HB 303 DE
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.
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Summary
This bill updates Delaware Code to align with the position classification and employment status of Juvenile Probation and Parole Officers employed by the Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families (DSCYF) in the Serious Juvenile Offender Unit. The bill adds these officers to the Police Officers' and Firefighters' Employment Relations Act, allowing them to seek union representation through the Fraternal Order of Police like their counterparts in the Department of Correction. The bill extends to DSCYF employees the existing statute that enables Department of Correction employees to receive a service pension after 25 years of service if they internally promote after 20 years of credited service. The bill updates references throughout Delaware Code to be consistent with the officers' position classification and makes technical corrections to conform with Delaware drafting standards.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill (from the OpenStates abstract — no full text available yet) — neutral, and may be imperfect.
Official abstract
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.
Sponsors (7)
- Krista Griffith Democratic · primary
- Stell Parker Selby · primary
- Marie Pinkney Democratic · primary
- Eric Morrison Democratic · primary
- David P. Sokola Democratic · primary
- Claire Snyder-Hall Democratic · primary
- John "Jack" Walsh Democratic · primary
Action history (7)
- Mar 5, 2026 Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House · lower
- Mar 25, 2026 Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in House with 9 On Its Merits · lower
- Apr 23, 2026 Passed By House. Votes: 34 YES 7 ABSENT · lower
- Apr 23, 2026 Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate · upper
- May 13, 2026 Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits · upper
- Jun 17, 2026 Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES · upper
- Jun 24, 2026 Signed by Governor · executive
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