1348                                      LAWS OF MARYLAND                                Ch. 651

(1)   Where the care, custody or control is given by a licensed placement
agency or local department of social services.

(2)  Where the care, custody or control is given by the minor's natural parent
or parents or grandparents immediately and directly for adoption to a person or
persons and adoption proceedings have been instituted by such person or persons.

(3)  Where the care, custody or control was given by the court.
26.

Any institution, agency, society or person authorized to make a placement who
may be aggrieved by the decision of any agency or local board delegated to issue
licenses by the State Department shall have the right to appeal to the State
Department of Social Services.

Any institution, agency, society or persons authorized to make a placement
aggrieved by any decision of the State Department in any matter relating to the
issue, revocation or suspension of a license under this subtitle, or failure of the
State Department to act in any such matter, shall have [[the]] a right of appeal
to the circuit court of the county in which any such institution, agency, society or
person authorized to make a placement has its principal office or residence, as the
case may be, or to any court of Baltimore City having equity jurisdiction, if such
office or residence is in Baltimore City. The State Department may be a party in
any such appeal.

After hearing the evidence in the case, the court shall render a decision either
upholding, reversing or amending the decision of the State Department. If the
court shall find that the decision of the State Department complained of is based
upon a rule or regulation promulgated by the State Department in the
administration of this subtitle, and that such rule or regulation as applied to the
particular facts in the case at issue, is unreasonable, arbitrary or capricious , the
court may then declare that rule or regulation to be inapplicable in the case at bar
and render its decision accordingly.

From the decision of the trial court, a further right of appeal shall lie to the
Court of Special Appeals, at the instance of either party, during the time allowed
and according to the general practice for appeals in equity cases.

An appeal taken as provided in this section, either to a trial court or to the
Court of Special Appeals, shall operate to stay any criminal prosecution of a
licensee for operation, pending a final decision in the case appealed from and also
to suspend the operation of any injunction for operating without a license, pending
a final disposition of such appeal. While the matter is pending before a court, the
care, custody and control of a [minor or minors] PERSON OR PERSONS
UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE exercised by the institution, agency,
society or person authorized to make a placement aggrieved by the decision of the
State Department, shall be in the discretion of the court.

27.

Any licensee under this subtitle who gives the care, custody or control of any
[minor] PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE 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.