Delaware 2025-2026 Regular Session

Delaware House Bill HB110 Latest Draft

Bill / Draft Version

                            SPONSOR:      Rep. Osienski & Sen. Paradee           HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY       HOUSE BILL NO. 110       AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 4 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE MARIJUANA CONTROL ACT.      

     

     SPONSOR:      Rep. Osienski & Sen. Paradee     

SPONSOR: Rep. Osienski & Sen. Paradee

 SPONSOR:  

 Rep. Osienski & Sen. Paradee 

   

 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

 153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

   

 HOUSE BILL NO. 110 

   

 AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 4 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE MARIJUANA CONTROL ACT. 

   

  BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:    Section 1. Amend 1302, Title 4 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows and redesignating accordingly:     1302. Definitions.    As used in this chapter:    (32)  Work means as defined in 3302 of Title 19.    Section 2. Amend 1347, Title 4 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:     1347. Background checks.    (a) All of the following persons are required to complete a background check under this chapter:    (1) An applicant for a marijuana establishment license.    (2) A person who performs work at or for a marijuana establishment, whether classified as a contractor, employee, or volunteer, with or without compensation, and prior to beginning work.    (3) A person who is or seeks to become a director, officer, board member, or agent of a licensed marijuana establishment or a business entity that is an applicant for a marijuana establishment license.    (4) A person who holds an ownership interest of 10% or more in a licensed marijuana establishment or a business entity that is an applicant for a marijuana establishment license.    (a)   (b)  A person required to obtain a background check under  this chapter   subsection (a) of this section  must submit fingerprints and other necessary information to the State Bureau of Identification in order to obtain  a Delaware and national criminal history background check through  all of the following:    (1) A report of the persons entire criminal history record from the State Bureau of Identification or a statement that the State Central Repository contains no such information relating to that person.    (2) A report of the persons entire federal criminal history record pursuant to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) appropriation of Title II of Public Law 92-544 (28 U.S.C. 534) or a statement that the FBIs records contain no such information relating to that person.    (b)   (c)  The State Bureau of Identification is the intermediary for the purpose of  subsection (a) of  this section and must forward all information required by  subsection (a)   subsections (a) and (b)  of this section to the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement.    (c)   (d)  The Division  and the Commissioner  may use the background check required by this section only to  determine if the person required to obtain a background check meets the   consider the background, qualifications, and suitability of persons required to obtain a background check for  licensure or employment  requirements of   under  this chapter.    (d)   (e)  A person required to obtain a background check under this chapter is responsible for any costs associated with obtaining the background check.    (e) A person required to obtain a background check under this chapter is subject to the report of their subsequent criminal history record information to the Division as part of ongoing monitoring and reporting through the Bureau, the FBIs criminal history systems or the Rap Back System as long as they are a license holder or employee subject to the requirements of this chapter.    (f)   If a current   applicant, person performing work at or for a marijuana establishment, director, officer, board member, agent, or person who holds an ownership interest of 10% or more in a licensed marijuana establishment or a business entity that is an applicant for a marijuana establishment license obtains a background check under this section, the State Bureau of Identification shall provide all of the following to the Division:     (1) Any subsequent state criminal history record information of the person.     (2) Any subsequent criminal history record information of the person available through the Rap Back System as defined under 8502 of Title 11, if the Rap Back System is available.    (g)  The failure of an applicant, person holding a 10% or more ownership interest in a licensed marijuana establishment, or current officer or director to satisfy the requirements of 1336(2), 1354(b)(4), or 1361(c) of this chapter may constitute grounds for refusal, suspension, or cancellation of a license issued by the Commissioner pursuant to this chapter.      Section 3. Amend Subchapter IV, Chapter 13, Title 4 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:    1354. Grounds for refusal of license; transfer or extension of premises.   (b) The Commissioner may refuse to license an applicant if the Commissioner has substantial evidence that would reasonably support a belief that any of the following apply:   (4) The applicant, including any of the  applicants directors or officers, or any of the applicants shareholders who hold more than 10% of the outstanding issued shares,   directors, officers, and board members, or such other person who holds an ownership interest of 10% or more in a licensed marijuana establishment or a business entity that is an applicant for a marijuana establishment,  has been convicted of an offense that may impact the qualifications, functions, or duties of the business or profession for which the application is made, except that if the Commissioner determines that the applicant is otherwise suitable to be issued a license, and granting the license would not compromise public safety, the Commissioner shall conduct a thorough review of the nature of the crime, conviction, circumstances, and evidence of rehabilitation of the applicant, and shall evaluate the suitability of the applicant to be issued a license based on the evidence found through the review. In determining which offenses may impact the qualifications, functions, or duties of the business or profession for which the application is made, the Commissioner shall include the following:   (c) Except as set forth in subsection (b) of this section, a prior  conviction,   conviction  for possession of, possession for sale, sale, manufacture, transportation, or cultivation of  a controlled substance   marijuana  may not be a ground for denial of a license.   (i) The Commissioner may refuse to issue a license to an applicant that in the Commissioner's discretion, based on information collected in the criminal background check process, presents a risk to the health or public safety of Delaware citizens.      

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

  Section 1. Amend 1302, Title 4 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows and redesignating accordingly: 

   1302. Definitions. 

  As used in this chapter: 

  (32)  Work means as defined in 3302 of Title 19. 

