<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="5-709" title_number="5" title_name="Children" subtitle_number="7" subtitle_name="Child Abuse and Neglect">
  <level label="a">
    <text>If a representative of a local department is conducting an investigation under this subtitle, the representative may enter the household, if the representative:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>previously has been denied the right of entry; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>has probable cause to believe that a child is in serious, immediate danger.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>A police officer shall accompany the representative and may use reasonable force, if necessary, to enable the representative to gain entry.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The representative may remove the child temporarily, without prior approval by the juvenile court, if the representative believes that the child is in serious, immediate danger.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>If a child is removed from a household under this section, the local department shall have the child thoroughly examined by a physician and a report of this examination shall be included in a report made under § 5–706(j) of this subtitle within the time specified.</text>
  </level>
</section>
