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Dover, Del. —
Attorney General Beau Biden thanked lawmakers for passing a series of legislative proposals on July 5 that were developed by his office with aims to strengthen laws to punish a wide array of criminals, protect at-risk Delawareans from harm, hold chronic polluters accountable and protect consumers.
At the close of the General Assembly session, a variety of bills put forth by the Attorney General's Office are either on their way to Governor Jack Markell's desk for signature or have been recently enacted.
"I am grateful to the members of the General Assembly for enhancing our tools to fight crime, safeguard our environment, and ensure that Delaware's homeowners and consumers are treated fairly," Biden said.
Among the bill aimed at crime are: HB 168, which imposes harsher mandatory-minimum prison sentences on repeat DUI offenders; SB 65, which strengthens the office's ability to fight crime by expanding its ability to clean up properties with drug, gun and gang crime activity; HB 19, which modernizes Delaware's drug laws to more effectively punish criminals by increasing penalties for drug dealers and recognizing the dangers of illegal prescription drug abuse.
"We're using creating ways of fighting crime not only by increasing penalties for dangerous criminals, but also by expanding our use of creative crime-fighting tools including holding property owners accountable for allowing their properties to be safe havens for drug, gun, and vice crime," Biden said.
Other bills include: HB 63, which makes it clear that adults who are patients or residents in group homes and treatment facilities can never consent to sexual crimes committed against them. Perpetrators of sexual assault in treatment facilities now face increased jail time; SB 28, which created the state's Address Confidentiality Program, which allows victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking, and others to secure a substitute P.O. Box address in order to remain hidden from their attackers or others who could locate them through a public records' search; SB 133, which expands the Victims' Compensation Assistance Program by providing financial compensation to innocent victims for an additional range of crimes.
"We have a responsibility to help those who need it the most and give our voices to the voiceless," Biden said. "These changes to the law will do so by providing powerful protections to vulnerable Delawareans, and giving crime victims tools and resources to rebuild their lives."
A bill for safeguarding the environment is SB 92, which enhances penalties for those who pollute Delaware's air, water, and soil.
At the close of the General Assembly session, a variety of bills put forth by the Attorney General's Office are either on their way to Governor Jack Markell's desk for signature or have been recently enacted.
"I am grateful to the members of the General Assembly for enhancing our tools to fight crime, safeguard our environment, and ensure that Delaware's homeowners and consumers are treated fairly," Biden said.
Among the bill aimed at crime are: HB 168, which imposes harsher mandatory-minimum prison sentences on repeat DUI offenders; SB 65, which strengthens the office's ability to fight crime by expanding its ability to clean up properties with drug, gun and gang crime activity; HB 19, which modernizes Delaware's drug laws to more effectively punish criminals by increasing penalties for drug dealers and recognizing the dangers of illegal prescription drug abuse.
"We're using creating ways of fighting crime not only by increasing penalties for dangerous criminals, but also by expanding our use of creative crime-fighting tools including holding property owners accountable for allowing their properties to be safe havens for drug, gun, and vice crime," Biden said.
Other bills include: HB 63, which makes it clear that adults who are patients or residents in group homes and treatment facilities can never consent to sexual crimes committed against them. Perpetrators of sexual assault in treatment facilities now face increased jail time; SB 28, which created the state's Address Confidentiality Program, which allows victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking, and others to secure a substitute P.O. Box address in order to remain hidden from their attackers or others who could locate them through a public records' search; SB 133, which expands the Victims' Compensation Assistance Program by providing financial compensation to innocent victims for an additional range of crimes.
"We have a responsibility to help those who need it the most and give our voices to the voiceless," Biden said. "These changes to the law will do so by providing powerful protections to vulnerable Delawareans, and giving crime victims tools and resources to rebuild their lives."
A bill for safeguarding the environment is SB 92, which enhances penalties for those who pollute Delaware's air, water, and soil.
Attorney General Beau Biden thanked lawmakers for passing a series of legislative proposals on July 5 that were developed by his office with aims to strengthen laws to punish a wide array of criminals, protect at-risk Delawareans from harm, hold chronic polluters accountable and protect consumers.
At the close of the General Assembly session, a variety of bills put forth by the Attorney General's Office are either on their way to Governor Jack Markell's desk for signature or have been recently enacted.
"I am grateful to the members of the General Assembly for enhancing our tools to fight crime, safeguard our environment, and ensure that Delaware's homeowners and consumers are treated fairly," Biden said.
Among the bill aimed at crime are: HB 168, which imposes harsher mandatory-minimum prison sentences on repeat DUI offenders; SB 65, which strengthens the office's ability to fight crime by expanding its ability to clean up properties with drug, gun and gang crime activity; HB 19, which modernizes Delaware's drug laws to more effectively punish criminals by increasing penalties for drug dealers and recognizing the dangers of illegal prescription drug abuse.
"We're using creating ways of fighting crime not only by increasing penalties for dangerous criminals, but also by expanding our use of creative crime-fighting tools including holding property owners accountable for allowing their properties to be safe havens for drug, gun, and vice crime," Biden said.
