Section 5-3A-45 - Prohibited payments(a) Except as otherwise provided by law, a person may not charge or receive, from or for a parent or prospective adoptive parent, any compensation for a service in connection with: (1) placement of an individual to live with a preadoptive family; or(2) an agreement for custody in contemplation of adoption.(b)(1) In this subsection, "Administration" means the Social Services Administration of the Department.(2) This section does not: (i) prohibit payment, by an interested person, of:1. a customary and reasonable charge or fee for adoption counseling, hospital, legal, or medical services;2. reasonable expenses for transportation for medical care associated with the pregnancy or birth of the child;3. reasonable expenses for food, clothing, and shelter for a birth mother if, on written advice of a physician, the birth mother is unable to work or otherwise support herself because of medical reasons associated with the pregnancy or birth of the child; or4. reasonable expenses associated with any required court appearance relating to the adoption, including transportation, food, and lodging expenses; or(ii) prevent the Administration, or a person that the Administration licenses or supervises, from receiving and accepting reasonable reimbursement for costs of an adoptive service in connection with adoption, if:1. the reimbursement is in accordance with standards set by regulation of the Administration; and2. the ability to provide this reimbursement does not affect:A. the acceptability of any individual for adoptive services; orB. the choice of the most suitable prospective adoptive parent.(c) Each State's Attorney shall enforce this section.(d) A person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $100 or imprisonment not exceeding 3 months or both, for each offense.Amended by 2013 Md. Laws, Ch. 619,Sec. 1, eff. 10/1/2013.