The House Judiciary Committee advanced three bills — strengthening protections for human trafficking survivors (HB 201), requiring a Firearm Responsibilities Notice at point of sale (HB 141), and banning private for-profit detention facilities in Delaware (HB 151) — with all three released from committee, though HB 141 drew the session's only dissenting vote and HB 151 prompted unresolved constitutional questions about federal supremacy.
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Representative Jones Giltner argued the bill blocks future Department of Corrections operational decisions that might yield cost savings, stating 'I'm concerned that we are restricting an operational decision that if in the future Department of Corrections says this organization can run this detention facility... better, then aren't we indeed blocking future operational decisions that might be of economic benefit to the state?' Gorman responded 'I'm not of the belief that the economic benefit of incarcerating humans is worth the economic benefit. I think it is a moral failing to make a profit off the incarceration of human beings,' prompting Jones Giltner to say 'You twisted my words a little bit.' Representative Short separately pressed that a state law cannot override federal authority to contract for a facility, while Gorman maintained the state can institute laws on this issue and Warner stated the bill would not conflict with existing federal law.
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“National data shows us that about 40% of trafficking survivors have a criminal record that is a direct relation to them being trafficked. Because of these records, 73% of survivors struggle to get a job, 58% struggle to find housing. And without housing and income, survivors are faced at a much higher risk of being trafficked again. Actually, the statistics are 83% more likely to be trafficked again.”
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Sign in to subscribeGood morning. Welcome back. We're here for the second leg of the 153rd General assembly, and this is the first Judiciary Committee meeting of the new year. So I'm going to go through the rules that we all know, but just as a refresher course, members be aware that there's the microphones right in front of us, and when they're green, that means that they are on. And anything you say will be transmitted across the airwaves to the public and everybody else. So when you move your coffee or shuffle papers, just be cognizant of that as that could be distracting for those trying to listen in. This meeting is now called to order in accordance with House rules. Members of the public, welcome. You're able to participate either in person or virtually through the Zoom webinar. The public can participate virtually by registering through the meeting link posted on the GA's website. Instructions for public comment are available on the website under this community meeting's notice and also will be shared during the public comment portion of the hearing. Written comments may be submitted to House Committee commentellaware.gov and any comments received within 24 hours of this hearing…
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