HB 1149 Summary

• Creates a separate Department of Child Protection Services as an independent state agency (effective July 1, 2023), removing it from the Department of Human Services and establishing a Commissioner position appointed by the Governor with Senate approval.

• Establishes child representation requirements: children alleged to be abused or neglected become parties to proceedings and must be represented by counsel at all stages including shelter hearings; DCPS becomes a necessary party in all custody cases.

• Requires termination of parental rights and adoption cases to be docketed as priority cases with immediate judge notification upon filing, and mandates court hearings on termination petitions within 120 calendar days of filing.

• Expands youth court commission membership from 19 to 21 members and updates procedural requirements for court operations and case information systems to reference the new Department of Child Protection Services.

• Makes conforming amendments throughout Mississippi Code to replace references to "Department of Human Services" or "Division of Family and Children's Services" with "Department of Child Protection Services" in child welfare, adoption, foster care, and related statutes.