Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 3-801
Redline â January 1, 2024 â current.View current text â
Current â January 1, 2025
As of January 1, 2024
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b) âAbuseâ means: (1) Sexual abuse of a child, whether a physical injury is sustained or not; or (2) Physical or mental injury of a child under circumstances that indicate that the childâs health or welfare is harmed or is at substantial risk of being harmed by: (i) A parent or other individual who has permanent or temporary care or custody or responsibility for supervision of the child; or (ii) A household or family member.
(b) âAbuseâ means: (1) Sexual abuse of a child, whether a physical injury is sustained or not; (2) Physical or mental injury of a child under circumstances that indicate that the childâs health or welfare is harmed or is at substantial risk of being harmed by: (i) A parent or other individual who has permanent or temporary care or custody or responsibility for supervision of the child; or (ii) A household or family member; or (3) Labor trafficking of a child by any individual.
(c) âAdjudicatory hearingâ means a hearing under this subtitle to determine whether the allegations in the petition, other than the allegation that the child requires the courtâs intervention, are true.
(c) âAdjudicatory hearingâ means a hearing under this subtitle to determine whether the allegations in the petition, other than the allegation that the child requires the courtâs intervention, are true.
(d) âAdultâ means an individual who is at least 18 years old.
(d) âAdultâ means an individual who is at least 18 years old.
(e) âChildâ means an individual under the age of 18 years.
(e) âChildâ means an individual under the age of 18 years.
(f) âChild in need of assistanceâ means a child who requires court intervention because:
(1) The child has been abused, has been neglected, has a developmental disability, or has a mental disorder; and
(2) The childâs parents, guardian, or custodian are unable or unwilling to give proper care and attention to the child and the childâs needs.
(f) âChild in need of assistanceâ means a child who requires court intervention because:
(1) The child has been abused, has been neglected, has a developmental disability, or has a mental disorder; and
(2) The childâs parents, guardian, or custodian are unable or unwilling to give proper care and attention to the child and the childâs needs.
(g) âCINAâ means a child in need of assistance.
(g) âCINAâ means a child in need of assistance.
(h) âCommitâ means to transfer custody.
(h) âCommitâ means to transfer custody.
(i) âCourtâ means the circuit court for a county sitting as the juvenile court.
(i) âCourtâ means the circuit court for a county sitting as the juvenile court.
(j) âCustodianâ means a person or governmental agency to whom custody of a child has been given by order of court, including a court other than the juvenile court.
(j) âCustodianâ means a person or governmental agency to whom custody of a child has been given by order of court, including a court other than the juvenile court.
(k) âCustodyâ means the right and obligation, unless otherwise determined by the court, to provide ordinary care for a child and determine placement.
(k) âCustodyâ means the right and obligation, unless otherwise determined by the court, to provide ordinary care for a child and determine placement.
(l) âDevelopmental disabilityâ means a severe chronic disability of an individual that:
(1) Is attributable to a physical or mental impairment, other than the sole diagnosis of mental illness, or to a combination of mental and physical impairments;
(2) Is likely to continue indefinitely;
(3) Results in an inability to live independently without external support or continuing and regular assistance; and
(4) Reflects the need for a combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary, or generic care, treatment, or other services that are individually planned and coordinated for the individual.
(l) âDevelopmental disabilityâ means a severe chronic disability of an individual that:
(1) Is attributable to a physical or mental impairment, other than the sole diagnosis of mental illness, or to a combination of mental and physical impairments;
(2) Is likely to continue indefinitely;
(3) Results in an inability to live independently without external support or continuing and regular assistance; and
(4) Reflects the need for a combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary, or generic care, treatment, or other services that are individually planned and coordinated for the individual.
(m) âDisposition hearingâ means a hearing under this subtitle to determine:
(1) Whether a child is in need of assistance; and
(2) If so, the nature of the courtâs intervention to protect the childâs health, safety, and wellâbeing.
(m) âDisposition hearingâ means a hearing under this subtitle to determine:
(1) Whether a child is in need of assistance; and
(2) If so, the nature of the courtâs intervention to protect the childâs health, safety, and wellâbeing.
(n) âGuardianâ means a person to whom guardianship of a child has been given by order of court, including a court other than the juvenile court.
(n) âGuardianâ means a person to whom guardianship of a child has been given by order of court, including a court other than the juvenile court.
(o) âGuardianshipâ means an award by a court, including a court other than the juvenile court, of the authority to make ordinary and emergency decisions as to the childâs care, welfare, education, physical and mental health, and the right to pursue support.
(o) âGuardianshipâ means an award by a court, including a court other than the juvenile court, of the authority to make ordinary and emergency decisions as to the childâs care, welfare, education, physical and mental health, and the right to pursue support.
(p) âLabor traffickingâ means knowingly:
(1) Taking, placing, harboring, persuading, inducing, or enticing a child by force, fraud, or coercion to provide services or labor; or
(2) Receiving a benefit or thing of value from the provision of services or labor by a child that was induced by force, fraud, or coercion.
(q) âLocal departmentâ means: (1) The local department of social services for the county in which the court is located; or (2) In Montgomery County, the county department of health and human services.
(r) (1) âMental disorderâ means a behavioral or emotional illness that results from a psychiatric or neurological disorder.
(2) âMental disorderâ includes a mental illness that so substantially impairs the mental or emotional functioning of an individual as to make care or treatment necessary or advisable for the welfare of the individual or for the safety of the person or property of another.
