Delaware 151st General Assembly (2021-2022) Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 9 R · 6 D cosponsors

SB 65 — AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 19 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE FOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAM.

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 May 25, 2021. 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.

  • 17 sponsors

    3 primary, 14 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (9 R · 6 D) — 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

Senate Bill No. 65 establishes the Focus on Alternative Skills Training Program ("FAST"). FAST will provide tuition assistance, to Delaware residents who have obtained a high school diploma, Diploma of Alternate Achievement Standards, or a Delaware secondary credential, which includes earning a GED, and have enrolled in an approved non-degree credit certificate program. The Workforce Development Board will create a list of non-degree credit certificate programs approved for the FAST program. Senate Substitute No. 1 for Senate Bill No. 65 differs from Senate Bill No. 65 as follows: 1. Extends eligibility from 18 to 24 months after an individual graduates from high school. 2. Increases the maximum amount of assistance that an individual may receive from $9,000 to $10,000. 3. Allows tuition payments for up to 12 months instead of 6 months. 4. Requires FAST to be implemented within 6 months of enactment, instead of 1 year. 5. Acknowledges the expected availability of federal funds for FAST. 6. Sunsets FAST 2 years after enactment.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

69 added · 9 removed

69 line(s) added, 9 removed.

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Latest
Pettyjohn DELAWARE STATE SENATE 151st GENERAL ASSEMBLY SENATE AMENDMENT NO.
Pettyjohn & Rep.
1 TO SENATE SUBSTITUTE NO.
Bush & Rep.
Shupe Sens.
Hocker, Mantzavinos, Paradee, Sokola, Townsend, Wilson;
Reps.
Bennett, Briggs King, Dukes, Osienski, D.
Short, Michael Smith, Spiegelman, Yearick DELAWARE STATE SENATE 151st GENERAL ASSEMBLY SENATE SUBSTITUTE NO.
65 AMEND Senate Substitute No.
65 AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 19 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE FOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAM.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1.
Amend Chapter 34, Title 19 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:
§ 3404.
Focus on Alternative Skills Training Program.
(a) This section establishes the Focus on Alternative Skills Training Program (“FAST”) within the Division of Employment and Training.
FAST provides tuition for an eligible individual for an approved non-degree credit certificate program that provides industry-accepted skill training and certification.
(b) An individual must provide proof of all of the following to be eligible for FAST:
(1) That the individual is a resident of Delaware.
(2) That the individual has attained any of the following:
a.
A diploma from a Delaware public, charter, or nonpublic high school, or homeschool.
b.
A Diploma of Alternate Achievement Standards under § 152 of Title 14.
c.
A Delaware secondary credential.
(3) That the individual enrolled in an approved non-degree credit certificate program no later than 24 months after graduating from high school.
(4) If employed, a statement from the individual’s employer providing the amount of financial assistance the employer paid toward tuition for the non-degree credit certificate program.
(c)(1) The Workforce Development Board, or its successor, shall maintain a list of non-degree credit certificate programs approved for FAST.
The list of non-degree credit certificate programs approved for FAST must be updated annually.
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05/21/2021 12:25 PM (2) The Workforce Development Board must include the following criteria in the decision to approve a non- degree credit certificate program for FAST:
a.
The skill requirements of employers in the State, including the skill needs of an in-demand industry sector or occupation in the State.
b.
The job placement rate for graduates.
(d) A FAST payment under this section must be made as follows:
(1) The total amount of FAST payments for each eligible individual may not exceed $10,000.
(2) A FAST payment may not pay an individual’s tuition for longer than 12 months, but multiple tuition payments may be made on behalf of an individual.
(3) The FAST payment is equal to the difference between the full amount of tuition charged by the non-degree credit certificate program and any financial assistance the individual received.
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(4) FAST payments must be paid on a first-come, first-served basis.
(5) The FAST program is subject to the availability of funds appropriated for this specific purpose.
This subsection does not create a right or entitlement in an individual to receive a monetary payment under the compensation program.
(e) The Department of Labor may adopt policies and procedures to implement this section.
Section 2.
This Act is effective upon enactment and is to be implemented the earlier of the following:
(1) Six months from the date of the Act’s enactment.
(2) Upon promulgation of the list of approved non-degree credit certificate programs under § 3404(c) of Title 19 and the Secretary of the Department of Labor providing notice to the Registrar of Regulations, published in the Register of Regulations, that this contingency has been fulfilled.
Section 3.
Section 3404 of Title 19 expires 2 years after the Act’s enactment into law, unless terminated or extended by subsequent action of the General Assembly.
Section 4.
The money appropriated to implement this Act, not to exceed $1 million, shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of funds in the General Fund of the State of Delaware not otherwise appropriated or eligible federal funds.
SYNOPSIS Senate Bill No.
65 establishes the Focus on Alternative Skills Training Program ("FAST").
FAST will provide tuition assistance, to Delaware residents who have obtained a high school diploma, Diploma of Alternate Achievement Standards, or a Delaware secondary credential, which includes earning a GED, and have enrolled in an approved non- degree credit certificate program.
The Workforce Development Board will create a list of non-degree credit certificate programs approved for the FAST program.
Senate Substitute No.
65 on line 37 by deleting "Six months " between "(1)" and "from" and inserting in lieu thereof "One year".
65 differs from Senate Bill No.
SYNOPSIS This Amendment extends the deadline to implement this Act from 6 months to 1 year from the date of enactment, if it has not been enacted earlier.
65 as follows:
1.
Extends eligibility from 18 to 24 months after an individual graduates from high school.
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05/21/2021 12:25 PM 2.
Increases the maximum amount of assistance that an individual may receive from $9,000 to $10,000.
3.
Allows tuition payments for up to 12 months instead of 6 months.
4.
Requires FAST to be implemented within 6 months of enactment, instead of 1 year.
5.
Acknowledges the expected availability of federal funds for FAST.
6.
Sunsets FAST 2 years after enactment.
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05/21/2021 12:25 PM 5971510142
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Action History

