Bill

SB 216

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO A RESPIRATORY CARE INTERSTATE COMPACT.

153rd General Assembly (2025-2026) Introduced by Eric Buckson and 10 co-sponsors

Delaware removes a redundant notice requirement, clarifying that no further notice is needed after the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact took effect on April 1, 2026.

Signed by Governor

WeVote Research Nonpartisan

Bill Summary · SB 216

Summary of SB 216 (Delaware, 153rd Session)

Title

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO A RESPIRATORY CARE INTERSTATE COMPACT

Primary Purpose and Intent

The bill seeks to amend Delaware law to reflect the status of the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact as of April 1, 2026.
Specifically, it removes a previously required procedural notification related to the Compact’s effectiveness, acknowledging that the notice requirement is no longer necessary now that the Compact is already effective.

Key Provisions (as amended by SB 216)

Strikes Section 2 of Senate Bill No. 216 (the notice provision). That provision would have required the Director of the Division of Professional Regulation to issue notice when the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact became effective.
The amendment acknowledges that, since the Compact took effect on April 1, 2026, the notice requirement is redundant and thus removed from statute.

Who/What is Affected

The Division of Professional Regulation (Delaware) and its Director are indirectly affected, in that the statutory obligation to notify upon Compact effectiveness is removed.
Respiratory care practitioners and licensing authorities in Delaware operate under the framework of the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact; this amendment clarifies that no additional notice is required beyond the Compact’s effective date.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Effective date of the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact: April 1, 2026.
As of April 23, 2026, an amendment (Amendment SA 1) to SB 216 was introduced, passed by the Senate, and is the vehicle by which the removal of the notice provision is enacted.
History:
- 2026-01-28: Bill introduced and assigned to the Legislative Oversight & Sunset Committee.
- 2026-03-25: Reported out of Committee with favorable votes.
- 2026-04-23: Amendment SA 1 introduced and placed with the bill; amendment passed by the Senate; SB 216 (as amended) passed by the Senate (21 yes).
The action clarifies that no further notice is required, aligning Delaware code with the current status of the Compact.

Practical Impact

Removes a redundant statutory obligation, reducing regulatory housekeeping without altering substantive licensing requirements or the operation of the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact in Delaware.
Simplifies compliance for the Division of Professional Regulation and provides clarity for practitioners and regulatory staff regarding the notice requirement.

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