Delaware Hispanic Commission

Del. Code tit. 29, ch. 45

in effect

Del. Code tit. 29, § 4501 Delaware Hispanic Commission; creation and purpose.

The Delaware Hispanic Commission (“Commission”) is created to do all of the following: (1) Advise the Governor, members of the Governor’s Cabinet, members of the General Assembly, and other policymakers on ways to improve the delivery of services to the people of Hispanic descent in Delaware. (2) Review, study, and prioritize matters that affect the people of Hispanic descent in Delaware, including all of the following matters: a. Education. b. Social services. c. Housing. d. Health care. e. Culture. f. History. g. The arts. h. Human and civil rights. i. Legal and legislative. j. Employment. k. Finance. l. Business. m. Economic development. (3) Work with government agencies, business groups, and nonprofit organizations to support people of Hispanic descent in Delaware. (4) Work with education and business groups in Delaware to provide access to education and employment opportunities to people of Hispanic descent in Delaware. (5) Get funding from foundation and government sources to support people of Hispanic descent in Delaware. (6) Give recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on pending legislation that affects people of Hispanic descent in Delaware. (7) Create and maintain cultural ties between people of Hispanic descent in Delaware and people of Hispanic descent in European, Latin American, and the Caribbean countries and in territories. (8) Establish and promote programs and events that create awareness of people of Hispanic descents’ culture, history, and language.

Del. Code tit. 29, § 4502 Membership; qualifications; terms [Effective until July 1, 2028].

(a) (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (e) of this section, the Commission consists of no more than 18 members who are appointed by the Governor. (2) The members appointed under paragraph (a)(1) of this section serve at the pleasure of the Governor. (b) (1) A member appointed under paragraph (a)(1) of this section or a member serving in accordance with subsection (e) of this section may be removed by the Governor for gross inefficiency, misfeasance, nonfeasance, malfeasance, or neglect of duty in office. The Governor may consider a member who is in neglect of duty in office to have resigned and may accept the member’s resignation. (2) A member is deemed in neglect of duty if the member is absent from 3 consecutive, regular Commission meetings or attends less than 50% of Commission meetings in a calendar year, unless a majority of the Commission excuses the member for good cause. (c) All members of the Commission must identify as a person of Hispanic descent, be a person of Hispanic origin, or have a proven track record of working with people of Hispanic descent in Delaware. (d) All members of the Commission must be part of at least 1 of the following: (1) The business community. (2) The education community. (3) The health-care community. (4) A Delaware state government agency. (5) The nonprofit community. (6) The legal community. (7) The finance community. (8) The arts or cultural community. (e) (1) The chair and members of the Delaware Hispanic Commission created by the Governor’s executive order are the chair and members of the Commission created by this chapter and serve at the pleasure of the Governor. (2) If the chair becomes vacant, then the Governor shall appoint a replacement chair. (f) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (e) of this section, the officers of the Delaware Hispanic Commission created by the Governor’s executive order are, subject to the Commission’s bylaws, the officers of the Commission created by this chapter.

Del. Code tit. 29, § 4503 Organization; quorum.

(a) The Commission shall adopt bylaws to carry out the purpose and duties of the Commission, including to do all of the following: (1) Elect an officer. (2) Remove an officer. (3) Create standards and ethics for members of the Commission. (4) Remove a member of the Commission. (5) Create a committee. (6) Conduct a meeting. (7) Other matters that help the Commission perform its duties. (b) A majority of the members must be present at a Commission meeting in order to have a quorum and conduct official business. A majority of the members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present is sufficient to approve an action of the Commission. A vacancy on the Commission is not counted for a quorum.

Del. Code tit. 29, § 4504 Authority.

The Commission is under the authority of the Secretary of State and has the powers, duties, and functions described in § 4501 of this title and other duties and functions that may be referred to the Commission by the Governor, the Secretary of State, or the General Assembly.

Del. Code tit. 29, § 4505 Committees; creation and purpose.

The Commission may create a committee, which may include nonmembers, to do any of the following: (1) Engage with other organizations and individuals in the State that share a similar mission. (2) Exchange ideas and information with other organizations and individuals in the State that share a similar mission. (3) Provide other organizations and individuals in the State that share a similar mission the opportunity to help the Commission.

Del. Code tit. 29, § 4506 Compensation.

All members of the Commission and all members of a committee established by the Commission serve without compensation.

Del. Code tit. 29, § 4507 Budget.

Each fiscal year, the Commission shall send a proposed annual budget to the Secretary of State and the Commission must operate within the limit of the General Assembly’s appropriation of funds.

Source: DE Code (Official Site)URL: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title29/c045/index.htmlFetched: 10/4/2026