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<section article="gcr" article_name="Criminal Law" number="3-604" title_number="3" title_name="Other Crimes Against the Person" subtitle_number="6" subtitle_name="Abuse and Other Offensive Conduct">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section and §§ 3–605 and 3–606 of this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>“Abuse” means the sustaining of physical pain or injury by a vulnerable adult as a result of cruel or inhumane treatment or as a result of a malicious act under circumstances that indicate that the vulnerable adult’s health or welfare is harmed or threatened.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>“Abuse” includes the sexual abuse of a vulnerable adult.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>“Abuse” does not include an accepted medical or behavioral procedure ordered by a health care provider authorized to practice under the Health Occupations Article or § 13–516 of the Education Article acting within the scope of the health care provider’s practice.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Caregiver” means a person under a duty to care for a vulnerable adult because of a contractual undertaking to provide care.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>“Family member” means a relative of a vulnerable adult by blood, marriage, adoption, or the marriage of a child.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>“Household” means the location:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>in which the vulnerable adult resides;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>where the abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult is alleged to have taken place; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>where the person suspected of abusing or neglecting a vulnerable adult resides.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>“Household member” means an individual who lives with or is a regular presence in a home of a vulnerable adult at the time of the alleged abuse or neglect.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <level label="i">
        <text>“Neglect” means the intentional failure to provide necessary assistance and resources for the physical needs of a vulnerable adult, including:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>food;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>clothing;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>toileting;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>essential medical treatment;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="5">
          <text>shelter; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="6">
          <text>supervision.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>“Neglect” does not include the provision of nonmedical remedial care and treatment for the healing of injury or disease that is:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>given with the consent of the vulnerable adult; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>recognized by State law in place of medical treatment.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="8">
      <text>“Serious physical injury” means physical injury that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>creates a substantial risk of death; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>causes permanent or protracted serious:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>disfigurement;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>loss of the function of any bodily member or organ; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="9">
      <level label="i">
        <text>“Sexual abuse” means an act that involves sexual molestation or exploitation of a vulnerable adult.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>“Sexual abuse” includes:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>incest;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>rape;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>sexual offense in any degree; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>any other sexual conduct that is a crime.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="10">
      <text>“Vulnerable adult” means an adult who lacks the physical or mental capacity to provide for the adult’s daily needs.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A caregiver, a parent, or other person who has permanent or temporary care or responsibility for the supervision of a vulnerable adult may not cause abuse or neglect of the vulnerable adult that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>results in the death of the vulnerable adult;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>causes serious physical injury to the vulnerable adult; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>involves sexual abuse of the vulnerable adult.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A household member or family member may not cause abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>results in the death of the vulnerable adult;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>causes serious physical injury to the vulnerable adult; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>involves sexual abuse of the vulnerable adult.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>A person who violates this section is guilty of the felony of abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult in the first degree and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or a fine not exceeding $10,000 or both.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>A sentence imposed under this section shall be in addition to any other sentence imposed for a conviction arising from the same facts and circumstances unless the evidence required to prove each crime is substantially identical.</text>
  </level>
</section>