(2) âMental disorderâ includes a mental illness that so substantially impairs the mental or emotional functioning of an individual as to make care or treatment necessary or advisable for the welfare of the individual or for the safety of the person or property of another.
(3) âMental disorderâ does not include mental retardation.
(3) âMental disorderâ does not include an intellectual disability.
(s) âMental injuryâ means the observable, identifiable, and substantial impairment of a childâs mental or psychological ability to function.
(t) (1) âNeglectâ means the leaving of a child unattended or other failure to give proper care and attention to a child by any parent or individual who has permanent or temporary care or custody or responsibility for supervision of the child under circumstances that indicate: (i) That the childâs health or welfare is harmed or placed at substantial risk of harm; or (ii) That the child has suffered mental injury or been placed at substantial risk of mental injury. (2) âNeglectâ does not include the use of cannabis by any parent or individual who has permanent or temporary care or custody or responsibility for supervision of the child unless, as a result of the use of cannabis: (i) The childâs health or welfare is harmed or placed at substantial risk of harm; or (ii) The child has suffered mental injury or been placed at substantial risk of mental injury.
(u) âParentâ means a natural or adoptive parent whose parental rights have not been terminated.
(v) (1) âPartyâ means: (i) A child who is the subject of a petition; (ii) The childâs parent, guardian, or custodian; (iii) The petitioner; or (iv) An adult who is charged under § 3â828 of this subtitle. (2) âPartyâ does not include a foster parent.
(w) âQualified residential treatment programâ means a program within a licensed child care institution that provides continuous, 24âhour care and supportive services to children in a residential, nonfamily home setting that: (1) Has a traumaâinformed treatment model that is designed to address the clinical and other needs of children with serious emotional or behavioral disorders or disturbances; (2) Is able to implement the specific treatment recommended in an assessment completed by a qualified individual; (3) Has registered or licensed nursing staff and other licensed clinical staff who are: (i) On site according to the treatment model and during business hours; and (ii) Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; (4) Appropriately facilitates outreach to family members and integrates the family members into the treatment of the children; (5) Is able to provide discharge planning that provides familyâbased aftercare support for at least 6 months following discharge; (6) Is licensed in accordance with § 471(a)(10) of the Social Security Act; and (7) Is accredited by an approved independent nonprofit organization.
(x) âReasonable effortsâ means efforts that are reasonably likely to achieve the objectives set forth in § 3â816.1(b)(1) and (2) of this subtitle.
(x) âRelativeâ means an individual who is:
(1) Related to the child by blood or marriage within five degrees of consanguinity or affinity under the civil law; and
(2) (i) At least 21 years old; or
(ii) 1. At least 18 years old; and
2. Lives with a spouse who is at least 21 years old.
(y) âSex traffickingâ means the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a child for the purpose of a commercial sex act.
(y) âRelativeâ means an individual who is a kinship caregiver, as defined in § 5â534 of the Family Law Article.
(z) âSexual abuseâ means an act that involves: (1) Sexual molestation or exploitation of a child by: (i) A parent or other individual who has permanent or temporary care or custody or responsibility for supervision of the child; or (ii) A household or family member; or (2) Sex trafficking of a child by any individual. (aa) âSexual molestation or exploitationâ includes: (1) Allowing or encouraging a child to engage in: (i) Obscene photography, films, poses, or similar activity; (ii) Pornographic photography, films, poses, or similar activity; or (iii) Prostitution; (2) Incest; (3) Rape; (4) Sexual offense in any degree; and (5) Any other sexual conduct that is a crime. (bb) âShelter careâ means a temporary placement of a child outside of the home at any time before disposition. (cc) âShelter care hearingâ means a hearing held before disposition to determine whether the temporary placement of the child outside of the home is warranted. (dd) âTPR proceedingâ means a proceeding to terminate parental rights. (ee) âVoluntary placementâ means a placement in accordance with § 5â525(b)(1)(i) or (iii) or (3) of the Family Law Article. (ff) âVoluntary placement hearingâ means a hearing to obtain a judicial determination as to whether continuing a voluntary placement is in the best interests of the child.
(z) âSex traffickingâ means the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a child for the purpose of a commercial sex act. (aa) âSexual abuseâ means an act that involves: (1) Sexual molestation or exploitation of a child by: (i) A parent or other individual who has permanent or temporary care or custody or responsibility for supervision of the child; or (ii) A household or family member; or (2) Sex trafficking of a child by any individual. (bb) âSexual molestation or exploitationâ includes: (1) Allowing or encouraging a child to engage in: (i) Obscene photography, films, poses, or similar activity; (ii) Pornographic photography, films, poses, or similar activity; or (iii) Prostitution; (2) Incest; (3) Rape; (4) Sexual offense in any degree; and (5) Any other sexual conduct that is a crime. (cc) âShelter careâ means a temporary placement of a child outside of the home at any time before disposition. (dd) âShelter care hearingâ means a hearing held before disposition to determine whether the temporary placement of the child outside of the home is warranted. (ee) âTPR proceedingâ means a proceeding to terminate parental rights. (ff) âVoluntary placementâ means a placement in accordance with § 5â525(b)(1)(i) or (iii) or (3) of the Family Law Article. (gg) âVoluntary placement hearingâ means a hearing to obtain a judicial determination as to whether continuing a voluntary placement is in the best interests of the child.
Official source: Maryland General Assembly. Reproduced from public-domain Maryland statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.