Opinion ID: 1191734
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Purpose of emergency exception to referendum power

Text: The threshold issue is whether the Stadium Act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety. Const. art. II, ง 1(b) (amend. VII). If so, the Secretary of State properly refused the referendum filing. If not, we must order the Secretary to follow the mandatory constitutional process. Usually emergency clauses are added to make enactments effective immediately to avoid the normal 90-day waiting period before an act otherwise takes effect. See State v. Hayes, 108 Wash.2d 344, 345-46, 738 P.2d 276 (1987); Const. art. II, ง 1(c) (amend. VII). However, this emergency clause appears to have been added solely to avoid a possible referendum, not to substantially speed the effective date of the legislation. Indeed, the State's brief argues that it is the risk of delay incidental to a submission of [the] measure to a popular vote that renders the Act emergent. Br. of Resp'ts State of Washington at 36.