This bill holds employers accountable for paying employees wages earned between this last paycheck and their last day, regardless of whether they quit, resigned, were suspended or laid off.
Primary Sponsor: Sen. Jack Walsh
Passed the Senate
Passed the House
Protects Delaware workers and Delaware taxpayers from employers who pay their employees “under the table” by defining wage theft more specifically and clearly delineating penalties for wage theft violations.
Primary Sponsor: Sen. Jack Walsh
Passed the Senate
Passed the House
Friends and neighbors,
Spring is almost here, which means things are getting busier in Legislative Hall and across the Ninth District.
In Delaware, our regular legislative session runs each year from the second Tuesday in January through June 30. To watch Senate proceedings live or if you want to come back later to watch recordings of past proceedings, click here. To view daily Senate Agendas, click here. To view upcoming committee meetings, legislative session start times, and more, click here.
As always, please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, comments, community concerns, or just to say hi. I can be reached by email at john.walsh@delaware.gov, on Facebook, or by calling my Senate office at (302) 744-4163.
Sincerely,
Jack Walsh
Senator, District 9
Earlier this year, my bill SB208 was released from the labor committee. This legislation will help return unpaid wages to employees who leave their job for a variety of reasons.
I was proud to join my colleagues in supporting SB1, The Healthy Delaware Families Act. This bill guarantees 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave to Delaware workers.
This legislation, alongside raising the minimum wage to $15, are some of the many things we must do to lift up working families across our state.
I am also working on the following legislation:
On Friday, March 18 starting at 10 a.m., Food Bank of Delaware will be hosting a drive-thru mobile food pantry at the DelTech Stanton Campus. Please pre-register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/march-new-castle-county-drive-thru-distribution-tickets-290099725087
AARP Delaware invites local nonprofit organizations and governments across the state to apply for the 2022 AARP Community Challenge grant program, now through March 22, 2022.
AARP Community Challenge grants can be used to support:
The Delaware Division of Small Business “Encouraging Development, Growth & Expansion” grant cycle is open all month long. Eligible businesses can be awarded up to $100,000 in funding.
Don’t wait to apply — applications are due at 5 p.m. on March 31.
To learn more, visit business.delaware.gov/edge.
The deadline for organizations to submit applications for the FY23 Community Reinvestment Fund is May 15, 2022.
Eligible applicants include county and local governments, community-based nonprofit organizations, and private sector nonprofit organizations.
Please direct any questions to the Office of the Controller General at 302-744-4200 or send an email to Bond_Public_Comment@delaware.gov.
Delaware is currently facing a winter surge that has led to a record-breaking number of positive COVID cases and hospitalizations, as well as an overwhelming increase in the demand placed on COVID testing sites. Our healthcare system, local businesses, and even testing sites are facing staffing shortages as the Delta and Omicron variants spread at increased rates.
All Delawareans — regardless of vaccination status — are encouraged to avoid social gatherings and mask up when you’re around others outside of your household.
If you have not done so already, please sign up now to get fully vaccinated and boosted. Click here to find a list of vaccination sites. Individuals over the age of 16 who received their second shot over 6 months ago are encouraged to get their booster shot. Click here to find out where to get your booster.
To access a comprehensive collection of resources, including updated guidance and other tools to fight the spread of COVID-19, visit de.gov/coronavirus
Interchange improvements to improve safety and reduce congestion.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: 2025
Project Update: Design is underway. In June 2020, DelDOT received a federal grant for $56.8 million that will allow this project schedule to be moved forward approximately two years sooner than originally anticipated. A virtual public workshop was held on February 16, 2021. Workshop displays have been updated on the project website.
Construction is anticipated to begin in 2022.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: 2022
The project is in design.
Construct a new DART transit facility, including a park & ride, near the Christiana Mall. The project will include roadway connections from Center Boulevard to Churchmans Road. All new infrastructure will also provide pedestrian and bicycle facilities.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: TBD
Project Update: Concept design is underway.
Provide safety and capacity improvements at the intersection.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: 2024
Project Update: Right-of-way acquisition is underway. Design is progressing. Advanced utility work is expected to begin in early 2022.
This project includes widening the westbound SR 273 to northbound I-95 Ramp to include an additional lane to the inside. The two left turn lanes from northbound Chapman Road will be restriped to turn into the ramp lane and a choice lane. Along the I-95 ramp, the two lanes will merge as a zipper merge.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: Winter 2022/2023
Project Update: Design is underway. Construction is anticipated to begin in the fall of 2022, following the construction of the current I-95/SR 273 construction project.
Friends and neighbors,
It is hard to believe the leaves are already beginning to change. This has been a difficult year for us all, but I hope you and your family are staying safe and healthy.
I have been working hard throughout the summer to connect with local residents and businesses over the phone, while also getting vital information out through Facebook and email.
I have highlighted some recent news for you below on legislation I have sponsored, vote-by-mail, and more.
If you are having trouble with any state agency or program, are looking for more information on a service or local issue, or think I might be able to help in some other way, please don’t hesitate to email me at john.walsh@delaware.gov or call my office at (302) 577-5305.
Thank you,
Jack Walsh
Senator, District 9
Two bills I sponsored with Rep. Ed Osienski were recently signed into law. House Bill 351 and 353 are both designed to shore up our Unemployment Insurance program here in Delaware.
All of us in the General Assembly have been working hard to help our constituents with their unemployment cases since the COVID-19 pandemic reached our state. The impact this crisis has had on Delaware workers has been incredibly hard on so many of our neighbors, and these bills aim to help in two key ways:
Both pieces of legislation make up a vital part of our recovery strategy and I thank Gov. John Carney for signing them.
Thanks again to everyone who stopped by our shredding and disposal event in September!
Nearly 700 vehicles came through the drive-up event to dispose of household hazardous waste, unneeded electronics and wastepaper in need of shredding.
Thanks to the Delaware Solid Waste Authority and my colleagues Rep. Kim Williams and Sen. Anthony Delcollo for co-hosting. If you missed this event, keep an eye out for our next event!
Over a year ago, State Rep. Gerald Brady and I began working on a bill that would let Delaware voters choose whether to cast their ballots in-person or by mail. It didn’t go as far as we would have liked, but we felt like it was a good idea whose time had come. Maybe we were ahead of our time, because vote-by-mail quickly went from being simply a convenient way to cast your ballot to good public health policy due to COVID-19.
That’s why, in June, the Delaware General Assembly passed House Bill 346, which is allowing voters to cast their ballots by mail this year, and this year alone.
Those who wish to vote in person can do so. But for this election cycle, no one will have to choose between risking their health and participating in a fair, open and secure election.
More than 68,000 voters chose to cast their ballots by mail in this month’s primary elections, resulting in record turn out across Delaware. Voting by mail will again be available to Delaware voters for the November 3 general election.
The Delaware Department of Elections soon will be sending out ballot request forms to all registered voters in the state. You also can request a mail-in-ballot at ivote.de.gov.
When your request form arrives, just fill it out and mail it back in as soon possible. You’ll then receive a ballot to fill out and mail in. Completed ballots also can be dropped off at one of two Delaware Department of Elections drop boxes in New Castle County.
Those locations are:
Permits private sector labor organizations and employers to enter into union security agreements to the full extent allowed under federal law
Creates Pay for Success Contracts
Modifies impact of criminal history for applicants for licensure to the Board of Electrical Examiners
Allows workers in public sector unions to collectively bargain for wages
Requires that all public works contractors who bid on public works projects must have a registered apprenticeship program
Makes changes to the Workplace Fraud Act and creates the Delaware Contractor Registration Act