Other bills include: HB 63, which makes it clear that adults who are patients or residents in group homes and treatment facilities can never consent to sexual crimes committed against them. Perpetrators of sexual assault in treatment facilities now face increased jail time; SB 28, which created the state's Address Confidentiality Program, which allows victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking, and others to secure a substitute P.O. Box address in order to remain hidden from their attackers or others who could locate them through a public records' search; SB 133, which expands the Victims' Compensation Assistance Program by providing financial compensation to innocent victims for an additional range of crimes.
"We have a responsibility to help those who need it the most and give our voices to the voiceless," Biden said. "These changes to the law will do so by providing powerful protections to vulnerable Delawareans, and giving crime victims tools and resources to rebuild their lives."
A bill for safeguarding the environment is SB 92, which enhances penalties for those who pollute Delaware's air, water, and soil.
"This important legislation safeguards Delaware's natural resources and protects public health and safety by providing strong motivation for polluters to clean up their operations and follow the law or face tougher consequences," Biden said. "Paying a fine should not be a cost of doing business, now there will be consequences."
Then there's HB 58, which creates an automatic mediation program when a complaint for foreclosure is filed; HB 57, which requires lenders to give borrowers notice of foreclosure and provide opportunities for assistance and loss mitigation; SB 42, which provides for registration and bonding of mortgage modification companies and includes additional consumer protections such as prohibiting up-front fees; HB 59, which creates an Office in the Attorney General's Fraud and Consumer Protection Division to manage foreclosure related programs; SB 48, which treats the filing of a false document in a foreclosure as a deceptive trade practice, with associated consequences; HB 88, which gives the Attorney General's Office greater ability to help Delawareans who are victims of investment scams and closes loopholes that have allowed certain investment dealers to operate outside the scrutiny of the law.
"We're protecting Delaware's families by guaranteeing that homeowners facing foreclosure have the opportunity to sit down face-to-face with their lender to have a meaningful conversation about their mortgage and we’re ensuring that borrowers and lenders both play by the same rules," Biden said.
At the close of the General Assembly session, a variety of bills put forth by the Attorney General's Office are either on their way to Governor Jack Markell's desk for signature or have been recently enacted.
"I am grateful to the members of the General Assembly for enhancing our tools to fight crime, safeguard our environment, and ensure that Delaware's homeowners and consumers are treated fairly," Biden said.
Among the bill aimed at crime are: HB 168, which imposes harsher mandatory-minimum prison sentences on repeat DUI offenders; SB 65, which strengthens the office's ability to fight crime by expanding its ability to clean up properties with drug, gun and gang crime activity; HB 19, which modernizes Delaware's drug laws to more effectively punish criminals by increasing penalties for drug dealers and recognizing the dangers of illegal prescription drug abuse.
"We're using creating ways of fighting crime not only by increasing penalties for dangerous criminals, but also by expanding our use of creative crime-fighting tools including holding property owners accountable for allowing their properties to be safe havens for drug, gun, and vice crime," Biden said.
Other bills include: HB 63, which makes it clear that adults who are patients or residents in group homes and treatment facilities can never consent to sexual crimes committed against them. Perpetrators of sexual assault in treatment facilities now face increased jail time; SB 28, which created the state's Address Confidentiality Program, which allows victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking, and others to secure a substitute P.O. Box address in order to remain hidden from their attackers or others who could locate them through a public records' search; SB 133, which expands the Victims' Compensation Assistance Program by providing financial compensation to innocent victims for an additional range of crimes.
"We have a responsibility to help those who need it the most and give our voices to the voiceless," Biden said. "These changes to the law will do so by providing powerful protections to vulnerable Delawareans, and giving crime victims tools and resources to rebuild their lives."
A bill for safeguarding the environment is SB 92, which enhances penalties for those who pollute Delaware's air, water, and soil.
"This important legislation safeguards Delaware's natural resources and protects public health and safety by providing strong motivation for polluters to clean up their operations and follow the law or face tougher consequences," Biden said. "Paying a fine should not be a cost of doing business, now there will be consequences."
Then there's HB 58, which creates an automatic mediation program when a complaint for foreclosure is filed; HB 57, which requires lenders to give borrowers notice of foreclosure and provide opportunities for assistance and loss mitigation; SB 42, which provides for registration and bonding of mortgage modification companies and includes additional consumer protections such as prohibiting up-front fees; HB 59, which creates an Office in the Attorney General's Fraud and Consumer Protection Division to manage foreclosure related programs; SB 48, which treats the filing of a false document in a foreclosure as a deceptive trade practice, with associated consequences; HB 88, which gives the Attorney General's Office greater ability to help Delawareans who are victims of investment scams and closes loopholes that have allowed certain investment dealers to operate outside the scrutiny of the law.
"We're protecting Delaware's families by guaranteeing that homeowners facing foreclosure have the opportunity to sit down face-to-face with their lender to have a meaningful conversation about their mortgage and we’re ensuring that borrowers and lenders both play by the same rules," Biden said.
