Terms Used In Maryland Code, FAMILY LAW 5-704.1

  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • including: means includes or including by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. See
  • Person: includes an individual, receiver, trustee, guardian, personal representative, fiduciary, representative of any kind, corporation, partnership, business trust, statutory trust, limited liability company, firm, association, or other nongovernmental entity. See
  • Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).
(a) An individual may notify the local department or the appropriate law enforcement agency if the individual has reason to believe that a parent, guardian, or caregiver of a child allows the child to reside with or be in the regular presence of an individual, other than the child’s parent or guardian, who:

(1) is registered under Title 11, Subtitle 7 of the Criminal Procedure Article based on the commission of an offense against a child; and

(2) based on additional information, poses a substantial risk of sexual abuse to the child.

(b) (1) A report under subsection (a) of this section may be oral or in writing.

(2) If acting as a staff member of a hospital, public health agency, child care institution, juvenile detention center, school, or similar institution, an individual who notifies the appropriate authorities under subsection (a) of this section immediately shall notify and give all of the information required by this section to the head of the institution or the designee of the head of the institution.

(c) To the extent 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 substantial risk of sexual abuse of the child, including any evidence or information available to the reporter concerning possible previous instances of sexual abuse; and

(5) any other information that would help to determine:

(i) the cause of the substantial risk of sexual abuse; and

(ii) the identity of any individual responsible for the substantial risk of sexual abuse.

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