Read the full stored bill text
S. B. No. 2689 *SS08/R403* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G3/5
26/SS08/R403
PAGE 1 (ens\tb)
To: Judiciary, Division A;
Finance
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) Norwood
SENATE BILL NO. 2689
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 43-15-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO AUTHORIZE AND DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILD PROTECTION 2
SERVICES TO PROVIDE PAYMENTS TO A QUALIFYING GRANDPARENT WHO HAS 3
ASSUMED THE PRIMARY CARE OF HIS OR HER GRANDCHILD; AND FOR RELATED 4
PURPOSES. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 6
SECTION 1. Section 43-15-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 7
amended as follows: 8
43-15-17. (1) The Department of Child Protection Services 9
is authorized to make such payments as may be appropriate for 10
supportive services to facilitate either the return of children to 11
their natural parents or their adoption, depending upon and 12
contingent upon the availability of the Department of Child 13
Protection Services securing or having sufficient funds to render 14
this supportive service. Upon court order, the parent(s) shall be 15
responsible for reimbursing the department for any foster care or 16
kinship care payments made on behalf of his or her child, based 17
upon financial ability to pay, until such time as there is a 18
S. B. No. 2689 *SS08/R403* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS08/R403
PAGE 2 (ens\tb)
termination of parental rights regarding the child, or the child 19
is adopted. 20
(2) For those children placed in foster care by Child 21
Protection Services, the department shall make monthly payments 22
for the support of these children's room and board, clothing, 23
allowance and personal needs. From and after July 1, 1998, and 24
subject to the availability of funds specifically appropriated 25
therefor, the Department of Child Protection Services' foster care 26
and therapeutic care monthly payment schedule in effect before 27
that date shall be increased by One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per 28
month, with that minimum payment not to preclude the department 29
from increasing payments in later years as funds become available. 30
From and after July 1, 1998, in order for foster parents to 31
receive the monthly payments authorized under this subsection (2), 32
the Department of Child Protection Services shall require foster 33
care placements to be licensed as foster care homes and shall 34
require prospective foster parents to satisfactorily complete an 35
appropriate training program that emphasizes the goal of the 36
foster care program to provide stable foster placement until a 37
permanency outcome is achieved. 38
(3) For a child placed by the Department of Child Protection 39
Services in the care of any adult related by blood, marriage, or 40
adoption within the third degree or who makes up the family 41
support system of the child, including adults related beyond the 42
third degrees, godparents, friends of the family, or other adults 43
S. B. No. 2689 *SS08/R403* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS08/R403
PAGE 3 (ens\tb)
who have a strong familial bond with the child, unless a child is 44
placed in the care of a relative who is exempt from foster care 45
training requirements, the department shall make monthly payments 46
to defray the relative's expense of furnishing room and board. 47
The department's relative care payment shall be in an amount up to 48
one hundred percent (100%) of the amount of the foster care board 49
payment. The department may continue to make those payments to 50
the relative after the department relinquishes legal custody of 51
the child to the relative if the relative has complied with foster 52
care training requirements. Any such payments for relative care 53
shall be subject to specific appropriation therefor by the 54
Legislature. 55
(4) Upon approval of an application made in writing, the 56
Department of Child Protection Services shall make monthly 57
payments to defray the expenses of a grandparent who has assumed 58
the primary care of his or her grandchild. The department's 59
payment under this section shall be in an amount up to one hundred 60
percent (100%) of the amount of the foster care board payment. 61
The department shall make the payments authorized under this 62
subsection to the grandparent without the grandparent having to 63
establish legal custody and without the department formally 64
placing the child with the grandparent if the grandparent has 65
complied with training requirements as required by the department. 66
Any such payments for care under this subsection shall be subject 67
to specific appropriation therefor by the Legislature. 68
S. B. No. 2689 *SS08/R403* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS08/R403
PAGE 4 (ens\tb)
ST: Grandparents; authorize payment of support
for assuming primary care of grandchildren.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 69
and after July 1, 2026. 70