Domestic Violence
Coordinating Council (DVCC)

Legislative Updates

State of Delaware – Domestic Violence Coordinating Council

Recent Legislation

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 were passed by the 148th Delaware General Assembly…

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FAMILY COURT PROCEDURE.

This Act authorizes Family Court to interview a child outside the presence of the parties for the purpose of obtaining the child’s testimony and ascertaining the truth of a matter asserted by a party to a Protection from Abuse proceeding. The Court may permit counsel to be present during the interview and ask the child questions. The Court may also permit a party who is not present for the interview to submit questions of fact for the Court to use in interviewing the child. Interviews under this Act must be made a part of the record.

Primary Sponsor: Representative Sean M. Lynn
Signed by the Governor: June 27, 2017

Senate Bill 102

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FAMILY COURT PROCEDURE.

This Act consolidates laws related to child abuse and child sexual abuse training and detection, suicide prevention, bullying, criminal youth gang detection, and teen dating violence and sexual assault. States that the DVCC shall identify and maintain a teen dating violence and sexual assault training program for school administrators, school nurses and school counselors serving grades 7-12.

Primary Sponsor: Senator Margaret Rose Henry
Signed by the Governor: August 9, 2017

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE FAMILY COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

This bill extends ex parte Protection From Abuse orders from 10 days to 15 days.

Primary Sponsor: Senator Patricia Blevins
Signed by the Governor: August 10, 2016

Senate Bill 209
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FAMILY COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

This bill requires that treatment for participants in the domestic violence first offendes program be through a DVCC certified treatment provider.

Primary Sponsor: Senator Patricia Blevins
Signed by the Governor: August 3, 2016

Senate Bill 220 with SA 1

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 13, CHAPTER 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNCIL.

This bill amends the DVCC statute regarding voting for chair and vice chair, and amending the Fatal Incident Review Team statute to expand membership, clarify the definition of near death, and requiring the Department of Justice, Department of Services for Children Youth and their Families and law enforcement notify the DVCC of DV-related homicides and near deaths.

Primary Sponsor: Senator Patricia Blevins
Signed by the Governor: June 9, 2016

House Bill 373 with HA 2

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FAMILY COURT.
This legislation transfers misdemeanor criminal jurisdiction of domestic violence offenses between former spouses, couples with a child in common, and couples cohabiting without a child in common from the Court of Common Pleas to Family Court.

Primary Sponsor: Representative Stephanie Bolden
Signed by the Governor: August 3, 2016

Related Topics: bills, domestic violence, Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, DVCC, legislation, Legislative Committee, protection from abuse orders, sexual assault, statute, teen dating violence, treatment