An Act To Amend Title 11 Relating To Arrest By A Private Person.
Summary
HB76 amends Delaware criminal procedure law governing arrests without a warrant. Under current law, a peace officer or a private person may make a warrantless arrest based on reasonable information that the person is charged in another state with a crime punishable by death or by imprisonment for more than one year. The bill removes the authority for a private person to make that kind of arrest, while leaving the warrantless arrest authority for peace officers in place.
The measure is narrow and targeted: it does not change the underlying extradition process or the requirement that an arrested person be brought before a judge or justice of the peace promptly. Instead, it updates Title 11 to limit who may initiate this type of arrest, eliminating private-person authority in felony cases involving out-of-state charges. The practical effect is to reserve this arrest power to law enforcement rather than civilians.
Impact
HB76 would amend Section 2514 of Title 11 of the Delaware Code by deleting the reference to a "private person" in the statute authorizing warrantless arrests for persons charged with serious crimes in another state. As a result, private citizens would no longer have statutory authority to make this specific type of arrest, while peace officers would retain it. The bill affects criminal procedure, arrest authority, and the handling of interstate felony accusations, but it does not appear to alter broader arrest powers or extradition rules.
Sentiment
The available record shows no committee transcript, vote tally, or recorded opposition, so there is no documented debate to indicate strong support or resistance. Based on the bill text and synopsis, the measure appears to be a technical or clarifying change with a limited scope, which often suggests a generally neutral or favorable reception. Because no votes or hearing comments are provided, the overall sentiment can only be characterized as unrecorded rather than contested.
Contention
The main point of contention, if any, would be the removal of authority from private persons to make warrantless arrests based on out-of-state felony charges. Supporters would likely view this as a public-safety and due-process safeguard that limits arrest powers to trained law enforcement. Any critics might argue that the change reduces flexibility in apprehending fugitives or persons wanted in other states. However, the provided materials do not show any actual dispute, named opponents, or recorded objections.
An Act To Amend Title 26 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Public Utilities And Voting By Members Of The Pjm Interconnection Regional Transmission Organization.