HB 42

  • Delaware House Bill
  • 153rd General Assembly (2025-2026)
  • Introduced in House Jun 25, 2025
  • Passed House Jun 12, 2025
  • Passed Senate Jun 30, 2025
  • Signed by Governor Aug 12, 2025

An Act To Amend Title 11, Title 16, And Title 29 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Human Trafficking Of Children.

Abstract

This Act does all of the following regarding suspected human trafficking of children: 1. Ensures the sharing of information between the Child Protection Accountability Commission (CPAC) and the Delaware Anti-Trafficking Action Council. 2. Expressly requires a multidisciplinary response to these cases, similar to child deaths and serious physical injury. 3. Even though human trafficking of children is child abuse, specifically delineates it throughout the child abuse multidisciplinary investigative response. 4. Codifies a review panel and oversight committee within CPAC for these cases, with the same authority, subpoena power, and immunities provided to the system that reviews child abuse deaths and near deaths. 5. Establishes that the Office of the Child Advocate will staff the review panel and oversight committee. This Act ensures that Delaware law is consistent with federal law requiring states to consider victims of human trafficking as victims of child abuse and neglect, and requiring the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families to investigate these cases. See the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5101 et. seq.) and Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (Pub. L. 114-22). Finally, this Act makes minor technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

Bill Sponsors (13)

Votes


Jun 30, 2025

Jun 12, 2025

Actions


Aug 12, 2025

Office of the Governor

Signed by Governor

Jun 30, 2025

Senate

Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

Jun 26, 2025

Senate

Reported Out of Committee (Finance) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits

  • Committee-Passage
Finance

Jun 25, 2025

Senate

Assigned to Finance Committee in Senate

  • Introduction
  • Referral-Committee
Finance

Senate

Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in Senate with 6 On Its Merits

  • Committee-Passage
Judiciary

Jun 12, 2025

Senate

Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate

  • Introduction
  • Referral-Committee
Judiciary

House

Passed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 ABSENT

Jun 10, 2025

House

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

  • Committee-Passage
  • Committee-Passage-Favorable
Appropriations

May 15, 2025

House

Assigned to Appropriations Committee in House

  • Introduction
  • Referral-Committee
Appropriations

May 14, 2025

House

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

  • Committee-Passage
  • Committee-Passage-Favorable
Judiciary

Mar 06, 2025

House

Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House

  • Introduction
  • Referral-Committee
Judiciary

Bill Text

Bill Text Versions Format
Bill Text PDF HTML

Related Documents

Document Format
Fiscal Note PDF

Sources

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