Opinion ID: 2612398
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Elasticity of Classification

Text: A statute is special or local if it is worded such that its scope is limited to a particular case and it looks to no broader application in the future. [4] Arizona Downs, 130 Ariz. at 558, 637 P.2d at 1061; see also Barbee v. Holbrook, 91 Ariz. 263, 265, 371 P.2d 886, 888 (1962); Luhrs v. City of Phoenix, 52 Ariz. 438, 451, 83 P.2d 283, 289 (1938). To be general, the classification must be elastic, or open, not only to admit entry of additional persons, places, or things attaining the requisite characteristics, but also to enable others to exit the statute's coverage when they no longer have those characteristics. Sutherland's, § 40.09, at 233; see also Barbee, 91 Ariz. 263, 371 P.2d 886; Luhrs, 52 Ariz. at 451, 83 P.2d at 289; City of Prescott v. O'Sullivan, 46 Ariz. 551, 555, 53 P.2d 69 (1935). As Division One noted, this court forecast the requirement for a general law almost a century ago: A classification of cities may be made, based upon population; ... And this even though but one city in the state or territory comes within the provisions of the statute at the time of its enactment. But the statute must be elastic, so that other cities may, as they attain the requisite conditions, come within the operation of the statute. We think the rule may safely be stated to be that the classification of municipalities, and the incidental imposition of different obligations and granting of different powers to them according to such classification, must be such that other municipalities may, upon the attainment of the conditions characterizing any particular class, enter that class, and the conditions themselves must be not only possible, but reasonably probable, of attainment. Petitioners for Deannexation, 160 Ariz. at 471, 773 P.2d at 1030 (quoting Bravin v. Mayor and Common Council, 4 Ariz. 83, 89-90, 33 P. 589 (1893)) (emphasis added). A statute worded so as to admit entry and exit from the class implies that the class formation was separate from consideration of particular persons, places, or things and, thus, not intended as special or local in operation. J. Winters, supra, at 93. Although the number in the class is not determinative, as that number decreases in size, courts are more likely to find the classification invalid. Id. A classification limited to a population as of a particular census or date is a typical form of defective closed class; such an act is a form of identification, not of classification, because it is impossible for entities to enter or exit the class with changes in population. Id.; Sutherland's, § 40.09, at 233. To decide whether a statute legitimately classifies, we will consider the actual probability that others will come under the act's operation when the population changes. Where the prospect is only theoretical, and not probable, we will find the act special or local in nature. Bravin, 4 Ariz. at 90, 33 P. 589; Sutherland's § 40.09, at 432-33.