KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Delaware

HB327 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO STANDARDS FOR LEVELS OF NEONATAL CARE.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO STANDARDS FOR LEVELS OF NEONATAL CARE.

Children Healthcare
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Last action
2026-05-19
Official status
Amendment SA 1 to HB 327 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact penalties for non-compliance are not specified.

Setting Standards for Neonatal Care

This act sets statewide standards for neonatal care in Delaware based on guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics and requires facilities to meet specific criteria.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates rules that hospitals must follow when caring for newborn babies, using guidelines set by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
  • Requires the Department of Health and Social Services to decide what level of care each hospital can provide based on how well they meet these standards.
  • Adds extra requirements for hospitals that take care of very sick or complex newborns.
  • Needs the Department of Health and Social Services to make rules by January 30, 2027, after talking with experts in neonatal care.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Hospitals and other medical facilities that have neonatal nurseries or intensive care units for newborns.
  • Newborn babies who need special care when they are born.

Terms To Know

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
A group of doctors and other health professionals who make guidelines to help take care of children, including newborns.
Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS)
The government agency in Delaware that makes rules about healthcare and helps people get the medical care they need.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify what will happen if a hospital does not follow these new standards.
  • It is unclear how much it will cost to make changes at hospitals to meet these new requirements.
  • The exact rules that will be made by January 30, 2027, are not known yet.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

SA 1

1 • Pinkney

PWB

Plain English: PWB 1 by Pinkney

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-19 Delaware General Assembly

    Amendment SA 1 to HB 327 - Introduced and Placed With Bill

  2. 2026-05-13 Delaware General Assembly

    Reported Out of Committee (Health & Social Services) in Senate with 7 Favorable

  3. 2026-04-23 Delaware General Assembly

    Passed By House. Votes: 33 YES 3 NO 5 ABSENT

  4. 2026-04-23 Delaware General Assembly

    Assigned to Health & Social Services Committee in Senate

  5. 2026-04-15 Delaware General Assembly

    Reported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 11 On Its Merits

  6. 2026-03-19 Delaware General Assembly

    Introduced and Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO STANDARDS FOR LEVELS OF NEONATAL CARE.
This Act amends Title 16 to establish statewide standards for levels of neonatal care for facilities that operate neonatal nurseries or neonatal intensive care units. The Act requires facilities to comply with nationally recognized standards for levels of neonatal care established by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), ensuring that newborns receive care in facilities equipped to meet the complexity of their medical needs. Under the Act, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) will designate each facility's level of neonatal care based on compliance with the AAP standards, including staffing, equipment, facility capabilities, and patient protocols. The Act further establishes additional requirements for facilities providing Level IV NICU services which care for the most critically ill and medically complex newborns. DHSS must adopt implementing rules by January 30, 2027, and will seek input from the Delaware Perinatal Quality Collaborative and existing NICU providers in developing these rules.