AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 10, 18, AND 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CONSTABLES.
The bill replaces the existing constable governance structure, adding a new Constable Board of Examiners and updating membership. It also clarifies constable authority and training requirements.
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HB 474 — AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 10, 18, AND 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CONSTABLES.
Last action — Signed by Governor
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed House
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✓Passed Senate
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced June 10, 2022. Enacted.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
HighHow often bills like it became law.
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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7 sponsors
3 primary, 4 co-sponsors signed on.
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Bipartisan support
Sponsored across 2 parties (2 R · 1 D) — cross-party backing.
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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
This bill restructures the governance of constables in Delaware.
The bill replaces the existing constable governance structure, adding a new Constable Board of Examiners and updating membership. It also clarifies constable authority and training requirements.
Summary
Under current Chapter 27 of Title 10 the Board of Examiners of Constables is charged with appointing constables and certifying their commissions as well as monitoring their training and in-service. Currently, there is no member on the Board who acts as a representative for constables. This bill removes the constable statute from Title 10 by deleting Chapter 27 in its entirety, and adding Chapter 56, as it relates to Constables, to Title 24 of the Code. This bill renames the Board “Constable Board of Examiners”, expands the number of Board members from 5 to 7 and replaces the current representative from the American Society of Industrial Security with 3 constables, 1 specifically employed with a higher education institution and 1 specifically employed with a healthcare institution. This bill also clarifies the authority of the Board and the powers and duties of constables. The Act also brings the Board’s process under Delaware’s Administrative Procedures Act. The Act grandfathers all currently commissioned constables, except requiring their compliance with all firearms training, until their present term expires. The Act also amends Title 18 to reflect that commissioned constables, as in current law, remain eligible for line-of-duty death benefits under this new Chapter.
Bill Text
- Bill Text View text Current pdf
AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.
This bill repeals Chapter 27 of Title 10 regarding constables and creates a new Chapter 56 in Title 24, establishing a new framework for the regulation and standards of constables in Delaware.
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Title 10, Chapter 27
CHAPTER 27. ConstablesRepeals the entire existing Chapter 27 on constables.
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Title 10, Chapter 27
§ 2701. Appointment.Repeals the section outlining the appointment of constables.
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Title 10, Chapter 27
§ 2702. Board of Examiners.Repeals the section that established the Board of Examiners for constables.
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Title 10, Chapter 27
§ 2703. Qualification and training.Repeals the section defining the qualifications and training for constables.
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Title 10, Chapter 27
§ 2704. Term of office; discharge.Repeals the section related to the term and discharge of constables.
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Title 10, Chapter 27
§ 2705. Powers and duties.Repeals the section that detailed the powers and duties of constables.
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Title 10, Chapter 27
§ 2706. Jurisdiction.Repeals the section explaining the jurisdiction of constables.
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Title 10, Chapter 27
§ 2707. Oath.Repeals the requirement for constables to take an oath upon appointment.
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Title 10, Chapter 27
§ 2708. Compensation.Repeals the provision concerning constable compensation.
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Title 10, Chapter 27
§ 2709. Badges.Repeals the regulations concerning badges for constables.
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Title 10, Chapter 27
§ 2710. Exclusion from coverage.Repeals the provision that constables are not covered by the Law-Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights.
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Title 10, Chapter 27
§ 2701 – § 2710 [Repealed.]Confirms the repeal of all sections from § 2701 to § 2710.
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Title 24
CHAPTER 56. CONSTABLES.
Creates a new chapter to regulate constables with new provisions.
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Title 24
§ 5601. Objectives.
Establishes a new section articulating the objectives of the new constable regulations.
Action History
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Signed by Governor
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Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
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Reported Out of Committee (Legislative Oversight & Sunset) in Senate with 5 On Its Merits
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Assigned to Legislative Oversight & Sunset Committee in Senate
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Passed By House. Votes: 41 YES
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Reported Out of Committee (Sunset Committee (Policy Analysis & Government Accountability)) in House with 3 Favorable, 2 On Its Merits
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Introduced and Assigned to Sunset Committee (Policy Analysis & Government Accountability) Committee in House
Sponsors
- David L. Wilson · Cosponsor
- Edward S. Osienski · Cosponsor
- Lyndon D. Yearick · Cosponsor
- Sean Matthews · Cosponsor
- Sherry Dorsey Walker · Primary
- Bruce C. Ennis · Primary
- John L. Mitchell · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →3 sponsors · 4 co-sponsors · 55 not signed on
Sponsors (3)
Co-sponsors (4)
- David L. Wilson Republican
- Edward S. Osienski Democratic
- Lyndon D. Yearick Republican
- Sean Matthews
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.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (21)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Bruce C. Ennis | — | Yea |
| Colin Bonini | — | Yea |
| Ernesto B Lopez | — | Yea |
| Kyle Evans Gay | — | Yea |
| Sarah McBride | — | Yea |
| Bryan Townsend | Democratic | Yea |
| Darius J. Brown | Democratic | Yea |
| David P. Sokola | Democratic | Yea |
| John "Jack" Walsh | Democratic | Yea |
| Laura V. Sturgeon | Democratic | Yea |
| Marie Pinkney | Democratic | Yea |
| Nicole Poore | 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 |
| Gerald W. Hocker | Republican | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 41 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (41)
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does HB 474 do?
- Under current Chapter 27 of Title 10 the Board of Examiners of Constables is charged with appointing constables and certifying their commissions as well as monitoring their training and in-service. Currently, there is no member on the Board who acts as a representative for constables. This bill removes the constable statute from Title 10 by deleting Chapter 27 in its entirety, and adding Chapter 56, as it relates to Constables, to Title 24 of the Code. This bill renames the Board “Constable Board of Examiners”, expands the number of Board members from 5 to 7 and replaces the current representative from the American Society of Industrial Security with 3 constables, 1 specifically employed with a higher education institution and 1 specifically employed with a healthcare institution. This bill also clarifies the authority of the Board and the powers and duties of constables. The Act also brings the Board’s process under Delaware’s Administrative Procedures Act. The Act grandfathers all currently commissioned constables, except requiring their compliance with all firearms training, until their present term expires. The Act also amends Title 18 to reflect that commissioned constables, as in current law, remain eligible for line-of-duty death benefits under this new Chapter.
- Who sponsors HB 474?
- HB 474 is sponsored by David L. Wilson (Republican), Edward S. Osienski (Democratic), Lyndon D. Yearick (Republican), Sean Matthews, Sherry Dorsey Walker, Bruce C. Ennis, and John L. Mitchell.
- What is the current status of HB 474?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced June 10, 2022. Enacted.
- Where can I track HB 474?
- Track HB 474 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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