Senate Bill 2737

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 43-15-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE CERTAIN BENEFITS AND RESOURCES TO BE PROVIDED TO FICTIVE KIN OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN THE CUSTODY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 43-15-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

43-15-17. (1) The Department of Child Protection Services is authorized to make such payments as may be appropriate for supportive services to facilitate either the return of children to their natural parents or their adoption, depending upon and contingent upon the availability of the Department of Child Protection Services securing or having sufficient funds to render this supportive service. Upon court order, the parent(s) shall be responsible for reimbursing the department for any foster care or kinship care payments made on behalf of his or her child, based upon financial ability to pay, until such time as there is a termination of parental rights regarding the child, or the child is adopted.

(2) For those children placed in foster care by the * * * Department of Child Protection Services, the department shall make monthly payments for the support of these children's room and board, clothing, allowance and personal needs. From and after July 1, 1998, and subject to the availability of funds specifically appropriated therefor, the Department of Child Protection Services' foster care and therapeutic care monthly payment schedule in effect before that date shall be increased by One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per month, with that minimum payment not to preclude the department from increasing payments in later years as funds become available. From and after July 1, 1998, in order for foster parents to receive the monthly payments authorized under this subsection (2), the Department of Child Protection Services shall require foster care placements to be licensed as foster care homes and shall require prospective foster parents to satisfactorily complete an appropriate training program that emphasizes the goal of the foster care program to provide stable foster placement until a permanency outcome is achieved.

(3) * * * For a child placed by the department of child protection services in the care of any adult related by blood, marriage or adoption within the third degree or who makes up the family support system of the child, including adults related beyond the third degree, godparents, friends of the family, or other adults who have a strong familial bond with the child, unless a child is placed in the care of a relative who is exempt from foster care training requirements, the department shall make monthly payments to defray the relative's expense of furnishing room and board. The department's relative care payment shall be in an amount up to one hundred percent (100%) of the amount of the foster care board payment. The department may continue to make those payments to the relative after the department relinquishes legal custody of the child to the relative if the relative has complied with foster care training requirements. Any such payments for relative care shall be subject to specific appropriation therefor by the Legislature.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.