In re Amendments to the Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure

Summary

The Florida Supreme Court adopts amendments to the Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure and related forms to conform them to recent statutory amendments. The changes address judicial waiver proceedings for parental notification of a minor’s termination of pregnancy, including burdens of proof, time limits, remand procedures, and required findings. The amendments became effective immediately, subject to a sixty-day period for filing comments.

Holdings

1. The Supreme Court of Florida adopted the proposed amendments to rules 8.820, 8.825, and 8.840 and the specified juvenile procedure forms, effective immediately upon release of the opinion.
2. Form 8.990 must state that the court considered the statutory factors in deciding that the minor is sufficiently mature to decide whether to terminate her pregnancy, rather than in deciding that parental notification is not in the minor's best interest.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the Supreme Court of Florida should adopt the proposed out-of-cycle amendments to the Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure and related forms to conform them to recent legislation.
2. Whether form 8.990 should be modified so that its required findings concern the minor's maturity under section 390.01114(4)(c), rather than the minor's best interests under section 390.01114(4)(d).

Disposition

approved