Chancery court; clarify authority to handle allegations of child abuse.

HB 206 clarifies that Mississippi chancery courts can directly handle child abuse or neglect allegations arising during ongoing custody disputes between parents, without needing to transfer the case to youth court. This applies when the abuse allegations surface mid-custody case and were not previously disclosed. The bill also specifies that such proceedings must remain confidential, following the same standards as youth court cases. It directly affects parents in custody battles and children involved in abuse claims, streamlining how courts address these issues within existing custody hearings.