BLAIR LEE III, Acting Governor

2581

SHALL ACCOMPANY THE REPRESENTATIVE IN CARRYING OUT THE COURT
ORDER. THE REPRESENTATIVE AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
SHALL REPORT THEIR FINDINGS TO THE COURT, AND IF THE COURT
ORDERS, THE CHILD SHALL BE REMOVED.

(E) BASED ON ITS FINDINGS AND TREATMENT PLAN, THE
LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES SHALL ASSURE THAT
SERVICES IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD ARE PROVIDED
INCLUDING, WHEN INDICATED, THE DEPARTMENT'S PETITIONING THE
COURT IN BEHALF OF THE CHILD TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE RELIEF.

(F) THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES SHALL

PROVIDE BY RULE THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH INFORMATION,

OTHER THAN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT OF A REPORT, MAY BE

GIVEN TO PUBLIC OR OR PRIVATE AGENCIES OR INDIVIDUALS. THE

SOCIAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION SHALL PROVIDE BY RULE,
SUBJECT TO FEDERAL AND STATE LAW, FOR THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF
REPORTS AND RECORDS MADE PURSUANT TO THIS SUBTITLE AND SHALL
PROVIDE BY RULE THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH INFORMATION MAY
BE RELEASED.

(G)         IF, UNLESS OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY LAW OR

REGULATION, THERE IS A REPORT PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION C IN

WHICH THERE IS NOT A FINDING OF NEGLECT, THE LOCAL

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES SHALL EXPUNGE ALL RECORDS OF

THE CASE IN THE DEPARTMENT WITHIN TWO YEARS FROM THE DATE OF

THE DEPARTMENT'S REPORT ON ITS FINDINGS. IF THESE IS A

REPORT PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (C) IN WHICH THERE IS A
FINDING THAT NEGLECT DOES NOT EXIST, THEN THE LOCAL

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES SHALL PROMPTLY EXPUNGE ALL

RECORDS RELATING TO THAT REPORT IN THE DEPARTMENT. IN CASES
IN WHICH NEGLECT IS NEITHER CONFIRMED NOR RULED OUT, THE
LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES SHALL EXPUNGE ALL
RECORDS RELATING TO THAT REPORT IN THE DEPARTMENT WITHIN 1
YEAR FROM THE DATE OF THE DEPARTMENT'S REPORT ON ITS
FINDINGS.

9.

ANY PERSON REQUIRED TO MAKE A REPORT PURSUANT TO

SECTION 6 OF THIS ARTICLE, WHO IN GOOD FAITH, MAKES OR

PARTICIPATES IN THE MAKING OF A GOOD FAITH MAKING SUCH A

REPORT OF NEGLECT PURSUANT TO SECTION 6 OR WHO PARTICIPATES
IN AN INVESTIGATION OF IN A RESULTING JUDICIAL PROCEEDING IS
IMMUNE FROM ANY CIVIL LIABILITY THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE BE
INCURRED OR IMPOSED AS A RESULT.

10.

(A) ANY PHYSICIAN LICENSED OR AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE
MEDICINE IN MARYLAND, PRESENTED WITH A CHILD PURSUANT TO AN
ORDER OF ANY COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION OR BY A
REPRESENTATIVE OF A LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES WHO
STATES HE HAS THE CHILD IN HIS CUSTODY AS A CHILD WHOM HE
HAS REASON TO BELIEVE IS NEGLECTED, SHALL EXAMINE THE CHILD
WITH OR WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF A PARENT, GUARDIAN, OR
CUSTODIAN OF THE CHILD, TO DETERMINE THE NATURE AND EXTENT
OF ANY NEGLECT TO THE CHILD. ANY PHYSICIAN AND ANY PUBLIC