Case Name: L.Y. and Melody, Appellants, v. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1997-07-02
Citations: 696 So. 2d 430
Docket Number: Nos. 96-2384, 96-2438
Parties: L.Y. and Melody, Appellants, v. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, Appellee.
Judges: KLEIN and PARIENTE, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 696
Pages: 430–435

Head Matter:
L.Y. and Melody, Appellants, v. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, Appellee.
Nos. 96-2384, 96-2438.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.
July 2, 1997.
David S. Bazerman, Fort Lauderdale, for Appellant-L.Y.
James C. Bleeke and Karen Gievers, Miami, for Appellant-Melody.
Carol A. Gart and Billi Pollack of Department of Children and Families, Fort Lauder-dale, for appellee.

Opinion:
GLICKSTEIN, Judge.
This is an appeal from an order dismissing L.Y.'s dependency ease and terminating the juvenile division's jurisdiction over her. While Melody was permitted by the trial court to intervene, there is no order of dismissal as to her case. Both have reached 18 years of age. Melody, who is incapacitated, intervened out of fear that L.Y.'s case will affect hers.
L.Y.'s appeal involves a, judicial fight, not a legislative one, over the issue of judicial review of HRS Services to dependent children who reach 18, but continue to receive services from HRS. Unfortunately for L.Y., the fight is in the wrong arena as the legislature has not provided for judicial review of these services still being rendered to a now 18 year old, previously determined to be dependent, when that individual may not be incapacitated. The conscientious, concerned trial court properly held that the laws of Florida currently do not permit retention of continuing juvenile jurisdiction and review until the individual is 21. The California legislature has authorized the juvenile courts of that state to retain jurisdiction over a child found to be dependent until that individual attains the age of 21 years. See California Welfare and Institutions Code, § 303. The Florida legislature has not yet given the juvenile courts of this state a similar authorization.
Here, the trial judge very reluctantly entered its order, seeing no way around it, in light of the clear language of chapter 39, Florida Statutes. We reluctantly agree.
In our view, section 409.145(4), Florida Statutes, does not permit an interpretation argued by appellants whereby we would extend juvenile jurisdiction to L.Y. by reading it in para materia with section 39.40(2), Florida Statutes. Nor do sections 39.41(2)(a)10 and 39.45, Florida Statutes, change our view. Section 39.01(10), Florida Statutes, defines children as individuals under the age of 18. See also Gore v. Chapman, 143 Fla. 438, 196 So. 840 (1940); Simms v. State, Dep't of Health & Rehabilitative Servs., 641 So.2d 957 (Fla. 3d DCA), rev. denied, 649 So.2d 870 (Fla.1994).
Thus, we affirm, albeit without prejudice to L.Y.'s seeking appointment of a guardian pursuant to chapter 744, Florida Statutes, if there is some incapacity which could be shown.
Such petition should be considered by the same circuit judge who is familiar with L.Y.'s dependency proceeding. He is a circuit judge; and his assignment to the juvenile division should not be a barrier to his sitting by special assignment upon appropriate order of the chief judge. See In re Guardianship of Bentley, 342 So.2d 1045 (Fla. 4th DCA 1977); In the Interest of Wendy Dee Peterson, 364 So.2d 98 (Fla. 4th DCA 1978); Maugeri v. Plourde, 396 So.2d 1215 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981)
Section 744.369, Florida Statutes, provides for judicial review of guardian reports when a guardianship has been established pursuant to chapter 744. Any adult person may file a petition to determine that an individual is incapacitated. § 744.3201, Fla. Stat. If there is a determination that the individual is incapacitated a guardian may be appointed pursuant to section 744.344. The circuit court then reviews the condition of the ward annually, or more fre quently by petition, pursuant to sections 744.369 and 744.3715.
The court may appoint a guardian on its own motion if no petition for appointment of a guardian has been filed at the time of the order determining incapacity. § 744.3031, Fla. Stat.
Moreover, an 18-21 year old receiving benefits can seek judicial review of any final action of HRS that adversely affects that individual pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act, section 120.68, Florida Statutes, which states:
(1) A party who is adversely affected by final agency action is entitled to judicial review....
(2) Except in matters for which judicial review by the Supreme Court is provided by law, all proceedings for review shall be instituted by filing a petition in the district court of appeal in the appellate district where the agency maintains its headquarters or where the party resides.
See Department of Health and Rehabilitative Servs. v. A.S., 648 So.2d 128 (Fla.1995) (holding review of final action of HRS is pursuant to section 120.68).
The intervenor, Melody, like L.Y., is a dependent child turned 18; however, she is incapacitated. While HRS says it is premature to decide her case as no effort has been made to terminate judicial review of the services being rendered to her, hopefully, it will not attempt to do so.
The Florida Supreme Court has said: "Courts are charged under the law with the duty and obligation of caring for infants and incompetents upon the theory that they are wards of the court." Turner v. Andrews, 143 Fla. 88, 196 So. 449, 450 (1940).
KLEIN and PARIENTE, JJ., concur.
PARIENTE, J., concurs specially with opinion.