Delaware 150th General Assembly (2019-2020) Status: Enacted 9 D cosponsors

SB 45 — AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO MARIJUANA.

Last action — Signed by Governor

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 20, 2019. Enacted.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 82% · moderate confidence
  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 17 sponsors

    6 primary, 11 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (9 D).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Under current law, the possession, use, or consumption of a personal use quantity of marijuana remains a crime for those under the age of 21 despite being a civil violation for adults. This Act makes the possession, use, or consumption of a personal use quantity of marijuana a civil violation for juveniles. This Act also makes conforming amendments to subsection (i), regarding expungement of a single criminal offense under subsection (c), as, after the effective date of this Act, subsection (c) will no longer contain a criminal offense.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

25 added · 87 removed

25 line(s) added, 87 removed.

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Latest
Paradee & Sen.
Paradee DELAWARE STATE SENATE 150th GENERAL ASSEMBLY SENATE AMENDMENT NO.
McBride & Rep.
1 TO SENATE BILL NO.
Cooke & Rep.
45 AMEND Senate Bill No.
Osienski & Rep.
45 by deleting lines 18 through 26 in their entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
Schwartzkopf & Rep.
“(c)(1) Any person 21 years of age or older who knowingly or intentionally possesses a personal use quantity of a controlled substance or a counterfeit controlled substance classified in § 4714(d)(19) of this title, except as otherwise authorized by this chapter, shall must be assessed a civil penalty of $100 in addition to such routine assessments necessary for the administration of civil violations and the marijuana shall must be forfeited.
Kowalko Sens.
(2) Private use or consumption by a person 21 years of age or older of a personal use quantity of a controlled substance or a counterfeit controlled substance classified in § 4714(d)(19) of this title shall is likewise be punishable by a civil penalty under this subsection.
Delcollo, Hansen, Sokola, Sturgeon;
(3) Any person 18 years of age or older, but under 21 years of age, Notwithstanding paragraph (c)(1) or (c)(2) of this subsection, any person under 21 years of age who commits any of the acts described in this subsection shall a violation of this subsection must be assessed a civil penalty of $100 for the first offense a first violation of this subsection and a civil penalty of not less than $200 nor more than $500 for a second violation of this subsection and shall be is guilty of an unclassified misdemeanor and must be fined $100 for a second third or subsequent offense.
Reps.
violation of this subsection.
Baumbach, Chukwuocha, Heffernan, Q.
(4) Unpaid fines shall double if not paid within 90 days of final adjudication of the violation.
Johnson, Longhurst, Lynn, Matthews DELAWARE STATE SENATE 150th GENERAL ASSEMBLY SENATE BILL NO.
a violation of this subsection.”.
45 AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO MARIJUANA.
SYNOPSIS This Amendment makes the possession or private use or consumption of a personal use quantity of marijuana a civil offense for an individual who is under 21 years of age only for the first and second offense.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
A third offense would be an unclassified misdemeanor.
Section 1.
Amend § 4764, Title 16 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:
§ 4764.
Possession of marijuana;
class B misdemeanor, unclassified misdemeanor, or civil violation [For application of this section, see 80 Del.
Laws, c.
38, § 6] (a) Any person under the age of 18 who knowingly or intentionally possesses, uses, or consumes a controlled substance or a counterfeit controlled substance classified in § 4714(d)(19) of this title, except as otherwise authorized by this chapter, and there is an aggravating factor, shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor.
Any person 18 years of age or older who knowingly or intentionally uses, consumes, or possesses other than a personal use quantity of a controlled substance or a counterfeit controlled substance classified in § 4714(d)(19) of this title, except as otherwise authorized by this chapter, and there is an aggravating factor, shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor.
(b) Any person under the age of 18 who knowingly or intentionally possesses, uses, or consumes a controlled substance or a counterfeit controlled substance classified in § 4714(d)(19) of this title, except as otherwise authorized by this chapter, shall be guilty of an unclassified misdemeanor and be fined not more than $100.
Any person 18 years of age or older who knowingly or intentionally uses, consumes, or possesses other than a personal use quantity of a controlled substance or a counterfeit controlled substance classified in § 4714(d)(19) of this title, except as otherwise authorized by this chapter, shall be guilty of an unclassified misdemeanor and be fined not more than $575, imprisoned not more than 3 months, or both.
(c) Any person 21 years of age or older who knowingly or intentionally possesses a personal use quantity of a controlled substance or a counterfeit controlled substance classified in § 4714(d)(19) of this title, except as otherwise authorized by this chapter, shall be assessed a civil penalty of $100 in addition to such routine assessments necessary for the administration of civil violations and the marijuana shall be forfeited.
Private use or consumption by a person 21 years of age or older of a personal use quantity of a controlled substance or a counterfeit controlled substance classified in § LC :
