# Delaware SS 1 for SB 208: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSIONALS. Delaware SS 1 for SB 208, AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSIONALS., is a 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026) Senate bill sponsored by Brian Pettyjohn (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-06-24 (Signed by Governor); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SS1FORSB208-153 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Delaware SS 1 for SB 208 - State: Delaware - Session: 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026) - Title: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSIONALS. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-03-24 - Last action: 2026-06-24, Signed by Governor - Sponsor: Brian Pettyjohn (Republican) - Cosponsors: 28 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 2 (57 yes, 1 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 13 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Psychology patients get care-ending notices: benefit, low. Licensees must give patients at least 30 days' notice before ending their care. That notice also applies when a practice closes without transferring records to another Delaware provider. Notices must explain record access, list local providers who may accept patients, and give the service-ending da… - Clearer standards for psychology services: benefit, low. Delaware defines psychology practice to include testing, assessment, therapy, diagnosis, consultation, and supervision. These services must use scientific psychological knowledge and methods, with evidence-based literature where available. The definition covers services for individuals, families, a… - Stronger safety rules for psychology patients: benefit, low. The Board can discipline covered licensees and registrants after a hearing for crimes related to practice and other misconduct. Grounds include fraud, ethical violations, unsafe practice, conversion therapy with minors, and failure to report child abuse or neglect. Impairment rules cover psychologi… - Psychologist applicants face clear training requirements: cost, low. Psychologist applicants need a doctorate from an appropriately accredited school and an approved professional psychology program. Accepted programs have American Psychological Association, Canadian Psychological Association, or Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System approval, or Board-… - Psychology associates gain limited independent practice: mixed, medium. Licensed psychology associates can practice independently within their master's-level training, including using screening tools and brief assessments. Applicants need an approved master's degree, an internship, and at least 2 years of supervised work after the degree. They must pass the Examination… - Psychology providers face emergency suspension safeguards: mixed, medium. The Board can temporarily suspend a psychology credential when a complaint shows a clear and immediate public danger. The provider receives at least 24 hours' notice, and suspension generally lasts no more than 60 days. An expedited hearing must be scheduled when requested within 5 calendar days of… - Psychology patients get records with fee limits: mixed, low. Patients or new providers can request record transfers with the patient's written consent. The patient and licensee can agree to a free summary instead of the full record. Copying, postage, and other reproduction charges follow a Board payment schedule reviewed annually; advance payment may be requ… - Psychology records have seven-year disposal rules: mixed, low. Licensees can confidentially destroy records 7 years after closing their Delaware business. After care ends or transfers, disposal is allowed 7 years after the last record entry. Estate representatives can destroy unclaimed records 7 years after the licensee's death. Board-appointed custodians can… - Existing psychology assistants keep recognized status: mixed, low. Doctoral-assistant registration accepts Canadian Psychological Association-accredited programs alongside American Psychological Association, clinical-science-accredited, and Board-approved equivalent programs. Foreign-program applicants must show equivalent training and obtain an approved credentia… - Experienced psychology associates gain interstate licensing: mixed, low. Psychology associates licensed or certified elsewhere can use Delaware's interstate licensing path after 2 years of continuous practice there. They must document current credentials, qualifying master's-level education, and a passing psychology licensing exam score. Foreign-program degrees require… - Psychological assistants get supervised practice paths: mixed, low. Registered doctoral-level assistants work under psychologists; master's-level assistants work under psychologists or licensed psychology associates. Assistants can perform only the functions listed in their submitted statements. Master's-level applicants need an approved psychology degree and must… - Psychology applicants pay for background checks: mixed, low. Psychologist, psychology associate, and both assistant-category applicants must pay for fingerprinting and state and federal criminal-history checks. A conviction substantially related to psychology practice blocks a credential unless a waiver is granted. For initial applicants, the Board must gran… - Psychology credentials require fees and renewal: mixed, low. Qualified applicants receive their psychology license or registration after paying the required fees. The state calculates fees each calendar year to reasonably reflect Board costs and its share of regulatory expenses. Licenses and registrations require renewal every 2 years, including a form, fee,… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Brian Pettyjohn (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Alonna Berry (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Eric Buckson (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Frank Burns (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Daniel Cruce (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Timothy D. Dukes (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Gerald W. Hocker (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Kyra L. Hoffner (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Russell Huxtable (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Valerie Jones Giltner (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Kimberly Williams (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Dave G. Lawson (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: S. Elizabeth Lockman (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Spiros Mantzavinos (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Michael F. Smith (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Eric Morrison (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Josue O Ortega (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Edward S. Osienski (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Marie Pinkney (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Nicole Poore (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Bryant L. Richardson (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Cyndie Romer (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Ray Seigfried (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Claire Snyder-Hall (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: David P. Sokola (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Bryan Townsend (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: John "Jack" Walsh (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: David L. Wilson (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-06-16 | House | Passed (3/5 required) | pass | 37 | 1 | | | 2026-03-26 | Senate | Passed (3/5 required) | pass | 20 | 0 | | ## Actions (6) - 2026-06-24: Signed by Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-16: Passed By House. Votes: 37 YES 1 NO 3 ABSENT (House) - 2026-05-19: Reported Out of Committee (Sunset Committee (Policy Analysis & Government Accountability)) in House with 1 Favorable, 2 On Its Merits (House) - 2026-04-09: Assigned to Sunset Committee (Policy Analysis & Government Accountability) Committee in House (House) - 2026-03-26: Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT (Senate) - 2026-03-24: was introduced and adopted in lieu of SB 208 (Senate) ## Bill text - Current, 2026-03-24: [HTML](https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=143001&legislationTypeId=6&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=143001&legislationTypeId=6&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-SS1FORSB208-153 (as of 2026-10-12).