Council pursues NCSL security grant and adopts Capitol Police upgrade recommendations after executive session

The Legislative Council authorized staff to pursue reimbursement funding from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Legislator Security Fund and later adopted Capitol Police security upgrade recommendations after discussing sensitive materials in executive session.

Chair and Pro Tem noted Delaware is eligible for NCSL funds allocated on a per-legislator basis, with a total allocation up to $15,000 for Delaware as a state; separate allotments for the Senate and House were described in the packet (approximately $5,082 for the Senate and $9,922 for the House). Staff clarified the program operates on a reimbursement basis: eligible expenditures are paid first and then submitted with receipts for reimbursement via the presiding officers’ processes.

The council voted to pursue the NCSL Legislator Security Fund application; roll call recorded 9 yes, 1 absent.

Later in the meeting the council moved into executive session under the cited FOIA exemption to discuss Capitol Police security upgrade recommendations and invited relevant staff and outside parties (including capitol police leadership, facilities management, and an Advantech representative). After returning to open session, the council considered specific options discussed in executive session and voted to adopt Proposal B (roll call 8 yes, 2 absent) and then to adopt Recommendation A (roll call recorded 6 yes, 3 no, 1 absent); both measures carried under the council’s procedural rules.

Staff were directed to implement the authorized security upgrades consistent with the council’s votes and to continue coordination with Capitol Police, facilities management and outside vendors. Because the underlying documents were discussed in executive session the council did not make detailed technical specifications public at the meeting.