Department of Child Protection Services; amend provisions related to kinship payments.

SB 2504 amends Mississippi law to update financial support for relatives caring for children in foster care. It requires the Department of Child Protection Services (DCPS) to provide monthly payments to relatives (including extended family, close family friends, or those with strong bonds) for room and board, up to 100% of the foster care board payment amount. These payments may continue after DCPS relinquishes legal custody to the relative, provided the relative completed required foster care training. The bill directly affects kinship caregivers and DCPS, which will administer the payments subject to legislative funding.