Ch. 247                                          LAWS  OF MARYLAND

(e) "Person" includes       a State, county, or municipal
corporation.

(F) "SECRETARY" MEANS THE SECRETARY OF HUMAN RESOURCES.

[14-102.] 5-571.

(a)  (1) The General Assembly finds that:

(i) A child is not capable of self-protection;
and

(ii) If care of a child is given over to
another, mental and physical risks arise that need to be offset
by reasonable protective measures.

(2) The General Assembly also finds that:

(i) There is a shortage of [day] CHILD care
placements for children under the age of 2 years; and

(ii) The rules and regulations adopted under
this subtitle should provide for small [day] CHILD care centers
that provide care in a homelike environment.

(b)  The purpose of this subtitle is not to limit a parent
in getting the help of responsible relatives or friends in giving
[day] CHILD care for a child, but is to aid each parent and
protect each child from the risk present if:

(1)  The child is cared for by an individual other
than a relative or friend; and

(2)  children of more than one family are cared for
together or, on different days, use the same facilities.

[14-103.] 5-572.

(a)  This [subtitle] PART VII does not supersede:

(1)  Any right or power of the [State Social Services
Administration] DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE or any
local [department of social services] HEALTH OFFICER;

(2)  Any right or power of the State Department of
Education or a county department of education; or

(3)  Any building code or zoning provision.

(b)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a child
care center for school age children is operated before and after
school hours [by a party other than the county board of

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