Opinion ID: 2183254
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: appropriation of funds in 83-h 5952

Text: Section 4 of 83-H 5952 appropriated from the treasury a sum sufficient for the payment of any judgment which may be entered in favor of said Kevin Kennedy in his tort action against the state. As noted supra, article 6, section 11, of the Rhode Island Constitution requires the assent of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the general assembly in order to appropriate public money for local or private purposes. (Emphasis added.) Our examination of the Senate and House Journals has revealed that 83-H 5952 was passed on May 11, 1983, by a roll call vote of sixty-four to zero in the House, and on May 13, 1983, by a roll call vote of thirty-eight to zero in the Senate. Thus, the House vote fell short of the two-thirds required by article 6, section 11, for private appropriations. Hence, the amount appropriated under section 4 of the act must be stricken. The remaining provisions of 83-H 5952 are, however, valid and enforceable. City of Providence v. Moulton, 52 R.I. 236, 238, 160 A. 75, 76 (1932) (although the section of a statute appropriating money for a local purpose was stricken because it did not pass with the assent of two-thirds of the members elected, the remaining sections were valid and capable of being executed). In summary, we conclude that 83-H 5952 does not deny the equal protection of the laws as guaranteed by the State and the Federal Constitutions. However, the appropriation under section 4 of the act is invalid. Accordingly, we sustain the appeal, vacate the order for partial summary judgment, and remand the case to the Superior Court.