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§ 5-704. Reports of suspected abuse or neglect; health practitioners, police officers, educator...

West's Annotated Code of MarylandFamily LawEffective: April 12, 2022

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Family Law (Refs & Annos)
Title 5. Children (Refs & Annos)
Subtitle 7. Child Abuse and Neglect (Refs & Annos)
Effective: April 12, 2022
MD Code, Family Law, § 5-704
§ 5-704. Reports of suspected abuse or neglect; health practitioners, police officers, educators, and human service workers
Currentness
Persons required to notify authorities and report suspected instances of abuse or neglect
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including any law on privileged communications, each health practitioner, police officer, educator, or human service worker, acting in a professional capacity in this State who has reason to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse or neglect:
(1) shall notify the local department or the appropriate law enforcement agency; and
(2) if acting as a staff member of a hospital, public health agency, child care institution, juvenile detention center, school, or similar institution, shall immediately notify and give all information required by this section to the head of the institution or the designee of the head.
Oral and written reports
(b)(1) An individual who notifies the appropriate authorities under subsection (a) of this section shall make:
(i) an oral report, by telephone or direct communication, as soon as possible to the local department or appropriate law enforcement agency; and
(ii) a written report:
1. to the local department not later than 48 hours after the contact, examination, attention, or treatment that caused the individual to believe that the child had been subjected to abuse or neglect; and
2. with a copy to the local State's Attorney.
(2)(i) An agency to which an oral report of suspected abuse or neglect is made under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall immediately notify the other agency.
(ii) This paragraph does not prohibit a local department and an appropriate law enforcement agency from agreeing to cooperative arrangements.
Contents of report
(c) Insofar as is reasonably possible, an individual who makes a report under this section shall include in the report the following information:
(1) the name, age, and home address of the child;
(2) the name and home address of the child's parent or other person who is responsible for the child's care;
(3) the whereabouts of the child;
(4) the nature and extent of the abuse or neglect of the child, including any evidence or information available to the reporter concerning possible previous instances of abuse or neglect; and
(5) any other information that would help to determine:
(i) the cause of the suspected abuse or neglect; and
(ii) the identity of any individual responsible for the abuse or neglect.

Credits

Added by Acts 1987, c. 635, § 2, eff. July 1, 1988. Amended by Acts 1989, c. 730, §§ 1, 2, eff. July 1, 1989; Acts 1997, c. 367, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1997; Acts 1997, c. 368, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1997; Acts 1998, c. 21, § 1, eff. April 14, 1998; Acts 2000, c. 61, § 1, eff. April 25, 2000; Acts 2003, c. 308, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2003; Acts 2011, c. 398, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2011; Acts 2011, c. 399, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2011; Acts 2013, c. 380, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2013; Acts 2019, c. 53, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2019; Acts 2019, c. 54, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2019; Acts 2022, c. 135, § 1, eff. April 12, 2022.
MD Code, Family Law, § 5-704, MD FAMILY § 5-704
Current through legislation effective through April 9, 2023, from the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
End of Document