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HB 316

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ASSAULTS ON STATE EMPLOYEES AND OFFICERS.

153rd General Assembly (2025-2026) Introduced by Dave Lawson and 6 co-sponsors

Delaware bill modifies criminal penalties and legal protections for assaults targeting state employees and officers.

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Bill Summary · HB 316

Legislative bill overview

HB 316 amends Delaware's criminal code (Title 11) to modify statutes concerning assaults on state employees and officers. The bill adjusts legal protections, definitions, or penalties related to violence against individuals employed by the state government.

Why is this important

Assaults on public employees—including law enforcement, corrections officers, social workers, and administrative staff—create workplace safety concerns and can affect government service delivery. Changes to these statutes directly impact how the criminal justice system responds to such incidents and what protections state workers receive.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of "state employees": Disagreement over which categories of workers should receive enhanced protections (sworn officers only vs. all state workers)
  • Penalty levels: Whether proposed penalties are proportionate or represent overly harsh criminalization of assault charges
  • Self-defense considerations: Questions about how the law distinguishes between legitimate self-defense by employees and criminal assault, and officer use-of-force implications

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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