Maryland Family Law Section 5-326

CAUTION: READ FULL TEXT OF SECTION FOR SPECIAL NOTE

      A final decree of adoption granted in another jurisdiction:

            (1)      shall be given full faith and credit in this State; and

            (2)      has the same legal effect as a final decree of adoption granted in this State.

** SPECIAL NOTE: EFFECTIVE - JANUARY 1, 2006 - CHAPTER 464 - 2005 **

      (a)      (1)      A juvenile court shall hold:

                  (i)      an initial guardianship review hearing as scheduled under § 5-324(b)(1)(vi) of this subtitle to establish a permanency plan for the child; and

                  (ii)      at least once each year after the initial guardianship review hearing until the juvenile court's jurisdiction terminates, a guardianship review hearing.

            (2)      At each guardianship review hearing, a juvenile court shall determine whether:

                  (i)      the child's current circumstances and placement are in the child's best interests;

                  (ii)      the permanency plan that is in effect is in the child's best interests; and

                  (iii)      reasonable efforts have been made to finalize the permanency plan that is in effect.

            (3)      (i)      A juvenile court shall give at least 30 days' notice before each guardianship review hearing for a child to:

                        1.      the local department;

                        2.      the child's attorney; and

                        3.      each of the child's living parents who has not waived the right to notice and that parent's attorney.

                  (ii)      A parent is entitled to be heard and to participate at a guardianship review hearing.

                  (iii)      A parent is not a party solely on the basis of the right to notice or opportunity to be heard or participate at a guardianship review hearing.

            (4)      (i)      A local department shall give a child's caregiver at least 7 days' notice before a guardianship review hearing.

                  (ii)      A caregiver is entitled to be heard at a guardianship review hearing.

                  (iii)      A caregiver is not a party solely on the basis of the right to notice or opportunity to be heard at a guardianship review hearing.

            (5)      (i)      At least 10 days before each guardianship review hearing, a local department shall:

                        1.      investigate as needed to prepare a written report that summarizes the child's circumstances and the progress that has been made in implementing the child's permanency plan; and

                        2.      send a copy of the report to:

                        A.      the child's attorney; and

                        B.      each of the child's living parents who has not waived the right to notice and that parent's attorney.

                  (ii)      Notice to a parent under this paragraph shall be sent to the parent's last address known to the juvenile court.

            (6)      A child's permanency plan may be, in order of priority:

                  (i)      adoption of the child;

                  (ii)      custody and guardianship of the child by an individual; or

                  (iii)      another planned permanent living arrangement that:

                        1.      addresses the individualized needs of the child, including the child's educational plan, emotional stability, physical placement, and socialization needs; and

                        2.      includes goals that promote the continuity of relations with individuals who will fill a lasting and significant role in the child's life.

            (7)      Every reasonable effort shall be made to implement a permanency plan within 1 year.

            (8)      At each guardianship review hearing for a child, a juvenile court shall:

                  (i)      evaluate the child's safety and act as needed to protect the child;

                  (ii)      consider the written report of a local out-of-home placement review board required under § 5-545 of this title;

                  (iii)      determine the extent of compliance with the permanency plan;

                  (iv)      make a specific factual finding on whether reasonable efforts have been made to finalize the child's permanency plan and document the finding;

                  (v)      subject to subsection (b) of this section, change the child's permanency plan if a change would be in the child's best interests;

                  (vi)      project a reasonable date by which the permanency plan will be finalized;

                  (vii)      enter any order that the juvenile court finds appropriate to implement the permanency plan; and

                  (viii)      take all other action that the juvenile court considers to be in the child's best interests, including any order allowed under § 5-324(b)(1)(ii) of this subtitle.

            (9)      A juvenile court may approve a permanency plan other than adoption of a child only if the juvenile court finds that, for a compelling reason, adoption is not in the child's best interests.

            (10)      (i)      At a guardianship review hearing held 1 year or more after a juvenile court enters an order for guardianship of a child, the juvenile court may designate an individual guardian of the child if:

                        1.      the local department certifies the child's successful placement with the individual under the supervision of the local department or its agent for at least 180 days or a shorter period allowed by the juvenile court on recommendation of the local department;

                        2.      the local department files a report by a child placement agency, completed in accordance with department regulations, as to the suitability of the individual to be the child's guardian; and

                        3.      the juvenile court makes a specific finding that:

                        A.      for a compelling reason, adoption is not in the child's best interests; and

                        B.      custody and guardianship by the individual is in the child's best interests and is the least restrictive alternative available.

                  (ii)      Designation of a guardian under this paragraph terminates the local department's legal obligations and responsibilities to the child.

                  (iii)      After designation of a guardian under this paragraph, a juvenile court may order any further review that the juvenile court finds to be in the child's best interests.

      (b)      (1)      Whenever a juvenile court orders a specific placement for a child, a local department may remove the child from the placement before a hearing only if:

                  (i)      removal is needed to protect the child from serious immediate danger;

                  (ii)      continuation of the placement is contrary to the child's best interests; or

                  (iii)      the child's caregiver asks for the child's immediate removal.

            (2)      (i)      On the next day on which the circuit court sits after a local department changes a placement under this subsection, the juvenile court shall hold an emergency review hearing on the change.

                  (ii)      A juvenile court shall give reasonable notice of an emergency review hearing to:

                        1.      the child's attorney;

                        2.      each of the child's living parents who has not waived the right to notice and that parent's attorney; and

                        3.      each other party's attorney.

                  (iii)      At an emergency review hearing, the standard of review as to a change shall be the standard for continued shelter care in a hearing under § 3-815 of the Courts Article.

                  (iv)      Unless all of the parties agree to a juvenile court's order entered at an emergency review hearing, the juvenile court shall hold a full review hearing on the change within 30 days after the date of removal or, if agreed to by the parties, a later date.