MS HB232

Creates a Community-Based Placement for At-risk Children Pilot Program in nine counties: Hinds, Rankin, Madison, Warren, Yazoo, Copiah, DeSoto, Hancock, and Coahoma for early intervention through youth court supervision.

Establishes eligibility for children ages 10-14 living in abusive, neglectful, or delinquency-contributing environments, with placement factors including single-parent households, school discipline/academic problems, and siblings with abuse or neglect adjudications.

Requires community homes to be approved by Child Protective Services as safe and suitable before any child placement, with placement requiring consent from custodial parent, person in loco parentis, or court-appointed guardian ad litem.

Authorizes fair and reasonable compensation to community homes for placement expenses, funded through legislative appropriations, county board of supervisors dedication, federal grants, donations, and other sources as determined by law.

Requires youth courts operating the program to report placements and expenses to the Administrative Office of Courts every six months, with annual legislative updates, contingent on committed funding prior to program establishment.