Merit Institute Merit

The Delaware Pro-Worker AI Workforce Act (DE-AI-Workforce)

Delaware state companion to the federal AI Workforce Act. Leverages Del. Code Title 30 credits, Delaware Department of Education coordination, and the Delaware Prosperity Partnership with labor-protective training credits and public-option R&D matching grants.

THE DELAWARE PRO-WORKER AI WORKFORCE ACT (DE-AI-WORKFORCE)

Vehicle: State passage. Delaware General Assembly, regular session. Primary referral to House / Senate Economic Development, Banking, Insurance and Commerce / Finance.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the “Delaware Pro-Worker AI Workforce Act (DE-AI-Workforce).”

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The General Assembly finds that AI adoption is an opportunity to raise wages and worker voice; that Del. Code Title 30 authorizes tax credits; that the Delaware Department of Education operates under Del. Code Title 14; that the Delaware Prosperity Partnership operates as the State’s public-private economic development partner; and that Del. Code Title 19 protects workers.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH DELAWARE LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “AI-adjacent occupation” is aligned to the federal AI Workforce Act.
  2. (b) “Labor-management partnership” means a jointly administered training program.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Delaware Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • Del. Code Title 30 (taxation).
  • Del. Code Title 14 (education).
  • Delaware Prosperity Partnership framework.
  • Del. Code Title 19 (labor).

TITLE II — WORKER-MERIT AI TRAINING CREDIT (Labor-Protective Rewire)

Sec. 201. Pro-Worker AI Training Credit

  1. (a) A new credit is added to Del. Code Title 30 equal to a percentage of qualified training expenditures for Delaware-resident workers training in AI-adjacent occupations.
  2. (b) Enhanced rate where delivered through a labor-management partnership, registered apprenticeship under Del. Code Title 14 Chapter 92, or Delaware Technical Community College.
  3. (c) Coordinated with federal IRC Sec. 45BB; aggregate cap.
  4. (d) Division of Revenue administers.

TITLE III — DELAWARE AI APPRENTICESHIPS

Sec. 301. Registered Apprenticeship Priority

  1. (a) The Department of Labor shall prioritize registered AI-adjacent apprenticeships under Del. Code Title 14 Chapter 92.

TITLE IV — PUBLIC-OPTION R&D MATCHING GRANTS

Sec. 401. Delaware Prosperity Partnership Matching Grants

  1. (a) The Delaware Prosperity Partnership, in coordination with the Delaware Department of Education, shall operate a Delaware AI R&D Matching Grant Program funding open-source, public-interest AI research aligned to federal public-option infrastructure, with priority to labor-management partnerships and Delaware Technical Community College / Delaware State University / University of Delaware partnerships on neutral, competency-based criteria.

TITLE V — WORKER VOICE AND TRANSPARENCY

Sec. 501. Worker Voice

  1. (a) Del. Code Title 19 protections preserved; credits conditioned on non-interference with protected concerted activity.

Sec. 502. Data Transparency

  1. (a) Published dashboard through the Delaware Department of Education and Delaware Workforce Development Board, crosswalked to the Federal NLMF.

TITLE VI — IMPLEMENTATION & GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 601. Severability

If any provision is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the remainder.

Sec. 602. Effective Date

This Act shall take effect on July 1 of the year following enactment, except that Sec. 201 shall apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1 of the year following enactment.

Canonical federal version: AI Workforce Act. Other Delaware bills: DE-ACSA, DE-MEWRA, DE-GT&P.