[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6285328,"mediaKeyId","2573557-980ffcc583d0d90932c6f4aabac28e8b","parentId",2573557,"title","Bill to raise burial payment to $10,000 for volunteer emergency responders presented to committee","audioSeconds",223,"startMs",2557000,"endMs",2780000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2573557-980ffcc583d0d90932c6f4aabac28e8b&start=2557&end=2780","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2573557-980ffcc583d0d90932c6f4aabac28e8b/thumbnail_2557000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6285328/Delaware/Bill-to-raise-burial-payment-to-10000-for-volunteer-emergency-responders-presented-to-committee","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6285328-2516140be0d88779773c597880b14b57/orig.mp4?Expires=1770786931&Signature=oNfrdc0niv33L5MaHq9kgnOYuZk~MhRQxh2nbjv3zVKgG44NFy6D4KDoZ3KAs6f0qmxqKAsRWDjYcEZj07NT9P7kdxxhgzCzwJt6YwRPVSr3Gn~BP51sfc~UpDyhJ6AMzGNRNmttfzJ9D6TdT4s0AKC8Ia4GYB-RaKaCxPB8vk5RbYoR5S7~ZhCV9aEepu44UcR2BktKgfxKWVQe8FQQzdlsnoMuipw5y8avhhZ4CLg~eBRTFqhokJnJrWJ4Au7ENU~xYxHNe70UTatThyVGp4Vi~YI5H1UFhq~a1Z8~11adddELJBnhVSDI21HF1ONCXVR7CroxfDUgFodUW2vtww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Delaware Legislature","date","2025-03-12T00:00:00Z","article","Senator Brown introduced Senate Bill 29, which would raise the funeral expense payment for qualifying members of volunteer fire companies, ladies auxiliaries and volunteer ambulance and rescue companies to $10,000. The sponsor said the bill clarifies that payments would be administered from the same state self‑insurance fund used for other line‑of‑duty disability benefits and included technical drafting corrections; the bill’s effective date is Oct. 1, 2025.

Tom DeCristofaro, president of the DVFA, and other volunteer‑service witnesses spoke in favor of the increase, noting the last change to burial benefits occurred in 2001 and that modern funeral costs often exceed the current statutory amounts. Chris Haas of the Department of Insurance said the amendment clarifies that the state self‑insurance fund will cover these payments as it does for other line‑of‑duty benefits. Public comment reiterated support from the volunteer community; the hearing transcript does not show a committee vote on SB 29.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Health & Social Services Committee Meeting Mar 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 29 would raise funeral expense payments to $10,000 for members of volunteer fire companies, auxiliaries and volunteer ambulance/rescue companies and clarifies funding language; supporters testified but no committee vote appears in the transcript.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature DE Collection, Legislative, Delaware","taxId",77708,"location","Delaware","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6285333,"Committee hears bill to set $7,000 funeral benefit for volunteer firefighters, fund from state self‑insurance pool",572,1998000,2570000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2573557-980ffcc583d0d90932c6f4aabac28e8b&start=1998&end=2570","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2573557-980ffcc583d0d90932c6f4aabac28e8b/thumbnail_1998000.jpg","/articles/6285333/Delaware/Committee-hears-bill-to-set-7000-funeral-benefit-for-volunteer-firefighters-fund-from-state-selfinsurance-pool","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6285333-c62b26f0d67a5de4cfb35e675c038a0d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770786931&Signature=jMKuNbeGZ6t1BmJNeqRrGnkI1Q~KD~sd5ELz3RmcFgXBaPdi98moaO6AkQO6uORIEZQxWjMwJkOPp7hUqEZFk0nF4OO5E~pCijyJ7NTV2B0b2w0oMZoDfHLDaSthwutFqonmOtvqFDBZCYCi0lGZqlu-0z5JDPxcNSTzit~oum1JkBKdON61iP7U1-I-TwJ0L7hbwcI3pV2wNAL3MAQeqtivRL1xwtBbG5fMP7aIbX~3aKubriTpVnep3J0YRrPja0YvZ81vK3Jhhbblb9oBOUIFuZvB-N8FXDHRrA1B~uDphxiOJ9CubTSInPZ6cQGki8TyimdvWQnl~1-~3BhjDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Brown presented Senate Bill 28 and an amendment, saying the bill mandates payment of $7,000 for reasonable funeral expenses for qualifying deceased volunteer firefighters and clarifies that the payment will be made from the state self‑insurance fund. The sponsor said the act incorporates technical corrections to align existing law with drafting standards and would take effect Oct. 1, 2025.

