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<section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="3-819" 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">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Unless a CINA petition under this subtitle is dismissed, the court shall hold a separate disposition hearing after an adjudicatory hearing to determine whether the child is a CINA.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The disposition hearing shall be held on the same day as the adjudicatory hearing unless on its own motion or motion of a party, the court finds that there is good cause to delay the disposition hearing to a later day.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>If the court delays a disposition hearing, it shall be held no later than 30 days after the conclusion of the adjudicatory hearing unless good cause is shown.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In making a disposition on a CINA petition under this subtitle, the court shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Find that the child is not in need of assistance and, except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, dismiss the case;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Hold in abeyance a finding on whether a child with a developmental disability or a mental illness is a child in need of assistance and:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Order the local department to assess or reassess the family’s and child’s eligibility for placement of the child in accordance with a voluntary placement agreement under § 5–525(b)(1)(i) of the Family Law Article;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Order the local department to report back to the court in writing within 30 days unless the court extends the time period for good cause shown;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>If the local department does not find the child eligible for placement in accordance with a voluntary placement agreement, hold a hearing to determine whether the family and child are eligible for placement of the child in accordance with a voluntary placement agreement; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>After the hearing:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>Find that the child is not in need of assistance and order the local department to offer to place the child in accordance with a voluntary placement agreement under § 5–525(b)(1)(i) of the Family Law Article;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>Find that the child is in need of assistance; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="C">
          <text>Dismiss the case; or</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, find that the child is in need of assistance and:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Not change the child’s custody status; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Commit the child on terms the court considers appropriate to the custody of:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>A parent;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>Subject to § 3–819.2 of this subtitle, a relative, or other individual; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="C">
          <text>A local department, the Maryland Department of Health, or both, including designation of the type of facility where the child is to be placed.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <level label="1">
          <text>In this paragraph, “disability” means:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of an individual’s major life activities;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>A record of having a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of an individual’s major life activities; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="C">
          <text>Being regarded as having a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of an individual’s major life activities.</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>“Disability” shall be construed in accordance with the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, P.L. 110–325.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>In making a disposition on a CINA petition under this subtitle, a disability of the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian is relevant only to the extent that the court finds, based on evidence in the record, that the disability affects the ability of the parent, guardian, or custodian to give proper care and attention to the child and the child’s needs.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Unless good cause is shown, a court shall give priority to the child’s relatives over nonrelatives when committing the child to the custody of an individual other than a parent.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b–1">
    <level label="1">
      <text>If the court finds that a child enrolled in a public elementary or secondary school is in need of assistance and commits the child to the custody of a local department, the court may notify the county superintendent, the supervisor of pupil personnel, or any other official designated by the county superintendent of the fact that the child has been found to be in need of assistance and has been committed to the custody of a local department.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If the court rescinds the commitment order for a child enrolled in a public elementary or secondary school, the court may notify the county superintendent, the supervisor of pupil personnel, or any other official designated by the county superintendent of the fact that the child is no longer committed to the custody of a local department of social services.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The notice authorized under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection may not include any order or pleading related to the child in need of assistance case.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>In addition to any action under subsection (b)(1)(iii) of this section, the court may:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>Place a child under the protective supervision of the local department on terms the court considers appropriate;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Grant limited guardianship to the department or an individual or both for specific purposes including medical and educational purposes or for other appropriate services if a parent is unavailable, unwilling, or unable to consent to services that are in the best interest of the child; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Order the child and the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian to participate in rehabilitative services that are in the best interest of the child and family;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Determine custody, visitation, support, or paternity of a child in accordance with § 3–803(b) of this subtitle; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>For a child with a developmental disability, direct the provision of services to obtain ongoing care, if any, needed after the court’s jurisdiction ends.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>If guardianship of a child is awarded to the local department under this subtitle, the local department shall notify the parents of the child and their attorneys as soon as practicable of any emergency decision made by the guardian with respect to the child under § 3–801(o) of this subtitle.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>If the allegations in the petition are sustained against only one parent of a child, and there is another parent available who is able and willing to care for the child, the court may not find that the child is a child in need of assistance, but, before dismissing the case, the court may award custody to the other parent.