HARRY HUGHES, Governor

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(b) Except as otherwise provided herein, the adoption
of an adult shall be governed by the laws applicable to
adoption of a child, and an adopted adult shall have the
same rights as if adopted while under eighteen years of age.

(c) If the petition contains a prayer to that effect,
the court may also decree that the name of the child be
changed.]

[88.

Sections 74, 79, 83 and 86 of this article shall not
apply in Calvert, Charles, Garrett and St. Mary's counties.
Section 87 of this article shall apply in Calvert, Charles,
Garrett, and St. Mary's counties but not in any other county
of the State or in Baltimore City. Sections 67, 68, 69, 70,
71, 78, 80, 82 and 84 of this article shall apply throughout
the entire State.]

67.

(c) The General Assembly further declares that this
subtitle is related to the subtitle on "Child Care" of
Article 88A, §§ 19-32, of this Code, and should be read: in
relation thereto. IT IS THE INTENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY:

(1) THAT NO CHILD BE PLACED FOR ADOPTION OR
GUARDIANSHIP EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN ARTICLE 88A, § 20 OF THE
CODE; AND

(2) THAT THE PENALTIES OF ARTICLE 88A, § 31 FOR
THE UNLAWFUL ASSUMPTION OF CARE, CUSTODY, OR CONTROL OF A
CHILD AND FOR THE UNLAWFUL PLACEMENT OF A CHILD FOR ADOPTION
BE STRONGLY ENFORCED.

68.

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

(B)   "CHILD PLACEMENT AGENCY" MEANS A LOCAL DEPARTMENT
OF SOCIAL SERVICES OR A PRIVATE AGENCY WHICH ENGAGES IN THE
PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN IN HOMES OR WITH INDIVIDUALS AND WHICH
IS LICENSED UNDER ARTICLE 88A, § 20 OF THE CODE.

(C) "DISABILITY" MEANS THE FOLLOWING:

(1)  MENTAL DISORDER, AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN
§ 10-101 OF THE HEALTH - GENERAL ARTICLE;

(2)  MENTAL RETARDATION, AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED
IN § 7-101 OF THE HEALTH - GENERAL ARTICLE;

(3)  CHRONIC ALCOHOLISM, AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED
IN § 8-101 OF THE HEALTH - GENERAL ARTICLE; OR