and places a greater value on patient outcomes,” Sen. Bethany Hall-Long said.

“The creation of a Health Care Claims Database will be an important asset to State policy-makers and other stakeholders who are working on public policy solutions to rising health care prices without sacrificing the quality and availability of care to Delawareans,” said Rep. Melanie George Smith, who has confronted rising health care costs in her role as Co-Chair of the General Assembly’s Joint Finance Committee.

Governor Markell discussed the need for a health care claims database in his 2012 State of the State Address, where he noted that “[a] next step to leverage technology is to create a claims and cost database. Business leaders have come to understand the key to improving performance is harnessing the capacity of information technology to aggregate and analyze data. This database will allow us to figure out why some providers get better results and why some providers create more costs without better results to show for it. We will be in a position to reward what works and change what doesn’t.”

The Health Care Claims Database will be administered under the authority of the DHIN’s board of directors, whose membership reflects a cross-section of stakeholders from the health care industry, state government, and members of the public and health care consumers. The DHIN currently holds clinical data from all of Delaware’s major hospitals and providers, and this legislation allows the DHIN to also maintain pricing data. The legislation requires that the information be maintained in a secure, encrypted setting in compliance with all federal and state health care privacy and data security laws.

Approves initiative proposed in Governor’s State of the State Address

Dover, DE — The General Assembly approved legislation today that removes the financial bar to restoration of voting rights for people convicted of felonies who have completed their sentence. Delaware had been one of only three states that required payment of financial obligations before restoration of voting rights, and the only state with a statutory bar to restoration of voting rights until full payment was made.

In 2013, with House Bill 10, the Delaware General Assembly amended the Delaware constitution to remove a five year waiting period for restoration of voting rights, but Delaware code still required all financial obligations be met before voting rights were restored. Voting promotes participation in our society and enhances social ties and Senate Bill 242 ensures individuals aren’t prevented from exercising that fundamental right.

“Once an individual has paid their debt to society, it is important that we allow them to contribute to their communities,” said Governor Markell. “Voting is one of their most fundamental rights as Americans and I congratulate the members of the General Assembly for increasing access to the ballot box and promoting a more inclusive society.”

As the Governor mentioned in his State of the State Address, this legislation will make Delaware one of 40 states that have in recent years increased access to voting for people who have served their sentences. An individual’s ability to participate in our democracy should never depend on their ability to pay.

This legislation would build on substantial progress the state has made on creating a more equal criminal justice system that ends discriminatory practices of the past, and empowers and educates those reentering society. More information on these efforts can be found here.

“We’ve come a long way since the early days of our nation, when voting rights were explicitly tied to property ownership,” said Sen. Margaret Rose Henry, the lead Senate sponsor of SB 242. “Still, the fact remains that requiring a person who has done their time to pay full restitution unduly disqualifies many voters who would otherwise be eligible to participate in our Democracy.”

“Delaware took an important step forward a few years ago in abolishing an arbitrary waiting period for regaining voting rights. That bill was the result of years of dedication and unwavering support from former Reps. Al and Hazel Plant,” said Rep. Helene Keeley, the lead House sponsor of SB 242. “This legislation fulfills our goal of restoring voting rights to those who have completed their period of incarceration and should by any other means have the right to vote. Regaining the right to vote is a critical component of reintegrating into society. I’m grateful to my colleagues for their support in helping Delawareans.”

“When we empower people who have paid their debts to society, we are increasing the odds that they will stay out of prison and remain productive, law-abiding citizens,” said Sen. Bryan Townsend. “Unnecessarily disenfranchising people is a sure-fire way to stigmatize past discretions while being punitive beyond the length of an offender’s adjudicated sentence.”

“Voting for who represents you in government is one of the most liberating, important things you can do as a member of society,” said Rep. Stephanie T. Bolden. “We removed one big hurdle a few years ago, but the current system continues to hamper people’s ability to cast their votes, even as they rejoin society and get their lives back on track. By removing this hurdle, we’ve invited more Delawareans to be part of the process and participate.”

