Reunification

(a)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a mother who has voluntarily relinquished her newborn infant pursuant to this Article shall have the child returned upon making a request for reunification to Child Protective Services no later than forty-eight

(48)hours after relinquishment; provided, that Child Protective Services discovers no evidence of child abuse that occurred at any time prior to relinquishment, as determined by agents of Child Protective Services.

(1)A mother requesting reunification waives her rights to anonymity and confidentiality provided under § 13504 of this Article.

(2)In response to a request for reunification, Child Protective Services may conduct an investigation for the limited purpose of determining whether any evidence exists of child abuse that occurred prior to relinquishment. Such an investigation may include identifying and contacting the mother.

(b)If notice is not provided to Child Protective Services under § 13507(a)(8) of this Article prior to a request for reunification, Child Protective Services shall determine the authorized Safe Haven location of the newborn infant based upon information provided by the mother and facilitate reunification, if appropriate, as directed under this Section.

(c)Relinquishment of a newborn infant under this Article does not, in and of itself, constitute child abuse and is not, in and of itself, a sufficient basis to deny reunification.