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Ch. 398 2005 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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of social services, child welfare services, cash assistance, food stamps, or medical
assistance, directly or indirectly derived from the records, papers, files, investigations
or communications of the State, county or city, or subdivisions or agencies thereof, or
acquired in the course of the performance of official duties.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in Title 5, [Subtitle] SUBTITLES 5 AND 7 7
AND 12 of the Family Law Article, AND § 6A of this subtitle, and this section, all
records and reports concerning child abuse or neglect are confidential, and their
unauthorized disclosure is a criminal offense subject to the penalty set out in
subsection (e) of this section. Reports or records concerning child abuse or neglect:
(1) Shall be disclosed:
(i) Under a court order; or
(ii) Under an order of an administrative law judge, if the request for
disclosure concerns a case pending before the Office of Administrative Hearings and
provisions are made to comply with other State or federal confidentiality laws and to
protect the identity of the reporter or other person whose life or safety is likely to be
endangered by disclosure; and
(2) May be disclosed on request:
(i) To personnel of local or State departments of social services, law
enforcement personnel, and members of multidisciplinary case consultation teams,
INCLUDING AN ADDICTION SPECIALIST AS DEFINED IN TITLE 5, SUBTITLE 12 OF THE
FAMILY LAW ARTICLE OR § 50A OF THIS ARTICLE, who are investigating a report of
known or suspected child abuse or neglect or who are providing services to OR
ASSESSING a child or family that is the subject of the report;
(ii) To local or State officials responsible for the administration of
child protective services or child care, foster care, and adoption licensing, approval, or
regulations as necessary to carry out their official functions;
(iii) To the State Council on Child Abuse and Neglect, the State
Citizens Review Board for Children, or their designees, or a child fatality review team
as necessary to carry out their official functions;
(iv) To a person who is the alleged child abuser or the person who is
suspected of child neglect if that person is responsible for the child's welfare and
provisions are made for the protection of the identity of the reporter or any other
person whose life or safety is likely to be endangered by disclosing the information;
(v) To a licensed practitioner who, or an agency, institution, or
program which, is providing treatment or care to a child who is the subject of a report
of child abuse or neglect for a purpose relevant to the provision of the treatment or
care;
(vi) To a parent or other person who has permanent or temporary
care and custody of a child, if provisions are made for the protection of the identity of
the reporter or any other person whose life or safety is likely to be endangered by
disclosing the information;
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