DOVER – On Wednesday, lawmakers introduced new legislation that would provide direct support to families who have lost a loved one to suicide.
Sponsored by Rep. Eric Morrison and Sen. Spiros Mantzavinos, House Bill 174 would create a fund for surviving families of suicide victims to help cover the costs related to their loss, including funeral expenses, mental health counseling, temporary housing, and lost wages.
This fund would be modeled off of the Victims’ Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP), which provides aid to victims of violent crimes and their families.
“When a loved one dies by suicide, many families carry not only the weight of their grief, but also the burden of unexpected financial costs. This fund won’t take away their pain, but it can provide a little help during an unimaginably difficult time,” said Rep. Eric Morrison.
Under current federal law, families of suicide victims are ineligible for support from VCAP because suicide is not a crime.
HB 174 would create a parallel fund to support these families using the existing VCAP infrastructure to process applications for assistance.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2022, over 49,000 people died by suicide in the United States. That is one death every 11 minutes. In the same year, 130 people were confirmed to have died by suicide in Delaware, a death rate of 11.4%.
“Much like families who lose loved ones to violence, families who lose loved ones to suicide are left to contend with shock and unimaginable grief,” said Sen. Spiros Mantzavinos.
“Modeled on the Victims Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP), this legislation will help bereft families access supportive resources and offset the unexpected financial burdens that accompany a sudden loss.”
HB 174 carries no fiscal note, as it proposes a sustainable funding model through a $0.12 monthly surcharge on telecommunications bills, equivalent to just $1.44 per year per line. This approach mirrors the funding mechanism used for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, enacted in 2023.
“This has been a long time coming. We’re now going to be able to provide resources for people during a time of tragedy and a light at the end of the tunnel to help them through one of the hardest times of their lives,” said suicide loss survivor and DJ’s Alliance Board Chair Kasey Gonzalez-Cruz.
This bill is called the “Elizabeth Barnes Act” in memory of a Delaware mother who died by suicide.
“To the best of our knowledge, the Elizabeth Barnes Act will provide a level of state-based support that is unparalleled anywhere else in our country. National best practices for a comprehensive suicide prevention approach prioritize postvention efforts as one of many components, including funeral support, counseling, resources, clean-up costs, peer connections, etc. HB 174 would truly make Delaware shine as the First State by offering a beacon of hope other states can hopefully mirror in the future,” said suicide loss survivor and Founder and Executive Director of DJ’s Alliance Jennifer Antonik.
HB 174 has been assigned to the House Judiciary Committee.
