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

2. B. Terms Defined.

   1. (1) “County” means a county of this State and includes Baltimore City.
   2. (2) “Informal kinship care” means a living arrangement in which a relative of a child, who is not in the care, custody, or guardianship of the local department of social services, provides for the care and custody of the child due to a serious family hardship.
   3. (3) “Receiving agency” means the local education agency for the county where the relative of a child in an informal kinship care relationship resides.
   4. (4) “Relative” means an adult related to the child by blood or marriage within the fifth degree of consanguinity.
   5. (5) “Sending agency” means the local education agency for a county where the parent or legal guardian of a child in an informal kinship care relationship resides, and as further defined in Education Article, §4-122.1, Annotated Code of Maryland.

   6. (6) “Serious family hardship” means:

      1. (a) Death of a parent or legal guardian of the child, supported by a copy of the death certificate or other proof;
      2. (b) Serious illness of a parent or legal guardian of the child, supported by a copy of the doctor's report, note, or other proof;
      3. (c) Drug addiction of a parent or legal guardian of the child, supported by documentation from a treatment provider or parent, or other proof;
      4. (d) Incarceration of a parent or legal guardian of the child, supported by documentation from the legal system, detention center, or other proof;
      5. (e) Abandonment by a parent or legal guardian of the child, supported by notarized statements from all legal guardians or documentation from court, social services, or other proof; or
      6. (f) Assignment of a parent or legal guardian of a child to active military duty, supported by a copy of military orders or other proof.

Authority: Education Article, §§2-205, 4-122.1, and 7-101, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: January 16, 2006 (33:1 Md. R. 37)

Regulation .02A amended effective June 29, 2009 (36:13 Md. R. 900)

Regulation .04B amended effective June 29, 2009 (36:13 Md. R. 900)

Regulation .05A amended effective June 29, 2009 (36:13 Md. R. 900)