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<section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="3-816" 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>After a petition is filed under this subtitle, the court may order the local department or another qualified agency to make or arrange for a study concerning the child, the child’s family, the child’s environment, and other matters relevant to the disposition of the case.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>As part of a study under this section, the court may order that the child or any parent, guardian, or custodian be examined at a suitable place by a physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, or other professionally qualified person.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>The court may not order an inpatient evaluation unless, after a hearing, the court finds that an inpatient evaluation is necessary and there are no less restrictive means to obtain an evaluation.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Placement in an inpatient facility may not exceed 21 days unless the court finds good cause.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The report of a study under this section is admissible as evidence at a disposition hearing but not at an adjudicatory hearing.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The attorney for each party has the right to receive the report at least 5 days before its presentation to the court, to challenge or impeach its findings and to present appropriate evidence with respect to it.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The time requirement specified in paragraph (2) of this subsection does not apply to an emergency dispositional review hearing held in accordance with § 3-820 of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
