State Ex Rel. Health & Social Services Department v. Natural Father

598 P.2d 1182, 93 N.M. 222
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedJuly 24, 1979
Docket3789
StatusPublished
Cited by24 cases

This text of 598 P.2d 1182 (State Ex Rel. Health & Social Services Department v. Natural Father) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State Ex Rel. Health & Social Services Department v. Natural Father, 598 P.2d 1182, 93 N.M. 222 (N.M. Ct. App. 1979).

Opinion

OPINION

WOOD, Chief Judge.

The children’s court ruled that the three children were neglected; legal and physical custody of the children was awarded to the Department of Human Services. The parents appeal. There are (1) three constitutional issues, (2) one issue of statutory interpretation, and (3) two evidentiary issues. Constitutional Issues

(a) Title of the Children’s Code

The Children’s Code defines a “neglected child” and provides for disposition of the neglected child. Sections 32-l-3(L) and 32-l-34(A), N.M.S.A.1978. It is not claimed that transfer of legal and physical custody is unauthorized by the Code. Such a transfer removes the custody from the previous custodians, in this case, the natural parents.

The relationship of parent and child is of fundamental importance, opinion of Judge Hernandez in Huey v. Lente, 85 N.M. 585, 514 P.2d 1081 (App.1973), approved by the Supreme Court, 85 N.M. 597, 514 P.2d 1093 (1973). That relationship is affected by the change in custody. The parents contend that legislation authorizing an alteration in the parent-child relationship is unconstitutional unless the title to the authorizing legislation gives reasonable notice that the legislation affects parental rights.

The parents’ claim is based on N.M. Const., art. IV, § 16 which states that the “subject of every bill shall be clearly expressed in its title . . The title to the Children’s Code is: “AN ACT RELATING TO CHILDREN; ENACTING A CHILDREN’S CODE; AND AMENDING AND REPEALING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF NMSA 1953.”

The “subject” of the Code is children, and that subject is clearly expressed. Provisions within the Code authorizing a change in the custody of a neglected child is a detail provided for accomplishing the legislative purpose of protecting children. This detail need not be set forth in the title. There was no violation of N.M.Const., art. IV, § 16. City of Albuquerque v. Garcia, 84 N.M. 776, 508 P.2d 585, 71 A.L.R.3d 1 1 (1973); Davy v. McNeill et al., 31 N.M. 7, 240 P. 482 (1925). Compare Huey v. Lente, 85 N.M. 597, 514 P.2d 1081, supra.

(b) Vagueness

The definitions of neglected child pertinent in this appeal read:

L. “neglected child” or “abused child” means a child:
******
(2) who is without proper parental care and control or subsistence, education, medical or other care or control necessary for his well-being because of the faults or habits of his parents, guardian or custodian or their neglect or refusal, when able to do so, to provide them; or
(3) whose parents, guardian or custodian are unable to discharge their responsibilities to and for the child because of their incarceration, hospitalization or other physical or mental incapacity; or .

A statute may violate due process if it is so vague that persons of common intelligence must necessarily guess at its meaning. State v. Najera, 89 N.M. 522, 554 P.2d 983 (App.1976).

The parents contend that the words “other care or control” in subparagraph 2 and “mental incapacity” in subparagraph 3 are unconstitutionally vague. This claim goes to the words “as written.” See State v. Gurule, 90 N.M. 87, 559 P.2d 1214 (App.1977). We do not agree that the words are unconstitutionally vague.

In determining vagueness, we consider the words in the context in which they are used. State v. Najera, supra. The “other care or control,” according to the statute, is care and control other than subsistence, education and medical attention, but is care or control necessary for the child’s well-being. Similarly, “incapacity” includes either a physical or mental incapacity other than an incapacity resulting from incarceration or hospitalization. The statute gives notice that a child is neglected if the parents lack the mental capacity to provide the care or control necessary for the child’s well-being. There will be differences of opinion, as in this case, as to what is “necessary,” but such a difference of opinion does not make the statutory words unconstitutionally vague. The vagueness doctrine is based on notice. State v. Najera, supra. The statute gives fair warning of what amounts to neglect of a child.

Minor Children of F.B. v. Caruthers, 323 S.W.2d 397 (Mo.App.1959) held that “ ‘otherwise without proper care, custody or support’ ” was not unconstitutionally vague. Matter of D.T., 89 S.D. 590, 237 N.W.2d 166 (1975) held that the phrases “ ‘lacks proper parental care,’ ” and “ ‘whose environment is injurious to his welfare’ ” were not unconstitutionally vague. In re Neglected Child, 130 Vt. 525, 296 A.2d 250 (1972) held the phrase “ ‘is without proper parental care or control, or subsistence, education, medical or other care or control necessary for his well-being’ ” was not unconstitutionally vague. Note the similarity between this last phrase and our statutory language. Concerning mental incapacity, In re Williams, 297 So.2d 458 (La.App.1974) held that the phrase “ ‘incapable of caring for himself or his personal safety’ ” was not unconstitutionally vague. These decisions support our holding of no unconstitutional vagueness.

(c) Unconstitutional Delegation

The parents assert that the statutory definitions, quoted above, are an unconstitutional delegation of legislative power because of an absence of standards within the definitions by which “proper parental control” and “mental incapacity” can be determined. See State v. Jaramillo, 83 N.M. 800, 498 P.2d 687 (App.1972). This issue is not a vagueness argument based on the above-quoted words. The contention is that absent a legislative provision defining the quoted words, the Department of Human Services makes the law by its determination of the meaning of the quoted words. The answer is that the meaning and application of the statute is not left to the Department of Human Services. The meaning and application is determined by a court, there is no missing standard. State v. Gurule, supra.

Statutory Interpretation

The trial court concluded that each of the three children was a neglected child “by reason of the conduct and mental incapacity” of the parents. The conclusion as to “mental incapacity” is based on findings of mental retardation.

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Bluebook (online)
598 P.2d 1182, 93 N.M. 222, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-ex-rel-health-social-services-department-v-natural-father-nmctapp-1979.