CHAPTER 93
FORMERLY
SENATE BILL NO. 112
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1. Amend § 5002, Title 29 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows and by redesignating accordingly:
§ 5002. Definitions.
(e) “Plan” means the Comprehensive State Plan for Economic Development created by § 5005 of this title.
Section 2. Amend § 5005, Title 29 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:
§ 5005. Delaware Economic Development Office — Powers, duties duties, and functions of Director.
The Director shall have the following powers, duties duties, and functions:
(16) To develop a 5-year Comprehensive State Plan for Economic Development.
a. The Plan shall include all of the following:
1. Description of the Office’s vision, goals, objectives, and strategies.
2. Identification of business sectors, including those sectors which have potential growth in this State’s economy and global business image.
3. Strategies to encourage the creation and expansion of businesses in this State and the relocation of businesses to this State.
4. Potential partners for the implementation of the strategy required in paragraph (16)a.3. of this section, including federal and local governments, local and regional organizations for economic development growth, chambers of commerce, private businesses and investors, and nonprofit entities.
5. Strategies for talent development necessary to encourage economic development growth in this State, taking into consideration factors such as this State’s education and training opportunities and available workforce.
6. Strategies to engage women, veterans, and minorities in developing businesses.
7. Strategies to improve and develop tourism.
8. An analysis of current and projected economic indicators, which shall be completed through the Office’s coordination with the appropriate State agencies and shall include:
A. Unemployment rate.
B. Average annual wage.
C. Gross domestic product.
D. Number of jobs created.
E. Number of jobs retained.
9. An analysis of the return on investment produced through the Strategic Fund.
b. At least two months prior to submitting the Plan as required in this chapter, the Office shall hold a public meeting to allow public input regarding the Plan. The meeting shall be held in all three counties in this State. The Office may hold separate meetings in each county or hold one meeting and, through the use of technology, provide the public with access to attend and participate in the meeting simultaneously from each of the three counties.
c. The Plan shall be submitted every 5 years to the Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and, for public distribution, to the Director of the Division of Research of Legislative Council and the Director of Public Archives. The Office shall also publish the Plan on the Office’s public website.
Section 2. Amend § 5016, Title 29 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows and by redesignating accordingly:
§ 5016. Reports.
(a) The Office shall submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before October 15 of each year. Such report shall contain summaries of important accomplishments of the Office and summaries of the work of the Council on Development Finance and of the Tourism Advisory Board.
(a) The Office shall submit an annual report on or before September 1 of each year. The annual report shall detail the status of the Office’s efforts to meet the vision, goals, objectives, strategies, and economic indicators included in its comprehensive economic development planning.
(b) The Office shall submit a summary of the work of the Council on Development Finance on or before October 15 of each year.
(b) The Office shall also submit special reports upon the request of the Governor, the General Assembly, the Council on Development Finance or Finance, the Tourism Advisory Board Board, or at the discretion of the Director of those aspects of the Office's work which may be deemed of current interest. Copies of all reports shall be made available for general distribution or sale and published on the Office’s public website.
(c) In preparing any reports on its operations, the Office may seek the advice of outside experts in the fields of tourist and travel promotion or general economic development.
(d) The Office shall submit all reports, when due, to the Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and, for public distribution, to the Director of the Division of Research of Legislative Council and the Director of Public Archives. The Office shall also publish the reports on the Office’s public website.
Section 3. The first annual report required by Section 2 of this Act shall be submitted by September 1, 2015. Annual reports for the years 2015 to 2019 shall be based on the Office’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. Annual reports for 2020 and subsequent years shall be based on the Comprehensive State Plan for Economic Development created by this Act. The first Comprehensive State Plan for Economic Development shall be submitted by September 1, 2019.
Approved July 15, 2015