Delaware 151st General Assembly (2021-2022) Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 15 D · 8 R cosponsors

HB 55 — AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE GUN SHOP PROJECT.

Last action — Signed by Governor

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

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced December 18, 2020. Enacted.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 98% · high confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 35 sponsors

    6 primary, 29 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (15 D · 8 R) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

In 2009, New Hampshire was the first state to develop a statewide "Gun Shop Project," reaching out to gun shops regarding the role they can play in suicide prevention. In the years since, at least 21 other states have implemented similar campaigns. This Act establishes the Delaware Gun Shop Project. The Gun Shop Project's primary purpose is to develop, create, and provide suicide prevention education materials and training, to be made available for dealers and consumers of licensed deadly weapons in Delaware. The Delaware Suicide Prevention Coalition will oversee the Gun Shop Project and include the Project's annual report in the Coalition's annual report. The Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, which staff the Coalition, will staff the Gun Shop Project. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

108 added · 23 removed

108 line(s) added, 23 removed.

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Previous
Latest
Bennett HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 151st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE AMENDMENT NO.
Bush & Rep.
1 TO HOUSE BILL NO.
Longhurst & Rep.
55 AMEND House Bill No.
K.
55 on line 59 by inserting the following after the period appearing therein:
Williams & Sen.
“The Gun Shop Project is not required to provide every type of written material listed in this paragraph.”.
S.
FURTHER AMEND House Bill No.
McBride & Sen.
55 on line 67 by deleting “(2)a.” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
Townsend Reps.
“(c)(2)a.”.
Baumbach, Bennett, Bentz, Brady, Briggs King, Chukwuocha, Collins, Dorsey Walker, Heffernan, Hensley, K.
FURTHER AMEND House Bill No.
Johnson, Kowalko, Lambert, Lynn, Mitchell, Osienski, D.
55 by deleting lines 69 through 72 in their entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
Short, Michael Smith, Spiegelman;
“a.
Sens.
A gun shop, so the gun shop can distribute the materials at the point of purchase to an individual who is purchasing a firearm.”.
Ennis, Hansen, Hocker, Mantzavinos, Paradee, Pettyjohn, Poore, Sokola, Walsh, Wilson HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 151st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE BILL NO.
FURTHER AMEND House Bill No.
55 AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE GUN SHOP PROJECT.
55 on line 75 by inserting the following after the period appearing therein:
WHEREAS, suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States, at a rate of 12.6 deaths per 100,000 of the population in Delaware;
“The Gun Shop Project, the Coalition, or the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health are not required to physically deliver the written materials, if the materials are available online for downloading and access.”.
and WHEREAS, firearms are used in less than 6% of suicide attempts, but firearms are used in over half of suicide deaths;
SYNOPSIS This Amendment makes a technical correction and adds language to clarify the following:
and WHEREAS, of the most commonly used methods of self-harm, firearms are by far the most lethal, with a fatality rate of approximately 85%;
- Because the Gun Shop Project has the discretion to determine which types of written materials it produces, it is required to make available only the materials it produces.
and WHEREAS, the national suicide rate has generally increased 19% over the past decade, with a 61% increase specifically among children and teens;
- The Gun Shop Project is required to make the written materials available for downloading and access online, not to physically deliver the materials.
and WHEREAS, although there may be warning signs leading up to a suicide attempt, almost half of all survivors report less than 10 minutes of deliberation between the thought of suicide and the actual suicide attempt;
This Amendment also removes language related to licenses to carry concealed deadly weapons because gun shops are not involved in that licensing process.
the method used to disrupt this moment of crisis can therefore mean the difference between life and death;
and WHEREAS, the New Hampshire Firearm Safety Coalition, a group of mental health and public health practitioners, firearm retailers, and firearm rights advocates, created what is now known as “The Gun Shop Project,” which included developing materials with and for firearm retailers and range owners on ways they can help prevent suicide;
and WHEREAS, the objectives of The Gun Shop Project are to share guidelines on how to avoid selling or renting a firearm to a suicidal customer and encourage gun stores and firing ranges to display and distribute suicide prevention materials tailored to their customers;
and WHEREAS, half of the gun shops in New Hampshire are disseminating the materials, and the project is now nationwide, with at least 21 states participating in the project in 1 form or another;
