Opinion ID: 1777592
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the attorney general's contentions

Text: In support of the State's argument, five rules of statutory construction are stated: (1) Permissive words in a statute may be construed as being mandatory in those case where the public interest and rights are concerned and where the public or third persons have a claim de jure. Ex parte Simonton, 9 Port. 390 (1839). (2) A statute must be considered as a whole and every word in it made effective if possible. State By and Through State Board for Registration of Architects v. Jones, 289 Ala. 353, 267 So.2d 427 (1972). (3) Where a legislative provision is accompanied by a penalty for failure to comply with it the provision is mandatory. Rodgers v. Meredith, 274 Ala. 179, 146 So.2d 308 (1962). (4) Where two sections or provisions of an act are conflicting the last in order of arrangement controls. State v. Crenshaw, 287 Ala. 139, 249 So.2d 622 (1971). (5) The purpose of statutory construction is to ascertain, not only from the language used by the legislature, but also from the reason and necessity for the act, the evil sought to be remedied, and the object and purpose sought to be obtained. Rinehart v. Reliance Insurance Company, 273 Ala. 535, 142 So.2d 254 (1962). The Attorney General also contends that the mandatory effect of § 347(a) becomes even more apparent when that section is read in conjunction with § 349 which provides: The accomplishment of solid waste management practices, within the meaning of this act, shall be within a period of not more than two years following the signing of this act into law, or such lesser time as may be determined to be in the public interest by the health department. Where the affected governing bodies can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the health department that compliance to the two-year limitations is economically infeasible, the controlling agency may petition for a yearly extension, but this shall not preclude the possibility of nuisance or public hazard suits brought on by individuals or other entities. (Emphasis added.) The obvious effect of § 349, says the Attorney General, is to impose a deadline by which time county governing bodies must provide a comprehensive solid waste collection and disposal program throughout the county. Unless § 347(a) is mandatory, the imposition of a deadline in § 349 makes no sense and is useless verbiage. This was, in essence, the rationale of the Attorney General's opinion holding the statute mandatory (Opinion to Dr. Ira L. Myers, State Health Officer, dated May 3, 1971).