Ch. 182

LAWS OF MARYLAND

(1)  returning the child to the child's parent or
guardian, unless the Department is the guardian;

(2)  placing the child with relatives to whom
adoption, guardianship, or care and custody, in descending order
of priority, are planned to be granted;

(3)  adoption in the following descending order of
priority:

(i) by a current foster parent with whom the
child has resided continually for at least the 12 months prior to
developing the permanent plan or for a sufficient length of time
to have established positive relationships and family ties; or

(ii) by another approved adoptive family;

(4)  an independent living arrangement; or

(5)  in exceptional situations as defined by rule or
regulation, long-term foster care.

(d)  (1) The local department shall:

(i) prepare the permanency plan in writing
within 60 days of the date the child comes into care;

(ii) if the child is under the jurisdiction of
the juvenile court, furnish the plan to the child's parents, the
child or the child's counsel, and to the juvenile court; and

(iii) maintain the plan in the agency's case
record.

(2) The local department shall amend the plan
promptly as necessary in light of the child's situation and any
court orders which affect the child.

(e)  Unless a child has received a review from the local
board of review of foster care under § 5-544 of Part IV of this
subtitle, the local department shall perform an administrative
review every 6 months to determine the success of the efforts to
meet the goals set out in the permanency plan or the agreement
with the parents or guardians in voluntary placements.

(f)  Foster parents who wish to contest the agency's
decision to place the child with another adoptive family have the
right to a timely hearing.

(g)  [(1)] The Administration shall adopt [rules and]
regulations that[,]:

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