and WHEREAS, it is time for Delaware to join the project and work to prevent suicide by firearm through meaningful suicide education and awareness.
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12/17/2020 04:30 PM NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1.
Amend § 6201, Title 16 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:
§ 6201.
The Delaware Suicide Prevention Coalition;
mission, composition, organization, and reporting.
(b) The Coalition shall do all of the following:
(1) review Review and analyze statistics and patterns related to suicide and suicide attempts, and attempts.
(2) shall consult Consult with the Division of Public Health to determine the prevalence of suicide, and suicide.
(3) to implement Implement methods to reduce suicide and attempts.
(4) Additionally, the Coalition shall operate Operate in accordance with the State of Delaware Suicide Prevention Plan.
(5) Manage the Gun Shop Project and comply with § 6202 of this title.
(f) The Coalition shall report to the General Assembly and the Governor annually with findings and any pertinent recommendations recommendations, including the information required under § 6202(e) of this title.
Section 2.
Amend Chapter 62, Title 16 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:
Show all 101 changed rows (61 more)
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Latest
§ 6202.
The Delaware Gun Shop Project.
(a) The Delaware Gun Shop Project is established, and referred to throughout this chapter as “the Gun Shop Project”.
(b) Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
(1) “Deadly weapon” means as defined under § 222 of Title 11.
(2) “Firearm” means as defined under § 222 of Title 11.
(3) “Gun shop” means a business located in this State that sells firearms, deadly weapons, or related projects, such as ammunition.
(b) The Coalition shall oversee the Gun Shop Project.
The Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health shall provide staff for the Gun Shop Project.
(c) Educational materials.
LC :
HVW :
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12/17/2020 04:30 PM (1) The Gun Shop Project shall develop and create suicide prevention education materials that include all of the following:
a.
Information on understanding the various clinical signs, symptoms, and indicators that might lead an individual to consider suicide.
b.
Available suicide prevention resources.
(2) The educational materials under paragraph (c)(1) of this section must be provided through all of the following methods:
a.
Written materials, such as a pamphlet, sign, poster, tip sheet, or other medium that meets the requirements of this chapter and the Gun Shop Project determines is appropriate.
b.
An online training course for deadly weapons dealers licensed under Chapter 9 of Title 24 and other customers.
(3) The Gun Shop Project shall refer to all of the following for guidance in developing and creating the educational materials under this section:
a.
Gun shop projects of other states.
b.
Industry projects, such as the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
c.
Other projects or organizations that the Gun Shop Project determines is appropriate.
(4) The Gun Shop Project shall ensure that the written educational materials under paragraph (2)a.
of this section are made available for distribution through all of the following:
a.
A gun shop, to distribute the materials at the point of purchase to at least all of the following:
1.
An individual who is purchasing a firearm from a gun shop.
2.
An individual who is licensed or applying to be licensed in this State to carry a concealed deadly weapon.
b.
Another organization or location that the Gun Shop Project determines is appropriate.
(5) The Gun Shop Project shall ensure that the written educational materials under paragraph (c)(1) of this section are available on the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health’s website for downloading and access.
(e) The Gun Shop Project shall submit a written report as part of the Coalition’s annual report under this chapter, with a copy submitted to the Director and the Librarian of the Division of Research of Legislative Council.
The annual report must include all of the following:
(1) Progress of the Gun Shop Project.
(2) Number of participating deadly weapons dealers.
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12/17/2020 04:30 PM (3) Number of training attendees.
SYNOPSIS In 2009, New Hampshire was the first state to develop a statewide "Gun Shop Project," reaching out to gun shops regarding the role they can play in suicide prevention.
In the years since, at least 21 other states have implemented similar campaigns.
This Act establishes the Delaware Gun Shop Project.
The Gun Shop Project's primary purpose is to develop, create, and provide suicide prevention education materials and training, to be made available for dealers and consumers of licensed deadly weapons in Delaware.
The Delaware Suicide Prevention Coalition will oversee the Gun Shop Project and include the Project's annual report in the Coalition's annual report.
The Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, which staff the Coalition, will staff the Gun Shop Project.
This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.
LC :
HVW :
CM Page 4 of 4 Released:
12/17/2020 04:30 PM 5081510001
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How this bill changes current law

