Maryland Family Law Section 5-539.1

      (a)      In addition to any duties set forth elsewhere, the State Board shall, by examining the policies and procedures of State and local agencies and specific cases that the State Board considers necessary to perform its duties under this section, evaluate the extent to which State and local agencies are effectively discharging their child protection responsibilities in accordance with:

            (1)      the State plan under 42 U.S.C. § 5106a(b);

            (2)      the child protection standards set forth in 42 U.S.C. § 5106a(b); and

            (3)      any other criteria that the State Board considers important to ensure the protection of children, including:

                  (i)      a review of the extent to which the State child protective services system is coordinated with the foster care and adoption program established under Part E of Title IV of the Social Security Act; and

                  (ii)      a review of child fatalities and near fatalities.

      (b)      The State Board may:

            (1)      by a majority vote of its members add up to four members with expertise in the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect for the purpose of performing its duties under this section; and

            (2)      to assist the State Board in its reviews of specific cases, designate:

                  (i)      local teams composed of members of local boards of out-of-home placement of children and staff; or

                  (ii)      local citizens review panels established under § 5-539.2 of this subtitle.

      (c)      In consultation with local citizens review panels and the State Council on Child Abuse and Neglect, the State Board shall develop protocols that govern the scope of activities of local citizens review panels to reflect the provisions of the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. § 5101 et seq.).

      (d)      The State Board shall coordinate its activities under this section with the State Council on Child Abuse and Neglect, local citizens review panels, and the child fatality review teams in order to avoid unnecessary duplication of effort.

      (e)      The State Board shall annually prepare and make available to the public a report containing a summary of its activities under this section.