Child Protection Services; clarify manner of expending federal funds, and when it pays expenses for child in custody when ordered by court.

HB 1472 clarifies how Mississippi's Department of Child Protection Services (DCPS) may spend federal funds and which court-ordered expenses it can cover for children in custody. The bill requires DCPS to use federal funds only as permitted by the original federal funding source, and prohibits paying certain court-ordered expenses - like medical care, attorney fees, counseling, or child care costs - unless specifically authorized by federal funds or a dedicated state budget line. It directly affects DCPS, youth courts, and families involved in child custody cases by restricting payment options for these services. The bill was introduced in 2025 but died in committee on March 4, 2025, and would have expired June 30, 2025.