Opinion ID: 1703923
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Re-Enact Publish Clause

Text: Finally, defendant contends that he was denied notice that his conduct was prohibited by the Legislature's failure to republish or re-enact MCL 333.7216; MSA 14.15(7216) after amendment by the Board of Pharmacy. Defendant relies on Const 1963, art 4, § 25 which provides: No law shall be revised, altered or amended by reference to its title only. The section or sections of the act altered or amended shall be re-enacted and published at length. This Court examined the plain meaning and purpose of article 4, § 25 at length in Advisory Opinion re Constitutionality of 1972 PA 294, 389 Mich 441; 208 NW2d 469 (1973). The Court concluded: The language of § 25 is quite clear. It says succinctly and straightforwardly that no law (meaning statutory enactment) shall be revised, altered or amended by reference to its title only.    There are only two sentences in § 25. Although the second word is `law', it is obvious from the reading of the entire section that `law' means act or section of an act. (Emphasis added.) Id., p 470. Clearly, the action of the Board of Pharmacy may not be labeled a statutory enactment; it is a statutorily authorized agency promulgated rule. As such, 1979 AC, R 338.3120 falls outside the ambit of art 4, § 25. Additionally, we note that the underlying problem which prompted the inclusion of art 4, § 25 in the constitution has been avoided with the rule's promulgation. Advisory Opinion explained the purpose of art 4, § 25: Section 25 is worded to prevent the revising, altering or amending of an act by merely referring to the title of the act and printing the amendatory language then under consideration. If such a revision, alteration or amendment were allowed, the public and the Legislature would not be given notice and would not be able to observe readily the extent and effect of such revision, alteration or amendment. 389 Mich 470. When published in the administrative code, pentazocine was not presented in isolation with a bare reference to the controlled substances act. Rather, the code supplement set forth the entire list of schedule 3 substances, with pentazocine included. Thus, notice of the extent and effect of such revision, alteration or amendment was presented clearly and intelligibly.