§ 5-708. Meetings

   (a) Closed when discussing individual cases. -- Meetings of the State Team and of local teams shall be closed to the public and not subject to Title 10, Subtitle 5 of the State Government Article when the State Team or local teams are discussing individual cases of child deaths.

(b) Public meetings -- In general. -- Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, meetings of the State Team and of local teams shall be open to the public and subject to Title 10, Subtitle 5 of the State Government Article when the State Team or local team is not discussing individual cases of child deaths.

(c) Public meetings -- Prohibited disclosures. --

   (1) During a public meeting, information may not be disclosed that identifies:

      (i) A deceased child;

      (ii) A family member, guardian, or caretaker of a deceased child;

      (iii) An alleged or suspected perpetrator of abuse or neglect upon a child; or

      (iv) A child convicted of a crime or adjudicated as having committed a delinquent act that caused a death or near fatality.

   (2) During a public meeting, information may not be disclosed regarding the involvement of any agency with:

      (i) A deceased child;

      (ii) A family member, guardian, or caretaker of a deceased child;

      (iii) An alleged or suspected perpetrator of abuse or neglect upon a child; or

      (iv) A child convicted of a crime or adjudicated as having committed a delinquent act that caused a death or near fatality.

(d) Witnesses. -- This section does not prohibit the State Team or a local team from requesting the attendance at a team meeting of a person who has information relevant to the team's exercise of its purpose and duties.

(e) Penalties. -- Violation of this section is a misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine not exceeding $ 500 or imprisonment not exceeding 90 days or both.

HISTORY: 1999, chs. 355, 356; 2007, ch. 264.