Lt. Governor Carney Commends General Assembly For Addressing Key Priorities

Lt. Governor John Carney tonight commended the 144th General Assembly for addressing several of his key initiatives relating to healthcare, foreclosures, and education. These initiatives include passage of Senate Bill 235, the Cancer Right to Know Bill, funding for the Delaware Health Information Network (DHIN), and additional resources for the Delaware Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (DEMAP).

"These issues are critical in our efforts to make Delaware a better place to live, work, and raise a family," said Lt. Governor Carney. "Whether it's giving the public greater access to cancer data, preserving teachers' jobs, or providing funding to help homeowners stay in their houses, all of these initiatives will help improve Delawareans' lives. I've rolled up my sleeves and worked with the Legislature on these issues over the last six months, and I'm glad we were able to make these needed changes a reality."

Senate Bill 235, the Cancer Right to Know law, requires the Division of Public Health to make cancer incidence data available to the public at the census tract level. This bill will give Delawareans more detailed information about the cancer clusters recently identified throughout the state, and provide the public with the data necessary to make informed decisions about their health and safety.

The DHIN, which is the nation's first statewide health information exchange network, was allocated $1.5 million in this year's capital budget. These funds will be combined with funding from the federal government, hospitals, labs, and other sources to help DHIN improve patient care and reduce costs.

HB 507 and HB508 provide additional funding for the DEMAP program, which helps Delaware homeowners who face foreclosure through no fault of their own. HB 507 increases the annual license fee for mortgage loan brokers from $250 to $500. HB 508 requires the State Bank Commissioner to license mortgage loan originators, ensuring that all Delaware loan originators meet standard educational requirements.

The DEMAP program was also allocated $250,000 through the capital budget at the urging of Lt. Governor Carney and Rep. Keeley. Combined with $250,000 from the state's general fund, the program will be able to provide $500,000 in loans to homeowners facing foreclosure through no fault of their own.

Earlier this session, Lt. Governor Carney worked with legislators and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to limit cuts to the education budget and preserve the jobs of thousands of Delaware teachers and other state employees.

"I'm very pleased that in a year where money was tight and difficult decisions had to be made, I was able to work with the General Assembly on these priorities and make changes where it was necessary," stated Lt. Governor Carney. "We still have a lot of work to do in each of these areas, and I'm going to continue to find ways to make needed improvements."