ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor                            S.B. 281

(2)      A REQUEST TO DO SO FROM A COURT IN A PENDING CHILD CUSTODY
PROCEEDING;

(3)      A REASONABLE BELIEF THAT A CRIMINAL STATUTE HAS BEEN
VIOLATED; OR

(4)      A REASONABLE BELIEF THAT THE CHILD HAS BEEN WRONGFULLY
REMOVED OR RETAINED IN VIOLATION OF THE HAGUE CONVENTION ON THE CIVIL
ASPECTS OF INTERNATIONAL CHILD ABDUCTION.

(B) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ACTING UNDER THIS SECTION ON BEHALF OF
THE COURT MAY NOT REPRESENT ANY PARTY.

9.5-316.

AT THE REQUEST OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ACTING UNDER § 9.5-315 OF THIS
SUBTITLE, A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER MAY TAKE ANY LAWFUL ACTION
REASONABLY NECESSARY TO LOCATE A CHILD OR A PARTY AND ASSIST THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL WITH RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER § 9.5-315 OF THIS SUBTITLE.

9.5-317.

IF THE RESPONDENT IS NOT THE PREVAILING PARTY, THE COURT MAY ASSESS
AGAINST THE RESPONDENT ALL DIRECT EXPENSES AND COSTS INCURRED BY THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS UNDER § 9.5-315 OR §
9.5-316 OF THIS SUBTITLE.

9.5-318.

THIS TITLE MAY BE CITED AS THE UNIFORM CHILD CUSTODY JURISDICTION
AND ENFORCEMENT ACT.

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That if any provision of this
Act or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid for any
reason in a court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity does not affect other
provisions or any other application of this Act which can be given effect without the
invalid provision or application, and for this purpose the provisions of this Act are
declared severable.

SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act applies only to
cases filed to establish or modify child custody or motions or other requests for relief
filed in child custody cases on or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take
effect October 1, 2004.

May 26, 2004

The Honorable Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr.
President of the Senate
State House
Annapolis MD 21401

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