HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

140th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 542

AS AMENDED BY

HOUSE AMENDMENT NOS. 1 & 2

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 1, 15, 21 AND 25 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO REFERENCES TO PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend § 302(11), Title 1 of the Delaware Code, by striking it in its entirety and by substituting in lieu thereof the following:

‘‘ ‘Mentally ill person’ means a person with a brain disorder that results in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life."

Section 2. Amend § 1701, Title 15 of the Delaware Code, by striking the words "idiot or insane person" appearing therein.

Section 3. Amend § 1703, Title 15 of the Delaware Code, by striking subsection (b) in its entirety.

Section 4. Amend § 2707(b)(4), Title 21 of the Delaware Code, by striking the words "idiot," "imbecile," and "or feebleminded" each time the same appear therein.

Section 5. Amend § 103, Title 25 of the Delaware Code, by striking the phrase "or by trustees of idiots, lunatics and persons of unsound mind," and by inserting in lieu thereof the phrase "or by guardians for persons with disabilities" and by deleting the phrase "or of such idiot, lunatic or person of unsound mind," as the same appear therein, and by substituting in lieu thereof the phrase "or of such person with a disability".