Delaware 153rd General Assembly (2025-2026) Status: Passed Senate Bipartisan · 16 D · 4 R cosponsors

SB 293 — AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CHILD CARE LICENSES FOR YOUTH CAMPS.

Last action — Signed by Governor

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced April 30, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the House.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 74% · high confidence

  • Passed Senate

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 23 sponsors

    23 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (16 D · 4 R) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 3 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The bill simplifies licensing for youth camps accredited by the American Camp Association.

This Act streamlines licensing requirements for youth camps that have ACA accreditation, allowing them to meet equivalent health and safety standards. It expands access to summer child care eligible for reimbursement from the Purchase of Care program.

What this means for you
  • Families: This means more accessible options for summer child care and potential reimbursement support through the Purchase of Care program.

Summary

This Act simplifies the licensing requirements for youth camps that are accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) by requiring that the Department of Education's Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) deem a youth camp as meeting all equivalent health and safety requirements necessary for a youth camp license if the youth camp has ACA accreditation through August 30 of the current calendar year. By streamlining the OCCL licensing requirements for youth camps, this Act also increases the availability of summer child care that is eligible for provider reimbursement from the Purchase of Care (POC) program. Under existing OCCL regulations, a youth camp has the option of applying for either license exempt status or a license. To obtain a license, a youth camp must meet very detailed and specific requirements that are challenging, if not impossible, for many youth camps. ACA accreditation requires that a camp satisfies health and safety requirements that are similar and equivalent, but not identical, to the OCCL license requirements. However, an ACA accredited but license-exempt youth camp is unable to receive POC provider reimbursement because under the state plan for the federal Child Care and Development Fund, license exempt child care providers are not eligible for provider reimbursement. This Act also codifies the following policies that are in the current OCCL child care licensing regulations: • A youth camp license and the definition of “youth camp”. • The requirement that a youth camp must have a valid Division of Public Health permit to be licensed or approved as license exempt. • The school-age care, programs, and activities that are exempt from child care license requirements. This Act is effective immediately and § 3003A(c)(4)b. of Title 14 must be implemented no later than December 31, 2026. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

75 added · 8 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to SB 293 clarifies a definition related to "youth camp" by correcting the language concerning the operation time, changing “of” to “or” to indicate that youth camps may operate during either the months of May through September or during school breaks. This change ensures that the definition accurately reflects the times during which these camps can legally operate.

