BY adding to

Article—Family Law
Section 5-714

Annotated Code of Maryland
(1999 Replacement Volume)

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

Article 88A - Department of Human Resources

6.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in Title 5, Subtitle 7 of the Family Law
Article and, § 6A of this subtitle, AND THIS SECTION, all records and reports
concerning child abuse or neglect are confidential, and their unauthorized disclosure
is a criminal offense subject to the penalty set out in subsection (e) of this section.
Reports or records concerning child abuse or neglect may be disclosed only:

(1) SHALL BE DISCLOSED:

(i) Under a court order; or

(ii) Under an order of an administrative law judge, if the request for
disclosure concerns a case pending before the Office of Administrative Hearings and
provisions are made to comply with other State or federal confidentiality laws and to
protect the identity of the reporter or other person whose life or safety is likely to be
endangered by disclosure; AND

(2) MAY BE DISCLOSED ON REQUEST:

(I) To personnel of local or, State departments of social services, law
enforcement personnel, and members of multidisciplinary case consultation teams,
who are investigating a report of known or suspected child abuse or neglect or who
are providing services to a child or family that is the subject of the report;

(3) (II) To local or State officials responsible for the administration of
[the] child protective [service] SERVICES or child care, FOSTER CARE, AND
ADOPTION licensing, APPROVAL, [and] OR regulations as necessary to carry out their
official functions;

(4) (III) To a person who is the alleged child abuser or the person who is
suspected of child neglect if that person is responsible for the child's welfare and
provisions are made for the protection of the identity of the reporter or any other
person whose life or safety is likely to be endangered by disclosing the information;

(5) (IV) To a licensed practitioner who, or an agency, institution, or
program which is providing treatment or care to a child who is the subject of a report
of child abuse or neglect for a purpose relevant to the provision of the treatment or
care;