Child Abuse and Neglect - Reports and Records - Disclosure

HB 1209 requires local social services departments or Maryland's Secretary of Human Services to disclose child abuse and neglect records within 30 days if a child in their care suffered a fatality or near-fatality. It mandates that the Secretary notify the State’s Attorney’s office of such disclosure requests, giving prosecutors 30 days to redact information that could hinder ongoing criminal cases. If redaction occurs, the State’s Attorney must notify the social services department within 10 days after the case concludes, after which the department must disclose the records within 30 days. This law directly affects child welfare agencies, prosecutors, and families involved in abuse cases with fatal outcomes, while balancing transparency with legal proceedings.