Opinion ID: 1132527
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Statutory Amendments After Kama

Text: Shortly after Kama was decided, the Legislature amended third-degree felony and misdemeanor child abuse, as defined in section 827.04, to provide: (1) Whoever, willfully or by culpable negligence, deprives a child of, or allows a child to be deprived of, necessary food, clothing, shelter, or medical treatment, or who, knowingly or by culpable negligence, inflicts or permits the infliction of physical or mental injury to the child, and in so doing causes great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement to such child, shall be guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. (2) Whoever, willfully or by culpable negligence, deprives a child of, or allows a child to be deprived of, necessary food, clothing, shelter, or medical treatment, or who, knowingly or by culpable negligence, inflicts or permits the infliction of physical or mental injury to the child, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. Ch. 88-151, § 4, at 812, Laws of Fla. (additions are underlined). Thus, as amended, and unlike the situation in Kama, a person who inflicted the physical or mental injury to a child could be found guilty of misdemeanor child abuse under section 827.04(2). More recently, in 1996, the Legislature again amended chapter 827, and section 827.03 was rewritten to include three subsections pertaining to child abuse, aggravated child abuse, and neglect of a child, respectively. See ch. 96-322, § 8, at 1770-71, Laws of Fla. As amended, section 827.03 provided in pertinent part: (1) Child abuse means: (a) Intentional infliction of physical or mental injury upon a child; (b) An intentional act that could reasonably be expected to result in physical or mental injury to a child; or (c) Active encouragement of any person to commit an act that results or could reasonably be expected to result in physical or mental injury to a child. A person who knowingly or willfully abuses a child without causing great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement to the child commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. § 827.03(1), Fla. Stat. (Supp.1996). Obviously, the statutory scheme has been significantly amended and expanded since Kama. Notwithstanding the statutory amendments discussed above, petitioner maintains that the Fourth District erroneously concluded that a parent or one standing in loco parentis may be convicted of felony child abuse. Rather, petitioner argues that the First District correctly held in Wilson that the parental privilege and immunity discussed and recognized in Kama extends to felony child abuse under section 827.03(1).