1. A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

2. B. Terms Defined.

   1. (1) Child in Need of Assistance (CINA).

      1. (a) “Child in Need of Assistance (CINA)” has the meaning stated in the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, §3-801(f), Annotated Code of Maryland.

      2. (b) “Child in need of assistance” means a child who requires court intervention because:

         1. (i) The child has been abused, has been neglected, has a developmental disability, or has a mental disorder; and
         2. (ii) The child's parents, guardian, or custodian are unable or unwilling to give proper care and attention to the child and the child's needs.
   2. (2) “Department (DHS)” means the Department of Human Services.
   3. (3) “Designated facility” means a hospital, State police barracks, or local police department.
   4. (4) “Local department (LDSS)” means a local department of social services in a county or Baltimore City or the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services.
   5. (5) “Newborn” means a child from birth through 10 days old or through 240 hours old, whichever is later.
   6. (6) “Order of shelter care (OSC)” means a court order requiring a placement of a child in a physically unrestricting facility, but does not include care in a State mental health facility.
   7. (7) “Reasonable degree of medical certainty” means the necessity and sufficiency of evidence needed to establish the age of the abandoned child.
   8. (8) “Responsible adult” means an individual 18 years old or older who may reasonably be expected to provide proper care to a newborn left in the individual's care and who is willing and able to immediately take the newborn to a designated facility.
   9. (9) “Termination of parental rights (TPR)” means the legal process of obtaining guardianship and ending the rights and responsibilities of the parents.
   10. (10) “Unharmed” means there is no evidence of physical injury or failure to give proper care and attention to a newborn.

Authority: Human Services Article, §4-207; Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, §5-641; Annotated Code of Maryland
(Agency Note: Federal Statutory Reference—42 U.S.C. §629a)

Effective date: November 24, 2003 (30:23 Md. R. 1651)

Regulation .02B amended effective August 23, 2010 (37:17 Md. R. 1184)