WM. PRESTON LANE, JR., GOVERNOR. 1.511

home for minors, and who receive into their home one or more
minors, other than children related by blood or marriage to
such person or persons, shall register with the State Depart-
ment their intention to receive such minor or minors and shall
at the same time state whether or not the purpose of such re-
ceiving is to adopt the minor or minors, before accepting the
care, custody or control of such minor or minors. Provided,
that this requirement of registration shall not apply if the
placement of the minor or minors is being arranged and is
supervised by any licensee under this sub-title.

Whenever the receiving of a minor is so registered with the
State Department, the Department may, if in its judgment it
seems necessary, make an investigation of the registered home
and all the circumstances bearing on the placement and the
proposed adoption, when that is contemplated, to the end that
socially undesirable placements may be avoided or promptly
terminated and socially undesirable adoptions avoided.

If after such an investigation the Department is satisfied
that the receiving of such minor or minors by the person or
persons listed as registrants is socially undesirable, it shall so
notify the registrant or registrants. If the registrant or regis-
trants nevertheless receive, accept or continue such care, cus-
tody and control, the Department may issue a written order,
served upon the registrants, or any of them, as regular process,
requiring the surrender by him or them of the care, custody
and control of the minor or minors. If the registrant or regis-
trants fail to comply with said order, or appeal from the de-
cision of the Department to a court of competent jurisdiction,
within ten days from the date of such service, the Department
shall seek to obtain the requisite Court order to enforce its
decision and order. While the matter is pending before a
Court, the care, custody and control of the minor or minors
shall be in the discretion of the Court.

16-I. (Religious Affiliation.) Any licensee under this sub-
title who gives the care, custody or control of any minor to any
person or persons, institution, agency or society, or who places
any minor for adoption, shall whenever possible give preference
in the placing of said minors with persons of the same religious
belief as that of the minor or his parents, unless the parents
specifically indicate a different choice.

16J. (Injunctions.) The Director of the State Department
of Public Welfare may by petition seek to enjoin the activities
and operations of any institution, agency, society, individual,
or set of individuals seeking to carry on the functions licensed
by this sub-title, without having secured the required license.
Such petition for an injunction shall be brought before the Cir-