Delaware 2023-2024 Regular Session

Delaware Senate Bill SCR134 Latest Draft

Bill / Draft Version

                            SPONSOR:      Sen. Poore & Rep. Lambert       Sens. Hansen, Hocker, Huxtable, Mantzavinos, Sokola, Wilson; Reps. Baumbach, Griffith, Hensley, Hilovsky, K. Johnson, Morrison, Osienski, Romer           DELAWARE STATE SENATE   152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY       SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 134       RECOGNIZING THE WEEK OF APRIL 7 - 13, 2024 AS DELAWARE SAVES WEEK 2024.      

     

     SPONSOR:      Sen. Poore & Rep. Lambert       Sens. Hansen, Hocker, Huxtable, Mantzavinos, Sokola, Wilson; Reps. Baumbach, Griffith, Hensley, Hilovsky, K. Johnson, Morrison, Osienski, Romer     

SPONSOR: Sen. Poore & Rep. Lambert
Sens. Hansen, Hocker, Huxtable, Mantzavinos, Sokola, Wilson; Reps. Baumbach, Griffith, Hensley, Hilovsky, K. Johnson, Morrison, Osienski, Romer

 SPONSOR:  

 Sen. Poore & Rep. Lambert 

 Sens. Hansen, Hocker, Huxtable, Mantzavinos, Sokola, Wilson; Reps. Baumbach, Griffith, Hensley, Hilovsky, K. Johnson, Morrison, Osienski, Romer 

   

 DELAWARE STATE SENATE 

 152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

   

 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 134 

   

 RECOGNIZING THE WEEK OF APRIL 7 - 13, 2024 AS DELAWARE SAVES WEEK 2024. 

   

   WHEREAS, it is essential for Delawareans to have adequate personal and household savings for necessary expenses like college, home buying, retirement, and unforeseen emergencies; and    WHEREAS, nearly half of all American families do not have a retirement account, and 64% of Americans do not feel that they are on track to save enough for retirement; and   WHEREAS, the State of Delaware supplements its pension plan with voluntary 457(b) & 403(b) savings plans that allow State employees to save more for retirement; and   WHEREAS, employees who participate in the plans are 30% more likely to feel secure about their retirement; and     WHEREAS, the State of Delaware will be launching the Delaware EARNS program later this year to allow nearly all Delaware workers to save for retirement through their workplace, even if their employer does not sponsor a plan; and    WHEREAS, American parents struggle to pay for the high cost of college for their children, and 73% of parents worry about having enough money to cover college expenses; and    WHEREAS, the State of Delaware offers the DE529 Education Savings Plan which provides thousands of Delaware parents with the ability to save and invest for their childrens college educations in a secure, tax-advantaged account; and    WHEREAS, Americans with disabilities face unique challenges in saving for the future, especially as the accumulation of savings can threaten their disability benefits; and    WHEREAS, the State offers the DEPENDABLE plan to Delawareans with disabilities, allowing them to save money in a tax-advantaged account without losing their benefits; and    WHEREAS, America Saves is a national campaign that encourages, supports, and motivates Americans to improve their financial stability by budgeting their money, accumulating savings, opening and contributing to retirement accounts, building wealth, and reducing debt; and    WHEREAS, the Office of the State Treasurer partners with the America Saves Week movement and administers State governments 457(b) & 403(b) plans, the EARNS Program, the DE529 Education Savings Plan, and the DEPENDABLE plan to help Delawareans save for their futures.    NOW, THEREFORE:    BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 152  nd   General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the State of Delaware hereby proclaims the week of April 7 - 13 as Delaware Saves Week.     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly urges Delawareans to open a retirement account and/or savings account, put away money for retirement, build up an emergency fund, create a personal budget, set savings goals, pay down debt, and take other steps to increase ones personal financial security during Delaware Saves Week, and pledge to sustain that action throughout the coming year.    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly encourages State employees to participate in the States 457(b) or 403(b) plan so that they can save, invest, and grow their retirement savings, and make their future retirement more secure, comfortable, and stress-free.    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly encourages employers who do not currently sponsor a retirement plan to learn more about Delaware EARNS and how they can help facilitate their employees participation in the program. The General Assembly further encourages Delaware workers to consider enrolling in EARNS if they do not already have a retirement account, so that they can securely and easily save and invest for retirement.     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly encourages parents to open and contribute to a DE529 account. The General Assembly emphasizes that when it comes to opening a 529 account, earlier is better. Parents who fund a 529 account when their children are very young usually enjoy greater returns and ultimately save more money for college.    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly encourages Delawareans with disabilities to open a DEPENDABLE account to securely save for the future. The General Assembly further encourages Delawareans who have a family member with a disability to open and contribute to a DEPENDABLE account on behalf of their loved one to help them achieve financial security and stability.    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly commits to supporting policies, initiatives, and solutions that incentivize Delawareans to save more for their future; expand access to savings plans and accounts; supplement Delawareans contributions to their savings accounts; and otherwise assist Delawareans with saving for retirement, higher education, homebuying, disability-related expenses, emergencies, and other needs.      

