Sec. 13a.17.07.02. Abuse/Neglect Reporting

A. An operator, staff member, employee, substitute, or volunteer who has reason to believe that a child has been:

(1) Abused, in a facility or outside of the facility, shall report that belief directly to the Child Protective Services unit of the local department or to a law enforcement agency, as required under Maryland law;

(2) Neglected, in a facility or outside of the facility, shall report that belief directly to the Child Protective Services unit of the local department as required under Maryland law.

B. When a child has been subjected to injurious treatment, it shall be reported to the office.

C. An operator shall:

(1) Instruct the staff to monitor all children daily for signs and symptoms of child abuse and neglect;

(2) Instruct staff about their legal obligations to report suspected child abuse or neglect directly to the local department or the appropriate law enforcement agency; and

(3) Post, near each telephone in the facility, the telephone numbers of the Child Protective Services unit of the local department and the appropriate law enforcement agency.

D. An operator may not require a staff member, employee, substitute, or volunteer to report through the operator or director, rather than directly to the local department or a law enforcement agency, when the staff member has reason to believe that a child has been abused or neglected.