In re Amendments to Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure

Summary

The Supreme Court of Florida adopted amendments to the Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure in response to statutory changes concerning young adults in foster care and judicial review of dependent children. The opinion adopts new rules and forms, amends existing rules and forms, deletes certain forms, and makes the amendments effective immediately upon release. The court allowed interested persons sixty days to submit comments.

Holdings

1. The Supreme Court of Florida had jurisdiction to consider and adopt the proposed amendments to the Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure.
2. The court adopted amendments to Florida Rule of Juvenile Procedure 8.415 and form 8.973, deleted forms 8.971 and 8.972, and adopted new rules 8.401 and 8.435 and related forms.
3. The amendments took effect immediately upon release of the opinion, while interested persons were allowed sixty days from the opinion date to file comments.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the Supreme Court of Florida had jurisdiction to amend the Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure in an out-of-cycle rulemaking proceeding.
2. Whether the proposed amendments to the Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure and related forms should be adopted to conform the rules to recent statutory changes.
3. Whether the amendments should take effect immediately and be subject to a post-adoption period for public comments.

Disposition

approved