Opinion ID: 1905888
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: chapter 26-40.1 as a whole unconstitutional

Text: Having concluded that several parts of Chapter 26-40.1 are unconstitutional, we are now faced with the necessity of deciding whether the entire Act is unconstitutional or whether the remaining parts of the statute are valid. We have consistently held that the declaration of part of a law as unconstitutional does not require the courts to declare the remainder void also, unless all provisions are so connected and dependent upon each other that it cannot be presumed that the Legislature would have enacted the valid sections without the unconstitutional sections. Section 1-02-20, N.D. C.C., provides that a judgment declaring the invalidity of part of a statute does not invalidate other parts of the statute. We have examined Chapter 26-40.1 as it would stand after striking from it those sections declared unconstitutional in this opinion, and we have concluded that the Legislature would not have enacted the Act without those provisions declared unconstitutional, and in particular without Section 26-40.1-11, and we therefore declare the entire Chapter 26-40.1 unconstitutional. See Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. v. Johanneson, 153 N.W.2d 414 (N.D.1967). Judgment affirmed. SAND, Acting C. J., and PAULSON, J., and BURDICK and HEEN, District Judges, concur. BURDICK and HEEN, District Judges, sitting for ERICKSTAD, C. J., and PEDERSON, J., disqualified.