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<section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="3-801" title_number="3" title_name="Courts of General Jurisdiction -- Jurisdiction/special Causes of Action" subtitle_number="8" subtitle_name="Juvenile Causes -- Children in Need of Assistance">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>“Abuse” means:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Sexual abuse of a child, whether a physical injury is sustained or not;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Physical or mental injury of a child under circumstances that indicate that the child’s health or welfare is harmed or is at substantial risk of being harmed by:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>A parent or other individual who has permanent or temporary care or custody or responsibility for supervision of the child; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A household or family member; or</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Labor trafficking of a child by any individual.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>“Adjudicatory hearing” means a hearing under this subtitle to determine whether the allegations in the petition, other than the allegation that the child requires the court’s intervention, are true.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>“Adult” means an individual who is at least 18 years old.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>“Child” means an individual under the age of 18 years.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>“Child in need of assistance” means a child who requires court intervention because:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The child has been abused, has been neglected, has a developmental disability, or has a mental disorder; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The child’s parents, guardian, or custodian are unable or unwilling to give proper care and attention to the child and the child’s needs.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>“CINA” means a child in need of assistance.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>“Commit” means to transfer custody.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <text>“Court” means the circuit court for a county sitting as the juvenile court.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="j">
    <text>“Custodian” 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.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="k">
    <text>“Custody” means the right and obligation, unless otherwise determined by the court, to provide ordinary care for a child and determine placement.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="l">
    <text>“Developmental disability” means a severe chronic disability of an individual that:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>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;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Is likely to continue indefinitely;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Results in an inability to live independently without external support or continuing and regular assistance; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>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.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="m">
    <text>“Disposition hearing” means a hearing under this subtitle to determine:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Whether a child is in need of assistance; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If so, the nature of the court’s intervention to protect the child’s health, safety, and well–being.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="n">
    <text>“Guardian” means a person to whom guardianship of a child has been given by order of court, including a court other than the juvenile court.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="o">
    <text>“Guardianship” 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 child’s care, welfare, education, physical and mental health, and the right to pursue support.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="p">
    <text>“Labor trafficking” means knowingly:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Taking, placing, harboring, persuading, inducing, or enticing a child by force, fraud, or coercion to provide services or labor; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>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.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="q">
    <text>“Local department” means:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The local department of social services for the county in which the court is located; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>In Montgomery County, the county department of health and human services.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="r">
    <level label="1">
      <text>“Mental disorder” means a behavioral or emotional illness that results from a psychiatric or neurological disorder.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Mental disorder” 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.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Mental disorder” does not include an intellectual disability.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="s">
    <text>“Mental injury” means the observable, identifiable, and substantial impairment of a child’s mental or psychological ability to function.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="t">
    <level label="1">
      <text>“Neglect” 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:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>That the child’s health or welfare is harmed or placed at substantial risk of harm; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>That the child has suffered mental injury or been placed at substantial risk of mental injury.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Neglect” 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:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The child’s health or welfare is harmed or placed at substantial risk of harm; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The child has suffered mental injury or been placed at substantial risk of mental injury.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="u">
    <text>“Parent” means a natural or adoptive parent whose parental rights have not been terminated.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="v">
    <level label="1">
      <text>“Party” means:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>A child who is the subject of a petition;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The child’s parent, guardian, or custodian;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>The petitioner; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>An adult who is charged under § 3–828 of this subtitle.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Party” does not include a foster parent.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="w">
    <text>“Qualified residential treatment program” means a program within a licensed child care institution that provides continuous, 24–hour care and supportive services to children in a residential, nonfamily home setting that:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Has a trauma–informed treatment model that is designed to address the clinical and other needs of children with serious emotional or behavioral disorders or disturbances;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Is able to implement the specific treatment recommended in an assessment completed by a qualified individual;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Has registered or licensed nursing staff and other licensed clinical staff who are:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>On site according to the treatment model and during business hours; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Appropriately facilitates outreach to family members and integrates the family members into the treatment of the children;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>Is able to provide discharge planning that provides family–based aftercare support for at least 6 months following discharge;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>Is licensed in accordance with § 471(a)(10) of the Social Security Act; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>Is accredited by an approved independent nonprofit organization.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="x">
    <text>“Reasonable efforts” means efforts that are reasonably likely to achieve the objectives set forth in § 3–816.1(b)(1) and (2) of this subtitle.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="y">
    <text>“Relative” means an individual who is a kinship caregiver, as defined in § 5–534 of the Family Law Article.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="z">
    <text>“Sex trafficking” means the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a child for the purpose of a commercial sex act.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="aa">
    <text>“Sexual abuse” means an act that involves:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Sexual molestation or exploitation of a child by:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>A parent or other individual who has permanent or temporary care or custody or responsibility for supervision of the child; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A household or family member; or</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Sex trafficking of a child by any individual.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="bb">
    <text>“Sexual molestation or exploitation” includes:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Allowing or encouraging a child to engage in:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Obscene photography, films, poses, or similar activity;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Pornographic photography, films, poses, or similar activity; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Prostitution;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Incest;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Rape;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Sexual offense in any degree; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>Any other sexual conduct that is a crime.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="cc">
    <text>“Shelter care” means a temporary placement of a child outside of the home at any time before disposition.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="dd">
    <text>“Shelter care hearing” means a hearing held before disposition to determine whether the temporary placement of the child outside of the home is warranted.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="ee">
    <text>“TPR proceeding” means a proceeding to terminate parental rights.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="ff">
    <text>“Voluntary placement” means a placement in accordance with § 5–525(b)(1)(i) or (iii) or (3) of the Family Law Article.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="gg">
    <text>“Voluntary placement hearing” means a hearing to obtain a judicial determination as to whether continuing a voluntary placement is in the best interests of the child.</text>
  </level>
</section>
