WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor Ch. 644

(d) (1) [Before January 1, 1985, the] THE local department,
the appropriate law enforcement agencies, [and] the State's
Attorney within each county and Baltimore City, AND THE LOCAL
HEALTH OFFICER shall enter into a written agreement that
specifies standard operating procedures for the investigation and
prosecution of reported cases of child abuse.

(2) AN INVESTIGATION OF ALLEGED CHILD ABUSE INVOLVING
A GROUP DAY CARE CENTER OR FAMILY DAY CARE HOME SHALL INCLUDE THE
LOCAL HEALTH OFFICER.

(e)  (1) [Before January 1, 1985, the] THE agencies
responsible for investigating child sexual abuse, including the
local department, THE LOCAL HEALTH OFFICER, the appropriate law
enforcement agencies, and the local State's Attorney shall
implement a joint investigation procedure for conducting joint
investigations of child sexual abuse.

(2) The joint investigation procedure shall:

(i) include appropriate techniques for
expediting validation of child sexual abuse complaints;

(ii) include investigation techniques designed
to:

1.  decrease the potential for physical
harm to the child; and

2.  decrease any trauma experienced by the
child in the investigation and prosecution of the case; and

(iii) establish a training program prior to
July 1, 1985, for personnel involved in the investigation or
prosecution of child sexual abuse cases.

(f)  (1) To the extent possible, an investigation under this
section shall be completed within 10 days after receipt of the
first notice of the suspected abuse by the local department or
law enforcement agencies.

(2) (i) Within 10 days after the local department or
law enforcement agency receives the first notice of the suspected
abuse, the local department or law enforcement agency shall
report to the local State's Attorney the preliminary findings of
the investigation.

(ii) The local department or law enforcement
agency shall make a final report to the local State's Attorney
within 30 days of the date of the preliminary report, or request
an extension at that time if the investigation is not completed.
Each extension may not be for more than 30 days.

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