SB 291 DE
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO REPORTING AND REVIEW OF DEATHS OF INDIVIDUALS IN CUSTODY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.
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Summary
Delaware Senate Bill 291 codifies state procedures for reporting deaths of individuals in custody of law enforcement, which is required by the federal Death in Custody Reporting Act of 2013. The bill establishes the process and procedures developed by Delaware's Criminal Justice Council and Statistical Analysis Center for compliance with the federal reporting requirements. Law enforcement agencies that fail to comply with the reporting requirements become ineligible for certain state funding until they comply with the Act.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill (from the OpenStates abstract — no full text available yet) — neutral, and may be imperfect.
Official abstract
In 2013, Congress enacted the Death in Custody Reporting Act of 2013, 34 U.S.C. § 60105, which requires states to report to the U.S. Department of Justice the deaths of individuals who die in the custody of law enforcement. Failure to comply may result in the reduction of certain federal grant funds. In 2024, the Criminal Justice Council, which is responsible for ensuring Delaware's participation in the data collection required by the Death in Custody Reporting Act of 2013, arranged for the Statistical Analysis Center to serve as the Criminal Justice Center's agent to coordinate and manage the logistics of this data collection. The Criminal Justice Council and Statistical Analysis Center issued guidance to law enforcement on the requirements of the Death in Custody Reporting Act of 2013 and the process and procedures to be used to comply with these reporting requirements. This Act codifies the process and procedures established by the Criminal Justice Council and Statistical Analysis Center related to the reporting required by the Death in Custody Reporting Act of 2013. In addition, this Act requires compliance reporting and provides that a law-enforcement agency that fails to comply with this Act is ineligible for certain funding until the agency complies with this Act.
Sponsors (9)
- Marie Pinkney Democratic · primary
- Mara Gorman Democratic · primary
- Josue O Ortega Democratic · primary
- Laura V. Sturgeon Democratic · primary
- Stell Parker Selby · primary
- Spiros Mantzavinos Democratic · primary
- Trey Paradee Democratic · primary
- Eric Morrison Democratic · primary
- Edward S. Osienski Democratic · primary
Action history (7)
- Apr 23, 2026 Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate · upper
- May 13, 2026 Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits · upper
- May 20, 2026 Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT · upper
- May 21, 2026 Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House · lower
- Jun 10, 2026 Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in House with 2 Favorable, 8 On Its Merits · lower
- Jun 24, 2026 Passed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 ABSENT · lower
- Jul 23, 2026 Signed by Governor · executive
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