3430

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 570

Article - Health - General
Section 7-604, 10-704, and 19-347
Annotated Code of Maryland

(As enacted by Chapter ___(H.B. 200) of the Acts

of the General Assembly of 1982)

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

(as enacted by Chapter ____ (H.B. 200) of the Acts of the

General Assembly of 1982) read(s) as follows:

Article - Health - General

7-604.

(a)  (1) In this section, "abuse" means:

(i) Any physical injury THAT IS INFLICTED

WILLFULLY;

(ii) Inhumane treatment; or

(iii) Any of the following kinds of sexual
abuse:

1.  A sexual act, as defined in
Article 27, § 461(e) of the Code.

2.   Sexual contact, as defined in
Article 27, § 461(f) of the Code.

3.  Vaginal intercourse, as defined
in Article 27, § 461(g) of the Code.

(2) In this section, "abuse" does not include
the performance of:

(i) An accepted medical procedure that a
physician orders; or

(ii) An accepted behavioral procedure that
a licensed psychologist orders.

(b)  (1) A person who believes that a mentally retarded
individual in a facility has been abused shall report the
alleged abuse to the administrative head of the facility.

(2)  The administrative head promptly shall
report the alleged abuse to an appropriate law enforcement
agency.

(3)  A report to an administrative head:

(i) May be oral or written; and