(5) subject to § 2-1246 of the State Government Article, report to the
General Assembly on the first day of each year on the status of children in
out-of-home placement in this State.

5-539.1.

(A) IN ADDITION TO ANY DUTIES SET FORTH ELSEWHERE, THE STATE BOARD
SHALL, BY EXAMINING THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES OF STATE AND LOCAL
AGENCIES AND SPECIFIC CASES THAT THE STATE BOARD CONSIDERS NECESSARY TO
PERFORM ITS DUTIES UNDER THIS SECTION, EVALUATE THE EXTENT TO WHICH
STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES ARE EFFECTIVELY DISCHARGING THEIR CHILD
PROTECTION RESPONSIBILITIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH:

(1) THE STATE PLAN UNDER 42 U.S.C. § 5106A(B);

(2) THE CHILD PROTECTION STANDARDS SET FORTH IN 42 U.S.C. §
5106A(B); AND

(3) ANY OTHER CRITERIA THAT THE STATE BOARD CONSIDERS
IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN, INCLUDING:

(I) A REVIEW OF THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE STATE CHILD
PROTECTIVE SERVICES SYSTEM IS COORDINATED WITH THE FOSTER CARE AND
ADOPTION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED UNDER PART E OF TITLE IV OF THE SOCIAL
SECURITY ACT; AND

(II) A REVIEW OF CHILD FATALITIES AND NEAR FATALITIES.

(B) THE STATE BOARD MAY:

(1) BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF ITS MEMBERS ADD UP TO FOUR MEMBERS
WITH EXPERTISE IN THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF CHILD ABUSE AND
NEGLECT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PERFORMING ITS DUTIES UNDER THIS SECTION;
AND

(2) DESIGNATE LOCAL TEAMS COMPOSED OF MEMBERS OF LOCAL
BOARDS OF OUT OF HOME PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN AND STAFF TO CONDUCT
REVIEWS OF SPECIFIC CASES. TO ASSIST THE STATE BOARD IN ITS REVIEWS OF
SPECIFIC CASES, DESIGNATE:

(I) LOCAL TEAMS COMPOSED OF MEMBERS OF LOCAL BOARDS OF
OUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN AND STAFF; OR

(II) LOCAL CITIZENS REVIEW PANELS ESTABLISHED UNDER §
5-539.2 OF THIS SUBTITLE.

(C) IN CONSULTATION WITH LOCAL CITIZENS REVIEW PANELS AND THE
STATE COUNCIL ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT THE STATE BOARD SHALL
DEVELOP PROTOCOLS THAT GOVERN THE SCOPE OF ACTIVITIES OF LOCAL CITIZENS
REVIEW PANELS TO REFLECT THE PROVISIONS OF THE FEDERAL CHILD ABUSE
PREVENTION AND TREATMENT ACT (42 U. S. C. § 5101 ET SEQ.).