Ch. 304                                    2004 LAWS OF MARYLAND

2. THE EFFECT ON THE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM;

3. 1. THE AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES TO PROVIDE
NECESSARY SERVICES TO THE CHILD; AN©

4. 2. THE ACCESSIBILITY TO FAMILY TREATMENT, IF
APPROPRIATE; AND

3. THE EFFECT ON THE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM.

(f)      (1) The local department shall:

(i) prepare the permanency plan in writing within 60 days of the
date the child comes into care;

(ii) if the child is under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court,
furnish the plan to the child's parents, the child or the child's counsel, and to the
juvenile court; and

(iii) maintain the plan in the agency's case record.

(2) The local department shall amend the plan promptly as necessary in
light of the child's situation and any court orders which affect the child.

(g)     Unless a child has received a review from the local board of review of foster
care under § 5-544 of Part IV of this subtitle, the local department shall perform an
administrative review every 6 months to determine the success of the efforts to meet
the goals set out in the permanency plan or the agreement with the parents or
guardians in voluntary placements.

(h) (1) Foster parents who wish to adopt a foster child in their care and who
wish to contest the agency's decision to place the child with another adoptive family
may, within 30 days from the removal of the child, file with the agency a request for
a hearing.

(2) Within 10 days after receipt of a request for a hearing under
paragraph (1) of this subsection, the agency shall notify the Office of Administrative
Hearings, which shall hold the hearing and issue a decision within 45 days of the
receipt of the request.

(i) The Administration shall adopt regulations that:

(1)     for the 12-month period beginning on October 1, 1983, and for each
subsequent 12-month period, establish specific goals as to the maximum number of
children who will remain in foster care for more than 2 years;

(2)     prohibit a local department from seeking the custody or guardianship
of a child for placement in foster care solely because the child's parent or guardian
lacks shelter or solely because the child's parents are financially unable to provide
treatment or care for a child with a developmental disability or mental illness; [and]

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