1522

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 571

Article 16 — Chancery

SUBSIDIZED ADOPTION ACT

88A.

DEFINITION. IN THIS SUBTITLE THE TERM "CHILD" MEANS
A MINOR AS DEFINED BY STATE LAW, WHO IS LEGALLY FREE FOR
ADOPTION AND FOR WHOM A DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE BY
THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, THAT A CASH
SUBSIDY, MEDICAL ASSISTANCE OR MEDICAL CARE IS NECESSARY
TO ASSURE HIS ADOPTION BECAUSE OF SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
SUCH AS:

(1)    PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITY;

(2)    EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE;

(3)    RECOGNIZED HIGH RISK OF PHYSICAL OR
MENTAL DISEASE;

(4)    AGE;

(5)    SIBLING RELATIONSHIP;

(6)    RACIAL OR ETHNIC FACTORS; OR

(7)    ANY COMBINATION OF THESE SPECIAL
CIRCUMSTANCES.

88B.

PURPOSE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS SUBTITLE IS TO MAKE
POSSIBLE THROUGH PUBLIC SUBSIDY THE MOST APPROPRIATE
ADOPTION OF EACH CHILD WHO IS:

(1)          UNDER PUBLIC OR PRIVATE AGENCY
GUARDIANSHIP OR CARE;

(2)          LEGALLY FREE FOR ADOPTION; AND

(3)          DETERMINED TO REQUIRE A SUBSIDY TO
ASSURE HIS ADOPTION IN VIEW OF SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

88C.

(A)    ADMINISTRATION AND FUNDING. THE [[SOCIAL

SERVICES ADMINISTRATION]] LOCAL DEPARTMENT__OF__SOCIAL

SERVICES SHALL ESTABLISH AND ADMINISTER AN ONGOING
PROGRAM OF SUBSIDIZED ADOPTION, EXCEPTING MEDICAL
ASSISTANCE OR MEDICAL CARE. SUBSIDIES AND SERVICES FOR
CHILDREN UNDER THIS PROGRAM SHALL BE PROVIDED OUT OF
FUNDS APPROPRIATED TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE MAINTENANCE
OF CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE OR MADE AVAILABLE TO IT FROM
OTHER SOURCES.

(B)    MEDICAL ASSISTANCE OR MEDICAL CARE FOR
CHILDREN UNDER THE ADOPTION SUBSIDY PROGRAM SHALL BE