Title 29, State Government

§ 8601. Delaware State Housing Authority. There is hereby established in the Executive Department the Delaware State Housing Authority, hereinafter referred to as “DSHA,” with the powers and duties specified in this chapter and Chapter 40 of Title 31.71 Del. Laws, c. 357, § 5;

§ 8602. Powers, duties and functions. The Delaware State Housing Authority is established having the powers, duties and functions as follows: (1) DSHA shall serve as the Governor’s staff agency in all general housing and community development matters. (2) DSHA shall harmonize its…

§ 8603. Housing Director. (a) The administrator and head of DSHA is the Housing Director, who must be a person qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the office. (1) The Housing Director is appointed, confirmed, and holds office as provided in § 10 of Artic…

§ 8701. Establishment of Department of State. A Department of State is established having, in addition to the other powers, duties and functions vested in the Department by this chapter, the power to perform and the responsibility for the performance of all the powers, duties and…

§ 8701A. Legislative findings. (a) The General Assembly finds and declares that the good order of the State depends upon the steady employment in useful occupations of the citizens of the State. Such steady and useful employment can be made available by encouraging the economic d…

§ 8702. Secretary; division directors; Acting Secretary; appointment. (a) The administrator and head of the Department is the Secretary of State (“Secretary”). (1) The Secretary is appointed, confirmed, and holds office as provided in § 10 of Article III of the Delaware Constitut…

§ 8702A. Definitions. As used in this chapter: (1) “Council” means the Council on Development Finance created by § 8707A of this title. (2) “Director” means the Director of the Division of Small Business. (3) “Division” means the Division of Small Business. (4) “Plan” means the C…

§ 8703. Powers, duties and functions of the Secretary. The Secretary of State shall have, in addition to the other powers, duties and functions as provided by law, the following powers, duties and functions: (1) To supervise, direct and account for the administration and operatio…

§ 8703A. Division of Small Business — Created; purposes. (a) There is hereby created a division of economic development which shall be known as the Division of Small Business within the Department of State. (b) The Division shall be responsible to the Secretary. (c) The Division …

§ 8704. Division of Corporations. The Division of Corporations is established and shall have the power to perform and shall be responsible for the performance of all the powers, duties and functions heretofore vested in the Secretary of State pursuant to Subtitle I of Title 6 and…

§ 8704A. Division of Small Business — Appointment, qualifications and compensation of Director; Acting Director. (a) The Division shall be headed by the Director. The Director shall be appointed by the Secretary, and shall serve at the pleasure of the Secretary. The Director shal…

§ 8705. Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs. (a) The Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs is established and shall have the power to perform and shall be responsible for the performance of all the powers, duties and functions heretofore vested in: (1) The Departmen…

§ 8705A. Division of Small Business — Powers, duties, and functions of Director. The Director shall have the following powers, duties, and functions: (1) To supervise, direct and account for the administration and operation of the Division, its subdivisions, offices, functions an…

§ 8706. Public Archives. The Delaware Public Archives is established as a Division and shall have the power to perform and shall be responsible for the performance of all the powers, duties and functions heretofore vested in the Delaware Public Records Law as described in subchap…

§ 8706A. Responsibilities of the Public/Private Partnership and the Division. (a) The Public/Private Partnership shall be governed by a board of directors comprised of no less than 15 members, and shall to be composed of the following: (1) The Governor, who shall serve as co-chai…

§ 8707. Delaware Government Information Center. (a) The Government Information Center shall have the following functions and duties: (1) To publish, maintain and continuously update content on the State’s Internet portal to facilitate convenient and comprehensive access to govern…

§ 8707A. Council on Development Finance. (a) The Council on Development Finance is hereby established and shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Director and shall consider matters relating to the financing and modernization of agricultural, industrial, commercial, emerging t…

§ 8708. Exemptions. The following positions set forth in this chapter shall be exempt from Chapter 59 of this title: (1) Secretary of State; (2) Assistant to the Secretary of State; (3) Director of Corporations; (4) State Bank Commissioner; (5) Director of Division of the Arts; (…

§ 8708A. Tourism Advisory Board [Repealed].63 Del. Laws, c. 189, § 2; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 81 Del. Laws, c. 49, § 1; repealed by 84 Del. Laws, c. 115, § 2, effective July 25, 2023.;

§ 8709. Assumption of powers. The Department, through appropriate divisions, subdivisions and offices, shall have the power to perform and shall be responsible for the performance of all the powers, duties and functions vested by law in the Secretary of State, the Public Archives…

§ 8709A. Division of Small Business — Staff. The Director and all employees of the Division shall be exempt from Chapter 59 of this title.63 Del. Laws, c. 189, § 2; 65 Del. Laws, c. 225, § 1; 69 Del. Laws, c. 458, § 1; 81 Del. Laws, c. 49, § 1; 81 Del. Laws, c. 374, § 6;

§ 8710. Appeals. Any and all rights of appeal now existing by law with respect to any act or acts constituting the exercise of any function or functions transferred by this chapter to the Department or to any division or subdivision thereof shall continue to exist with respect to…

§ 8710A. Division of Small Business — Collection and distribution of information; sale of publications. (a) The Division may collect and disseminate any data or other information including, but not limited to, the population, demographics and economy of the State. The Division sh…

§ 8711. Transfers and continuity. (a) All books, records, papers, maps, charts, plans and other material including, but not limited to, any equipment in the possession of any agency of the State and used in connection with a function transferred by this chapter to the Department …

