SB309 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO WORK BY INMATES.

Children Crime Housing

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Seigfried
Last action: 2026-05-21
Official status: Passed Senate 5/21/26
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on how the removal of deductions will impact prison budgets or inmate finances, leaving these points as speculative.

Changes to Inmate Work Rules

The bill removes the Department of Corrections' authority to deduct money from inmate accounts for housing and other costs during incarceration.

What This Bill Does

Removes the rule that allows the Department of Corrections to take money from inmates’ accounts to cover the cost of living in prison.
Keeps rules about taking money for child support, court fines, and other legal obligations.
Makes small changes to ensure the law follows a set of writing guidelines called the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

Who It Names or Affects

Inmates in Delaware prisons
The Department of Corrections

Terms To Know

Department of Corrections: A government agency that manages and oversees the state's correctional facilities.
Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual: Guidelines used to write clear, consistent laws in Delaware.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens to the costs of incarceration if inmates cannot pay.
It is unclear how this change will affect prison budgets or inmate finances.

Amendments

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

SA 1

1 • Seigfried

Passed 5/21/26

Plain English: The amendment cancels out any money that people owe for fees and charges related to their time in jail, which used to be required under a part of Delaware law.

Cancels all outstanding balances owed by individuals for fees, costs, interest, or other charges previously assessed under § 6532(f)(3) of Title 11 of the Delaware Code.

The amendment only applies to balances that were owed before a specific part of the law was removed.
It does not provide details on how this cancellation will be implemented or enforced.

Bill History

2026-05-21 Delaware General Assembly
Amendment SA 1 to SB 309 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT
2026-05-21 Delaware General Assembly
Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT
2026-05-19 Delaware General Assembly
Amendment SA 1 to SB 309 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
2026-05-13 Delaware General Assembly
Reported Out of Committee (Corrections & Public Safety) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 2 On Its Merits, 1 Unfavorable
2026-05-13 Delaware General Assembly
Reported Out of Committee (Corrections & Public Safety) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 2 On Its Merits, 1 Unfavorable
2026-05-08 Delaware General Assembly
Introduced and Assigned to Corrections & Public Safety Committee in Senate

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO WORK BY INMATES.
This Act removes authority from the Department of Corrections to deduct pay from inmate accounts for a proportionate share of the costs of incarceration of inmates in the facility in which the inmate is housed.
This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Sen. Seigfried & Rep. Lambert

Sens. Cruce, Hansen, Lockman, Pinkney, Sokola, Sturgeon; Reps. Berry, Morrison, Romer, Snyder-Hall

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE BILL NO. 309

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO WORK BY INMATES.

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

Section 1. Amend § 6532, Title 11 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows and by redesignating accordingly:

§ 6532. Work by inmates.

(f) The Department shall cause to be placed into an account, payable to each inmate upon the inmate’s discharge, income from the inmate’s employment and any other income or benefits, accruing to or payable to, and for the benefit of said inmate, including but not limited to any worker’s compensation or Social Security benefits. From the account of each inmate, the Department shall deduct, in order of the priority set forth herein, the following sums:

(1) Support payments for dependents of the inmate who are receiving public assistance during the period of incarceration, or to whom the inmate is under a court ordered obligation to provide support and restitution as may have been assessed against said inmate pursuant to court

order;

order.

(2) Court costs, fines, and such other items as may be assessed against said inmate pursuant to court

order; and

order.

(3) A proportionate share of the costs of incarceration of inmates in the facility in which said inmate is housed including but not limited to room, board, medical care, legal services, prison education, training, library services, counseling and treatment services, religious services and other programs and services as shall be provided together with an allocation of the overhead for operating such prison and the Department in accordance with a fee schedule to be established by the Department.

SYNOPSIS

This Act removes authority from the Department of Corrections to deduct pay from inmate accounts for a proportionate share of the costs of incarceration of inmates in the facility in which the inmate is housed.

This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

Author: Senator Seigfried