WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                            Ch. 469

(v) false imprisonment[;].

[(vi)] (2) IF THE PERSON FOR WHOM RELIEF IS SOUGHT IS A CHILD,
"ABUSE" MAY ALSO INCLUDE abuse of a child, as defined in Title 5, Subtitle 7 of this
article.[; or

(vii) abuse of a vulnerable adult.

(2)] Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to prohibit reasonable
punishment, including reasonable corporal punishment, in light of the age and condition
of the child, from being performed by a parent or stepparent of the child.

(3) IF THE PERSON FOR WHOM RELIEF IS SOUGHT IS A VULNERABLE
ADULT, "ABUSE" MAY ALSO INCLUDE ABUSE OF A VULNERABLE ADULT, AS
DEFINED IN TITLE 14, SUBTITLE 1 OF THIS ARTICLE.

(c) "Cohabitant" means a person who has had a sexual relationship with the
respondent and resided with the respondent [in the home] for a period of at least 90
days within 1 year before the filing of the petition.

(h) "Person eligible for relief" includes:

(3)      a person related to the respondent by blood, [or] marriage, or [a]
ADOPTION;

(4)      A parent, stepparent, child, or stepchild of [the respondent or] the
person eligible for relief who resides or resided with the respondent or person eligible for
relief for at least 90 days within 1 year before the filing of the petition;

[(4)] (5) a vulnerable adult; or

[(5)] (6) an individual who has a child in common with the respondent.

(i) (2) "Petitioner" includes:

(ii) the following persons who may seek relief from abuse on behalf of
a minor or vulnerable adult:

3. a [blood relative of] PERSON RELATED TO the child or
vulnerable adult BY BLOOD, MARRIAGE, OR ADOPTION; or

4-504.

(d) (1) When a court receives a petition that alleges abuse of a child, AS
DEFINED IN TITLE 5, SUBTITLE 7 OF THIS ARTICLE, or OF A vulnerable adult [by a
respondent under this section], AS DEFINED IN TITLE 14, SUBTITLE 1 OF THIS ARTICLE,
OR WHEN THE COURT FINDS REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE THAT ABUSE OF A
CHILD, AS DEFINED IN TITLE 5, SUBTITLE 7 OF THIS ARTICLE, OR ABUSE OF A
VULNERABLE ADULT, AS DEFINED IN TITLE 14, SUBTITLE 1 OF THIS ARTICLE, HAS
OCCURRED, the court shall forward a copy of the petition AND THE EX PARTE ORDER
to the local department.

(2) When the local department receives the petition AND THE EX PARTE ORDER
from the court, the local department shall:

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