PRIA Logo™
DelawareHB 443153rd General Assembly (2024–2026)House

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR VOLUNTEERS IN EDUCATION.

Sponsored By: Kimberly Williams (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Required checks for child-serving workers

Beginning July 1, 2026, employees, contractors, and volunteers working for or with child-serving groups must get background checks. These include criminal record and Child Protection Registry checks under Delaware’s existing child-serving background-check procedures. The checks support child safety but add screening requirements for people working with children.

State-paid checks required for student mentors

Beginning July 1, 2026, the law establishes a Department of Education Student Mentoring Program with required mentor screening. Current and prospective mentors must get criminal record and Child Protection Registry checks. They must submit fingerprints and needed information for Delaware and federal criminal record checks; the Department pays all criminal-check costs. The State Bureau of Identification sends results to the program overseer. The overseer and Education Secretary or designee can use them to decide volunteer eligibility, as permitted by Delaware law, Title 31, Section 309(d). For one year after a check, the Bureau must send state criminal record updates to the Secretary or designee. It must also send updates from the Rap Back monitoring system if that system is available. The Department can issue rules to carry out these requirements.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Kimberly Williams

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Alonna Berry

    Democratic • House

  • Kerri Evelyn Harris

    Democratic • House

  • Kamela T Smith

    Democratic • House

  • Josue O Ortega

    Democratic • House

  • Laura V. Sturgeon

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 61 • No: 0

Senate vote • 6/30/2026

Passed (SM required)

Yes: 20 • No: 0

House vote • 6/18/2026

Passed (3/4 required)

Yes: 41 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor

    7/23/2026Governor

  2. Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT

    6/30/2026Senate

  3. Reported Out of Committee (Executive) in Senate with 7 On Its Merits

    6/25/2026Senate

  4. Re-Assigned to Executive Committee in Senate

    6/24/2026Senate

  5. Assigned to Education Committee in Senate

    6/18/2026Senate

  6. Passed By House. Votes: 41 YES

    6/18/2026House

  7. Reported Out of Committee (Education) in House with 10 On Its Merits

    6/17/2026House

  8. Introduced and Assigned to Education Committee in House

    5/21/2026House

Bill Text

  • Current

    5/21/2026

    HTML

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation