Ch. 306

2003 LAWS OF MARYLAND

CHAPTER 306
(House Bill 523)

AN ACT concerning

Juvenile Causes - Out of Home—Placements Juvenile Counselors -

Monitoring

FOR the purpose of requiring a local department of social services for a child in need
of assistance, or a juvenile counselor for a child adjudicated delinquent,
committed to an individual or to a certain agency or institution to visit the child
at the child's placement at certain minimum intervals after the child has been
committed; authorizing a the juvenile court to order more frequent visits; and
generally relating to children in out of home placements the monitoring of
certain children by juvenile counselors.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings
Section 3-826 and 3-8A-25
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2002 Replacement Volume)

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

Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings

3-826.

(a) (1) Unless the court directs otherwise, a local department shall provide
all parties with a written report at least 10 days before any scheduled disposition,
permanency planning, or review hearing under § 3-819 or § 3-823 of this subtitle.

(2) The time requirements specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection
do not apply to an emergency review placement hearing under § 3-820 of this
subtitle.

(b) If a child is committed to a person or agency under this subtitle[, the]:

(1) THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT SHALL VISIT THE CHILD AT THE CHILD'S
PLACEMENT NO LESS THAN ONCE EVERY:

(I) MONTH, IF THE PLACEMENT IS IN THE STATE; OR

(II) 3 MONTHS, IF THE PLACEMENT IS OUTSIDE THE STATE;

(2) THE COURT MAY ORDER THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT TO VISIT THE
CHILD MORE FREQUENTLY THAN REQUIRED BY ITEM (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION IF
THE COURT DEEMS IT TO BE IN THE CHILD'S BEST INTERESTS; AND

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