HB 404 — AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 3 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO LYME DISEASE.

SchwartzkopfCarson HOUSE& OFRep. REPRESENTATIVES 152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE AMENDMENT NO.

1Dorsey TOWalker HOUSE& BILLSen. NO.

404Gay AMENDReps. House Bill No.

404Parker onSelby, linesHeffernan, 19Gray; and 20 by deleting “Lyme disease and the animals known to carry Lyme disease” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “Lyme disease, other tick-borne illnesses, and the animals known to carry Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses”.

SYNOPSISSens. This Amendment expands the goals of the Lyme disease intervention fund established in House Bill No.

404Hocker, toHuxtable, includeWilson, reducingHoffner theHOUSE prevalenceOF ofREPRESENTATIVES other152nd tick-borneGENERAL illnessesASSEMBLY andHOUSE theBILL animalsNO. known to carry other tick-borne illnesses.

404 AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 3 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO LYME DISEASE.

WHEREAS, Lyme disease is a tickborne illness, which is passed through the food chain including to cats, dogs, horses, and people;

and WHEREAS, the ticks that carry Lyme disease can be found on publicly owned lands including State parks, wildlife areas, and forests;

and WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that the human infection rate for Lyme disease in Delaware is 6 times the national average;

and WHEREAS, it is probable that people have been infected with Lyme disease while enjoying state owned lands;

and WHEREAS, it is estimated that since 2008 Lyme disease and its associated medical costs have the cost the State of Delaware over a billion dollars;

and WHEREAS, there are new ways to intervene in the spread of Lyme disease by limiting the infection of Lyme in animals, which in turn can prevent people from contracting the disease as well.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1.

Amend Chapter 1, Part I, Title 3 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 106.

Lyme disease control.

The Department must establish a Lyme disease intervention fund, in an amount to be determined by the Joint Finance Committee.

The Department must administer the fund with the goal of reducing the prevalence of Lyme disease and the animals known to carry Lyme disease on State-owned lands in places people are likely to contract the disease.

The Department must investigate the most effective, environmentally sensitive, and innovative options in the use of the fund.

The Department must coordinate with the Division of Public Health and the Department of Natural Resources in carrying out this mission.

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06/11/202405/16/2024 02:4911:52 PMAM 0081520075SYNOPSIS To address the significant spread and impact of Lyme Disease in Delaware, this bill creates a Lyme Disease intervention fund.

The fund shall be overseen by the Department of Agriculture and shall have the goal of reducing the prevalence of Lyme disease and potential for contracting Lyme disease on State owned lands.

The Department shall investigate the best ways to do that, focusing on ones that are the most effective, environmentally sensitive, and innovative.

The Department of Agriculture will coordinate its efforts in the administration of the fund with the Division of Public Health and the Department of Natural Resources.

The Joint Finance Committee shall determine the yearly amount of the fund.

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