Opinion ID: 2060464
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 16

Heading: Central Registry

Text: The Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry originally was created by the Legislature in 1966, and its existence was mandatory. See 1966 Md. Laws, Chap. 221. In 1987, the Legislature amended the statute and provided that the maintenance of the Central Registry was discretionary. 1987 Md. Laws, Chap. 635. Thus, as part of its records and pursuant to the present provisions of § 5-714, the SSA and each local department may maintain a central registry of cases reported under this subtitle, containing the information gathered by the local departments from around the state. § 5-714(a) and (b). The statute does not define central registry. DHR regulations, however, define it as a centralized listing of individuals identified in the local department of social services written findings of an investigation of suspected abuse or neglect, pursuant to Family Law Article, § 5-701 et seq., Annotated Code of Maryland, as responsible or allegedly responsible for causing the injury, harm, or substantial risk of harm to a child. COMAR 07.02.07.02B(4); COMAR 07.02.26.02B(4). The information contained in these records may be accessed and used by the SSA and by any local departments and law enforcement personnel investigating reports of suspected child abuse or neglect. § 5-714(c). Article 88A § 6 provides, in pertinent part, that it is unlawful to disclose these records, with several exceptions: (a) In general. Except in accordance with a court order or to an authorized officer or employee of the State, another state or local government, or the United States, or a fiduciary institution having a right thereto in an official capacity, and as necessary to discharge responsibilities to administer public assistance, medical assistance, or social services programs, it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to divulge or make known in any manner any information concerning any applicant for or recipient of social services, child welfare services ... directly or indirectly derived from the records, papers, files, investigations or communications of the State, county or city, or subdivisions or agencies thereof, or acquired in the course of the performance of official duties. (b) Child abuse or neglect. Except as otherwise provided in Title 5, Subtitle 7 of the Family Law Article, all records and reports concerning child abuse or neglect are confidential, and their unauthorized disclosure is a criminal offense subject to the penalty set out in subsection (e) of this section. Reports or records concerning child abuse or neglect may be disclosed only: (1)(i) Under a court order; or (ii) Under an order of an administrative law judge, if the request for disclosure concerns a case pending before the office of administrative hearings and provisions are made to comply with other State or federal confidentiality laws and to protect the identity of the reporter or other person whose life or safety is likely to be endangered by disclosure; (2) To personnel of local or State departments of social services, law enforcement personnel, and members of multidisciplinary case consultation teams, who are investigating a report of known or suspected child abuse or neglect or who are providing services to a child or family that is the subject of the report; (3) To local or State officials responsible for the administration of the child protective service or child care licensing and regulations as necessary to carry out their official functions; (4) To a person who is the alleged child abuser or the person who is suspected of child neglect if that person is responsible for the child's welfare and provisions are made for the protection of the identity of the reporter or any other person whose life or safety is likely to be endangered by disclosing the information; (5) To a licensed practitioner who, or an agency, institution, or program which is providing treatment or care to a child who is the subject of a report of child abuse or neglect for a purpose relevant to the provision of the treatment or care; (6) To a parent or other person who has permanent or temporary care and custody of a child, if provisions are made for the protection of the identity of the reporter or any other person whose life or safety is likely to be endangered by disclosing the information; (7) To the appropriate public school superintendent for the purpose of carrying out appropriate personnel actions following a report of suspected child abuse involving a student committed by a public school employee in that school system; or (8) To the director of a licensed child care facility or licensed child placement agency for the purpose of carrying out appropriate personnel actions following a report of suspected child neglect or abuse alleged to have been committed by an employee of the facility or agency and involving a child who is currently or who was previously under that facility or agency's care. See also COMAR 07.02.07.23A. In addition, an individual applying to work or volunteer with children may request, in a timely, notarized request, that a local department notify a third party of whether the applicant is identified in the local department's records as an indicated child abuser or neglector. COMAR 07.02.07.23G. In 1987 and, as we have noted, prior to the enactment of the provisions providing for the limited Chapter 318 hearings, the Legislature created certain protections for persons suspected of abuse or neglect prior to the entry of their names into a central registry. These procedural safeguards are now codified at section 5-715: (b) Notice of entry of name in central registry. Before the name of a person who is suspected of abuse or neglect is entered in a central registry, the person shall be given notice. (c) Hearing to appeal entry of name in central registry required; exception. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, on request by a person suspected of abuse or neglect, the Department shall hold an administrative hearing for the purpose of allowing the person to appeal the entry of the person's name in a central registry. (2) The hearing shall be held in the county in which the person suspected of abuse or neglect resides. (3) The name of a person adjudicated a child abuser may be entered in a central registry without an opportunity for a hearing under this subsection. (d) Requirements for entry of name in central registry. The Department may not enter the name of a person in a central registry unless the person has: (1) been adjudicated a child abuser; (2) unsuccessfully appealed the entry of the person's name in the central registry under procedures established by the Department and this section; or (3) failed to respond within 15 days to notice by the Department of the Department's intent to enter the person's name in a central registry. See also 1987 Md. Laws, Chap. 635. We addressed the procedural safeguards provided by section 5-715 to persons suspected of child abuse or neglect prior to the entering of their names on a central registry in C.S., 343 Md. at 33, 680 A.2d at 480, and there held that section 5-715 provides those individuals a right to a contested case hearing before DHR or a local department can enter their names into a central registry. According to the affidavit of Stephen Berry, Acting Director of the Office of Family and Children's Services of the Social Services Administration, in reaction to our opinion in C.S. and [r]ather than offering all individuals on the Central Registry full administrative hearings, the Department deactivated the formal Central Registry. Accordingly, the Department, on its own accord, ceased entering names on the Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry in 1996 and effectively disbanded that particular system.