Tom DeCristofaro, president of the Delaware Volunteer Firefighters Association (DVFA), testified in support and said the amount has not changed since 2001. DeCristofaro described the benefit as recognition for volunteers’ service and a means to help families with burial costs. Norman J. Jones, executive manager of the DVFA, told senators the 10‑year active‑service threshold used for the benefit is consistent with existing program standards and that the fund will pay billed funeral costs up to the statutory amount; if funds are unused they remain within the state fund rather than going to beneficiaries.

Chris Haas of the Delaware Department of Insurance said the department supports the bill and that clarifying the source of funding in Title 18 (the state self‑insurance fund) was important. Public comment included remarks from veterans and local stakeholders; transcript shows no committee vote on SB 28 at the hearing.","Senate Bill 28 would set a $7,000 funeral expense payment for deceased volunteer firefighters, clarify funding from the state self‑insurance fund and take effect Oct. 1, 2025; supporters testified but no committee vote was recorded.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6285338,"Committee hears resolution asking DMMA to plan Medicaid coverage for community health workers",886,1070000,1956000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2573557-980ffcc583d0d90932c6f4aabac28e8b&start=1070&end=1956","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2573557-980ffcc583d0d90932c6f4aabac28e8b/thumbnail_1070000.jpg","/articles/6285338/Delaware/Committee-hears-resolution-asking-DMMA-to-plan-Medicaid-coverage-for-community-health-workers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6285338-002d1ce503c84444038893e894c8a4f7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770786931&Signature=STdlQ-Ovp4cusjt0qnvH5mZbxqQA~49LXrJWSf1uPcduIMgRs4BX2kt1RIotRvnioCYGzCCJI3tsD2vKkAbbpLyTRmICcby5FVg0e3cCZPTSMx~Vqg9OQu6ixRfsz1CHPStZMLNf3lsiyXmd2FVyvwe6CZ4Ra7FTZYq15Mhh9G5K56oQ0WvAg7uOGZItMiO26yXszW35YtA6pbmw4qvVuEkv8FhyZyJk3BSUalUTnKt19FwG-KWJvnSnzMr0-gGK16GSWYzF25dMR0tnqu-unoD82DAC4e6Bb5tLhif8LGQqzEbkUjyiNdFffQu7q~aGwn~GIlgQKaCFFEcG2Lk0eg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Pinckney introduced Senate Joint Resolution 2, co‑sponsored by Representative Kamala Smith, saying the measure would ask the Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (DMMA) to prepare a plan for covering community health worker (CHW) services under Medicaid. Pinckney described CHWs as “trusted members of the communities they serve” who provide culturally and linguistically specific supports and assist people with health and social needs.

Multiple witnesses representing CHWs, health systems and nonprofit groups told the committee they support SJR2 and urged sustainable funding. Erin Rindaupt, speaking for the Community Health Worker Association of Delaware, said CHWs “are front line public health workers” and noted that 24 states currently fund CHW services through Medicaid while Delaware does not. Adriana Sosa, a CHW with the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition, described delivering wraparound services to clients and said CHW work in Delaware is “dependent on time‑limited grant‑based funding.”

Deanna Tybee McDuffie of the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence gave a client example showing how CHW services connected a survivor to benefits, employment and legal help. Peggy Geisler, CEO of the Sussex County Health Coalition, told the committee Delaware already has an apprenticeship program for CHWs through the Department of Labor and that CHW coverage “makes economic sense” amid workforce shortages in Kent and Sussex counties. Dr. Alethia Miller, maternal and child health clinical director at DMMA, said DMMA is “supportive” and that a DMMA staff member serves on the CHW work group.