Approves initiative proposed in Governor’s State of the State Address

Dover, DE – Governor Markell issued the following statement applauding the General Assembly’s passage of legislation expanding the Syringe Exchange Program.

Senate Bill 259 authorizes the Division of Public Health (DPH) to expand the program statewide to help reduce the sharing of potentially infected needles and supports the state’s larger efforts to address opioid addiction and HIV transmission.

“Expanding this program statewide will help protect IV drug users from infections, prevent HIV transmission, and will hopefully motivate individuals struggling with drug addiction to get the help they need.” Governor Markell said. “Thank you to the members of the General Assembly for realizing the positive impact this expanded program will have on our citizens and our communities.”

This legislation would build on substantial progress the state has made in increasing access to key substance abuse treatments. More information on those efforts can be found here.

“While our ultimate goal must continue to be securing addiction treatment for the Delawareans who need it most, we must do whatever we can to ensure that IV drug users are not putting themselves or the public at further risk by using contaminated needles,” said Senate Majority Whip Margaret Rose Henry. “Like drug use, diseases like HIV and hepatitis disproportionally impact low-income and minority populations and we have a moral responsibility to take these sorts of prudent measures to stop the spread of these devastating diseases.”

“During the past decade, we have seen the needle exchange program have a positive impact in the City of Wilmington by reducing the spread of HIV infections and other diseases that can be transmitted through a used needle. It also has helped connect people to various services and resources to reduce drug use,” said Rep. Helene Keeley, who sponsored the original needle exchange bill in 2006. “However, intravenous drug use is not just a problem in Wilmington; it’s a concern throughout our state. Expanding this successful program throughout Delaware will hopefully have the same benefits up and down the state that it has had in the city, reducing the spread of diseases and connecting people to the services they need to combat drug use.”

“We have long been supporters of needle exchange programs because they work in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS,” said Peter Houle, executive director of the Delaware HIV Consortium, one of the state’s largest providers of services to people with HIV/AIDS. “We helped form the coalition that pushed through Delaware’s first effort at needle exchange. We support expansion of the program to serve all three counties in Delaware effectively. Since the recent surge in the use of heroin began, we have been hoping for expansion of the clean needle exchange program – it’s just good public health policy that will save lives.”

Hunters, trappers reminded to buy 2016/17 licenses available July 1

DOVER – DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife is pleased to announce publication and widespread availability of the 2016-2017 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide. This year’s cover features the winning photograph in the 2015/16 Hunting Photography Contest, “A Day to Remember,” by Lance Barrowcliff of Wilmington. The guide is available now at participating license agents throughout the state, at the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s licensing desk in the Richardson and Robbins Building at 89 Kings Highway in Dover and online at 2016-2017 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide.

Hunters and trappers will want to review the guide before heading afield this fall. Season dates for the 2016/17 hunting and trapping seasons are included, as well as a summary of Delaware laws and regulations pertaining to legal harvest of game species. Migratory game bird seasons are also included in the guide for the first time, due to changes in the federal migratory bird regulatory process, meaning separate publication of these seasons at a later date is no longer necessary. Readers can also find information on licensing/permit requirements, hunting opportunities on public lands and classes on hunting and trapping offered by the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Hunter Education Program.

Licenses and waterfowl stamps for the 2016/17 hunting and trapping seasons will go on sale Friday, July 1. “Licenses may be purchased from more than 70 authorized license agents located throughout the state, from DNREC’s Dover licensing desk in the Richardson & Robbins Building or online by visiting us at www.fw.delaware.gov,” said Division of Fish & Wildlife Recreational License Program Coordinator Candace Dunning.

Delaware residents age 16 or older and under the age of 65 and non-residents age 16 or older must purchase an adult license to hunt in Delaware. A junior hunting license is available for youths age 13 through 15. Hunters and trappers who are exempt from purchasing a license must obtain an annual, free License Exempt Number (LEN). Hunters who plan to pursue migratory gamebirds such as ducks, geese and doves, must register for an annual, free Harvest Information Program (HIP) number.

