Opinion ID: 2176972
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Ethics Regulation 36-14-5008

Text: We choose not to reach the merits of the arguments concerning the constitutionality of Regulation 36-14-5008. The commission has informed us that since the initiation of this request for an advisory opinion, Regulation 36-14-5008 has been redrafted, hopefully in a manner that will make many of the challenges to the regulation moot. A public hearing on the redrafted regulation, as required before any rule-making power of the commission can be invoked, was scheduled for October 12, 1993. ( See § 36-14-9(b), as amended by P.L. 1992, ch. 436, § 1.) To render an advisory on an unapproved regulation would violate our requirements necessary for an advisory opinion and be a waste of judicial resources. This court will therefore defer its analysis of the regulation until the regulation has met the requirements of § 36-14-9(b), if an analysis is still necessary at that time. In summary the answers to the specific questions propounded by the Governor are as follows: Question One: Do the provisions of § 36-14-5, subsections (n) and ( o ), violate section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution or article 1, section 2, of the Rhode Island Constitution and/or seriously impinge upon the ability of the members of the executive, legislative, or judicial branches to perform their duties? We conclude that subsections (n) and ( o ) of § 36-14-5 do not violate the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, nor do they violate article 1, section 2, of the Rhode Island Constitution. Neither does the statute seriously impinge upon any branch of government. Question Two: Do the provisions of § 36-14-5(a) violate section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution or article 1, section 2, of the Rhode Island Constitution and/or seriously impinge upon the ability of the members of the executive, legislative, or judicial branches to perform their duties? We decline to express any opinion on the provisions of § 36-14-5(a) because of the pending litigation surrounding this statute. Question Three: Do Ethics Advisory No. 13 and Ethics Advisory Opinion No. 92-30 violate section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution or article 1, section 2, of the Rhode Island Constitution and/or seriously impinge upon the abilities of the members of the executive, legislative, or judicial branches to perform their duties? We decline to express any opinion on the ethics advisories as they are improperly before this court. Question Four: Do Ethics Commission Regulations XX-XX-XXXX, XX-XX-XXXX, and XX-XX-XXXX violate section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution or article 1, section 2, of the Rhode Island Constitution and/or seriously impinge upon the abilities of the members of the executive, legislative, or judicial branches to perform their duties? We conclude that Regulations XX-XX-XXXX and XX-XX-XXXX do not violate section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, nor do they violate article 1, section 2, of the Rhode Island Constitution. Neither do the Regulations seriously impinge upon any branch of government. We decline to express any opinion on Regulation 36-14-5008 because the regulation has been redrafted and has not yet fulfilled the applicable statutory requirements. [1] /s/ ________________________ Acting Chief Justice Joseph R. Weisberger /s/ ________________________ Associate Justice Florence K. Murray /s/ ________________________ Associate Justice Donald F. Shea /s/ _________________________ Associate Justice Victoria Lederberg Chief Justice FAY did not participate.