<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="ghg" article_name="Health - General" number="7-1005" title_number="7" title_name="Developmental Disabilities Law" subtitle_number="10" subtitle_name="Rights of Individuals">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section, “abuse” means:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Any physical injury that is inflicted willfully or with gross recklessness;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Inhumane treatment; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Any of the following kinds of sexual abuse:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>A sexual act, as defined in § 3–301 of the Criminal Law Article;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Sexual contact, as defined in § 3–301 of the Criminal Law Article; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>Vaginal intercourse, as defined in § 3–301 of the Criminal Law Article.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>In this section, “abuse” does not include:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The performance of:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>An accepted medical procedure that a physician orders;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>An accepted behavioral procedure that a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist, as appropriate, orders; or</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>An action taken by an employee that complies with applicable State and federal laws and applicable Department policies on the use of physical intervention.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In addition to any other reporting requirement of law, a person who believes that an individual with developmental disability has been abused promptly shall report the alleged abuse to the executive officer or administrative head of the licensee.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The executive officer or administrative head shall report the alleged abuse to an appropriate law–enforcement agency.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A report to the executive officer or administrative head:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>May be oral or written; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Shall contain as much information as the reporter is able to provide.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The law–enforcement agency shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Investigate thoroughly each report of an alleged abuse; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Attempt to ensure the protection of the alleged victim.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The investigation shall include:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>A determination of the nature, extent, and cause of the abuse;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The identity of the alleged abuser or abusers; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Any other pertinent fact or matter.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>As soon as possible, but no later than 10 working days after the completion of the investigation, the law–enforcement agency shall submit a written report of its findings to the State’s Attorney, the Deputy Secretary, the State–designated protection and advocacy agency, and the executive officer or administrative head of the licensee.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>The Administration shall maintain a central registry of abuse reports and their disposition and shall take appropriate remedial action.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>A person shall have the immunity from liability described under § 5–625 of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article for:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Making a report under this section;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Participating in an investigation arising out of a report under this section; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Participating in a judicial proceeding arising out of a report under this section.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
