§ 5-3A-23. Guardianship review

   (a) Report. --

   (1) A child placement agency shall file a written report with a court with jurisdiction over a child whenever:

      (i) the child placement agency fails to place the child for adoption with a preadoptive parent, as defined in § 3-823(i)(1) of the Courts Article:

         1. within 270 days after being awarded guardianship; or

         2. within 180 days after permanently removing the child from another placement; or

      (ii) a court does not enter a final order of adoption within 2 years after the placement.

   (2) A report under this subsection shall state each reason for the delay in placement or adoption.

(b) Notice. --

   (1) Whenever a child placement agency files a report under this section, the child placement agency shall mail notice of the child's status:

      (i) to each of the child's living parents who has not waived the right to notice and, if represented, counsel; and

      (ii) if a court appointed counsel for the child under this subtitle, to the child's last attorney of record.

   (2) A waiver of rights under this subsection is not valid unless the waiver appears expressly in:

      (i) the parent's consent to guardianship; and

      (ii) the guardianship order.

(c) Hearing. --

   (1) Whenever a court receives a report under this section, the court shall hold a hearing to:

      (i) review the progress that the child placement agency has made toward adoption of the child; and

      (ii) take all actions that the court considers to be in the child's best interests.

   (2) Each year after a hearing under paragraph (1) of this subsection until the court's jurisdiction terminates, the court shall hold another review hearing.

HISTORY: 2005, ch. 464, § 3; 2006, ch. 365, § 2.