Committee releases bill allowing New Castle County to create tenure for some county legal staff

The House Education and Government Affairs Committee voted to release Senate Bill 237, a proposal that would authorize New Castle County council to adopt an ordinance creating a tenure system for legal professionals employed by the county law department.

The bill, as presented by the committee clerk, would allow eligible legal professionals to attain tenure after three years of regular full‑time service and require documented performance measurement and a plan for attaining tenure during that initial period. The clerk said the bill does not change salaries, benefits or employment costs and that leadership positions — specifically the county attorney and county solicitor — would be excluded because they ‘‘continue to serve at the pleasure of the county executive.’’

Aaron Goldstein, New Castle County attorney, told the committee there is a supporting county resolution: "there was in fact a resolution that supports this and asks the general assembly to pass this bill is resolution 26-1018," and offered to provide a copy to the committee. Representative Bozinsky had asked whether county council had approved the measure before the General Assembly considers it; Goldstein answered that the resolution exists.

There were no public comments for SB 237. The committee took a motion to release the bill from committee and conducted a roll call. The clerk recorded affirmative votes from several named members and announced that the bill was released for further consideration.

The committee did not discuss any fiscal impact; the clerk said no fiscal note was attached to the bill.