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03/20/2019 11:05 AM 4714(d)(19) of this title shall likewise be punishable by a civil penalty under this subsection.
Any person 18 years of age or older, but under 21 years of age, who commits any of the acts described in this subsection shall be assessed a civil penalty of $100 for the first offense and shall be guilty of an unclassified misdemeanor and fined $100 for a second or subsequent offense.
Unpaid fines shall double if not paid within 90 days of final adjudication of the violation.
(d) Any person 18 years of age or older who knowingly or intentionally uses or consumes up to a personal use quantity of a controlled substance or a counterfeit controlled substance classified in § 4714(d)(19) of this title in an area accessible to the public or in a moving vehicle, except as otherwise authorized by this chapter, shall be guilty of an unclassified misdemeanor and be fined not more than $200, imprisoned not more than 5 days, or both.
For purposes of this section "area accessible to the public'' means any of the following:
(1) Sidewalks, streets, alleys, parking lots, parks, playgrounds, stores, restaurants, and any other areas to which the general public is invited.
(2) Any outdoor location within a distance of 10 feet from a sidewalk, street, alley, parking lot, park, playground, store, restaurant, or any other area to which the general public is invited.
(3) Any outdoor location within a distance of 10 feet from the entrances, exits, windows that open, or ventilation intakes of any public or private building.
(e) Information concerning a civil offense classified in subsection (c) of this section shall not appear on a person's certified criminal record.
(f) Nothing contained herein shall be construed to repeal or modify any law concerning the medical use of marijuana or tetrahydrocannabinol in any other form, such as Marinol, or the possession of more than 1 ounce of marijuana, or selling, manufacturing, or trafficking in marijuana.
(g) Nothing contained herein shall be construed to repeal or modify existing laws, ordinances or bylaws, regulations, personnel practices, or policies concerning the operation of motor vehicles or other actions taken while under the influence of marijuana.
(h) Nothing contained herein shall be construed to repeal or modify any law or procedure regarding search and seizure.
(i) Any person who was convicted of a single criminal offense under subsection (c) of this section section, as it is in effect on or before [the effective date of this Act], and who was under the age of 21 at the time of the offense may, upon reaching the age of 21, apply for an expungement of the record of the conviction and any indicia of arrest to the court in which the person was convicted.
For violations of a criminal offense under subsection (c) of this section section, as it is in effect on or before [the effective date of this Act], an order granting such expungement shall issue upon proof that the LC :
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MJC :
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03/20/2019 11:05 AM person has reached the age of 21, unless the person has failed to comply with the sentencing order or the person has another charge under this section which remains outstanding.
Upon issuance of the order of expungement, the records of the conviction and any indicia of arrest shall be dealt with in accordance with the procedures specified in §§ 4373(c), 4374 and 4375 of Title 11.
Nothing in this section shall prohibit the Family Court from expunging a record of conviction as otherwise provided by law.
The application for or granting of a pardon pursuant to §§ 4361 through 4363 of Title 11 shall not prohibit an expungement under this section.
All sentencing orders for violations of a criminal offense under subsection (c) of this section section, as it is in effect on or before [the effective date of this Act], by persons under the age of 21 at the time of the offense shall state that the record of the conviction may be expunged upon reaching the age of 21 and thereafter.
The civil filing fee shall apply to applications for expungement plus a $100 fee payable to the State Bureau of Identification for administrative costs.
(j) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any person who prior to December 18, 2015, was convicted of a single offense arising from an original charge under this section or any predecessor statute, law or ordinance prohibiting the possession, use or consumption of marijuana or any controlled substance or counterfeit controlled substance classified in § 4714(d)(19) of this title shall be eligible for mandatory expungement of the records of the conviction and all indicia of arrest pursuant to the provisions of § 4373 of Title 11, provided the applicant is otherwise eligible for mandatory expungement as specified therein.
Upon issuance of the order of expungement, the records of the conviction and any indicia of arrest shall be dealt with in accordance with the procedures specified in §§ 4373, 4376, and 4377 of Title 11.
SYNOPSIS Under current law, the possession, use, or consumption of a personal use quantity of marijuana remains a crime for those under the age of 21 despite being a civil violation for adults.
This Act makes the possession, use, or consumption of a personal use quantity of marijuana a civil violation for juveniles.
This Act also makes conforming amendments to subsection (i), regarding expungement of a single criminal offense under subsection (c), as, after the effective date of this Act, subsection (c) will no longer contain a criminal offense.
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06/11/2019 12:37 PM 4801500094
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Action History

