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SB234 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 20 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FIRST RESPONDERS.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 20 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FIRST RESPONDERS.

Healthcare
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Pettyjohn
Last action
2026-05-05
Official status
Lieu/Substituted 3/17/26
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 20 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FIRST RESPONDERS.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 20 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FIRST RESPONDERS.

What This Bill Does

  • AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 20 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FIRST RESPONDERS.
  • This Act creates a definition of “first responder” in Chapter 31 of Title 20, pertaining to emergency management.
  • Currently, the term is referenced, but it is not actually defined, creating potential uncertainty about who qualifies as a first responder in this context.
  • This Act defines a first responder as a federal, state, or local law enforcement officer, fire, or emergency medical services personnel, hazardous materials response team member, 911 dispatcher, emergency manager, or other individual who is responsible for the protection and preservation of life or property and who is called on to respond to emergencies.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-05 Delaware General Assembly

    SS 1 for SB 234 - Reported Out of Committee (Public Safety & Homeland Security) in House with 8 On Its Merits

  2. 2026-04-22 Delaware General Assembly

    SS 1 for SB 234 - Assigned to Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee in House

  3. 2026-04-21 Delaware General Assembly

    SS 1 for SB 234 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT

  4. 2026-03-18 Delaware General Assembly

    SS 1 for SB 234 - Reported Out of Committee (Corrections & Public Safety) in Senate with 4 Favorable

  5. 2026-03-17 Delaware General Assembly

    Substituted in Senate by SS 1 for SB 234

  6. 2026-02-19 Delaware General Assembly

    Introduced and Assigned to Corrections & Public Safety Committee in Senate

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 20 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FIRST RESPONDERS.
This Act creates a definition of “first responder” in Chapter 31 of Title 20, pertaining to emergency management. Currently, the term is referenced, but it is not actually defined, creating potential uncertainty about who qualifies as a first responder in this context. This Act defines a first responder as a federal, state, or local law enforcement officer, fire, or emergency medical services personnel, hazardous materials response team member, 911 dispatcher, emergency manager, or other individual who is responsible for the protection and preservation of life or property and who is called on to respond to emergencies.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Sen. Pettyjohn & Rep. Jones Giltner

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE BILL NO. 234

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 20 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FIRST RESPONDERS.

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

Section 1. Amend § 3102, Title 20 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows and redesignating accordingly:

§ 3102. Definitions.

As used in this chapter:

(8) “First responder” means a federal, state, or local law enforcement officer, fire, or emergency medical services personnel, hazardous materials response team member, 911 dispatcher, emergency manager, or other individual who is responsible for the protection and preservation of life or property and who is called on to respond to emergencies.

SYNOPSIS

This Act creates a definition of “first responder” in Chapter 31 of Title 20, pertaining to emergency management. Currently, the term is referenced, but it is not actually defined, creating potential uncertainty about who qualifies as a first responder in this context. This Act defines a first responder as a federal, state, or local law enforcement officer, fire, or emergency medical services personnel, hazardous materials response team member, 911 dispatcher, emergency manager, or other individual who is responsible for the protection and preservation of life or property and who is called on to respond to emergencies.

Author: Senator Pettyjohn