HARRY HUGHES, Governor

1083

AN ACT concerning

Abused Child - Return to Household

FOR the purpose of providing that until certain conditions
are met, the local department of social services and
any court, State's attorney's office, or other law
enforcement agency may not return an abused child who

has been removed temporarily from the household

requiring the local department of social services to
establish proper supervision and monitoring of an
abused child's household for a certain period of time
after the child's return to the household in certain
circumstances.

BY renumbering

Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments

Section 35A(f-l) through (j), respectively

to be Section 35A(g), and (i) through (1), respectively

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1976 Replacement Volume and 1978 Supplement)

BY adding to

Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments

Section 35A(h)

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1976 Replacement Volume and 1978 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That Section(s) 35A(f-l) through (j),
respectively, of Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments, of the
Annotated Code of Maryland be renumbered to be Section(s)
35A(g), and (i) through (1), respectively.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That section(s)
of the Annotated Code of Maryland be repealed, amended, or
enacted to read as follows:

Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments

35A.

(H) IF A CHILD IS REMOVED FROM A HOUSEHOLD UNDER THE
PROVISIONS OF SUBSECTION (I) THIS SECTION OR BY A COURT
ORDER FINDING THAT THE CHILD IS IN SERIOUS PHYSICAL DANGER,
THE CHILD MAY NOT BE RETURNED UPON THE RETURN OF THE CHILD
TO THE HOUSEHOLD BY THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
OR BY THE ACTION OR ORDER OF ANY COURT, STATE'S ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE, OR OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY UNTIL, THE LOCAL
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES ESTABLISHES SHALL ESTABLISH
PROPER SUPERVISION AND MONITORING OF THE CHILD'S HOUSEHOLD
ON A REGULARLY SCHEDULED BASIS OF NOT LESS THAN ONCE A MONTH