  1. Signed by Governor

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

  3. Suspension of Rules in House

  4. Reported Out of Committee (Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce) in House with 1 Favorable, 6 On Its Merits

  5. Assigned to Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce Committee in House

  6. Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

  7. Amendment SA 1 to SS 1 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

  8. Reported Out of Committee (Finance) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits

  9. Assigned to Finance Committee in Senate

  10. Amendment SA 1 to SS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill

  11. Reported Out of Committee (Labor) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 5 On Its Merits

  12. Adopted in lieu of the original bill SB 65, and Assigned to Labor Committee in Senate

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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3 sponsors · 14 co-sponsors · 45 not signed on

Sponsors (3)

Co-sponsors (14)

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 40 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 13000
Republican 11001
Democratic 16000
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 Yea
William Bush Democratic Yea
William J. Carson Democratic Yea
Bryan W. Shupe Republican Yea
Charles S Postles Jr. Republican Not Voting
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 →

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 →

Subjects

labor education
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 65 do?
Senate Bill No. 65 establishes the Focus on Alternative Skills Training Program ("FAST"). FAST will provide tuition assistance, to Delaware residents who have obtained a high school diploma, Diploma of Alternate Achievement Standards, or a Delaware secondary credential, which includes earning a GED, and have enrolled in an approved non-degree credit certificate program. The Workforce Development Board will create a list of non-degree credit certificate programs approved for the FAST program. Senate Substitute No. 1 for Senate Bill No. 65 differs from Senate Bill No. 65 as follows: 1. Extends eligibility from 18 to 24 months after an individual graduates from high school. 2. Increases the maximum amount of assistance that an individual may receive from $9,000 to $10,000. 3. Allows tuition payments for up to 12 months instead of 6 months. 4. Requires FAST to be implemented within 6 months of enactment, instead of 1 year. 5. Acknowledges the expected availability of federal funds for FAST. 6. Sunsets FAST 2 years after enactment.
Who sponsors SB 65?
SB 65 is sponsored by Daniel B. Short (Republican), Michael F. Smith (Republican), Jeffrey N. Spiegelman (Republican), Lyndon D. Yearick (Republican), Brian Pettyjohn (Republican), William Bush (Democratic), Bryan W. Shupe (Republican), Gerald W. Hocker (Republican), Spiros Mantzavinos (Democratic), Trey Paradee (Democratic), David P. Sokola (Democratic), Bryan Townsend (Democratic), David L. Wilson (Republican), Timothy D. Dukes (Republican), Edward S. Osienski (Democratic), Ruth Briggs King, and Andria L. Bennett.
What is the current status of SB 65?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced May 25, 2021. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 65?
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