Ch. 514

LAWS OF MARYLAND

(A)   IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW RELATING TO
CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, A LOCAL DEPARTMENT THAT RECEIVES A
REPORT OF SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE UNDER § 5-703 OR § 5-704 OF THIS
TITLE THAT CONCERNS A FAMILY DAY CARE HOME SHALL NOTIFY THE
SECRETARY'S DESIGNEE WITHIN 48 HOURS.

(B)  UPON RECEIPT OF THE NOTIFICATION REQUIRED UNDER
SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION, THE SECRETARY'S DESIGNEE SHALL
CONVENE, EITHER IN PERSON OR BY TELEPHONE, A MULTIDISCIPLINARY
TEAM TO COORDINATE PROCEDURES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AGREEMENT
DEVELOPED UNDER § 5-706(E) OF THIS TITLE TO BE FOLLOWED IN
INVESTIGATING AND OTHERWISE RESPONDING TO THE REPORT.

(C)  THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM SHALL BE CHAIRED BY THE
SECRETARY'S DESIGNEE AND SHALL INCLUDE:

(1)  REPRESENTATIVES OF THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY THAT ARE INVESTIGATING THE REPORT UNDER §
5-706 OF THIS TITLE;

(2)  REPRESENTATION FROM THE OFFICE OF THE LOCAL
STATE'S ATTORNEY; AND

(3)  APPROPRIATE MEDICAL, INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH,
EXPERTISE.

(D)  NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, THE MEMBERS
OF THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM SHALL SHARE INFORMATION NECESSARY
TO CARRY OUT THE TEAM'S RESPONSIBILITY UNDER THIS SECTION.

(E)  ANY INFORMATION SHARED BY THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM
SHALL BE CONFIDENTIAL AND MAY BE DISCLOSED ONLY IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 88A, § 6 OF THE CODE.

(F)  UPON REQUEST, THE STATE POLICE SHALL PROVIDE TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE TO A LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY WHICH IS
INVESTIGATING A REPORT OF SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE CONCERNING A
FAMILY DAY CARE HOME.

5-570.

(c) (1) "Child care center" means an agency, institution,
or establishment that, for part or all of a day, or on a 24-hour
basis on a regular schedule, and at least twice a week, offers or
provides child care to children who do not have the same
parentage except as otherwise provided for in law or regulation.

(2)   "Child care center" shall include a nonpublic
nursery school in which an instructional program is offered or
provided for children [between 2 to 4 years old] WHO ARE UNDER
THE AGE OF 5 YEARS.

(3)   "Child care center" does not include:

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