Mission Statement
The Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (DVCC) is a state agency legislatively created to improve Delaware’s response to domestic violence and sexual assault. The DVCC brings together all stakeholders including service providers, policy-level officials and community partners to eradicate domestic violence. The DVCC is committed to leading the nation through innovative legislative action, community education and an outstanding coordinated system response to violence in families and the community.
The following legislation has been passed by the 153rd Delaware General Assembly…
House Bill 167
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER COUNCIL.
This Act expands the composition of the Family Justice Center Council by removing a single member that previously represented the health care community including both mental health providers and sexual assault nurse examiners, and instead adding one member representing the mental health care provider community, one member representing the sexual assault nurse examiner community, and one member representing system-based police or prosecution victim service specialists.
Primary Sponsor: Representative Krista Griffith
Signed by the Governor: August 12, 2025
SS1 for Senate Bill 17
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10, TITLE 11, AND TITLE 19 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CRIME VICTIMS AND WITNESSES
This Act makes substantial updates to Delaware’s Victims’ Bill of Rights for the first time since its passage in 1992.
Primary Sponsor: Senator Bryan Townsend
Signed by the Governor: August 20, 2025
The following legislation has been passed by the 152nd Delaware General Assembly…
House Bill 340
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FAMILY JUSTICE CENTERS.
This Act authorizes the creation of Family Justice Centers within Delaware to provide victims of crime with a single source to obtain resources and support services. In addition, this Act establishes the Family Justice Center Council and provides funding for an Executive Director and a Planner IV.
Primary Sponsor: Representative Krista Griffith
Signed by the Governor: October 25, 2024
Senate Bill 70
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ANIMALS IN PROTECTION FROM ABUSE PROCEEDINGS.
This Act adds the following acts against a person’s companion animal or service animal to the definition of abuse for protection from abuse proceedings: 1. Engaging in cruelty. 2. Inflicting physical injury. 3. Engaging in a course of alarming or distressing conduct. In addition, this Act provides specific authority for the Court to include provisions in a protection from abuse order that grant a petitioner exclusive care, custody, or control of a companion animal and order a petitioner to stay away from the companion animal.
Primary Sponsor: Senator Nicole Poore
Signed by the Governor: June 27, 2023
Senate Bill 71
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO REPORTING SUSPECTED ANIMAL CRUELTY.
This Act requires law-enforcement agencies, the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families, and the Department of Justice to report suspected animal cruelty to the Office of Animal Welfare that is discovered while performing their responsibilities in child welfare cases. This Act also provides immunity to people who in good faith, report suspected animal cruelty.
Primary Sponsor: Senator Stephanie Hansen
Signed by the Governor: June 27, 2023
House Bill 95
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 13 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO COMPANION ANIMALS IN THE DISPOSITION OF MARITAL PROPERTY.
This Act requires Family Court to award possession and provide for the care of companion animals when dividing marital property after considering the well-being of the companion animal.
Primary Sponsor: Representative Krista Griffith
Signed by the Governor: June 27, 2023
House Bill 184 with House Amendment 1
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 19 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT.
Delaware law expressly prohibits employment discrimination based upon surviving domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Such discrimination includes: (1) failing or refusing to hire or discharging an employee because the individual was a victim of domestic violence, sexual offense, or stalking; or (2) failing or refusing to make reasonable accommodations to the limitations known to the employer and related to domestic violence, a sexual offense, or stalking. Current statute requires the victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking to provide verification to their employer. This bill provides employers with the option to require verification in order to receive accommodations.
Primary Sponsor: Representative Cyndie Romer
Signed by the Governor: July 25, 2023
