Delawareans are close to learning how their House and Senate districts will look in the coming years, as redrawn legislative maps near a final vote.
Redistricting plans were released to the public May 19th, followed by a period of public comment in both the state House and the state Senate.
Criticism came from several circles at public hearings held in each house. Delaware Republicans objected to the way House districts were redrawn to move four incumbent GOP representatives into two districts. The Delaware Black Caucus also raised objections to the plan this month.
In the Senate, criticism centered around allegations of “gerrymandering” to suit political purposes, and concerns that the power of the African-American vote could be diluted in several redrawn districts (although they would remain majority-minority districts).
House Majority Leader Peter Schwartzkopf (D-Rehoboth Beach) led the House effort to redraw 41 districts to reflect population shifts in the 2010 US Census. The redistricting bill is scheduled to taken up by the House Administration Committee Wednesday June 22nd at 12:30 p.m.
Schwartzkopf said the maps released last month have undergone a few changes, but “nothing drastic.”
“I tried to be fair,” Schwartzkopf added. “I just tried to do it by the numbers and not by politics. Politics enters in a little bit sometimes, but for the most part we went right by the numbers, tried to follow the rules and go by geographical boundaries, state roads, and things of that nature to make the districts much ‘cleaner,’ so people understand exactly where they stand and whose district they’re in.”
House Majority Leader Peter Schwartzkopf (D-Rehoboth Beach) on redistricting bill
House Majority Leader Schwartzkopf discusses the small changes made since new legislative maps were released in May and the process.
House Majority Leader Schwartzkopf addresses issues raised regarding counting
the state’s prison population.
“Does the bill have significant changes or is it essentially the same plan that has been rightfully criticized as flawed and blatantly self-serving?” State House Minority Leader Greg Lavelle (R-Sharpley) said in a statement this week. Lavelle is one of two House Republicans who would be drawn out of the districts they currently represent under the House Democrats’ plan. “I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Under a Republican-proposed set of redistricting maps, Lavelle would also be drawn out of the 11th district he currently represents. The 11th district would move to the west-central part of the state.
Schwartzkopf said the House plan will be vetted in committee Wednesday, then merged with a Senate plan as one bill to be substituted and voted on, likely next week.
Legislation addressing recent problems facing charter schools in Delaware has been introduced in the House and is gathering sponsors. The measure would address gaps in background checks that allowed a man who repeatedly filed for bankruptcy and who had a criminal record to open the Reach Academy Charter School for Girls in Claymont. The bill also spells out fiscal monitoring requirements for charter schools. Pencader Business Charter High School near New Castle is in danger of losing its charter due to financial irregularities.
State Representative Terry Schooley (D-Newark), chair of the House Education Committee, said the bill contains several provisions that address financial and administrative issues facing charter schools. Criminal background checks and a check with the child abuse registry would be required of charter school founders and school board members. They would also be required to disclose any financial interests in the charter school. Also, there is a are provisions to minimize disruption to students in schools that fail to have their charter renewed. Those provisions include moving up the charter renewal deadline so decisions are made before the school choice deadline and making it easier for a “high-performing” charter school to move in and take over one that is failing.
State Representative Terry Schooley (D-Newark) on charter school legislation
State Rep. Schooley, chair of the House Education Committee, outlines key components of the proposed charter school legislation.
State Rep. Schooley says new legislation would require background checks of individuals who want to open charter schools or serve on their boards
Schooley says charter schools in danger of closing have a dramatic effect on families who are suddenly faced with having to choose another school.
“The kids are the ones who are losing, so we’re trying to figure out a way to keep the uniqueness of charter schools while still setting up some rules and regulations so the kids don’t lose out,” Schooley said.
Other Legislative news:
A group of lawmakers wants Delawareans to be more “in the know” about how new regulations and regulatory changes are implemented, as well as their projected impact.
State agencies would be required to produce an impact statement regarding any proposed regulatory revisions highlighting the appropriate sections of the Delaware code, the purpose of the change, who would be affected, the cost of the change, and the expected benefit.
Emergency actions would be exempted from the requirement, as would certain internal regulations and revisions that are deemed “non-substantive.”
The Senate has approved a bill to extend awareness about the risk of concussions in high school sports. Senator Bethany Hall-Long (D-Glasgow) said the legislation spells out requirements about when to keep a young athlete off the field or the court when concussion symptoms are apparent. A parent or guardian would be required to sign off upon receiving information on how to minimize the risk of concussion, and additional coach training would be required.
“This is a good piece of legislation that will protect lives and quality of lives down the road,” Senator Joe Booth (R-Georgetown) said.
Schools competing in the DIAA would be covered under the proposed law.
What if a local election ends in a dead heat?
It happened in Delaware City in 2010. There was no provision to settle the tie at the polls.
Members of the House of Representatives have unanimously approved legislation to establish a procedure for breaking an election tie. If the local town’s charter contains a provision, that would be applied. If not, under the bill sponsored by Representative Earl Jaques (D-Glasgow), the state Elections Commissioner would declare a vacancy. State Election Commissioner Elaine Manlove and the League of Local Governments helped to develop the legislation.
