Maryland Family Law Section 5-3A-23
§ 5-3A-23.
CAUTION: READ FULL TEXT OF SECTION FOR SPECIAL NOTE
** SPECIAL NOTE: EFFECTIVE - JANUARY 1, 2006 - CHAPTER 464 - 2005 **
(a) (1) A child placement agency shall file a written report with a court with jurisdiction over a child whenever:
(i) the child placement agency fails to place the child for adoption with a preadoptive parent, as defined in § 3-823(i)(1) of the Courts Article:
1. within 270 days after being awarded guardianship; or
2. within 180 days after permanently removing the child from another placement; or
(ii) a court does not enter a final order of adoption within 2 years after the placement.
(2) A report under this subsection shall state each reason for the delay in placement or adoption.
(b) (1) Whenever a child placement agency files a report under this section, the child placement agency shall mail notice of the child's status:
(i) to each of the child's living parents who has not waived the right to notice; and
(ii) if a court appointed counsel for the child under this subtitle, to the child's last attorney of record.
(2) A waiver of rights under this subsection is not valid unless the waiver appears expressly in:
(i) the parent's consent to guardianship; and
(ii) the guardianship order.
(c) (1) Whenever a court receives a report under this section, the court shall hold a hearing to:
(i) review the progress that the child placement agency has made toward adoption of the child; and
(ii) take all actions that the court considers to be in the child's best interests.
(2) Each year after a hearing under paragraph (1) of this subsection until the court's jurisdiction terminates, the court shall hold another review hearing.
