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SB 85

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO VULNERABLE ADULTS.

153rd General Assembly (2025-2026) Introduced by Russ Huxtable and 4 co-sponsors

Delaware bill amends criminal code to strengthen legal protections and accountability measures for vulnerable adults against abuse and exploitation.

Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate
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Bill Summary · SB 85

Legislative bill overview

SB 85 proposes amendments to Delaware's Title 11 (Criminal Code) specifically addressing protections and legal frameworks related to vulnerable adults. The bill was recently introduced and assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee, with five bipartisan sponsors. The specific provisions have not yet been detailed in publicly available summaries.

Why is this important

Vulnerable adult protections directly affect elderly individuals, people with disabilities, and those unable to care for themselves—populations at heightened risk for abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Strengthening statutory frameworks in this area can improve reporting mechanisms, enforcement, and victim support while clarifying legal responsibilities for caregivers and institutions.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition scope: Disagreement may arise over who qualifies as a "vulnerable adult," potentially affecting which populations receive protections and associated resource requirements
  • Caregiver liability: Balancing protections with reasonable standards for caregivers (families, healthcare workers, facilities) without creating excessive legal exposure or regulatory burden
  • Enforcement and funding: Implementation costs for law enforcement training, investigation capacity, and victim services may face budgetary scrutiny or create unfunded mandates

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

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