MS SB2680

Clarifies that relative care and fictive kin placement are legal options for abused and neglected children, including temporary or emergency placements pending court action.

Creates "durable legal relative guardianship" as a permanency option when reunification and adoption are inappropriate, requiring the relative or fictive kin to be licensed as a foster parent and allowing courts to waive foster care training requirements.

Permits courts to waive foster care training for relative placements, but relatives exempted from training are ineligible for board payments, foster care payments, or other monthly assistance from the department.

Establishes definitions for "fictive kin" (significant familial-like relationship not based on legal or biological ties), "reasonable efforts," and "durable legal relative guardianship" in the Youth Court Act.

Amends divorce law to clarify spousal domestic abuse as a grounds for divorce, established through testimony of a single credible witness, including physical injury or pattern of threats, intimidation, isolation, or abuse; and allows adoptive parents to proceed pro se in foreign adoption registration cases.