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>If the disposition removes a child from the child’s home, the order shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Set forth specific findings of fact as to the circumstances that caused the need for the removal; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Inform the parents, custodian, or guardian, if any, that the person or agency to which the child is committed may change the permanency plan of reunification to another permanency plan, which may include the filing of a petition for termination of parental rights if the parents:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Have not made significant progress to remedy the circumstances that caused the need for the removal as specified in the court order; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Are unwilling or unable to give the child proper care and attention within a reasonable period of time.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A guardian appointed under this section has no control over the property of the child unless the court expressly grants that authority.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>If a guardian appointed under this section is a local department, the court shall, on request of the local department, issue a separate order granting the local department guardianship authority to establish:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>An individual savings account;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>If the local department is unable to establish an individual savings account due to the child’s age, an ABLE account in accordance with the provisions of Title 18, Subtitle 19C of the Education Article; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>A pooled special needs trust under § 14.5–1002 of the Estates and Trusts Article.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>An order authorizing a local department to establish an account or a trust as the guardian of a child under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph shall:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Require that funds deposited to establish an ABLE account under subparagraph (i)2 of this paragraph be in an FDIC–insured portfolio option that most minimizes the risk of capital loss;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Prohibit the local department from withdrawing funds from any account or trust established under the order; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>Require the local department to provide prompt notice to a financial institution, including contact information for the child or subsequent guardian of the child, of the termination of the guardianship under this subtitle or Title 5, Subtitle 3 of the Family Law Article.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>The court may not commit a child for inpatient care and treatment in a psychiatric facility unless the court finds on the record based on clear and convincing evidence that:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The child has a mental disorder;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The child needs inpatient medical care or treatment for the protection of the child or others;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The child is unable or unwilling to be voluntarily admitted to such facility; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>There is no less restrictive form of intervention available that is consistent with the child’s condition and welfare.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <text>The court may not commit a child for inpatient care and treatment in a facility for the developmentally disabled unless the court finds on the record based on clear and convincing evidence that:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The child is developmentally disabled;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The condition is of such a nature that for the adequate care or protection of the child or others, the child needs in–residence care or treatment; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>There is no less restrictive form of care and treatment available that is consistent with the child’s welfare and safety.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="j">
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>Each commitment order issued under subsection (h) or (i) of this section shall require the custodian to file progress reports with the court at intervals no greater than every 6 months during the life of the order.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The custodian shall provide each party or attorney of record with a copy of each report, which shall be considered at the next scheduled hearing.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>After the first 6 months of the commitment and at 6–month intervals thereafter, on the request of any party, the custodian, or the facility, the court shall hold a hearing to determine whether the standards specified in subsection (h) or (i) of this section continue to be met.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>If an individualized treatment plan developed under § 10–706 of the Health – General Article recommends that a child no longer meets the standards specified in subsection (h) of this section, the court shall grant a hearing to review the commitment order.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The court may grant a hearing at any other time to determine whether the standards specified in subsection (h) of this section continue to be met.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <level label="i">
        <text>If an individualized plan of habilitation developed under § 7–1006 of the Health – General Article recommends that a child no longer meets the standards specified in subsection (i) of this section, the court shall grant a hearing to review the commitment order.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The court may grant a hearing at any other time to determine whether the standards specified in subsection (i) of this section continue to be met.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="k">
    <text>An order vesting legal custody of a child in a person or agency is effective for an indeterminate period of time, but is not effective after the child reaches the age of 21.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="l">
    <text>After giving the parent a reasonable opportunity to be heard, and determining the income of the parent, the court may order either parent or both parents to pay a sum in the amount the court directs to cover wholly or partly the support of the child under this subtitle.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="m">
    <text>An order directing the provision of services to a child under subsection (c)(3) of this section is effective until:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The child is transitioned to adult guardianship care if adult guardianship is necessary and there is no less restrictive alternative that meets the needs of the child; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>The Maryland Department of Health enters into an agreement to provide or obtain the services ordered by the court; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>If the Maryland Department of Health challenges the necessity of the services ordered by the court, the conclusion of any administrative or judicial review proceeding regarding the challenge.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