  WHEREAS, it is essential for Delawareans to have adequate personal and household savings for necessary expenses like college, home buying, retirement, and unforeseen emergencies; and 

  WHEREAS, nearly half of all American families do not have a retirement account, and 64% of Americans do not feel that they are on track to save enough for retirement; and 

 WHEREAS, the State of Delaware supplements its pension plan with voluntary 457(b) & 403(b) savings plans that allow State employees to save more for retirement; and 

 WHEREAS, employees who participate in the plans are 30% more likely to feel secure about their retirement; and  

  WHEREAS, the State of Delaware will be launching the Delaware EARNS program later this year to allow nearly all Delaware workers to save for retirement through their workplace, even if their employer does not sponsor a plan; and 

  WHEREAS, American parents struggle to pay for the high cost of college for their children, and 73% of parents worry about having enough money to cover college expenses; and 

  WHEREAS, the State of Delaware offers the DE529 Education Savings Plan which provides thousands of Delaware parents with the ability to save and invest for their childrens college educations in a secure, tax-advantaged account; and 

  WHEREAS, Americans with disabilities face unique challenges in saving for the future, especially as the accumulation of savings can threaten their disability benefits; and 

  WHEREAS, the State offers the DEPENDABLE plan to Delawareans with disabilities, allowing them to save money in a tax-advantaged account without losing their benefits; and 

  WHEREAS, America Saves is a national campaign that encourages, supports, and motivates Americans to improve their financial stability by budgeting their money, accumulating savings, opening and contributing to retirement accounts, building wealth, and reducing debt; and 

  WHEREAS, the Office of the State Treasurer partners with the America Saves Week movement and administers State governments 457(b) & 403(b) plans, the EARNS Program, the DE529 Education Savings Plan, and the DEPENDABLE plan to help Delawareans save for their futures. 

  NOW, THEREFORE: 

  BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 152  nd   General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the State of Delaware hereby proclaims the week of April 7 - 13 as Delaware Saves Week.  

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly urges Delawareans to open a retirement account and/or savings account, put away money for retirement, build up an emergency fund, create a personal budget, set savings goals, pay down debt, and take other steps to increase ones personal financial security during Delaware Saves Week, and pledge to sustain that action throughout the coming year. 

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly encourages State employees to participate in the States 457(b) or 403(b) plan so that they can save, invest, and grow their retirement savings, and make their future retirement more secure, comfortable, and stress-free. 

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly encourages employers who do not currently sponsor a retirement plan to learn more about Delaware EARNS and how they can help facilitate their employees participation in the program. The General Assembly further encourages Delaware workers to consider enrolling in EARNS if they do not already have a retirement account, so that they can securely and easily save and invest for retirement.  

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly encourages parents to open and contribute to a DE529 account. The General Assembly emphasizes that when it comes to opening a 529 account, earlier is better. Parents who fund a 529 account when their children are very young usually enjoy greater returns and ultimately save more money for college. 

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly encourages Delawareans with disabilities to open a DEPENDABLE account to securely save for the future. The General Assembly further encourages Delawareans who have a family member with a disability to open and contribute to a DEPENDABLE account on behalf of their loved one to help them achieve financial security and stability. 

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly commits to supporting policies, initiatives, and solutions that incentivize Delawareans to save more for their future; expand access to savings plans and accounts; supplement Delawareans contributions to their savings accounts; and otherwise assist Delawareans with saving for retirement, higher education, homebuying, disability-related expenses, emergencies, and other needs. 

   

  SYNOPSIS   This resolution recognizes the week of April 7 - 13, 2024 as Delaware Saves Week.   Author: Senator Poore  

 SYNOPSIS 

 This resolution recognizes the week of April 7 - 13, 2024 as Delaware Saves Week. 

 Author: Senator Poore