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SB135 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO GRANTS-IN-AID.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO GRANTS-IN-AID.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Buckson
Last action
2025-05-13
Official status
Senate Executive 5/13/25
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not provide specific details on how members of the committee will be selected beyond their political party affiliation.

Creating a Grants-In-Aid Committee

This act establishes a new joint committee in Delaware that reviews grant applications and recommends funding to the Joint Finance Committee.

What This Bill Does

  • Establishes the Joint Grants-in-Aid Committee, which includes members from both the Senate and House of Representatives.
  • The Committee reviews requests for grants-in-aid and drafts recommendations for the Joint Finance Committee.
  • Requires the Committee to review financial information and performance of grant applicants.
  • Sets additional yearly compensation for the Chair and Vice Chair of the Committee.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Members of the Delaware Senate and House of Representatives who will serve on the new committee.
  • Entities applying for grants-in-aid in Delaware.

Terms To Know

Grants-in-Aid
Money given by a government to help support projects or organizations.
Joint Finance Committee
A committee that oversees financial matters in the Delaware General Assembly.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how long the new committee will exist.
  • It is unclear what happens if the procedures developed by the Chair and Vice Chair are not approved by the Joint Finance Committee.
  • The bill does not provide details on how members of the committee will be selected beyond their political party affiliation.

Bill History

  1. 2025-05-13 Delaware General Assembly

    Introduced and Assigned to Executive Committee in Senate

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO GRANTS-IN-AID.
This bill creates the Grants-In-Aid Committee. The Committee is a joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives. The purpose of the Committee is to view applications for grants-in-aid and to develop and recommend to the Joint Finance Committee the grants-in-aid appropriations bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Sen. Buckson & Sen. Hocker

Sens. Lawson, Richardson, Wilson; Reps. Collins, Hilovsky, Morrison, Shupe, Michael Smith, Yearick

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE BILL NO. 135

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO GRANTS-IN-AID.

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

Section 1. Amend Part VI, Title 29 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

Chapter 64B. Joint Grants-in-Aid Committee.

§ 6401B. Joint Grants-in-Aid Committee created; purpose.

(a) There is created a Joint Grants-in-aid Committee (“Committee”).

(b) The Committee’s purpose is to do all of the following:

(1) Review requests for grants-in-aid made to the Joint Finance Committee.

(2) Draft a recommended grants-in-aid bill for the Joint Finance Committee.

§ 6402B. Membership; Chair and Vice Chair.

(a) The Committee is composed of the following members:

(1) Three members of the Senate, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, not more than 2 of whom may be from the same political party.

(2) Three members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, not more than 2 of whom may be from the same political party.

(b)(1) In odd-numbered years, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint 1 of the members appointed under paragraph (a)(1) of this section as Chair and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint 1 of the members appointed under paragraph (b)(2) of this section as Vice Chair.

(3) In even-numbered years, the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint 1 of the members appointed under paragraph (b)(2) of this section as Chair and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint 1 of the members appointed under paragraph (b)(1) of this section as Vice Chair.

§ 6403B. Duties and powers.

(a) The Committee shall do all of the following:

(1) Review the performance, financial stability, financial controls, audits, and efficiency of an applicant for a grant-in-aid.

(2) Require itemized disclosure of all State appropriations and other revenues received by an applicant from other government entities.

(3) Require itemized disclosure of any grants received by the applicant.

(4) Require a summary of donations from other sources to the applicant.

(5) Review requests for grants-in-aid made to the Joint Finance Committee.

(6) Draft a recommended grants-in-aid bill for the Joint Finance Committee.

(b) The Committee may require an applicant for a grant-in-aid to provide other financial documents the Committee determines to be relevant to the Committee’s review of the applicant.

§ 6404B. Staffing.

The Controller General’s Office shall provide staffing for the Committee.

Section 2. Amend § 710, Title 29 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 710. Compensation of Lieutenant Governor and members of General Assembly.

(c) A member of the Senate or the House of Representatives who is elected or appointed to any of the following positions is to receive, while serving in the position, additional yearly compensation as follows:

(11) Chair and Vice Chair of the Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Committee, $4,670.

(12) Members of the Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Committee, $3,929.

(13) Chair and Vice Chair of the Joint Grants-in-Aid Committee, $4,670.

(14) Members of the Joint Grants-in-Aid Committee, $3,929.

Section 3. The Chair and Vice Chair of the Joint Grants-in-Aid Committee (“Committee”) created by this Act, in collaboration with the Controller General, shall develop procedures to guide the Committee’s review of entities that receive a grant-in-aid in the annual grants-in-aid act and the Committee’s recommendations for dissemination of grants-in-aid funds to an applicant. By February 1, 2026, the Chair and Vice-Chair shall submit the procedures to the Chair and Vice Chair of the Joint Finance Committee for approval.

SYNOPSIS

This bill creates the Grants-In-Aid Committee. The Committee is a joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives. The purpose of the Committee is to view applications for grants-in-aid and to develop and recommend to the Joint Finance Committee the grants-in-aid appropriations bill.

Author: Senator Buckson