Delaware 153rd General Assembly (2025-2026) Status: Enacted 6 D cosponsors

HB 303 — AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11, TITLE 19, AND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO JUVENILE PROBATION AND PAROLE OFFICERS AND OTHER EMPLOYEES OF THE DIVISION OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND THEIR FAMILIES.

Last action — Signed by Governor

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

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 05, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Matt Meyer (Democratic) on June 24, 2026.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 82% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 7 sponsors

    7 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (6 D).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

In plain language

The bill amends Delaware laws regarding juvenile probation and parole officers to better align with their roles.

This Act updates the classification and provisions for Juvenile Probation and Parole Officers in Delaware. It allows these officers to seek union representation and access pension benefits, reflecting their responsibilities and status.

What this means for you
  • Workers: Juvenile Probation and Parole Officers can now seek union representation and receive pension benefits.

Summary

This Act makes various changes related to Juvenile Probation and Parole Officers employed by the Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families (DSCYF) in the Division of Youth Rehabilitative Services’ Serious Juvenile Offender (SJO) Unit. Juvenile Probation and Parole Officers in the SJO Unit are specialized staff who are responsible for monitoring the highest-risk youth. Unlike the majority of the Division’s Community Services staff monitoring youth on pretrial supervision or aftercare, the officers in the SJO Unit are sworn law enforcement officers authorized to carry a firearm and enforce warrants. This Act does not change the existing powers and duties of DSCYF Juvenile Probation and Parole Officers, but instead updates Delaware Code to align with their position classification. This Act adds Juvenile Probation and Parole Officers employed by DSCYF to the Police Officers’ and Firefighters’ Employment Relations Act (POFERA). This will allow the officers in the SJO Unit to seek union representation under the Fraternal Order of Police like the Department of Correction’s Probation and Parole Officers, the DSCYF Juvenile Probation and Parole Officers’ closest state agency counterparts. This Act also adds DSCYF employees to the existing statute that enables Department of Correction employees to receive a service pension after 25 years if they internally promote after 20 years of credited service. This Act also changes references throughout Delaware Code to be consistent with the position classification name and makes technical corrections to existing code to conform to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

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AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This Act updates Delaware Code to recognize Juvenile Probation and Parole Officers' status, aligns definitions, and modifies provisions related to their pension eligibility and political rights.

  • § 8402A, Title 11

    serious juvenile offender officer → Juvenile Probation and Parole Officer

    Clarifies the title of the position required to wear body-worn cameras.

  • § 9200, Title 11

    or a Juvenile Probation and Parole Officer of the Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families → or Juvenile Probation and Parole Officer of the Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families

    Updates the definition of law-enforcement officer to include Juvenile Probation and Parole Officers.

  • § 1602, Title 19

    correction and Juvenile Probation and Parole Officers of the Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families → Juvenile Probation and Parole Officers of the Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families

    Amends the definition of police officer to accurately include Juvenile Probation and Parole Officers.

  • § 5501, Title 29

    Probation and parole officers in the Serious Juvenile Offender Unit and senior probation officers employed by the Division of Services for Children, Youth, and their Families. → Juvenile Probation and Parole Officers and Juvenile Probation and Parole Officer Supervisors employed by the Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families.

    Enhances the definition of specified peace officers to include Juvenile Probation and Parole Officers.

  • § 5522, Title 29

    employee, a Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families employee, or a specified peace officer. → employee, Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families employee, or specified peace officer.

    Allows Juvenile Probation and Parole Officers to be eligible for a service pension after 25 years of credited service when promoted from within.

Action History

  1. Signed by Governor

  2. Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

  3. Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits

  4. Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate

  5. Passed By House. Votes: 34 YES 7 ABSENT

  6. Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in House with 9 On Its Merits

  7. Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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7 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 55 not signed on

Sponsors (7)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (55)

55 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 55 →

"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

2/3

Passed 21 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 15000
Republican 6000
Total 21000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
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 Yea

Official roll call →

SM

Passed 34 Yea · 0 Nay · 7 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 24003
Republican 10004
Total 34007
% of votes cast 83%0%0%17%
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 Not Voting
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 Yea
Sean M. Lynn Democratic Not Voting
Sherae'a Moore Democratic Yea
Sophie Phillips Democratic Not Voting
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 Not Voting
Kevin S Hensley Republican Not Voting
Lyndon D. Yearick Republican Not Voting
Michael F. Smith Republican Yea
Richard G. Collins Republican Yea
Ronald E. Gray Republican Yea
Shannon Morris Republican Not Voting
Timothy D. Dukes Republican Yea
Valerie Jones Giltner Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety labor
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 HB 303 do?
This Act makes various changes related to Juvenile Probation and Parole Officers employed by the Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families (DSCYF) in the Division of Youth Rehabilitative Services’ Serious Juvenile Offender (SJO) Unit. Juvenile Probation and Parole Officers in the SJO Unit are specialized staff who are responsible for monitoring the highest-risk youth. Unlike the majority of the Division’s Community Services staff monitoring youth on pretrial supervision or aftercare, the officers in the SJO Unit are sworn law enforcement officers authorized to carry a firearm and enforce warrants. This Act does not change the existing powers and duties of DSCYF Juvenile Probation and Parole Officers, but instead updates Delaware Code to align with their position classification. This Act adds Juvenile Probation and Parole Officers employed by DSCYF to the Police Officers’ and Firefighters’ Employment Relations Act (POFERA). This will allow the officers in the SJO Unit to seek union representation under the Fraternal Order of Police like the Department of Correction’s Probation and Parole Officers, the DSCYF Juvenile Probation and Parole Officers’ closest state agency counterparts. This Act also adds DSCYF employees to the existing statute that enables Department of Correction employees to receive a service pension after 25 years if they internally promote after 20 years of credited service. This Act also changes references throughout Delaware Code to be consistent with the position classification name and makes technical corrections to existing code to conform to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.
Who sponsors HB 303?
HB 303 is sponsored by Stell Parker Selby, John "Jack" Walsh (Democratic), Claire Snyder-Hall (Democratic), David P. Sokola (Democratic), Eric Morrison (Democratic), Marie Pinkney (Democratic), and Krista Griffith (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 303?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 05, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 303?
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