  Section 2. Amend 1347, Title 4 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows: 

   1347. Background checks. 

  (a) All of the following persons are required to complete a background check under this chapter: 

  (1) An applicant for a marijuana establishment license. 

  (2) A person who performs work at or for a marijuana establishment, whether classified as a contractor, employee, or volunteer, with or without compensation, and prior to beginning work. 

  (3) A person who is or seeks to become a director, officer, board member, or agent of a licensed marijuana establishment or a business entity that is an applicant for a marijuana establishment license. 

  (4) A person who holds an ownership interest of 10% or more in a licensed marijuana establishment or a business entity that is an applicant for a marijuana establishment license. 

  (a)   (b)  A person required to obtain a background check under  this chapter   subsection (a) of this section  must submit fingerprints and other necessary information to the State Bureau of Identification in order to obtain  a Delaware and national criminal history background check through  all of the following: 

  (1) A report of the persons entire criminal history record from the State Bureau of Identification or a statement that the State Central Repository contains no such information relating to that person. 

  (2) A report of the persons entire federal criminal history record pursuant to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) appropriation of Title II of Public Law 92-544 (28 U.S.C. 534) or a statement that the FBIs records contain no such information relating to that person. 

  (b)   (c)  The State Bureau of Identification is the intermediary for the purpose of  subsection (a) of  this section and must forward all information required by  subsection (a)   subsections (a) and (b)  of this section to the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement. 

  (c)   (d)  The Division  and the Commissioner  may use the background check required by this section only to  determine if the person required to obtain a background check meets the   consider the background, qualifications, and suitability of persons required to obtain a background check for  licensure or employment  requirements of   under  this chapter. 

  (d)   (e)  A person required to obtain a background check under this chapter is responsible for any costs associated with obtaining the background check. 

  (e) A person required to obtain a background check under this chapter is subject to the report of their subsequent criminal history record information to the Division as part of ongoing monitoring and reporting through the Bureau, the FBIs criminal history systems or the Rap Back System as long as they are a license holder or employee subject to the requirements of this chapter. 

  (f)   If a current   applicant, person performing work at or for a marijuana establishment, director, officer, board member, agent, or person who holds an ownership interest of 10% or more in a licensed marijuana establishment or a business entity that is an applicant for a marijuana establishment license obtains a background check under this section, the State Bureau of Identification shall provide all of the following to the Division:  

  (1) Any subsequent state criminal history record information of the person.  

  (2) Any subsequent criminal history record information of the person available through the Rap Back System as defined under 8502 of Title 11, if the Rap Back System is available. 

  (g)  The failure of an applicant, person holding a 10% or more ownership interest in a licensed marijuana establishment, or current officer or director to satisfy the requirements of 1336(2), 1354(b)(4), or 1361(c) of this chapter may constitute grounds for refusal, suspension, or cancellation of a license issued by the Commissioner pursuant to this chapter.    

 Section 3. Amend Subchapter IV, Chapter 13, Title 4 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows: 

  1354. Grounds for refusal of license; transfer or extension of premises. 

 (b) The Commissioner may refuse to license an applicant if the Commissioner has substantial evidence that would reasonably support a belief that any of the following apply: 

 (4) The applicant, including any of the  applicants directors or officers, or any of the applicants shareholders who hold more than 10% of the outstanding issued shares,   directors, officers, and board members, or such other person who holds an ownership interest of 10% or more in a licensed marijuana establishment or a business entity that is an applicant for a marijuana establishment,  has been convicted of an offense that may impact the qualifications, functions, or duties of the business or profession for which the application is made, except that if the Commissioner determines that the applicant is otherwise suitable to be issued a license, and granting the license would not compromise public safety, the Commissioner shall conduct a thorough review of the nature of the crime, conviction, circumstances, and evidence of rehabilitation of the applicant, and shall evaluate the suitability of the applicant to be issued a license based on the evidence found through the review. In determining which offenses may impact the qualifications, functions, or duties of the business or profession for which the application is made, the Commissioner shall include the following: 

 (c) Except as set forth in subsection (b) of this section, a prior  conviction,   conviction  for possession of, possession for sale, sale, manufacture, transportation, or cultivation of  a controlled substance   marijuana  may not be a ground for denial of a license. 

 (i) The Commissioner may refuse to issue a license to an applicant that in the Commissioner's discretion, based on information collected in the criminal background check process, presents a risk to the health or public safety of Delaware citizens. 

   

  SYNOPSIS   This Act identifies the specific categories of persons required to obtain a fingerprint-based national criminal background check in connection with working at a licensed marijuana establishment, holding a marijuana establishment license, or owning or serving on the board of directors of a business entity that has or applies for a marijuana establishment license. This clarification is necessary to comply with the requirements of Public Law (Pub. L.) 92-544 for access to FBI criminal history record information.   This Act also makes conforming changes to 1354 of Title 4 and clarifies other grounds for approval or denial of a license based on criminal background check information.      

 SYNOPSIS 

 This Act identifies the specific categories of persons required to obtain a fingerprint-based national criminal background check in connection with working at a licensed marijuana establishment, holding a marijuana establishment license, or owning or serving on the board of directors of a business entity that has or applies for a marijuana establishment license. This clarification is necessary to comply with the requirements of Public Law (Pub. L.) 92-544 for access to FBI criminal history record information. 

 This Act also makes conforming changes to 1354 of Title 4 and clarifies other grounds for approval or denial of a license based on criminal background check information.