In danger of closing from a lack of children, Natchez’s Sunshine Shelter could benefit from proposed legislation that would require background checks for relatives who take in abused children.

But according to shelter Director Gail Healy, the real beneficiaries of the legislation are children who are victims of abused and neglect.

While state Department of Human Services officials say background checks are policy before children are placed with relatives, Healy hopes legislation to require them will be even more incentive to protect abused children.

State Sen. Bob M. Dearing has proposed an amendment to the law that grants temporary custody of abused children to the state Department of Human Services. The amendment would require criminal background checks and home studies to be completed before abused and neglected children are placed with relatives.

If passed, the legislation would go into effect July 1.

&uot;Gail Healy has got to be one of the most conscientious people with concerns for young people,&uot; said Dearing, D-Natchez. &uot;They just need more children.&uot;

Dearing said his legislation will ensure that children are placed in &uot;a good home.&uot;

The legislation makes an exception for the nonoffending parent who does not have a record of abuse of neglect.

Sue Perry, director of family and children’s services for the state DHS, knows that with overworked social workers across the state, background checks may not always be completed now.

&uot;Background checks should be occurring prior to a child being placed,&uot; she said.

Perry agrees legislation could help.

Sylvia Sessions, director of DHS’ Region 5 — which includes Adams County — said legislation might force more counties to open emergency shelters like Natchez’s.

The Sunshine Shelter serves the 14 counties in Region 5 but can also accept children from across the state. In an effort to get more children at the shelter, Healy and her staff have now offered to provide transportation for children to the shelter.

Sessions and Perry both said they will do everything they can to keep the shelter open.