4 changes Share ↗

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The amendment clarifies the requirements for the Gun Shop Project regarding written materials and modifies the language for clarity.

  • The Gun Shop Project is not required to provide every type of written material listed in this paragraph.

    The Gun Shop Project is allowed discretion in determining which written materials to produce.

  • (2)a. → (c)(2)a.

    The amendment renumbers the section for clarity.

  • lines 69 through 72 in their entirety → a. A gun shop, so the gun shop can distribute the materials at the point of purchase to an individual who is purchasing a firearm.

    The amendment specifies that gun shops can distribute written materials at the point of sale for firearm purchasers.

  • The Gun Shop Project, the Coalition, or the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health are not required to physically deliver the written materials, if the materials are available online for downloading and access.

    The amendment allows for written materials to be available online rather than requiring physical delivery.

Action History

  1. Signed by Governor

  2. Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

  3. Reported Out of Committee (Health & Social Services) in Senate with 5 Favorable, 1 On Its Merits

  4. Assigned to Health & Social Services Committee in Senate

  5. Passed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 ABSENT

  6. Amendment HA 1 to HB 55 - Passed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 ABSENT

  7. Amendment HA 1 to HB 55 - Introduced and Placed With Bill

  8. Reported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 9 Favorable, 6 On Its Merits

  9. Introduced and Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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6 sponsors · 29 co-sponsors · 27 not signed on

Sponsors (6)

Co-sponsors (29)

Not signed on (27)

27 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 27 →

"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 21 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 5000
Democratic 11000
Republican 5000
Total 21000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (21)
Member Party Vote
Bruce C. Ennis — Yea
Colin Bonini — Yea
Ernesto B Lopez — Yea
Kyle Evans Gay — Yea
Sarah McBride — Yea
Bryan Townsend Democratic Yea
Darius J. Brown Democratic Yea
David P. Sokola Democratic Yea
John "Jack" Walsh Democratic Yea
Laura V. Sturgeon Democratic Yea
Marie Pinkney Democratic Yea
Nicole Poore Democratic Yea
S. Elizabeth Lockman Democratic Yea
Spiros Mantzavinos Democratic Yea
Stephanie L. Hansen Democratic Yea
Trey Paradee Democratic Yea
Brian Pettyjohn Republican Yea
Bryant L. Richardson Republican Yea
Dave G. Lawson Republican Yea
David L. Wilson Republican Yea
Gerald W. Hocker Republican Yea

Official roll call →

SM

Passed 40 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 13000
Democratic 15001
Republican 12000
Total 40001
% of votes cast 98%0%0%2%
How each member voted (41)
Member Party Vote
Andria L. Bennett — Yea
David Bentz — Yea
Gerald L. Brady — Yea
John A. Kowalko — Yea
John L. Mitchell — Yea
Michael Ramone — Yea
Paul S. Baumbach — Yea
Peter C. Schwartzkopf — Yea
Ruth Briggs King — Yea
Sean Matthews — Yea
Sherry Dorsey Walker — Yea
Stephen Smyk — Yea
Valerie Longhurst — Yea
Debra Heffernan Democratic Yea
Edward S. Osienski Democratic Yea
Eric Morrison Democratic Yea
Franklin D. Cooke Democratic Yea
Kendra Johnson Democratic Yea
Kimberly Williams Democratic Yea
Krista Griffith Democratic Yea
Larry Lambert Democratic Yea
Madinah Wilson-Anton Democratic Yea
Melissa Minor-Brown Democratic Yea
Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha Democratic Yea
Sean M. Lynn Democratic Yea
Sherae'a Moore Democratic Yea
Stephanie T. Bolden Democratic Not Voting
William Bush Democratic Yea
William J. Carson Democratic Yea
Bryan W. Shupe Republican Yea
Charles S Postles Jr. Republican Yea
Daniel B. Short Republican Yea
Jeffrey N. Spiegelman Republican Yea
Jesse R. Vanderwende Republican Yea
Kevin S Hensley Republican Yea
Lyndon D. Yearick Republican Yea
Michael F. Smith Republican Yea
Richard G. Collins Republican Yea
Ronald E. Gray Republican Yea
Shannon Morris Republican Yea
Timothy D. Dukes Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety health-insurance
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 HB 55 do?
In 2009, New Hampshire was the first state to develop a statewide "Gun Shop Project," reaching out to gun shops regarding the role they can play in suicide prevention. In the years since, at least 21 other states have implemented similar campaigns. This Act establishes the Delaware Gun Shop Project. The Gun Shop Project's primary purpose is to develop, create, and provide suicide prevention education materials and training, to be made available for dealers and consumers of licensed deadly weapons in Delaware. The Delaware Suicide Prevention Coalition will oversee the Gun Shop Project and include the Project's annual report in the Coalition's annual report. The Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, which staff the Coalition, will staff the Gun Shop Project. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.
Who sponsors HB 55?
HB 55 is sponsored by Bryan Townsend (Democratic), William Bush (Democratic), Kimberly Williams (Democratic), Stephanie L. Hansen (Democratic), Gerald W. Hocker (Republican), Spiros Mantzavinos (Democratic), Trey Paradee (Democratic), Brian Pettyjohn (Republican), Nicole Poore (Democratic), David P. Sokola (Democratic), John "Jack" Walsh (Democratic), David L. Wilson (Republican), Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha (Democratic), Richard G. Collins (Republican), Debra Heffernan (Democratic), Kevin S Hensley (Republican), Kendra Johnson (Democratic), Larry Lambert (Democratic), Sean M. Lynn (Democratic), Edward S. Osienski (Democratic), Daniel B. Short (Republican), Michael F. Smith (Republican), Jeffrey N. Spiegelman (Republican), John L. Mitchell, John A. Kowalko, Sherry Dorsey Walker, Ruth Briggs King, Gerald L. Brady, David Bentz, Andria L. Bennett, Paul S. Baumbach, Bruce C. Ennis, Valerie Longhurst, Sarah McBride, and Sean Matthews.
What is the current status of HB 55?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced December 18, 2020. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 55?
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