MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                               1339

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That Subtitles "Administration of Charitable
Trusts" and "Uniform Absent Persons' Act" of Article 16 —
Chancery, of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1973
Replacement Volume and 1974 Supplement) be and they are
hereby repealed:

Article 16 - Chancery

[[Administration of Charitable Trusts]]

[[Uniform Absent Persons' Act]]

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That new
Sections 184 through 207, inclusive, to be under new
subtitle "Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act" be and
they are hereby added to Article 16 — Chancery of the
Annotated Code of Maryland (1973 Replacement Volume and
1974 Supplement) to read as follows;

Article 16 — Chancery

UNIFORM CHILD CUSTODY JURISDICTION ACT

[[3-100133 184.

(A) THE GENERAL PURPOSES OF THIS SUBTITLE ARE TO:

(1)    AVOID JURISDICTIONAL COMPETITION AND
CONFLICT WITH COURTS OF OTHER STATES IN MATTERS OF CHILD
CUSTODY WHICH HAVE IN THE PAST RESULTED IN THE SHIFTING
OF CHILDREN FROM STATE TO STATE WITH HARMFUL EFFECTS ON
THEIR WELL-BEING;

(2)    PROMOTE COOPERATION WITH THE COURTS OF
OTHER STATES TO THE END THAT A CUSTODY DECREE IS RENDERED
IN THAT STATE WHICH CAN BEST DECIDE THE CASE IN THE
INTEREST OF THE CHILD;

(3)    ASSURE THAT LITIGATION CONCERNING THE
CUSTODY OF A CHILD TAKES PLACE ORDINARILY IN THE STATE
WITH WHICH THE CHILD AND HIS FAMILY HAVE THE CLOSEST
CONNECTION AND WHERE SIGNIFICANT EVIDENCE CONCERNING HIS
CARE. PROTECTION, TRAINING, AND PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS IS
MOST READILY AVAILABLE, AND THAT COURTS OF THIS STATE
DECLINE THE EXERCISE OF JURISDICTION WHEN THE CHILD AND
HIS FAMILY HAVE A CLOSER CONNECTION WITH ANOTHER STATE;

(4)    DISCOURAGE CONTINUING CONTROVERSIES OVER
CHILD CUSTODY IN THE INTEREST OF GREATER STABILITY OF
HOME ENVIRONMENT AND OF SECURE FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS FOR