BLAIR LEE III, Acting Governor                           2577

under certain circumstances, suspected instances of
neglected children; extending immunity to those who
report in good faith; requiring timely investigations
of reports of neglect; requiring the local departments
of social services to render certain services and
perform certain duties; requiring the expungement of
certain records after a certain period; defining
certain terms; and generally relating to neglected
children.

BY adding to

Article 72A - Parent and Child

Section 4 through 11, inclusive, to be under the new

subtitle "Neglected Children"
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1970 Replacement Volume and 1977 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article 72A — Parent and Child

NEGLECTED CHILDREN
4,

(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE, THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE
MEANINGS INDICATED.

(B) "CHILD" MEANS A PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF 18.

(C)         "COURT" MEANS THE CIRCUIT COURT OF A COUNTY OR

BALTIMORE     CITY SITTING AS A JUVENILE COURT. IN MONTGOMERY

COUNTY, IT   MEANS THE DISTRICT COURT SITTING AS A JUVENILE
COURT.

(D) "NEGLECTED CHILD" MEANS A CHILD WHO IS: HAS
SUFFERED OR IS SUFFERING SIGNIFICANT PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HARM
OR INJURY AS A RESULT OF CONDITIONS CREATED BY THE ABSENCE
OF HIS PARENTS. GUARDIAN, OR CUSTODIAN, OR BY THE FAILURE OF
THAT PERSON TO GIVE PROPER CARE AND ATTENTION TO THE CHILD
AND HIS PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, A CHILD MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED TO

BE NEGLECTED SOLELY BECAUSE HE IS RECEIVING NONMEDICAL

REMEDIAL CARE AND TREATMENT RECOGNIZED BY STATE LAW IN LIEU
OF MEDICAL TREATMENT.

(1) HOMELESS, DESERTED OR ABANDONED;

(2) LIVING IN CONDITIONS ENDANGERING HIS

PHYSICAL, MENTAL OR EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING AS A RESULT OF THE

INABILITY, INCAPACITY, UNWILLINGNESS, OR REFUSAL OF THE

PARENT OR GUARDIAN OR PERSON WHO HAS PHYSICAL CARE OR

CONTROL OF THE CHILD TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY FOOD,

CLOTHING, SHELTER, MEDICAL CARE, GUIDANCE, SUPERVISION, OR

GUARDIANSHIP, OR TO MEET LEGAL REQUIREMENTS, ALTHOUGH

FINANCIALLY ABLE OR OFFERED THE FINANCIAL MEANS TO DO SO.