WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor Ch. 300

BY adding to

Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments

Section 35B to be under the new subheading "Child Selling"

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1987 Replacement Volume and 1988 Supplement)

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

Article - Family Law

5-327.

(a) (1) (I) An agency, institution, or individual who

renders any service in connection with the placement of an
individual for adoption may not charge or receive from or on
behalf of either the natural parent of the individual to be
adopted, or from or on behalf of the individual who is adopting
the individual, any compensation for the placement.

(II) A PARENT, EITHER NATURAL OR ADOPTIVE, OR
ANYONE ACTING ON BEHALF OF A PARENT MAY NOT SELL, BARTER, OR
TRADE, OR OFFER TO SELL, BARTER, OR TRADE THE PARENT'S CHILD FOR
MONEY OR PROPERTY, EITHER REAL OR PERSONAL, OR ANYTHING ELSE OF
VALUE.

(2)  This subsection does not prohibit the payment, by
any interested person, of reasonable and customary charges or
fees for hospital or medical or legal services.

(b) This section does not prevent the Social Services
Administration, or any agency or institution that is supervised
or licensed by it, from receiving and accepting reasonable
reimbursement for the costs of adoptive services in connection
with adoption, if the reimbursement is in accordance with
standards established by the rules and regulations of the Social
Services Administration. However, the ability to provide this
reimbursement may not affect:

(1) the acceptability of any individual for adoptive
services; or

(2) the choice of the most suitable prospective
adoptive family or individual for a child who is to be adopted.

(c) The State's Attorney shall prosecute any violation of
this section.

(d) A person who violates this section is guilty of a
misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding

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