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Previous
Latest
Paradee DELAWARE STATE SENATE 153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY SENATE AMENDMENT NO.
Paradee & Rep.
1 TO SENATE BILL NO.
Harris Sens.
293 AMEND Senate Bill No.
Brown, Buckson, Cruce, Hansen, Hocker, Hoffner, Huxtable, Lawson, Lockman, Mantzavinos, Pettyjohn, Pinkney, Poore, Richardson, Seigfried, Sokola, Sturgeon, Townsend, Walsh, Wilson;
293 on line 10 by deleting "of" after "1" and before "more" therein and inserting in lieu thereof "or ".
Reps.
SYNOPSIS This Amendment corrects a typographical error.
Berry, Gorman, Ortega, Ross Levin, K.
Williams DELAWARE STATE SENATE 153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY SENATE BILL NO.
293 AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CHILD CARE LICENSES FOR YOUTH CAMPS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1.
Amend § 3002A, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows § 3002A.
Definitions.
For the purpose of this chapter:
(7) “Youth camp” means a child-serving entity that is all of the following:
a.
Operating in a space or location that is not otherwise licensed under this chapter.
b.
Providing a program of recreational, athletic, educational, or religious instruction or guidance.
c.
Taking custody or control of 1 or more school-age children, unattended by the child’s parent or guardian.
d.
Operating during 1 of more of the following:
1.
The months of May through September for no more than 12 weeks and for 3 or more hours a day.
2.
A break in the course of the school year.
Section 2.
Amend § 3003A, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows and redesignating accordingly:
§ 3003A.
Office of Child Care Licensing;
powers.
(c) OCCL may prescribe and enforce, by regulation or otherwise, any reasonable standards for the conduct of child care facilities and shall license child care facilities that conform to the these standards.
Regulations promulgated under this chapter must include all of the following:
(1) Any application form required to apply for licensure any of the following:
a.
Licensure under this chapter.
b.
A license exemption.
DLS :
DIG :
AF Page 1 of 3 Released:
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Previous
Latest
04/29/2026 10:22 AM (2) The specific requirements to obtain, retain, or renew a any of the following:
a.
A license under this chapter.
b.
A license exemption, including for all of the following:
1.
A youth camp that has a valid permit from the Division of Public Health under § 122(3)g.
of Title 16.
2.
Programs that offer school-age care, lessons, or classes on a limited basis.
(4) A youth camp license as follows:
a.
A youth camp license must require that the youth camp comply with all of the following:
1.
The youth camp must have a valid permit from the Division of Public Health under § 122(3)g.
of Title 16.
2.
The health and safety requirements necessary to qualify for Purchase of Care provider reimbursement, established in collaboration with the Department of Health and Social Services under § 512 of Title 31.
b.
If a youth camp is accredited by the American Camp Association through August 30 of the current calendar year, the youth camp is deemed as meeting all of the equivalent requirements under paragraph (c)(4)a.2.
of this section.
Section 3.
This Act is effective immediately and § 3003A(c)(4)b.
of Title 14 must be implemented no later than December 31, 2026.
SYNOPSIS This Act simplifies the licensing requirements for youth camps that are accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) by requiring that the Department of Education's Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) deem a youth camp as meeting all equivalent health and safety requirements necessary for a youth camp license if the youth camp has ACA accreditation through August 30 of the current calendar year.
By streamlining the OCCL licensing requirements for youth camps, this Act also increases the availability of summer child care that is eligible for provider reimbursement from the Purchase of Care (POC) program.
Under existing OCCL regulations, a youth camp has the option of applying for either license exempt status or a license.
To obtain a license, a youth camp must meet very detailed and specific requirements that are challenging, if not impossible, for many youth camps.
ACA accreditation requires that a camp satisfies health and safety requirements that are similar and equivalent, but not identical, to the OCCL license requirements.
However, an ACA accredited but license- exempt youth camp is unable to receive POC provider reimbursement because under the state plan for the federal Child Care and Development Fund, license exempt child care providers are not eligible for provider reimbursement.
This Act also codifies the following policies that are in the current OCCL child care licensing regulations:
• A youth camp license and the definition of “youth camp”.
• The requirement that a youth camp must have a valid Division of Public Health permit to be licensed or approved as license exempt.
• The school-age care, programs, and activities that are exempt from child care license requirements.
This Act is effective immediately and § 3003A(c)(4)b.
of Title 14 must be implemented no later than December 31, 2026.
DLS :
DIG :
AF Page 2 of 3 Released:
04/29/2026 10:22 AM This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.
AF Page 1 of 1 Released:
AF Page 3 of 3 Released:
05/21/2026 11:44 AM 5971530145
04/29/2026 10:22 AM 5971530136
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Action History

  1. Passed By Senate. Votes: 19 YES 2 ABSENT

  2. Suspension of Rules in Senate

  3. Passed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 ABSENT

  4. Amendment HA 1 to SB 293 - Passed In House by Voice Vote

  5. Reported Out of Committee (Education) in House with 1 Favorable, 10 On Its Merits

  6. Amendment HA 1 to SB 293 - Introduced and Placed With Bill

  7. Assigned to Education Committee in House

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

  9. Amendment SA 1 to SB 293 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT

  10. Amendment SA 1 to SB 293 - Introduced and Placed With Bill

  11. Reported Out of Committee (Education) in Senate with 5 On Its Merits

  12. Introduced and Assigned to Education Committee in Senate

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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23 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 39 not signed on

Sponsors (23)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (39)

39 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 39 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

SM

Passed 19 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 15000
Republican 4002
Total 19002
% of votes cast 90%0%0%10%
How each member voted (21)
Member Party Vote
Bryan Townsend Democratic Yea
Daniel Cruce Democratic Yea
Darius J. Brown Democratic Yea
David P. Sokola Democratic Yea
John "Jack" Walsh Democratic Yea
Kyra L. Hoffner Democratic Yea
Laura V. Sturgeon Democratic Yea
Marie Pinkney Democratic Yea
Nicole Poore Democratic Yea
Ray Seigfried Democratic Yea
Russell Huxtable Democratic Yea
S. Elizabeth Lockman Democratic Yea
Spiros Mantzavinos Democratic Yea
Stephanie L. Hansen Democratic Yea
Trey Paradee Democratic Yea
Brian Pettyjohn Republican Yea
Bryant L. Richardson Republican Not Voting
Dave G. Lawson Republican Not Voting
David L. Wilson Republican Yea
Eric Buckson Republican Yea
Gerald W. Hocker Republican Yea

