# Delaware SB 278: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 31 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE. Delaware SB 278, AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 31 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE., is a 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026) Senate bill sponsored by Trey Paradee (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-08-17 (SS 1 for SB 278 - Signed by Governor); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB278-153 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Delaware SB 278 - State: Delaware - Session: 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026) - Title: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 31 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE. - Status: failed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-04-15 - Last action: 2026-08-17, SS 1 for SB 278 - Signed by Governor - Sponsor: Trey Paradee (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 13 - Touches household money: yes - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Child care help for state-custody children: benefit, high. Delaware's child care assistance program is called Purchase of Care (POC). Children in the custody of the Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families qualify for POC assistance. This covers custody under Title 13, Chapter 25. The law takes effect immediately. - Family child care copayments reflect needs: mixed, low. For families receiving POC help, copayments must reflect household size and income. Copayments must also account for whether care is full-day or half-day. The law does not set payment amounts or say whether a family's payment increases or decreases. - Flexible child care with summer hour limits: mixed, low. Delaware's health and social services department must approve multiple providers when a child needs care at different hours or locations. It must approve a summer provider any time after January 1 when approval is needed for enrollment. Advance approval can cover enrollment only; the child must qua… - Work-related child care help has limits: mixed, low. People who need child care to find or keep a job, or get training leading to employment, can apply for POC. Job seekers can apply for a period of no more than 90 consecutive days within a 1-year period. Delaware's Department of Health and Social Services determines eligibility and assistance amount… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Trey Paradee (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Eric Buckson (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Daniel Cruce (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Stephanie L. Hansen (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Kerri Evelyn Harris (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Debra Heffernan (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Kyra L. Hoffner (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Russell Huxtable (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Kendra Johnson (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Kamela T Smith (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Eric Morrison (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Edward S. Osienski (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Marie Pinkney (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Cyndie Romer (Democratic), House ## Actions (15) - 2026-08-17: SS 1 for SB 278 - Signed by Governor (Governor) - 2026-07-01: SS 1 for SB 278 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 19 YES 2 ABSENT (Senate) - 2026-06-30: SS 1 for SB 278 - Passed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 ABSENT (House) - 2026-06-30: SS 1 for SB 278 - - Passed In House by Voice Vote (House) - 2026-06-23: SS 1 for SB 278 - Reported Out of Committee (Appropriations) in House with 4 On Its Merits (House) - 2026-06-18: SS 1 for SB 278 - Assigned to Appropriations Committee in House (House) - 2026-06-18: SS 1 for SB 278 - Reported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 9 On Its Merits (House) - 2026-06-16: Substituted in Senate by SS 1 for SB 278 (Senate) - 2026-06-04: SS 1 for SB 278 - Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House (House) - 2026-05-21: SS 1 for SB 278 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT (Senate) - 2026-05-20: SS 1 for SB 278 - Reported Out of Committee (Finance) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits (Senate) - 2026-05-18: SS 1 for SB 278 - Assigned to Finance Committee in Senate (Senate) - 2026-05-06: Substituted in Senate by SS 1 for SB 278 (Senate) - 2026-04-22: Reported Out of Committee (Health & Social Services) in Senate with 5 Favorable (Senate) - 2026-04-15: Introduced and Assigned to Health & Social Services Committee in Senate (Senate) ## Bill text - Current, 2026-04-15: [HTML](https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=143096&legislationTypeId=1&docTypeId=2) ## Related bills - HS 1 for HB 449: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DIETITIAN/NUTRITIONIST LICENSURE ACT. (passed house) - HB 357: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 10 AND 13 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DUTY TO SUPPORT POOR PERSONS. (signed) - SB 279: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL-BASED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS. (vetoed) - HB 393: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROTECTIONS FOR PUBLIC UTILITY CONSUMERS. (vetoed) - SB 231: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS. (vetoed) - HB 356: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PFAS IN FIREFIGHTING FOAM AND EQUIPMENT. (failed) ## Sources - [Current (HTML)](https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=143096&legislationTypeId=1&docTypeId=2) ## Related - [HS 1 for HB 449: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DIETITIAN/NUTRITI…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HS1FORHB449-153) - [HB 357: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 10 AND 13 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DUTY TO S…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB357-153) - [SB 279: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL-BASED OCCUPATI…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB279-153) - [HB 393: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROTECTIONS FOR PUBLI…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB393-153) - [SB 231: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB231-153) - [HB 356: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PFAS IN FIREFIGHTING…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB356-153) - [Delaware bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/delaware/bills) - [Delaware state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/delaware) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB278-153 (as of 2026-10-12).