Delaware 2023-2024 Regular Session

Delaware Senate Bill SB145 Latest Draft

Bill / Engrossed Version

                            SPONSOR:      Sen. Sturgeon & Sen. Townsend & Sen. Walsh & Rep. Osienski       Reps. Morrison, K. Williams           DELAWARE STATE SENATE   152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY       SENATE BILL NO. 145   AS AMENDED BY   SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 1       AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 19 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DAMAGES FOR EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION.      

     

     SPONSOR:      Sen. Sturgeon & Sen. Townsend & Sen. Walsh & Rep. Osienski       Reps. Morrison, K. Williams     

SPONSOR: Sen. Sturgeon & Sen. Townsend & Sen. Walsh & Rep. Osienski
Reps. Morrison, K. Williams

 SPONSOR:  

 Sen. Sturgeon & Sen. Townsend & Sen. Walsh & Rep. Osienski 

 Reps. Morrison, K. Williams 

   

 DELAWARE STATE SENATE 

 152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

   

 SENATE BILL NO. 145 

 AS AMENDED BY 

 SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 1 

   

 AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 19 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DAMAGES FOR EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION. 

   

  BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:   Section 1. Amend 715, Title 19 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:    715. Judicial remedies; civil penalties.   (a)  Superior Court shall have jurisdiction over all proceedings brought by the charging party  pursuant to   under  714 of this title. Superior Court may excuse a charging party who has complied with the compulsory conciliation provisions of this chapter from the compulsory arbitration provisions of Superior Court  rule.   rules.   (1)   (b)  Superior Court  shall have the authority to provide the following relief, including but not limited to:   may order any of the following:   a. Order   (1) That  the respondent  to  cease and desist or modify its existing employment  policies;   policies.   b. Order   (2) That  the respondent  to  hire,  reinstate   reinstate,  or promote the charging  party;   party.   c. Order the   (3) The  payment of  compensatory damages, including but not limited to general and special damages, punitive damages when appropriate, not to exceed the damage awards allowable under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 [42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.], as amended, provided that for the purposes of this subchapter, employers with 4-14 employees shall be treated under Title VIIs damage award as an employer having under 50 employees; and   any of the following:   a. Compensatory damages.   b. Punitive damages.   c. Special damages, including back pay and interest on back pay.   d. Front pay.   d. Order the (4) Equitable relief provided under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 2000e-5.   (5) The  costs of litigation and reasonable attorneys fees to the prevailing party.   (c) An award of compensatory or punitive damages, or both, under paragraph (b)(3)a. or b. of this section, may not exceed the following:   (1) For a respondent with 4 through 14 employees, $50,000.   (2) For a respondent with 15 through 100 employees, $75,000.   (3) For a respondent with 101 through 200 employees, $175,000.   (4) For a respondent with 201 through 500 employees, $300,000.   (5) For a respondent with more than 500 employees, $500,000.   (2)   (d)  In any action brought by the Department for violation of the retaliation provision of 711(g) of this title, the Court shall fine the employer not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000 for each violation, in addition to any liability     for  damages.   damages under this section.      

 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE: 

 Section 1. Amend 715, Title 19 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows: 

  715. Judicial remedies; civil penalties. 

 (a)  Superior Court shall have jurisdiction over all proceedings brought by the charging party  pursuant to   under  714 of this title. Superior Court may excuse a charging party who has complied with the compulsory conciliation provisions of this chapter from the compulsory arbitration provisions of Superior Court  rule.   rules. 

 (1)   (b)  Superior Court  shall have the authority to provide the following relief, including but not limited to:   may order any of the following: 

 a. Order   (1) That  the respondent  to  cease and desist or modify its existing employment  policies;   policies. 

 b. Order   (2) That  the respondent  to  hire,  reinstate   reinstate,  or promote the charging  party;   party. 

 c. Order the   (3) The  payment of  compensatory damages, including but not limited to general and special damages, punitive damages when appropriate, not to exceed the damage awards allowable under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 [42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.], as amended, provided that for the purposes of this subchapter, employers with 4-14 employees shall be treated under Title VIIs damage award as an employer having under 50 employees; and   any of the following: 

 a. Compensatory damages. 

 b. Punitive damages. 

 c. Special damages, including back pay and interest on back pay. 

 d. Front pay. 

 d. Order the (4) Equitable relief provided under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 2000e-5. 

 (5) The  costs of litigation and reasonable attorneys fees to the prevailing party. 

 (c) An award of compensatory or punitive damages, or both, under paragraph (b)(3)a. or b. of this section, may not exceed the following: 

 (1) For a respondent with 4 through 14 employees, $50,000. 

 (2) For a respondent with 15 through 100 employees, $75,000. 

 (3) For a respondent with 101 through 200 employees, $175,000. 

 (4) For a respondent with 201 through 500 employees, $300,000. 

 (5) For a respondent with more than 500 employees, $500,000. 

 (2)   (d)  In any action brought by the Department for violation of the retaliation provision of 711(g) of this title, the Court shall fine the employer not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000 for each violation, in addition to any liability   

 for  damages.   damages under this section.