1468                                     LAWS OF MARYLAND                                 Ch. 697

abetting the placement; and provided further, that no such placement, when made
in contemplation of adoption, shall be made prior to the filing of a petition for
adoption in a court of competent jurisdiction and obtaining the court's consent to
such placement pending final action by the court on petition.

(c) Any entity, and any person not related by blood or marriage to a minor,
exercising care, custody or control in the nature of a parent or guardian, for one or
more minors, prior to the exercise of such custody or control, shall obtain a license
from the State Department of Social Services, except that no license shall be
required:

(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.]
20. LICENSING OF CHILD PLACEMENT AGENCIES

(A)       EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (B) HEREOF, NO
PERSON MAY ACT AS A CHILD PLACEMENT AGENCY, OR ENGAGE
IN THE PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN IN HOMES OR WITH PERSONS
WITHOUT HAVING FIRST OBTAINED A LICENSE FROM THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL SERVICES.

(B)   THE REQUIREMENTS OF SUBSECTION (A) DO NOT APPLY TO

(1)     THE PLACEMENT OF A CHILD WITH A PERSON RELATED
TO THE CHILD BY BLOOD OR MARRIAGE WITHIN FOUR DEGREES
OF CONSANGUINITY, CALCULATED ACCORDING TO THE CIVIL
LAW RULE;

(2)   THE PLACEMENT OF A CHILD BY THE CHILD'S PARENT OR
GRANDPARENT WITH A PERSON NOT SO RELATED TO THE CHILD,
IF (I) THE PLACEMENT IS MADE DIRECTLY BY THE CHILD'S
PARENT OR GRANDPARENT WITHOUT THE INTERVENTION OF ANY
OTHER PERSON THAN THE RECIPIENT OF THE CHILD AIDING OR
ABETTING THE PLACEMENT, AND (II) IF THE PLACEMENT IS IN
CONTEMPLATION OF ADOPTION, IT SHALL NOT BE MADE PRIOR
TO THE FILING OF A PETITION FOR ADOPTION IN A COURT OF
COMPETENT JURISDICTION AND THE ISSUANCE OF AN ORDER BY
THE COURT CONSENTING TO THE PLACEMENT PENDING FINAL
ACTION ON THE PETITION FOR ADOPTION.

20A. LICENSING OF CHILD CARE HOMES

(A)      EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (B) HEREOF, NO
PERSON MAY EXERCISE CARE, CUSTODY, OR CONTROL OVER A
CHILD WITHOUT HAVING FIRST OBTAINED A LICENSE THEREFOR
FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL
SERVICES.

(B)   THE REQUIREMENTS OF SUBSECTION (A) DO NOT APPLY

(1) TO THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF THE CHILD, A PERSON
RELATED TO THE CHILD BY BLOOD OR MARRIAGE WITHIN FOUR
DEGREES OF CONSANGUINITY, CALCULATED ACCORDING TO THE