Ch. 728                                       1994 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(iii) a State's Attorney's office; and

(iv) the Attorney General's office.

(m) "Local department" means the department of social services that has
jurisdiction in the county:

(1)     where the allegedly abused or neglected child lives; or

(2)      if different, where the abuse or neglect is alleged to have taken place.
(n) "Local State's Attorney" means the State's Attorney for the county:

(I) where the allegedly abused or neglected child lives; or

(2) if different, where the abuse or neglect is alleged to have taken place.

(O) "MENTAL INJURY"' MEANS THE OBSERVABLE AND, IDENTIFIABLE, AND
SUBSTANTIAL IMPAIRMENT OF A CHILD'S MENTAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL ABILITY TO
FUNCTION.

[(o) (1)] (P) "Neglect" means the leaving of a child unattended or other failure
to give proper care and attention to a child by [the child's parents, guardian, or
custodian] ANY PARENT OR OTHER PERSON WHO HAS PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY
CARE OR CUSTODY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUPERVISION OF THE CHILD under
circumstances that indicate:

(1)      that the child's health or welfare is [significantly] harmed or placed at
SUBSTANTIAL risk of [significant] harm; OR

(2)      MENTAL INJURY TO THE CHILD OR A SUBSTANTIAL RISK OF
MENTAL INJURY.

[(2) "Neglect" does not include, for that reason alone, providing a child with
nonmedical religious remedial care and treatment recognized by Stale law.]

[(p)](Q) "Police officer" means any State or local officer who is authorized to
make arrests as part of the officer's official duty.

[(q)](R) "Record" means the original or any copy of any documentary material,
in any form, including a report of suspected child abuse or neglect, that is made by,
received by, or received from the State, a county, or a municipal corporation in the State,
or any subdivision or agency concerning a case of alleged child abuse or neglect.

[(r)](S) "Report" means an allegation of abuse or neglect, made or received
under this subtitle.

[(s)] (T) "Ruled out" means a finding that abuse, neglect, or sexual abuse did not
occur.

[(t)] (U) (1) "Sexual abuse" means any act that involves sexual molestation or
exploitation of a child by a parent or other person who has permanent or temporary care
or custody or responsibility for supervision of a child, or by any household or family
member.

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