WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor Ch. 641

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1984 Replacement Volume and 1988 Supplement)

BY adding to

Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings

Section 3-834.1

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1984 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 - Courts and Judicial Proceedings

3-828.

(b) A [juvenile] court record pertaining to a child is
confidential and its contents may not be divulged, by subpoena or
otherwise, except by order of the court upon good cause shown.
This subsection does not prohibit access to and the use of the
court record in a proceeding in the court involving the child, by
personnel of the court, the State's Attorney, counsel for the
child, A COURT-APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE FOR THE CHILD, or
authorized personnel of the Juvenile Services Agency.

3-834.

(a)  In addition to any requirements relating to the
appointment of counsel for children, at any time during the
pendency of any action where it appears to the court that the
protection of the rights of a child requires independent
representation, the court may, upon its own motion, or the motion
of any party to the action, appoint an attorney to represent the
interest of the child in that particular action. Such actions
include but are not limited to those involving a child in need of
assistance, child in need of supervision, delinquent child, or
mentally handicapped child.

(b)  The compensation for the services of the attorney may
be assessed against any party or parties to the action.

(C) IN ADDITION TO, BUT NOT INSTEAD OF, THE APPOINTMENT OF
AN ATTORNEY UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION, THE COURT, IN
ANY ACTION, MAY APPOINT AN INDIVIDUAL PROVIDED BY THE
COURT-APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE PROGRAM ESTABLISHED UNDER §
3-834.1 OF THIS SUBTITLE.

3-834.1.

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