DE HB258

Establishes the "Susan C. DelPesco Correctional Nursery Program Act" allowing the Department of Correction to create programs where incarcerated mothers can raise infants born during incarceration up to 18 months old.

Eligible offenders must be pregnant upon custody, give birth after program implementation, have sentences not exceeding 3 years, and meet additional Department criteria; participation is voluntary through written contract.

Program must include educational/vocational training, parenting education, domestic violence and sexual assault training, health education, substance abuse treatment, mental health services, and discharge planning with visitation considerations.

Participants must comply with immunization requirements, enroll children in Medicaid or health insurance if eligible, assign child support rights to the Department, and specify child placement if removed from program.

Program participation terminates when child turns 18 months old, upon inmate release, if inmate violates contract terms, if child health issues arise, or if court orders custody to another person; child support payments assigned to Department include 10% placed in mandatory savings account for the mother.