Official roll call →

SM

Passed 40 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 26001
Republican 14000
Total 40001
% of votes cast 98%0%0%2%
How each member voted (41)
Member Party Vote
Alonna Berry Democratic Yea
Claire Snyder-Hall Democratic Yea
Cyndie Romer Democratic Yea
DeShanna U Neal Democratic Yea
Debra Heffernan Democratic Yea
Edward S. Osienski Democratic Yea
Eric Morrison Democratic Yea
Frank Burns Democratic Yea
Franklin D. Cooke Democratic Yea
Josue O Ortega Democratic Yea
Kamela T Smith Democratic Yea
Kendra Johnson Democratic Yea
Kerri Evelyn Harris Democratic Yea
Kimberly Williams Democratic Yea
Krista Griffith Democratic Yea
Larry Lambert Democratic Yea
Madinah Wilson-Anton Democratic Yea
Mara Gorman Democratic Yea
Melanie Ross Levin Democratic Yea
Melissa Minor-Brown Democratic Yea
Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha Democratic Not Voting
Sean M. Lynn Democratic Yea
Sherae'a Moore Democratic Yea
Sophie Phillips Democratic Yea
Stephanie T. Bolden Democratic Yea
William Bush Democratic Yea
William J. Carson Democratic Yea
Bryan W. Shupe Republican Yea
Charles S Postles Jr. Republican Yea
Daniel B. Short Republican Yea
Jeff Hilovsky Republican Yea
Jeffrey N. Spiegelman Republican Yea
Jesse R. Vanderwende Republican Yea
Kevin S Hensley Republican Yea
Lyndon D. Yearick Republican Yea
Michael F. Smith Republican Yea
Richard G. Collins Republican Yea
Ronald E. Gray Republican Yea
Shannon Morris Republican Yea
Timothy D. Dukes Republican Yea
Valerie Jones Giltner Republican Yea

Official roll call →

SM

Passed 20 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 15000
Republican 5001
Total 20001
% of votes cast 95%0%0%5%
How each member voted (21)
Member Party Vote
Bryan Townsend Democratic Yea
Daniel Cruce Democratic Yea
Darius J. Brown Democratic Yea
David P. Sokola Democratic Yea
John "Jack" Walsh Democratic Yea
Kyra L. Hoffner Democratic Yea
Laura V. Sturgeon Democratic Yea
Marie Pinkney Democratic Yea
Nicole Poore Democratic Yea
Ray Seigfried Democratic Yea
Russell Huxtable Democratic Yea
S. Elizabeth Lockman Democratic Yea
Spiros Mantzavinos Democratic Yea
Stephanie L. Hansen Democratic Yea
Trey Paradee Democratic Yea
Brian Pettyjohn Republican Yea
Bryant L. Richardson Republican Yea
Dave G. Lawson Republican Yea
David L. Wilson Republican Yea
Eric Buckson Republican Yea
Gerald W. Hocker Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety labor education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 293 do?
This Act simplifies the licensing requirements for youth camps that are accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) by requiring that the Department of Education's Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) deem a youth camp as meeting all equivalent health and safety requirements necessary for a youth camp license if the youth camp has ACA accreditation through August 30 of the current calendar year. By streamlining the OCCL licensing requirements for youth camps, this Act also increases the availability of summer child care that is eligible for provider reimbursement from the Purchase of Care (POC) program. Under existing OCCL regulations, a youth camp has the option of applying for either license exempt status or a license. To obtain a license, a youth camp must meet very detailed and specific requirements that are challenging, if not impossible, for many youth camps. ACA accreditation requires that a camp satisfies health and safety requirements that are similar and equivalent, but not identical, to the OCCL license requirements. However, an ACA accredited but license-exempt youth camp is unable to receive POC provider reimbursement because under the state plan for the federal Child Care and Development Fund, license exempt child care providers are not eligible for provider reimbursement. This Act also codifies the following policies that are in the current OCCL child care licensing regulations: • A youth camp license and the definition of “youth camp”. • The requirement that a youth camp must have a valid Division of Public Health permit to be licensed or approved as license exempt. • The school-age care, programs, and activities that are exempt from child care license requirements. This Act is effective immediately and § 3003A(c)(4)b. of Title 14 must be implemented no later than December 31, 2026. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.
Who sponsors SB 293?
SB 293 is sponsored by Stell Parker Selby, Mara Gorman (Democratic), David L. Wilson (Republican), John "Jack" Walsh (Democratic), Bryan Townsend (Democratic), Laura V. Sturgeon (Democratic), David P. Sokola (Democratic), Ray Seigfried (Democratic), Bryant L. Richardson (Republican), Nicole Poore (Democratic), Marie Pinkney (Democratic), Brian Pettyjohn (Republican), Spiros Mantzavinos (Democratic), Josue O Ortega (Democratic), Dave G. Lawson (Republican), Russell Huxtable (Democratic), Claire Snyder-Hall (Democratic), Melanie Ross Levin, Franklin D. Cooke (Democratic), Darius J. Brown (Democratic), Kerri Evelyn Harris (Democratic), Trey Paradee (Democratic), and Sarah McBride.
What is the current status of SB 293?
This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced April 30, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track SB 293?
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