Delaware 152nd General Assembly (2023-2024) Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 12 D · 1 R cosponsors

HB 17 — AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 19 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SICK TIME AND SAFETY LEAVE.

Last action — Motion to Release Failed

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

This bill died with 152nd General Assembly (2023-2024). It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

This Act requires all employers in the State to provide employees with a minimum of 1 hour of earned sick time and safety leave for every 30 hours worked. For employers of fewer than 10 employees, the time may be unpaid, job-protected time instead of paid time. Accrued earned sick time and safety leave may be used by the employee for time off with pay at the employee’s same wage and benefit rate to deal with the mental and physical health needs of either the employee or an employee’s family member and other specified purposes. Earned sick time and safety leave may also be used to address the consequences of domestic violence for such things as meeting with lawyers, obtaining services from victim service organizations, temporary relocation and the like. Employers may cap the number of hours earned per year at 40, the carryover from one year to the next at 40 hours, and the maximum earned sick and safety leave an employee has access to at any one time at 40 hours. Employers may require employees to have been employed at least 90 days before they may take earned sick leave and safety time. Employers whose benefits packages already meet the minimum requirements of this Act are not required to offer anything additional. The Department of Labor will promulgate regulations governing operation of the Act and will enforce the provisions of the Act. Employers who violate the Act are subject to civil penalty of no less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000. Employers are prohibited from discriminating against an employee who complains to the Department that an employer has violated the Act. Where discrimination or retaliation is found to have occurred a penalty between $1,000 and $5,000 may be applied.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Motion to Release Failed

  2. Motion to Release Failed

  3. Amendment HA 3 to HS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill

  4. Amendment HA 2 to HS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill

  5. Amendment HA 1 to HS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill

  6. Assigned to Appropriations Committee in House

  7. Reported Out of Committee (Labor) in House with 2 Favorable, 6 On Its Merits

  8. Adopted in lieu of the original bill HB 17, and Assigned to Labor Committee in House

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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17 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 45 not signed on

Sponsors (17)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (45)

45 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"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

Subjects

public-safety labor
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Frequently asked questions

What does HB 17 do?
This Act requires all employers in the State to provide employees with a minimum of 1 hour of earned sick time and safety leave for every 30 hours worked. For employers of fewer than 10 employees, the time may be unpaid, job-protected time instead of paid time. Accrued earned sick time and safety leave may be used by the employee for time off with pay at the employee’s same wage and benefit rate to deal with the mental and physical health needs of either the employee or an employee’s family member and other specified purposes. Earned sick time and safety leave may also be used to address the consequences of domestic violence for such things as meeting with lawyers, obtaining services from victim service organizations, temporary relocation and the like. Employers may cap the number of hours earned per year at 40, the carryover from one year to the next at 40 hours, and the maximum earned sick and safety leave an employee has access to at any one time at 40 hours. Employers may require employees to have been employed at least 90 days before they may take earned sick leave and safety time. Employers whose benefits packages already meet the minimum requirements of this Act are not required to offer anything additional. The Department of Labor will promulgate regulations governing operation of the Act and will enforce the provisions of the Act. Employers who violate the Act are subject to civil penalty of no less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000. Employers are prohibited from discriminating against an employee who complains to the Department that an employer has violated the Act. Where discrimination or retaliation is found to have occurred a penalty between $1,000 and $5,000 may be applied.
Who sponsors HB 17?
HB 17 is sponsored by Bryan Townsend (Democratic), S. Elizabeth Lockman (Democratic), Madinah Wilson-Anton (Democratic), Cyndie Romer (Democratic), David L. Wilson (Republican), David P. Sokola (Democratic), Spiros Mantzavinos (Democratic), Kendra Johnson (Democratic), Russell Huxtable (Democratic), Darius J. Brown (Democratic), Marie Pinkney (Democratic), William Bush (Democratic), Eric Morrison (Democratic), Sherry Dorsey Walker, Paul S. Baumbach, Sean Matthews, and Sarah McBride.
What is the current status of HB 17?
This bill died with 152nd General Assembly (2023-2024). It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HB 17?
Track HB 17 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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