Larry Lambert
- Democratic
- Representative
- District 7
Primary
This Act establishes the Delaware Expanding Access for Retirement and Necessary Saving (“EARNS”) program to serve as a vehicle through which eligible employees may, on a voluntary basis, provide for additional retirement security through a State-facilitated retirement savings program in a convenient, cost effective, and portable manner. The EARNS program will be designed to serve small businesses who are unable to offer retirement plans to employees due to the cost and administrative burden. Because there are documented wealth gaps in Delaware, disproportionately impacting women and people of color, a state-facilitated savings plan aims to alleviate barriers small employers face in offering options, close the wealth gap among low to modest wage earners and keep Delaware competitive with neighboring states by attracting talented workers to Delaware. A state-sponsored savings plan, funded by employees, facilitated by employers, and overseen by the State, will offer one solution to the quickly emerging crises stemming from generations of workers without adequate savings. The Act creates the Delaware EARNS Program Board to oversee initial design and implementation of the program. The board will be disbanded no later than December 31, 2025, at which point all duties and functions of the board will be transferred to and assumed by the Plans Management Board. The effective date of the Act is contingent upon an appropriation by the General Assembly necessary to implement the Program. This Act also makes technical changes to the existing law to make it conform to the standards of the Legislative Drafting Manual.
Signed by Governor
Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 NOT VOTING
Reported Out of Committee (Finance) in Senate with 2 Favorable, 2 On Its Merits
Amendment HA 2 to HB 205 - Stricken in House
Amendment HA 1 to HB 205 - Stricken in House
Amendment HA 3 to HB 205 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
Passed By House. Votes: 35 YES 5 NO 1 ABSENT
Amendment HA 3 to HB 205 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
Reported Out of Committee (Appropriations) in House with 1 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits
Amendment HA 2 to HB 205 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
Amendment HA 1 to HB 205 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
Reported Out of Committee (Labor) in House with 8 Favorable, 1 On Its Merits
| Bill Text Versions | Format |
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| Bill Text | PDF HTML |
| HA 3 to HB 205 | HTML PDF |
| Document | Format |
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| Fiscal Note |
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