SPONSOR:	Sen. Blevins & Sen. Sorenson & Rep. Hudson
	Sens. Copeland Peterson Henry Still Bunting Cloutier & Connor	Reps. Hocker Hall-Long Keeley Miro Mitchell Schooley Spence Stone & Kowalko

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

144th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE BILL NO. 57

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

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

Section 1. Amend §1041(2), Chapter 9, Title 10 of the Delaware Code by striking paragraph b. in its entirety and substituting in lieu thereof the following:

“b. Former spouses; persons cohabitating together who are holding themselves out as a couple, with or without a child in common; persons living separate and apart with a child in common; or persons in a current or former substantive dating relationship. For purposes of this paragraph, neither a casual acquaintanceship nor ordinary fraternization between two individuals in business or social contexts shall be deemed to constitute a substantive dating relationship. Factors to consider for a substantive dating relationship may include the length of the relationship, or the type of relationship, or the frequency of interaction between the parties.”

Section 2. This Act shall take effect 90 days after its enactment into law.

SYNOPSIS

This Act amends the definition of parties considered protected under the State’s domestic violence statute. The change is intended to reflect substantive relationships not previously included under the law.

Author: Senator Blevins