3700                                         LAWS OF MARYLAND                                     Ch. 783

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall
take effect July 1, 1984.

Approved May 29, 1984.

CHAPTER 784

(Senate Bill 323)

AN ACT concerning

Child Abuse - Investigations

FOR the purpose of requiring that certain agencies responsible
for investigating reports of child abuse initiate an
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