<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="5-707" title_number="5" title_name="Children" subtitle_number="7" subtitle_name="Child Abuse and Neglect">
  <level label="a">
    <text>Subject to federal and State law, the Administration shall provide by regulation adopted in accordance with Title 10, Subtitle 1 of the State Government Article:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>procedures for protecting the confidentiality of reports and records made in accordance with this subtitle;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>conditions under which information may be released;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>conditions for determining in cases whether abuse, neglect, or sexual abuse is indicated, ruled out, or unsubstantiated; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>procedures for the appeal processes provided in this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The local department shall expunge a report of suspected abuse or neglect and all assessments and investigative findings:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>within 5 years after the date of referral if the investigation under § 5–706 of this subtitle concludes that the report is unsubstantiated, and no further reports of abuse or neglect are received during the 5 years; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, within 2 years after the date of referral if the report is ruled out, and no further reports of abuse or neglect are received during the 2 years.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If a report is ruled out, the local department may, on good cause shown, immediately expunge the report and all assessments and investigative findings.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
