Court Opinion

ID: 9811683
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 22:27:18.88238+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:21:07.432801
License: Public Domain

STEVE McKEITHEN, Chief Justice,
dissenting.
There is no dispute concerning the facts of this case. A man not biologically related to the child lived with and raised the child with the child’s mother, from infancy to the child’s grade-school years. The record shows the man nurtured, disciplined and financially supported the child. The man lived with the child and the child’s mother as a continuous and permanent family unit for a period of time far exceeding six months. He filed a suit affecting the parent-child relationship (SAPCR) within ninety days of separating from the *795child’s mother. The trial court found a sufficient factual basis to support the man’s claim that he had “actual care, control, and possession” of the child for at least six months ending not more than ninety days preceding the date of the filing of the petition. See Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 102.003(a)(9) (Vernon 2008). The record supports that finding, yet the majority holds that this man has no standing to file a SAPCR pursuant to Section 102.003(a)(9) of the Texas Family Code because there has been no showing that the mother of the child “relinquished” the actual care, control, and possession of the child, or in some other way “abdicated” her parental responsibilities.
Family units ideally have two partners who share child-rearing responsibilities. Nothing in the plain language of Section 102.003(a)(9) excludes a person who shares the role of a parent with the biological parent from having standing as a person with “actual care, control, and possession” of the child. See id. Nothing in the plain language of the statute necessitates the “relinquishment” or “abdication” by the biological parent of her parental rights, duties or responsibilities. There is no exclusivity requirement in the statute’s plain language. See id. There is, however, a rational basis for conferring standing on a person who shares actual care, control, and possession of a child with that child’s parent for a period in excess of six months. I do not believe a statute that merely confers standing on such a person is an unconstitutional infringement on the liberty interest of the parent who voluntarily shared care, control, and possession of the child for a period exceeding six months. Because I cannot agree with the majority’s interpretation of this statute, I respectfully dissent.