To obtain HIP and LEN numbers or to register a deer harvest from smartphones, tablets or PCs, hunters and trappers should use the Hunter and Trapper Registration System (HTR), available by visiting www.dnrec.delaware.gov/delhunt. To talk to a live customer service representative, please call 855-DELHUNT (855-335-4868).

Hunters age 16 and older who hunt migratory waterfowl, including resident Canada geese, are required to purchase a Delaware Waterfowl Stamp, which is not required for Delaware resident hunters 65 and over. A Federal Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp, available for purchase online and at U.S. Post Offices, is required for all waterfowl hunters age 16 and older; no exemptions are made for persons 65 years or older for purchasing federal stamps.

Hunters who enjoy hunting on state wildlife areas should note that a $20 annual State Wildlife Area Deer Stand/Waterfowl Blind Lottery Permit (formerly referred to as the Public Land Use Permit) is required for any hunter using a state deer stand or waterfowl blind acquired through a daily lottery.

“This permit will be linked to your hunting license or LEN number at the time of purchase. So if you purchase your permit at a later date, please remember to have your hunting license or LEN number,” Ms. Dunning said.

Delaware Waterfowl Stamps and hunting licenses are sold online, at the licensing desk in DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and by license agents statewide. To find a participating agent, or to purchase a license online, visit Delaware Licenses. For additional information on Delaware hunting licenses, call 302-739-9918.

Hunters, be AWARE:
The Division of Fish & Wildlife has received calls from hunters who thought they were buying a Delaware hunting license from the website RecreationalLicense.org/hunting when they made a purchase from that site. The private, unaffiliated website does NOT sell licenses, but sells information about hunting and how to obtain hunting licenses for $19.99 – the same information that is readily available for free on the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s website. Delaware hunting licenses, meanwhile, are sold online only on the Division of Fish & Wildlife website, www.fw.delaware.gov, at the licensing desk in DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and by authorized license agents statewide. Only the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s website is authorized to sell Delaware fishing and hunting licenses online.

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Three chicks take flight on the Point at Cape Henlopen

LEWES – A pair of piping plovers that lost their nest at Gordons Pond in Cape Henlopen State Park has regrouped and nested again within the park, with three eggs observed so far, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife announced today. Another nest is still being incubated on the Point, with hatching expected over the next few days.

Three broods of piping plover chicks are continuing to forage on the Point, with one of the broods having fledged three chicks earlier this week, according to Division of Fish & Wildlife Biologist Matthew Bailey.

In other beachnesting bird news, the American oystercatcher nest on the Point is due to hatch this week, and least terns continue to defend their colony at Gordons Pond, Bailey added.

For more information about beachnesting birds and monitoring efforts, please contact Matthew Bailey at 302-382-4151 or email matthew.bailey@delaware.gov.

About the piping plover
The piping plover was listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1986, and the Division of Fish & Wildlife is responsible for its protection in Delaware. Under a binding agreement and species management plan that DNREC made in 1990 with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) – the federal agency with oversight of this ESA-protected species – piping plover nesting areas at Cape Henlopen State Park are closed annually to the public to protect the shorebirds from disturbance during their nesting season from March into September. The closure, which includes the Point and smaller areas around Gordons Pond and with both feeding habitat and nesting areas protected, has been successful, increasing the number of piping plover nesting pairs from a low of two pairs to a high of nine pairs. Piping plovers feed on small invertebrates that inhabit the intertidal zone near their nesting territories. Chicks are not fed by their parents, but rather are led to the shoreline to forage while the adults keep watch for potential threats. Allowing pedestrian traffic in the intertidal zone adjoining nesting areas would disturb the vital link between nesting and foraging habitat, and risks adverse stress or mortality to the chicks.

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902