2024 VoteDelaware Questionnaire Responses: Senator Dan Cruce

1. A recent independent report commissioned by the State of Delaware found that public schools across the state are underfunded by $600 million dollars and recommended increased per-pupil funding, transparency, and the flexibility to allocate resources. If elected what concrete steps would you propose to take to ensure districts close the funding deficit to provide a constitutionally adequate education?

I was deeply relieved by the Delaware court finding that the state’s system of funding public education was unconstitutional. The first steps to address the negative effects on our state’s public school students pointed our state in the right direction. However, as the incredibly long and detailed state-funded study of school funding shows, this remains a major public policy challenge. As a first step, a series of public hearings are needed by the General Assembly to take testimony from school districts, the state department of education, school funding experts, and the Attorney General’s office to hear and understand their assessment of the effect of the new funding considering the data included in the state-funded study. My initial question would concern sufficiency of funding and uses and evaluated efficacy of new funding to date. We have a new Governor as well. His participation in this process is essential. School funding systems require on-going evaluation and thus, my second goal would be to establish a commission, independent of the state department of education, properly funded and staffed, to make annual reports and advise the executive and legislative branches about next steps. This type of public policy commitment thus can be followed and understood over time to assess the need, if any for additional funding, as justified by continuing evaluation of resource use.

2. The Education Equity Ombudsperson program was codified into law last year without guaranteed continuing funding to ensure that the program is sustainable.  Will you support legislation to maintain the current annual funding of $1 million to support students statewide facing inequitable treatment? 

YES
A hearing must be held to receive data from the state department of education and the EEO Ombudsperson to hear from her/him about what he/she accomplished. Testimony should be received from school districts, parents, and the Delaware State Education Association

3. There are currently an estimated 5,000 undocumented children in Delaware living without access to basic healthcare services. This past session, the General Assembly failed to pass the “Cover All Children Act” which would have been a critical first step in developing a medical coverage program for children in Delaware who are not otherwise covered, including kids who are undocumented. Will you support legislation like the “Cover All Children Act” that ensures undocumented children are protected and cared for?  

YES
Yes, but before making a commitment to create such a new program, I would first want to hear from relevant state agencies, Nemours Children’s Hospital, and other entities with applicable data to address present access and service levels to all resident document children and citizens. This must be a first priority.

I would be interested in learning more about the scope of the program envisioned, its costs, and the ability of the Delaware health care system to absorb such new demands. Given the change in national leadership and the threat to federal health care spending, this very likely will be a steep climb. However, now is the time to document the scope of the challenge.

4. Over the past few decades, many immigrants have chosen to make Delaware their home and have become vital members of our communities. Will you support increasing translation and interpretation services in government agency buildings and in public schools to help immigrants navigate the systems we all use? 

YES
This is an admirable goal to which I have an open mind. I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to hear from public school districts, parents, and the Delaware State Education Association about current services, their sufficiency, and the cost of expansion.

5. Currently, agricultural and domestic workers are exempt from state labor protections which means that workers in those fields, many of whom are immigrants and work dangerous jobs, are left with few ways to protect themselves. Will you support the removal of this exemption, so that all workers, regardless of their job, have the same protections? 

YES
Yes, but I would need to have the benefit of a public hearing, supplemented by legal analysis and cost effects, to offer an informed opinion. Among others, I would greatly welcome the opinions of advocacy groups, the State AFL-CIO, and the applicable state agencies that would be charged with enforcement (e.g., Attorney General, Department of Labor).

6. In 2017, Delaware codified the landmark Roe v. Wade decision in state law to ensure the right to an abortion remained protected. However, these protections could be removed through a simple majority vote and signature of the Governor. Will you support a state constitutional amendment to explicitly protect peoples’ access to reproductive healthcare?

YES

7. Black maternal mortality rates continue to increase in Delaware, with the gap in healthcare disparities widening. Will you support the creation of a Reproductive Healthcare Equity Fund that would support the additional costs of accessing reproductive healthcare for uninsured or underinsured people and fund the recruitment and expansion of the number of healthcare providers, including doula providers, in the state? 

YES
Yes, but before making a commitment to create such a new program, I would first want to hear from relevant state agencies, Nemours Children’s Hospital, and other entities with applicable data to address present access and service levels to all resident documented children and citizens. This must be a first priority.

However, I would be interested in learning more about the scope of the program envisioned, its costs, and the ability of the Delaware health care system to absorb such new demands. Given the change in national leadership and the threat to federal health care spending, this very likely will be a steep climb. However, now is the time to document the scope of the challenge.

8. Delaware’s probation system is broken. It does not provide the resources and support needed for successful reentry, while allowing for overly harsh punishment for minor infractions. Will you support legislation tailoring probation conditions to the needs and circumstances of the individual and restricting the use of incarceration when no new crime has been committed?  

YES
Yes, I have a very open mind to this proposal, but I would greatly benefit from a hearing and testimony offering both pros and cons on this matter.

9. Access to record expungement should not be determined by an individual’s economic circumstances. Will you support legislation removing fines and fees as a barrier to expungement eligibility? 

YES
Yes, access to record expungement should not be determined by an individual’s economic circumstances.

10. It is well documented that older incarcerated adults are less likely to commit new crimes if released. Will you support legislation that would expand compassionate release for older incarcerated adults? 

YES
Yes, I have a very open mind to this proposal, but I would greatly benefit from a hearing and testimony offering both pros and cons on this matter.

11. The Delaware Supreme Court recently upheld Delaware’s early in-person and permanent absentee voting laws, but the laws remain vulnerable to future legal challenges. Will you support protecting early in-person and permanent absentee voting through a constitutional amendment? 

YES
Yes, while the Delaware Supreme Court recently upheld Delaware’s early in-person and permanent absentee voting laws, the laws remain vulnerable to future legal challenges.

12. As of 2022, felony disenfranchisement affected 7,721 voters in Delaware. 2,965 of these people were disenfranchised while on probation or parole and 1,360 were disenfranchised even though they were not incarcerated or on probation or parole. . Voting allows people to remain connected to their communities and helps facilitate the re-entry process. Will you support a constitutional amendment allowing all people to vote as soon as they leave prison? 

YES
Yes, I have a very open mind to this proposal but would greatly benefit a hearing and substantive testimony offering both pros and cons on this matter.

13. Will you support a constitutional amendment allowing for same-day voter registration? 

YES
Yes, but I would benefit from a thorough analysis of the administrative implications before making a final decision.

14. Will you support a constitutional amendment allowing for no-excuse absentee voting? 

YES