Md. Code, Educ. § 9.5-301

(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. (b) “Child care provider” means the adult who has primary responsibility for the operation of a family child care home or a large family child care home. (c) “Direct Grant Fund” means the Family Child Care Provider Direct Grant Fund. (d) “Family child care” means the care given to a child under the age of 13 years or to any developmentally disabled person under the age of 21 years, in place of parental care for less than 24 hours a day, in a residence other than the child’s residence, for which the child care provider is paid. (e) “Family child care home” means a residence in which family child care is provided for up to eight children. (f) “Family child care provider” means an individual who cares for children in a registered family child care home or a registered large family child care home. (g) “Large family child care home” means a residence in which family child care is provided for at least nine children, but not more than 12 children. (h) “Unregistered family child care home” means a residence in which family child care is provided and in which the child care provider: (1) Has not obtained a certificate of registration from the Department; (2) Is not related by blood or marriage to each child in the provider’s care; (3) Is not a friend of each child’s parents or legal guardian and is providing care on a regular basis; and (4) Has not received the care of the child from a child placement agency licensed by the Department of Human Services or by a local department of social services.