1396                           LAWS OF MARYLAND                       CH. 702

fare] social services 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]
social services determines that there is probable cause to so believe
that a violation of this section has been committed, then the local
department of [welfare] social services shall proceed with the in-
vestigation required under subsection (e) hereof.

(e)    The local department of [welfare] social services shall make
a thorough investigation promptly upon receiving a report of prob-
able violation of this section, and the primary purpose of the in-
vestigation shall be the protection of the welfare of the child or
children. The investigation shall include a determination of the
nature, extent and cause or causes of the injuries, the identity of
the person or persons responsible therefor, the name, age and condi-
tion of other children in the same household, an evaluation of the
parents and the home environment, and all other facts or matters
found to be pertinent. The local department of [welfare] social
services shall render a complete written report of its findings to the
local State's attorney within five (5) working days of the completion
of the investigation, which shall be within ten (10) days of the
receipt of the oral or written report first disclosing to the local
department of [welfare] social services the existence of a possible
violation of this section. Upon request by the local department of
[welfare] social services, the local State's attorney and other ap-
propriate law enforcement or social agencies having jurisdiction
shall assist in the investigation.

(f)    Action to be taken by local [welfare] department of social
services, State's attorney, etc.—Based on their findings, the local
[welfare] department of social services shall render the appropriate
service in the best interests of the child, including, when indicated,
petitioning the juvenile court in behalf of the child for the added
protection to the child which either commitment or custody would
provide. The local State's attorney and other appropriate law en-
forcement agencies having jurisdiction shall take such lawful action
as may be appropriate in the circumstances.

(h) The State Department of [Welfare] Social Services shall
maintain a central registry of cases reported under this section,
which data shall be furnished by the respective local [welfare
boards] departments of social services throughout the State of
Maryland and this data shall be at the disposal of [public welfare,]
local departments of social services, social agencies, public health
agencies, law enforcement agencies, as well as licensed health prac-
titioners and health and education institutions licensed or regulated
by the State of Maryland.

ARTICLE 30

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY BLIND
11.

As used in this subtitle "State Department" means the State De-
partment of [Public Welfare] Social Services, created under Article