Family Law - Child Abuse and Neglect - Reporting

SB 484 changes how child abuse and neglect reports are handled in Maryland by requiring mandated reporters (like teachers, doctors, and social workers) to submit reports directly to the Department of Human Services (DHS) instead of local social services or law enforcement. The bill establishes a centralized DHS intake system to record, assess report validity, and assign cases to local departments for investigation. This replaces current procedures outlined in sections 5-704 and 5-704.2 of Maryland’s Family Law, streamlining the initial reporting process while maintaining existing requirements for report content and timelines.