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HB341 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CHILD SUPPORT.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CHILD SUPPORT.

Children
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Chukwuocha
Last action
2026-04-16
Official status
House Appropriations 4/16/26
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on the removal of old rules regarding payment amounts, only that a presumption is created and conditions under which child support can be ordered.

A Bill About Child Support for Kids in Care

This bill changes how Delaware handles child support when children are in the care of DSCYF, creating a presumption that parents are not responsible unless it helps them reunite with their kids.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates a presumption that parents are not liable for the care and maintenance of children committed to or admitted into services provided by DSCYF.
  • The Family Court may order child support payments only if such orders do not pose a barrier to parent-child reunification.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Parents whose children are in DSCYF's care or services.
  • The Family Court when deciding on child support cases involving DSCYF.
  • DSCYF, which provides care and services to children.

Terms To Know

Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (DSCYF)
A government agency that takes care of children who need help or protection.
Family Court
A court that deals with family matters like child support and custody.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify when it will start to be used.
  • It only applies to cases after the law is passed, not before.

Amendments

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

HA 1

1 • Chukwuocha

PWB 4/16/26

Plain English: The amendment changes where child support amounts for children in DSCYF care are calculated from the current law to a different section of another title.

  • Changes the reference from '§ 7940 of this title' to '§ 514 of Title 13'.
  • The amendment text does not provide full details on how child support amounts will be calculated under the new section.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-16 Delaware General Assembly

    Amendment HA 1 to HB 341 - Introduced and Placed With Bill

  2. 2026-04-16 Delaware General Assembly

    Assigned to Appropriations Committee in House

  3. 2026-04-15 Delaware General Assembly

    Reported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 2 Favorable, 11 On Its Merits

  4. 2026-04-09 Delaware General Assembly

    Introduced and Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CHILD SUPPORT.
This Act creates a presumption that parents are not liable for the care, maintenance, and support of children committed to DSCYF, or admitted to a service provided by DSCYF. The Family Court may order child support payments only if child support will not pose a barrier to parent reunification.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Chukwuocha & Sen. Brown

Reps. Griffith, Burns, K. Johnson, Ross Levin, Snyder-Hall

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 341

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CHILD SUPPORT.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend § 9019, Title 29 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 9019. Liability for maintenance of children in care of Department; collection remedies.

(a)

Any

A

person liable for the support of a child under any law of this State

shall be

is not

liable for the care,

maintenance

maintenance,

and support furnished to a child committed or admitted to any service provided by the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their

Families.

Families, unless the Family Court finds that care, maintenance, and support payments will not pose a barrier to proposed reunification efforts.

(b)

The

If the Family Court finds a person is liable for care, maintenance, and support of a child under subsection (a) of this section, the

Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families may collect from

any such

the

person all moneys necessary to discharge and pay all liability of

such

the

child for the child’s care,

maintenance

maintenance,

and support; provided, however, that such liability is based upon ability to pay and in accordance with § 7940 of this title.

(c) The Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families may also proceed for the recovery of the moneys necessary for care,

maintenance

maintenance,

and support in an action to be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction in the name of the Department.

(d) All fees collected under this section shall be deposited into the General Fund.

Section 2. This Act applies to care, maintenance, or support liabilities incurred after the [effective date of this Act] and does not affect the collection, payment, or imposition of liabilities incurred prior to [the effective date of this Act].

SYNOPSIS

This Act creates a presumption that parents are not liable for the care, maintenance, and support of children committed to DSCYF, or admitted to a service provided by DSCYF. The Family Court may order child support payments only if child support will not pose a barrier to parent reunification.