Pollock v. Department of Health & Rehabilitative Services
Pollock v. Department of Health & Rehabilitative Services
Opinion of the Court
ON MOTION FOR REHEARING
The appellant, Mary Pollack, has moved for rehearing. In our original opinion herein, we found that the issue of the constitutionality of section 39.41(l)(f)(3)(b), Florida Statutes (1983),
It is one thing to base severance on abuse, neglect or abandonment; it is quite another to base it solely on breach of a performance agreement, which is the factual situation in the instant case.
We grant rehearing, declare section 39.-41(l)(f)(3)(b) facially unconstitutional, vacate our prior opinion, and reverse the judgment below.
REVERSED.
. Section 39.41(l)(f)(3)(b), Florida Statutes (1983), states:
(1) When any child is adjudicated by a court to be dependent, the court having jurisdiction of the child shall have the power, by order, to: ******
(f) 1. Permanently commit the child to the department or a licensed child-placing agency willing to receive the child for subsequent adoption if the Court finds that it is manifestly in the best interests of the child to do so, and:
******
b. If the parent or parents have failed, upon expiration of a performance agreement entered into under s. 409.168, to comply substantially with such agreement. If the court finds that the failure to comply with the performance agreement is the result of conditions beyond the control of the parent or parents, such failure shall not be used as grounds for permanent commitment.
. It is expressly conceded by HRS that severance in this case was based solely on violation of a performance agreement and not on abuse, abandonment or neglect.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In the Interest of R.W., C.A.W., M.I.W., C.P., M.E.P., and A.P. Mary POLLOCK n/k/a Mary Hayes v. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & REHABILITATIVE SERVICES
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published