Signed by Governor John Carney, Jr.

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes economic protections for federal workers during a government shutdown.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a federal worker who is furloughed or required to work without pay during a shutdown to apply to a court for a temporary stay, postponement, or suspension of rent, mortgage, taxes, fines, penalties, insurance premiums, judgement, or any other civil obligation or liability that the federal worker owes or will owe during the duration of the shutdown (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes a court to grant relief to an individual if the court finds that the ability of the federal worker to pay such obligation has been materially affected by the shutdown (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that a stay of action, proceeding, attachment, or execution authorized by a court be covered for the period of the shutdown and 90 days thereafter (Sec. 1).

• Defines “federal worker” as an employee of a federal government agency who resides in the state of Delaware and includes an employee or contractor (Sec. 1).

• Defines “shutdown” as any period in which there is more than a 24-hour lapse in appropriations for any federal government agency as a result of a failure to enact a regular appropriations bill or continuing resolution (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits a landlord from evicting a federal worker from their residence for non-payment of rent during the covered period of the shutdown and 30 days thereafter (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits a covered insurance policy from lapsing, terminating, or being forfeited because a federal worker does not pay a premium, interest, or indebtedness that is due during the covered period of the shutdown (Sec. 1).

• Limits the rate of interest on insurance debts incurred by a federal worker before the shutdown to 6 percent per year (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text