960                                            LAWS OF MARYLAND                                      Ch. 234

Article 88A - Social Services Administration

Section 6(b)

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1985 Replacement Volume)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 88A - Social Services Administration

6.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in Title 5, Subtitle 9 of
the Family Law Article, all records and reports concerning child
abuse or neglect are confidential, and their unauthorized
disclosure is a criminal offense subject to the penalty set out
in subsection (e) of this section. Information contained in
reports or records concerning child abuse or neglect may be
disclosed only:

(1)  Under a court order;

(2)  To personnel of local or State departments of
social services, law enforcement personnel, and members of
multidisciplinary case consultation [teams] TEAMS, who are
investigating a report of known or suspected child abuse or
neglect or who are providing services to a child or family that
is the subject of the report;

(3)  To local or State officials responsible for the
administration of the child protective service as necessary to
carry out their official functions; [or]

(4)  To a person who is the alleged child abuser or
the person who is suspected of child neglect if that person is
responsible for the child's welfare and provisions are made for
the protection of the identity of the reporter or any other
person whose life or safety is likely to be endangered by
disclosing the information;

(5)  TO A LICENSED PRACTITIONER WHO, OR AN AGENCY,
INSTITUTION, OR PROGRAM WHICH IS PROVIDING TREATMENT OR CARE TO A
CHILD WHO IS THE SUBJECT OF A REPORT OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT;
OR

(6)  TO A PARENT OR OTHER PERSON WHO HAS PERMANENT OR
TEMPORARY CARE AND CUSTODY OF A CHILD, IF PROVISIONS ARE MADE FOR
THE PROTECTION OF THE IDENTITY OF THE REPORTER OR ANY OTHER
PERSON WHOSE LIFE OR SAFETY IS LIKELY TO BE ENDANGERED BY
DISCLOSING THE INFORMATION.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall
take effect July 1, 1986.