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SPONSOR: Sen. Pettyjohn & Rep. Jones Giltner
Sens. Buckson, Hansen, Hocker, Hoffner, Huxtable,
Lockman, Mantzavinos, Paradee, Richardson, Seigfried,
Wilson; Reps. Collins, Hilovsky
DELAWARE STATE SENATE
153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY
SENATE BILL NO. 49
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 20 AND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DRIVING
RESTRICTIONS DURING A STATE OF EMERGENCY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
1 Section 1. Amend § 3102, Title 20 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and
2 insertions as shown by underline as follows and redesignating accordingly:
3 § 3102. Definitions.
4 As used in this chapter:
5 (6) “Essential personnel” means those personnel who are necessary to maintain the core functions of a
6 government body or entity, and to maintain the health and safety of the people in Delaware by providing services
7 provided by public utilities as defined in § 102(2) of Title 26, health-care services, emergency broadcasting services,
8 and food and fuel deliveries during a state of emergency, regardless of whether they are employed by a public or
9 private entity.
10 (7) “First informer” means a broadcast engineer or on-air employee of a radio or television station licensed by
11 the Federal Communications Commission who is engaged in the process of broadcasting, or maintenance, operation, or
12 repair of broadcast station equipment, transmitters, receivers, repeaters, or generators.
13 Section 2. Amend § 3116, Title 20 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and
14 insertions as shown by underline as follows:
15 § 3116. Powers.
16 (b) During an emergency or disaster, a state of emergency, the Governor may:
17 (12) Restrict the use or operation of motor vehicles on Delaware roads, including highways, express
18 highways, roadways, and private roads as defined in § 101 of Title 21. The levels of restriction of the use or operation
19 of motor vehicles during a state of emergency are as follows:
20 a. Level 3 Driving Ban: A “Level 3 Driving Ban” shall mean means that no person shall operate a motor
21 vehicle on Delaware roadways when a Level 3 Driving Ban has been activated, except for those persons
22 designated as first responders responders, first informers, and essential personnel, including public utilities as
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23 defined in § 102(2) of Title 26 and operators of snow removal equipment employed or contracted by a public or
24 private entity, pursuant to this chapter and the plans set forth thereunder, and by executive order of the Governor.
25 All businesses, professional offices, organizations, entities, etc. shall be encouraged to take appropriate protective
26 actions to protect their citizens, customers, and employees by termination of operations or shelter in place. An
27 employer of a public or private entity shall not terminate, reprimand, discipline, or in any way commit any adverse
28 employment action against an employee who, as a result of the activation of a Level 3 Driving Ban, fails or refuses
29 to report to work during the pendency of the driving ban. Any person or entity in violation of an activated Level 3
30 Driving Ban under this subsection shall be penalized pursuant to § 3125 of this title.
31 b. Level 2 Driving Restriction: A “Level 2 Driving Restriction” shall mean means that no person shall
32 may operate a motor vehicle on Delaware roadways when a Level 2 Driving Restriction has been activated, except
33 for persons designated as essential personnel including operators of snow removal equipment employed or
34 contracted by a public or private entity. “Essential personnel” for purposes of this subsection shall mean those
35 employees and/or personnel who are necessary to maintain the core functions of a government body or entity, and
36 to maintain the health and safety of the people in Delaware by providing services provided by public utilities as
37 defined in § 102(2) of Title 26, health-care services, and food and fuel deliveries during a state of emergency,
38 regardless of whether they are employed by a public or private entity. A waiver from a Level 2 Driving Restriction
39 may be granted when a significant safety, health or business necessity is shown for issuing such a waiver. The
40 Secretary of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to
41 carry out the provisions of this subsection. An employer or entity which has not been granted a waiver shall may
42 not terminate, reprimand, discipline, or in any way commit any adverse employment action against an employee
43 who, as a result of the activation of the a Level 2 Driving Restriction, fails or refuses to report to work during the
44 pendency of the driving restriction. Any person or entity who violates an activated level 2 driving restriction under
45 this subsection shall be in violation of § 4176D of Title 21.
46 The Governor may issue (13) Issue separate levels of driving restrictions throughout the State based on the
47 severity of conditions in any given area within the State; and State.
48 (13) (14) Take such other actions as the Governor reasonably believes necessary to help maintain life, health,
49 property property, or public peace.
50 (d) The Secretary of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security shall promulgate rules and regulations
51 necessary to carry out the provisions of paragraph (b)(12).
52
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53 Section 3. Amend § 4176D, Title 21 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and
54 insertions as shown by underline as follows:
55 § 4176D. Operation of a motor vehicle during an emergency.
56 (a) No person shall may operate a motor vehicle on a highway, express highway, roadway or private road as
57 defined in § 101 of this title when a Level 3 Driving Ban or a Level 2 Driving Restriction has been activated during an
58 emergency, unless the person is a first responder, essential personnel, first responder, first informer, or essential personnel,
59 as those terms are defined under § 3102 of Title 20, or a waiver has been granted, granted pursuant to under § 3116(b)(12)
60 § 3116(b)(12)b. of Title 20.
SYNOPSIS
In a state of emergency, getting information to the public as quickly as possible is vital to the safety of the
community. This Act provides protections to those who provide these essential communication and broadcasting services
by deeming them "first informers." Under this Act, first informers are exempt from driving restrictions that the Governor
may impose during a state of emergency.
This Act also reorganizes provisions of Chapter 31 of Title 20 for clarity and makes additional technical
corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.
Author: Senator Pettyjohn
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