Opinion ID: 1177447
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: elections by governmental agencies to operate under the workmen's compensation law

Text: [Laws of 1935, Chapter 202, Section 1] Senate Bill No. 124 which takes effect from and after publication in the statute book, which will likely be by the forepart of June, provides: `That the state highway commission, each county, city, school district, sewer district, drainage district and other public or quasi-public corporation of the state of Kansas ... may elect to come within the provisions of this act by filing with the commission a written statement of election to accept thereunder, and such election shall be effective when so filed, and such election shall continue in effect unless and until such governmental agency or employer thereafter desiring to change such election shall do so by filing a written declaration thereof with the commission, and the employee of any such employer so filing such election shall be included herein unless such employee elects not to come within this act as provided by Section 51 of this act ...' Heretofore and under the present law a number of governmental agencies filed elections to operate under the compensation act which elections were canceled on a ruling of the Supreme Court that governmental agencies were not authorized by law to make such elections. It is the opinion of the commissioner that the new enactment will not revive the canceled elections now on file, and that any governmental agency desiring to operate under the workmen's compensation act will be obliged to file a new election. Form for such election will be furnished by the commissioner on request. There has been no subsequent election filed. The appellant contends that legislative enactment of 1935 (Laws of 1935, Chapter 202, Section 1) and subsequent enactments (now G.S. 1961 Supp., 44-505 and 44-505a) authorizing all governmental subdivisions to elect to come under the Workmen's Compensation Act, gave legality to the unlawful election attempted by Riley County in 1931. We cannot agree with the appellant's contention. Political subdivisions have only such powers as are expressly granted or necessarily incident to those granted. ( State, ex. rel., v. Rural High School District No. 7, 171 Kan. 437, 233 P.2d 727; Wichita Public Schools Employees Union v. Smith, 194 Kan. 2, 397 P.2d 357.) There was no legislative authority prior to the enactment of Laws of 1935, Chapter 202, Section 1, authorizing a political subdivision to elect to come under the provisions of the workmen's compensation act. There being no legislative authority, any attempt to make such election was void and of no effect. Subsequent legislation does not breathe life or validity into prior unauthorized acts except by specific curative provisions. This court's function is to interpret and not to rewrite a statute. ( Dougan, Administratrix v. McGrew, 187 Kan. 410, 357 P.2d 319.) Courts should not judicially legislate to broaden the plain letter of a statute. ( State v. One Bally Coney Island No. 21011 Gaming Table, 174 Kan. 757, 258 P.2d 225; State, ex rel., v. City of Kansas City, 181 Kan. 870, 317 P.2d 806.) The judgment of the trial court is affirmed and it is so ordered.