Opinion ID: 2635368
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: interpretation of k.s.a. 55-1210

Text: Northern does not seriously dispute the general proposition that a statute operates prospectively unless its language clearly indicates the legislature intended it to operate retrospectively. See Owen Lumber Co. v. Chartrand, 276 Kan. 218, 220, 73 P.3d 753 (2003). Instead, it asks us to parse the statute to find clear intent from the use of the present perfect tense. To the contrary, as Martin Pringle points out, the legislature is well aware of the presumption against retroactive application of a statute and has on many occasions demonstrated an ability to clearly and unequivocally state its retroactive intention without relying solely on verb tense. See State v. Sutherland, 248 Kan. 96, 106, 804 P.2d 970 (1991). Additionally, substantive laws affect vested rights, and as such they are not subject to retrospective legislation which would constitute the taking of property without due process. Owen Lumber Co., 276 Kan. at 221-22, 73 P.3d 753. As discussed above, prior to July 1, 1993, the landowners adjoining Northern's underground gas storage area possessed the legal right to produce and keep the injected gas which had migrated onto their property, unless and until Northern obtained a certificate to expand its storage area onto their land and paid them for that privilege through a condemnation action. K.S.A. 55-1210 abolished that right, as well as permitting migrating gas to trespass upon adjoining land. Such a substantive change to vested rights cannot apply retroactively. Accordingly, we answer the certified question, yes. An injector of natural gas into underground storage, who demonstrates such gas was originally injected into underground storage but migrated to adjoining property or to a stratum or portion thereof which has not been condemned as allowed by law or otherwise purchased, loses title to or possession of the migrated gas when the gas migrated before July 1, 1993, the effective date of the controlling statute, K.S.A. 55-1210, and was not captured or reduced to possession by another prior to July 1, 1993.