Opinion ID: 1707939
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Constitutional Construction of Section 39.806(1)(i)

Text: We agree with the Fourth District that section 39.806(1)(i) may not constitutionally permit a termination of parental rights without proof of substantial risk to the child. The rebuttable presumption stated in A.B. would relieve the state of this burden of proof. This burden shifting would violate the constitutional requirements articulated in Padgett. We therefore disapprove the use of such a rebuttable presumption. However, we have an obligation to construe section 39.806(1)(i) in a way that preserves its constitutionality. See Doe v. Mortham, 708 So.2d 929, 934 n. 12 (Fla.1998). F.L. argues on appeal that under a constitutional interpretation, section 39.806(1)(i) merely gets DCF through the courthouse door, i.e., the statute allows DCF to file a petition for termination of parental rights without the prerequisite case plan, based on a prior involuntary termination. But to be constitutional under Padgett, the statute must be interpreted as requiring DCF to also prove that reunification would be a substantial risk to the child and that termination is the least restrictive way to protect the child. We agree with this interpretation. In enacting section 39.806(1)(i), the Legislature did not abrogate the constitutional requirements of Padgett. The Legislature is presumed to know the judicial constructions of a law when amending that law, and the Legislature is presumed to have adopted prior judicial constructions of a law unless a contrary intention is expressed. See City of Hollywood v. Lombardi, 770 So.2d 1196, 1202 (Fla.2000). In 1998, the Legislature added subsection (i) to the grounds enumerated in section 39.806(1) for terminating parental rights. See ch. 98-403, § 88, at 3205, Laws of Fla. Nothing expressed or implied in subsection (i) suggests that the Legislature intended to abolish the constitutional mandate of Padgett. Padgett, therefore, represents a binding judicial construction of the statute governing the termination of parental rights. Padgett's requirements remain unchanged by the 1998 amendment adding subsection (i) to section 39.806(1). We, therefore, hold that parental rights may be terminated under section 39.806(1)(i) only if the state proves both a prior involuntary termination of rights to a sibling and a substantial risk of significant harm to the current child. Further, the state must prove that the termination of parental rights is the least restrictive means of protecting the child from harm. For a trial court applying section 39.806(1)(i), the circumstances leading to the prior involuntary termination will be highly relevant to the court's determination of whether the current child is at risk and whether termination is the least restrictive way to protect the child. Specifically, if the parent's conduct that led to the involuntary termination involved egregious abuse or neglect of another child, this will tend to indicate a greater risk of harm to the current child. The amount of time that has passed since the prior involuntary termination will also be relevant. A very recent involuntary termination will tend to indicate a greater current risk. Finally, evidence of any change in circumstances since the prior involuntary termination will obviously be significant to a determination of risk to a current child. While a parent's past conduct necessarily has some predictive value as to that parent's likely future conduct, positive life changes can overcome a negative history. We must emphasize that a parent is not required to show evidence of changed circumstances to avoid a termination of rights under section 39.806(1)(i). The trial court may consider evidence introduced by any party when considering whether a current child is at substantial risk of significant harm and whether termination of rights is the least restrictive means of protecting the child from harm. However, to support a termination order under section 39.806(1)(i), DCF must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the parent's rights to a prior child were terminated involuntarily, that the current child is at substantial risk of significant harm, and that termination of rights is the least restrictive means of protecting the child from harm. Interpreted in this light, section 39.806(1)(i) is constitutional.