3106                                         LAWS OF MARYLAND                                    Ch. 611

investigation within a certain period after receiving a
report; requiring that certain agencies enter certain
written agreements; requiring certain agencies responsible
for investigating reports of child sexual abuse to implement
certain joint investigatory procedures; requiring that the
procedures include certain matters; and generally relating
to investigations of child abuse by certain agencies.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article - Family Law

Section 5-905

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 the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Family Law

5-905.

(a) (1) Promptly after receiving a report of suspected
abuse, the local department or the appropriate law enforcement
agency, as appropriate, or both, if jointly agreed on, shall make
a thorough investigation to protect the welfare of the child or
children.

(2) WITHIN 24 HOURS AFTER RECEIVING THE REPORT OF
SUSPECTED ABUSE, THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT OR THE APPROPRIATE LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY SHALL:

(I)  SEE THE CHILD;

(II)  ATTEMPT TO HAVE AN ON-SITE INTERVIEW WITH
THE CHILD'S CARETAKER; AND

(III)  DECIDE ON THE SAFETY OF THE CHILD,
WHEREVER THE CHILD IS, AND OTHER CHILDREN IN THE HOME.

(b)  The investigation shall include:

(1)  a determination of the nature, extent, and cause
of the abuse, if any; and

(2)  if the suspected abuse is verified:

(i) a determination of the identity of the
person or persons responsible for the abuse;

(ii) a determination of the name, age, and
condition of any other child in the same household;