Adult Protective Services - Investigations and Disclosure of Information
Summary
SB347 makes two targeted changes to Maryland’s adult protective services framework. First, it authorizes a local department of social services, when investigating suspected abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult, to request assistance from a federal law enforcement officer as appropriate. The bill leaves in place the existing duties for local departments to begin investigations promptly, determine whether the person is a vulnerable adult, assess the nature and source of harm, and coordinate with other agencies as needed.
Second, the bill updates Maryland’s confidentiality and disclosure rules for human services records to expressly include adult protective services. That means information concerning applicants for or recipients of adult protective services is covered by the same nondisclosure protections and exceptions that already apply to other human services programs, while preserving authorized disclosures to government officials, courts, and certain fiduciary institutions in specified circumstances. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.
Impact
The bill amends provisions in the Family Law Article governing adult protective services investigations and the Human Services Article governing confidentiality of social services records. It expands the list of entities that may be involved in an APS investigation to include federal law enforcement officers, and it expressly adds adult protective services to the state’s information-disclosure restrictions and exceptions. The practical effect is to broaden investigative coordination tools for local departments while maintaining confidentiality protections for vulnerable adults and related case information.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It passed the Senate 45-0 and the House 134-0, indicating unanimous approval in both chambers. The absence of committee transcript discussion also suggests the measure was viewed as a focused administrative and public-safety update rather than a contested policy change.
Contention
No notable opposition is reflected in the available record. The only potential policy question raised by the text is the addition of federal law enforcement assistance to local APS investigations, which could prompt discussion about when such assistance is appropriate and how it interacts with local and state authority. However, the unanimous votes indicate that any such concerns did not generate meaningful controversy during passage.