2550

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 493

(I)  ANY INFORMATION KNOWN TO THE PETITIONER OF:

1.  THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE CHILD; AND

2.  THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF THE ABUSE,
INCLUDING ANY EVIDENCE OR INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE PETITIONER
CONCERNING PREVIOUS INJURY RESULTING FROM ABUSE;

(II)  ANY OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE
ABUSE OF THE CHILD; AND

(III)  THE NAME AND WHEREABOUTS OF THE ALLEGED
ABUSER.

(c) (1) The court may waive or defer in advance the cost of
filing a petition on a showing by affidavit that:

(i) the petitioner is indigent; or

(ii) because of the circumstances, the
petitioner, otherwise able to pay, is unable to pay the cost at
the time of filing.

(2) Under these circumstances, the court later may
waive costs, or assess costs against the petitioner or the
ALLEGED abuser.

(D) (1) WHEN A COURT RECEIVES A PETITION THAT ALLEGES ABUSE
OF A CHILD BY A HOUSEHOLD MEMBER UNDER THIS SECTION, THE COURT
SHALL FORWARD A COPY OF THE PETITION TO THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT.

(2) WHEN THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT RECEIVES THE PETITION
FROM THE COURT, THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT SHALL:

(I)  INVESTIGATE THE ALLEGED ABUSE AS PROVIDED
IN TITLE 5, SUBTITLE 9 OF THIS ARTICLE; AND

(II)  FORWARD A COPY OF THE REPORT OF THE
INVESTIGATION TO THE COURT.

4-505.

(a) (1) If a petition is filed under this subtitle and the
court finds that the petitioner has shown that a household member
has been abused, the court, in an ex parte proceeding, may enter
a temporary order to protect the petitioner or another household
member from abuse.

(2) The temporary ex parte order [may:] SHALL

[(i)] order the alleged abuser to refrain from
abusing household members[;] AND MAY: