HB478 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE AUDITOR OF ACCOUNTS AND BACKGROUND CHECKS.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Romer
Last action: 2026-07-01
Official status: Passed 7/1/26
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date is not listed in the provided source material, so it remains unknown when this law takes effect.

HB478: Updating Who Can Receive Background Check Results

This bill updates Delaware law so that the State Auditor or a person they choose can receive fingerprint-based background check results to comply with federal rules.

What This Bill Does

Changes who is allowed to get criminal history records from the State Bureau of Identification.
Allows the Auditor's designee, or a person chosen by them, to review these reports alongside the Auditor.

Who It Names or Affects

The Office of the State Auditor of Accounts
Current or future contractors working with the Auditor's office who need system access

Terms To Know

Auditor's designee: A person chosen by the State Auditor to act on their behalf.
Public Law 92-544: The federal law that sets rules for accessing FBI criminal history records.

Limits and Unknowns

This bill only changes who can receive the background check results, not how often checks happen.
The text does not say when this new rule will officially start working after it becomes law.

Bill History

2026-07-01 Delaware General Assembly
Suspension of Rules in Senate
2026-07-01 Delaware General Assembly
Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT
2026-06-30 Delaware General Assembly
Reported Out of Committee (Administration) in House with 5 On Its Merits
2026-06-30 Delaware General Assembly
Passed By House. Votes: 39 YES 2 ABSENT
2026-06-29 Delaware General Assembly
Introduced and Assigned to Administration Committee in House

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE AUDITOR OF ACCOUNTS AND BACKGROUND CHECKS.
This Act makes a technical correction to the specific persons who can access a fingerprint-based background check under this chapter in order to comply with the requirements of Public Law (Pub. L.) 92-544 for access to FBI criminal history record information.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Romer & Sen. Sokola

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 478

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE AUDITOR OF ACCOUNTS AND BACKGROUND CHECKS.

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

Section 1. Amend § 2911, Title 29 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 2911. Criminal background checks.

(a) The following individuals must submit to a criminal background check:

(3) Any current or prospective contractor of the Office of Auditor of Accounts that requires

or may require

access to State

agency

systems, facilities, or data that the Auditor

or the Auditor’s designee

has identified as requiring a background check.

(c) The State Bureau of Identification must forward all information obtained under paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2) of this section to the

Auditor or the Auditor’s designee.

Auditor.

(d) If a current employee or current contractor obtains a background check under this section, the State Bureau of Identification must provide all of the following to the

Auditor or the Auditor’s designee:

Auditor:

(e) The Auditor

or the Auditor’s designee

has the right to review and use criminal background information obtained under this section to the extent permitted by applicable law, including in determining an individual’s qualification for employment or continued access to State systems, facilities, or data.

(f) Current employees and contractors of the Office of Auditor of Accounts must submit the information required by subsection (b) of this section to the State Bureau of Identification no later than 30 days after receipt of the Auditor’s

or designee’s

written request to submit to a background check.

SYNOPSIS

This Act makes a technical correction to the specific persons who can access a fingerprint-based background check under this chapter in order to comply with the requirements of Public Law (Pub. L.) 92-544 for access to FBI criminal history record information.