Witnesses and sponsors said a small fiscal note will accompany the resolution and that DMMA and stakeholders are working through program and payment design questions; no committee vote is recorded in the transcript.","Senate Joint Resolution 2 (SJR2) would direct Delaware’s Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance to produce a plan for Medicaid coverage of community health workers; the committee heard multiple supportive public comments and heard that DMMA is participating in workgroup discussions, but no committee vote was recorded.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6285343,"Senate committee reviews bill to let Newark alderman’s court hear certain THC, public‑consumption cases",524,517000,1041000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2573557-980ffcc583d0d90932c6f4aabac28e8b&start=517&end=1041","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2573557-980ffcc583d0d90932c6f4aabac28e8b/thumbnail_517000.jpg","/articles/6285343/Delaware/Senate-committee-reviews-bill-to-let-Newark-aldermans-court-hear-certain-THC-publicconsumption-cases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6285343-fb44acab868c33e69d1ae8d516ae8148/orig.mp4?Expires=1770786931&Signature=NwTjwWjX-r7KoLi7MBc~1lZIQmB44bK2I1LUTUYRbSunNm6VCtLQaswj4XpSmCIIUXOuqNDKKjntBG2gg46y37sHpmZgskL~COJ5hj6puXLHzOmiYZ7MOrPc-Rp83AnevExdiD44tY~zAK~CnyQtBRQKz64qkVQYxKSqEN7M6UfWzTuPB9Xk3OSutZsJP4bjBtbT3LxXthgfkZZ8f5k609ZD7jtd1TCKrwAbLhCqCUfm7o1WDwpYnCNuBehm6W2lBSOWb1pROZ2kcsKuaivP~dYbtxfkbGIwp2cRsyPFJERlByiPmkOXi95kyLUpdqogskWzpKsy-ZuNCu04nZ4Bcw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Sikola, sponsor of House Bill 33 with House Amendment 1, told the Senate Health and Social Services Committee the bill would “amend Title 6, streamline the judicial process and provide a swift and local resolution for certain offenses.” The measure would give Newark’s alderman’s court concurrent jurisdiction with the Court of Common Pleas and other courts for specified violations related to possessing, using or publicly consuming marijuana or THC-containing products while retaining family court jurisdiction for people under 18.

The bill does not change penalties, Sikola said, and “Newark will only keep the court security fee.” James D'Shane of Blue Hen Strategies, testifying for the City of Newark, told the committee the court security fee is $10 and “it is used to pay for bailiffs and security.” He said Newark City Council and the Newark Police Department support the change because it shortens travel and delays for residents and campus students and reduces backlog at higher courts.

Sikola said courts and agencies including the Department of Justice and others reviewed the bill and raised no objections; he also noted the House previously approved the bill on a 37‑yes, two‑thirds threshold and recorded four absences in that vote. Committee members asked about the size of fees redirected to Newark and about how the change would operate in practice; Sikola and the city witness said the bill does not create new crimes and is intended to move existing violation cases into a local forum to reduce case delays. The sponsor cited 2022 figures he said were reported to him: 8,876 citations issued in Newark that year and 2,367 cases finalized through the alderman’s court.

No formal committee action or recorded vote on HB 33 appears in the transcript. Committee members indicated they had their questions answered and moved on to the next agenda item.","Delaware Senate Health Committee heard House Bill 33 and House Amendment 1, which would give Newark’s alderman’s court concurrent jurisdiction for specified marijuana/THC violations now heard in higher courts; no committee vote was recorded.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bill to raise burial payment to $10,000 for volunteer emergency responders presented to committee

Committee hears bill to set $7,000 funeral benefit for volunteer firefighters, fund from state self‑insurance pool

Committee hears resolution asking DMMA to plan Medicaid coverage for community health workers

Senate committee reviews bill to let Newark alderman’s court hear certain THC, public‑consumption cases