Bill > HB1589

This bill removes "durable legal custody" as a dispositional alternative in child neglect and abuse cases in Mississippi. Specifically, the bill eliminates the current provision that allows courts to grant durable legal custody to a person when temporary relative placement, adoption, or foster care placement is deemed inappropriate. The legislation makes several conforming amendments to various sections of Mississippi Code to remove references to durable legal custody. Instead, the bill maintains "durable legal relative guardianship" as an option, which can be granted to a relative or fictive kin who is licensed as a foster parent and has had physical custody of the child for at least six months. The change aims to streamline child placement procedures by focusing on more permanent guardianship arrangements. The bill will take effect on July 1, 2025, giving state agencies and courts time to adjust to the new legal framework for handling child custody cases involving neglect or abuse.