  1. Signed by Governor

  2. Passed By House. Votes: 34 YES 7 NO

  3. Reported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 8 On Its Merits

  4. Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House

  5. Passed By Senate. Votes: 13 YES 6 NO 2 ABSENT

  6. Amendment SA 1 to SB 45 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT

  7. Amendment SA 1 to SB 45 - Introduced and Placed With Bill

  8. Reported Out of Committee (Health & Social Services) in Senate with 5 On Its Merits

  9. Introduced and Assigned to Health & Social Services Committee in Senate

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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6 sponsors · 11 co-sponsors · 45 not signed on · 13 voted No

Not signed on (45)

45 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 45 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

SM

Passed 34 Yea · 7 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 16100
Democratic 12000
Republican 6600
Total 34700
% of votes cast 83%17%0%0%
How each member voted (41)
Member Party Vote
Andria L. Bennett — Yea
David Bentz — Yea
Earl G. Jaques Jr. — Yea
Gerald L. Brady — Yea
John A. Kowalko — Yea
John J. Viola — Yea
John L. Mitchell — Yea
Michael Ramone — Yea
Paul S. Baumbach — Yea
Peter C. Schwartzkopf — Yea
Quinton Johnson — Yea
Raymond Seigfried — Yea
Ruth Briggs King — Nay
Sean Matthews — Yea
Sherry Dorsey Walker — Yea
Stephen Smyk — Yea
Valerie Longhurst — Yea
Debra Heffernan Democratic Yea
Edward S. Osienski Democratic Yea
Franklin D. Cooke Democratic Yea
Kendra Johnson Democratic Yea
Kimberly Williams Democratic Yea
Krista Griffith Democratic Yea
Melissa Minor-Brown Democratic Yea
Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha Democratic Yea
Sean M. Lynn Democratic Yea
Stephanie T. Bolden Democratic Yea
William Bush Democratic Yea
William J. Carson Democratic Yea
Bryan W. Shupe Republican Nay
Charles S Postles Jr. Republican Nay
Daniel B. Short Republican Yea
Jeffrey N. Spiegelman Republican Nay
Jesse R. Vanderwende Republican Nay
Kevin S Hensley Republican Yea
Lyndon D. Yearick Republican Yea
Michael F. Smith Republican Yea
Richard G. Collins Republican Nay
Ronald E. Gray Republican Yea
Shannon Morris Republican Nay
Timothy D. Dukes Republican Yea

Official roll call →

SM

Passed 13 Yea · 6 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 5101
Democratic 8001
Republican 0500
Total 13602
% of votes cast 62%29%0%10%
How each member voted (21)
Member Party Vote
Anthony Delcollo — Yea
Bruce C. Ennis — Yea
Catherine Cloutier — Not Voting
Colin Bonini — Nay
David B. McBride — Yea
Ernesto B Lopez — Yea
Harris B. McDowell — Yea
Bryan Townsend Democratic Yea
Darius J. Brown Democratic Yea
David P. Sokola Democratic Yea
John "Jack" Walsh Democratic Not Voting
Laura V. Sturgeon Democratic Yea
Nicole Poore Democratic Yea
S. Elizabeth Lockman Democratic Yea
Stephanie L. Hansen Democratic Yea
Trey Paradee Democratic Yea
Brian Pettyjohn Republican Nay
Bryant L. Richardson Republican Nay
Dave G. Lawson Republican Nay
David L. Wilson Republican Nay
Gerald W. Hocker Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Subjects

Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 45 do?
Under current law, the possession, use, or consumption of a personal use quantity of marijuana remains a crime for those under the age of 21 despite being a civil violation for adults. This Act makes the possession, use, or consumption of a personal use quantity of marijuana a civil violation for juveniles. This Act also makes conforming amendments to subsection (i), regarding expungement of a single criminal offense under subsection (c), as, after the effective date of this Act, subsection (c) will no longer contain a criminal offense.
Who sponsors SB 45?
SB 45 is sponsored by Sean M. Lynn (Democratic), Debra Heffernan (Democratic), Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha (Democratic), David P. Sokola (Democratic), Stephanie L. Hansen (Democratic), Edward S. Osienski (Democratic), Franklin D. Cooke (Democratic), Trey Paradee (Democratic), Laura V. Sturgeon (Democratic), David B. McBride, Peter C. Schwartzkopf, John A. Kowalko, Anthony Delcollo, Paul S. Baumbach, Quinton Johnson, Valerie Longhurst, and Sean Matthews.
What is the current status of SB 45?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 20, 2019. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 45?
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