Senate Bill 2461 Summary

• Replaces "durable legal custody" with "durable legal relative guardianship" as a permanency option in youth court proceedings for abused or neglected children.

• Requires durable legal relative guardianship to be granted only to relatives or fictive kin licensed as foster parents, with at least six months of prior physical custody and Department of Child Protection Services supervision.

• Removes court review hearing requirements for durable legal relative guardianship cases, but requires the Department of Child Protection Services to conduct annual reviews and recertification to determine if the arrangement remains in the child's best interest.

• Allows parents, relative guardians, fictive kin guardians, or the Department of Child Protection Services to petition the court to review durable legal relative guardianship if material changes in circumstances occur that adversely affect the child's welfare.

• Effective July 1, 2025.