§ 8711A. Site Readiness Fund. (a) The Site Readiness Fund (“Fund”) is established to provide economic assistance for renovation, construction, or other improvements to infrastructure to attract new businesses to this State, or expand existing businesses in this State, when such a…

§ 8712. Annual report. The Secretary of the Department shall make an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly of the Department’s operation and render such other reports as the Governor or General Assembly may from time to time request or as may be required by law.2…

§ 8712A. Assistance for tourism and business promotion. (a) The Director is hereby authorized and directed to establish a special fund of the State to encourage instrumentalities and political subdivisions of the State and private and public nonprofit associations to attract new …

§ 8713. Misnomer of Department in donation. Any misnomer shall not defeat or annul any gift, grant, devise or bequest to the Department if it sufficiently appears by the will, conveyance or other writing that the party making the same intended to pass and convey thereby to the De…

§ 8713A. Assumption of powers of Division. The Division shall have the power to perform and shall be responsible for the performance of all powers, duties and functions heretofore vested by law in the Division of Economic Development of the Department of Community Affairs and Eco…

§ 8714. Budgeting and financing. (a) The Secretary, in cooperation with the division directors, shall prepare a proposed budget for the operation of the Department to be submitted for the consideration of the Governor and the General Assembly. The Department shall be operated wit…

§ 8714A. Rights of appeals continued. Any and all rights of appeal now existing by law with respect to any act or acts constituting the exercise of any function or functions transferred by this chapter to the Division, to any subdivision thereof or to any council or board created…

§ 8715. Supremacy. All other laws or parts of laws now in effect inconsistent with this chapter are hereby repealed, superseded, modified or amended so far as necessary to conform to and give full force and effect to this chapter.29 Del. C. 1953, § 8716; 57 Del. Laws, c. 608, § 7…

§ 8715A. Transition provisions. (a) All property, including all books, records, papers, maps, charts, plans, equipment and other materials owned by or in the possession of any agency of the State and used in connection with a function transferred by law to the Delaware Economic D…

§ 8716. Division of the Public Advocate. (a) There is established within the Department of State the Division of the Public Advocate. The Public Advocate shall be a person qualified by training and/or experience to perform the duties of the office. Beginning in the 149th General …

§ 8716A. Reports. (a) The Division shall submit 1 annual report on or before December 1 of each year that includes all of the following information: (1) The status of the Division’s efforts to meet the vision, goals, objectives, strategies, and economic indicators included in its…

§ 8717. Division of Public Utility Control. The Division of Public Utility Control is established within the Department of State having powers, duties and functions as follows: (1) The administrative, ministerial, budgetary and clerical functions, including but not limited to app…

§ 8717A. Misnomer of Division in donation. Any misnomer shall not defeat or annul any gift, grant, devise or bequest to the Division if it sufficiently appears by the will, conveyance or other writing that the party making the same intended to pass and convey thereby to the Divis…

§ 8718. State Bank Commissioner. (a) The Office of State Bank Commissioner established by Chapter 1 of Title 5 is continued. (b) The Commissioner shall be appointed by the Governor for a term of 4 years and shall hold office until a successor shall be duly appointed. The Commissi…

§ 8718A. Budget. The Director shall prepare a proposed budget for the operation of the Division to be submitted along with the proposal for the Department of State for the consideration of the Secretary, Governor and the General Assembly. The budget may be presented in any manner…

§ 8719. Council on Banking. (a) The Council on Banking is established, and shall serve in an advisory capacity to the State Bank Commissioner and shall consider matters relating to the administration of the banking laws and the strengthening and improving of banking in this State…

§ 8719A. Supremacy. All other laws or parts of laws now in effect inconsistent with this chapter are hereby repealed, superseded, modified or amended so far as necessary to conform to, and give full force and effect to, this chapter.63 Del. Laws, c. 189, § 2; 81 Del. Laws, c. 49,…

§ 8720. Delaware Commission of Veterans’ Affairs — Established; composition; powers [For application of the transfer of this section, see 85 Del. Laws, c. 137, § 12] [Transferred]. Transferred to § 8811 of this title by 85 Del. Laws, c. 137, § 2, effective Aug. 13, 2025.

§ 8721. Delaware Commission of Veterans’ Affairs — Duties and responsibilities [For application of the transfer of this section, see 85 Del. Laws, c. 137, § 12] [Transferred]. Transferred to § 8812 of this title by 85 Del. Laws, c. 137, § 2, effective Aug. 13, 2025.

§ 8722. Delaware Commission of Veterans’ Affairs — Authority [For application of the transfer of this section, see 85 Del. Laws, c. 137, § 12] [Transferred]. Transferred to § 8813 of this title by 85 Del. Laws, c. 137, § 2, effective Aug. 13, 2025.

§ 8723. Delaware Commission of Veterans’ Affairs — Organization and operation [For application of the transfer of this section, see 85 Del. Laws, c. 137, § 12] [Transferred]. Transferred to § 8814 of this title by 85 Del. Laws, c. 137, § 2, effective Aug. 13, 2025.

§ 8724. Delaware Commission of Veterans’ Affairs — Funding [For application of the transfer of this section, see 85 Del. Laws, c. 137, § 12] [Transferred]. Transferred to § 8815 of this title by 85 Del. Laws, c. 137, § 2, effective Aug. 13, 2025.