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Committee advances bill to codify Office of Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety
Summary
HB 369 would codify into law an Office of Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety within the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, create a director to coordinate state agencies and community organizations, and require agency cooperation; the committee released the bill after testimony from state officials and advocates.
The House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee voted to release House Bill 369, which would place the Office of Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety into statute and create a director post to coordinate state agencies, municipalities and community organizations working on gun-violence intervention and prevention.
Sponsor testimony described the office as a coordinating body that does not create a new bureaucracy immediately but would give permanence to work begun by executive order. The sponsor cited recent CDC data and statewide figures and emphasized the office will treat gun violence “like a public health crisis,” linking prevention, outreach, data, mental-health services, and community organizations.
Vaughn Bond, deputy secretary of safety and homeland security and the interim director for the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, told the committee the office’s early work includes building a database of community-based organizations, identifying duplications of effort, pursuing grants and stabilizing funding, and planning for a director and assistant director when resources are assigned. Bond said the office aims to “bring people together” and help proven community organizations access funding and support.
Two public commenters representing advocacy organizations — Jeet Hesselin, policy manager for the Coalition for a Safer Delaware, and Dan Segura, state policy manager for an advocacy group — urged committee support, saying codification provides a single point of accountability and improves coordination with community groups. Hesselin told members, “This bill can directly address that gap,” while Segura said the measure is the “missing piece” that allows a structured government response statewide.
Committee members asked about metrics, fiscal impact and the office’s relationship to existing agencies. The sponsor and Bond said there is no immediate fiscal note because the administration plans to shift personnel to fill initial roles; they acknowledged funding will likely be needed in future years to staff the office fully.
A motion to release the bill to the House was made, seconded and carried by roll call.
Next steps: HB 369 will proceed to the House calendar for further action.
