Department of Child Protection Services; amend provision related to durable legal guardianship as permanency option.

SB 2461 would change Mississippi law to replace "durable legal custody" with "durable legal guardianship" as a permanency option for children in abuse or neglect cases. It specifically authorizes youth courts to grant durable legal relative guardianship to relatives or "fictive kin" (non-relatives with a parental role) who have cared for the child for at least six months, provided reunification is deemed inappropriate and the guardian commits to the child's care. The bill requires courts to consult children 12+ before granting this guardianship and mandates annual reviews to ensure it remains in the child's best interest. The legislation died in committee on February 4, 2025, and was never enacted.