54                               LAWS OF MARYLAND                       [CH. 39

protection of the child or children is necessary to insure the physical
safety or welfare of the child or children involved, then in such
event, the matter shall also be reported to the appropriate law
enforcement agency. The written reports required to be made shall
be made in all cases to the local department of welfare and to the
local State's attorney.

The oral and written reports shall contain the following informa-
tion, or as much thereof as the person making the report shall be
able in the circumstances to furnish:

(1)   The names and home address or addresses of the child or
children and the parent or other persons responsible for the care of
the child or children in question:

(2)   The present whereabouts of the child or children if not the
same as the home address or addresses;

(3)   The age or ages of the child or children;

(4)  The nature and extent of the injuries or injury of the child
or children in question, including any evidence or information avail-
able to the person or agency rendering the report of previous
injury or injuries possibly resulting from malicious mistreatment
or beating;

(5)   All such other information available to the reporter which
would be of aid in establishing the cause of the injuries and the
identity of the person or persons responsible therefor.

A report made by anyone other than a health practitioner, educa-
tion or welfare worker, or law enforcement officer may be either
written or oral, or both, and such reports shall be regarded as a
report within the provisions of this section, whether or not the
report contains all of the required information provided for in this
subsection. Such reports by private persons or agencies other than
the local department of welfare shall be promptly referred by
the receiving agency to the local department of welfare. The local
department of welfare shall promptly interview the private party
who has made a report of possible violations of the provisions of
this section, to determine if there is probable cause to believe that
the child (or children) in question [,] has in fact sustained physical
injury as a result of abuse, as by malicious beating, striking, or
other such cruel or inhumane treatment. If the local department
of welfare determines that there is probable cause to so believe that
a violation of this section has been committed, then the local depart-
ment of welfare shall proceed with the investigation required under
[section] subsection (e) hereof.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
June 1,1967.

Approved March 24, 1967.

CHAPTER 39

(Senate Bill 55)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 214A (c)
of Article 27 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1966 Supple-