HB617 Summary - Alabama Kinship Guardianship Subsidy Act

• Establishes a kinship guardianship program allowing relatives (within fourth degree of kinship) to become legal guardians of children in Department of Human Resources custody when reunification and adoption are not appropriate.

• Creates a Kinship Guardianship Subsidy Program providing monthly financial assistance to kinship guardians, with subsidy amounts not exceeding foster care maintenance payments and continuing until the child reaches age 18 or 21 (if eligible).

• Requires kinship guardianship to be permanent during a child's minority and restricts modification or revocation except upon proving material change in circumstances that would materially promote the child's best interest.

• Grants kinship guardians parental authority over child care, education, medical decisions, and school enrollment, but preserves biological parents' rights to consent to adoption or name changes and retain child support obligations.

• Amends existing Alabama Code sections to incorporate kinship guardianship as a permanency plan option in juvenile court proceedings and establishes a Kinship Foster Care Program with eligibility standards and individualized service plans.