2804

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 529

Article - Family Law

Section 9-101 and 9-102, respectively

to be Section 9-102 and 9-103, respectively

Annotated Code of Maryland

(As enacted by Chapter ____ (H.B. 1) of the

Acts of the General Assembly of 1984)

BY adding to

Article - Family Law

Section 9-101

Annotated Code of Maryland

(As enacted by Chapter ____ (H.B. 1) of the

Acts of the General Assembly of 1984)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY     OF

MARYLAND, That Section(s) 9-101 and 9-102, respectively,   of

Article - Family Law of the Annotated Code of Maryland     be
renumbered to be Section(s) 9-102 and 9-103, respectively.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of
Maryland read as follows:

Article - Family Law

9-101.

(A) IN THIS SECTION, "LOCAL DEPARTMENT" MEANS THE LOCAL
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES IN THE JURISDICTION WHERE THE
ALLEGED ABUSE OR NEGLECT OCCURRED, OR, IF UNKNOWN, WHERE THE
CHILD LIVES.

(A) (B) (A) IN ANY CUSTODY OR VISITATION PROCEEDING, IF
THE COURT HAS REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE THAT A CHILD HAS BEEN
ABUSED OR NEGLECTED BY A PARTY TO THE PROCEEDING, THE COURT SHALL
DETERMINE WHETHER ABUSE OR NEGLECT IS LIKELY TO OCCUR IF CUSTODY
OR VISITATION RIGHTS ARE GRANTED TO THE PARTY.

(C) (1) IF THE COURT HAS REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE THAT
A CHILD HAS BEEN ABUSED OR NEGLECTED BY A PARTY TO THE
PROCEEDING, THE COURT SHALL ORDER THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT TO REPORT
IN WRITING TO THE COURT, WITHIN 7 DAYS, WHETHER THE LOCAL
DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED ANY REPORTS OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT OF THE
CHILD BY THE PARTY, AND IF SO, THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT'S FINDINGS.

(2) IF THE SUSPECTED ABUSE OR NEGLECT HAS NOT BEEN
PREVIOUSLY INVESTIGATED, THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT SHALL CONDUCT AN
INVESTIGATION, AND REPORT THE RESULTS IN WRITING TO THE COURT
WITHIN 7 DAYS.

(B) (D) (B)         UNLESS THE COURT SPECIFICALLY FINDS HAS

REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE SPECIFICALLY FINDS THAT THERE IS