HARRY HUGHES, Governor

3203

BY repealing

Article 16 - Chancery

Section 72, 74, 75, 87, and 88

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1981 Replacement Volume and 1981 Supplement)

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 16 - Chancery

Section 67(c)

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1981 Replacement Volume and 1981 Supplement)

BY adding to

Article 16 - Chancery

Section 68, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 77A, and 77B

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1981 Replacement Volume and 1981 Supplement)

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

Article 16 - Chancery

[72.

(a)  A petition for adoption, as hereinafter described,
may be preceded by a petition for guardianship with the
right to consent to adoption, and such guardianship decree,
which the courts having jurisdiction of adoption matters may
require and shall have power to grant after such hearing and
investigation as the court may deem appropriate, shall
terminate natural parental rights, duties and obligations
and the duly appointed guardian's consent to an adoption,
for which the petition may be filed in the same proceeding,
shall eliminate the necessity of further notice to the
natural parent or parents. In all respects not mentioned
in this section, adoption proceedings preceded by a
guardianship petition, as herein described, shall conform to
the procedure outlined in this subtitle and in the Maryland
Rules for adoptions generally.

(b)  Any person permitted to file a petition under
subsection (a) of this section may file a petition for
guardianship with the right to consent to long-term care
short of adoption. Said petition may be filed in addition
to or as part of a petition filed under subsection (a)
hereof. The court, after such hearing and investigation as
it may deem appropriate, shall have the power to grant a