2516

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 654

(3)  A person who has received the care of the
child from a child placement agency licensed hereunder by
the State Department of Social Services HUMAN RESOURCES or
from a local department of social services.

(4)  A person who is a close friend of the
child's parents or legal guardian and is providing such care
on an occasional basis.

(c)  The necessary qualifications and the minimum
standards established as prerequisites for the issuance of
licenses shall be set forth in rules and regulations
promulgated by the State Department of Social Services HUMAN
RESOURCES and shall be such as to protect the health,
safety, welfare and morals of the children placed in family
day care. The procedures for the issuance of licenses shall
be set forth in rules and regulations of the State
Department. The rules and regulations shall provide for the
issuance of licenses by local departments of social services
in the name of the State Department. An appeal shall be
allowed to the State Department in the event of a local
department's refusal to issue a license. The issuance,
duration, revocation and suspension of all licenses shall be
subject to the provisions of §§ 22, 23, 24 and 25 of this
article.

(d)  A person, firm, corporation or agency aggrieved by
the refusal of the State Department of Social Services HUMAN
RESOURCES to issue a license under this section or by the
State Department's revocation or suspension of such a
license, may appeal therefrom to the circuit court of the
county in which the person, firm, corporation or agency has
his or its residence or principal office, as the case may
be, or to the Baltimore City Court, if the office or
residence is in Baltimore City. There is a further right of
appeal to the Court of Special Appeals at the instance of
either party.

(e)  The State Department of Social Services HUMAN
RESOURCES may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations,
not inconsistent with the provisions of this section, to
implement the provisions hereof.

(f)  The Director of the State Department of Social
Services HUMAN RESOURCES may seek to enjoin the activities
of any unlicensed person, firm, corporation or agency
seeking to carry out the functions regulated hereunder in
the manner prescribed by § 28 of this article.

(g)  Any person, firm, corporation or agency violating
the provisions of this section or of any rule or regulation
adopted and promulgated by the State Department under this
section is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall
be subject, in the discretion of the court, to a fine not to
exceed $500 or to imprisonment not to exceed one year.