Section 5-4B-01 – Definitions
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. (b) “Administration” means the Social Services Administration of the Department. (c) “Confidential intermediary” means an individual or child placement agency qualified by the Director for the purpose of providing search, contact, and reunion services under this subtitle. (d) “Director” means the Director of the Administration. (e) “Member of the […]
Section 5-4B-02 – Application for Adoption Search, Contact, and Reunion Services
(a) (1) An adopted individual at least 21 years old may apply to the Director to receive search, contact, and reunion services. (2) If an adopted individual is at least 21 years old, the following individuals may apply to the Director to receive search, contact, and reunion services: (i) a biological parent of the adopted individual; (ii) a sibling of […]
Section 5-4B-03 – Confidential Intermediaries
(a) The Director shall maintain a list of confidential intermediaries. (b) To qualify to be a confidential intermediary, an applicant shall meet the requirements of subsection (d) of this section. (c) If the applicant is a child placement agency, the agency shall appoint an employee of the agency as the representative member to make the application on behalf […]
Section 5-4B-04 – Duties of Director
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the Director shall provide the list of confidential intermediaries to an individual who applies for search, contact, and reunion services. (b) The Director shall refer an individual who applies for search, contact, and reunion services to the child placement agency that placed the child for adoption if: […]
Section 5-4B-05 – Agreements With Confidential Intermediaries
(a) An individual who applies for search, contact, and reunion services shall execute a written agreement with a confidential intermediary concerning the provision of search, contact, and reunion services. (b) (1) (i) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the confidential intermediary may charge the individual a reasonable fee for search, contact, and reunion services. (ii) The overall […]
Section 5-4B-06 – Location of Individuals Sought by Applicants
(a) The Director or the Adoption Program Manager of the Department may authorize a confidential intermediary to obtain information described in subsection (b) or (c) of this section to locate an individual sought by an applicant. (b) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, a confidential intermediary may apply to the Secretary of Health for a copy […]
Section 5-4B-07 – Reports; Consent to Disclosure; Nonlocation of Individual
(a) Within 90 days after executing a search, contact, and reunion services agreement under § 5-4B-05 or § 5-4B-11 of this subtitle, a confidential intermediary shall file a report with the Director stating that: (1) the individual contacted by the confidential intermediary consents to the disclosure of specified information; (2) the individual contacted by the confidential intermediary does […]
Section 5-4B-08 – Consent to Disclosure of Information
(a) (1) If an individual contacted by a confidential intermediary consents to the disclosure of any information, the confidential intermediary shall obtain the written consent of the individual witnessed by a notary public. (2) The written consent shall specify the nature of the information to be disclosed. (b) (1) If a confidential intermediary obtains written consent under subsection (a) of […]
Section 5-4B-09 – Refusal to Consent to Disclose Information
If an individual contacted by a confidential intermediary does not consent to the disclosure of any information, the confidential intermediary: (1) may not disclose any information concerning the individual contacted; (2) shall refrain from further and subsequent inquiry with the individual contacted; and (3) shall report the refusal to the individual who applied for search, contact, and reunion […]
Section 5-4B-10 – Failure to Locate Individual Sought
(a) If a confidential intermediary files a report under § 5-4B-07 of this subtitle stating that an individual sought has not been located, the confidential intermediary shall continue to make reasonable attempts to contact the individual sought for the period specified in the search, contact, and reunion services agreement executed in accordance with § 5-4B-05 or […]