Court Opinion

ID: 9633570
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 11:52:38.911696+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:08:37.510679
License: Public Domain

Hill, J.
(concurring specially) — While I have signed Judge Weaver’s concurring opinion, it seems to me that an analysis of the Initiative and Referendum Amendments (7, 26, 30, and 36) and our statutes should be made to indicate where changes or additions are necessary, at least so far as referendums are concerned.
When a referendum petition has been accepted by the Secretary of State within the 90 days after the legislature has adjourned,2 it seems clear that the operation of the measure to be referred must be suspended.
The period of the suspension is clear in only one of the numerous contingencies to which references are hereinafter made, i.e., if at the election the measure is approved by a majority of the votes cast thereon and if the total vote cast on such measure equals one-third of the total votes cast at such election, the measure goes into effect on and after the 30th day after said election. This is what the constitution says,3 and this court, in Wynand v. Depart*65ment of Labor & Industries (1944), 21 Wn. (2d) 805, 809, 153 P. (2d) 302, rejected the suggestion that on approval by the people it became effective as of date on which it would have been effective if there had been no referendum.
The contingencies which involve the period of suspension are listed herewith so that, if clarification is deemed necessary by further amendment or legislation, it can be done all at one time and not piecemeal.
A. The referendum petition may be found to lack sufficient valid signatures (presumably within the 60 days after filing allowed the Secretary of State for canvassing,4 and the additional time for reviews by the superior and supreme courts5).
*66Quaere: When does the measure become effective, there being no valid referendum?

B. The referendum petitions being stolen, lost or destroyed before the signatures are checked,

1. The Secretary of State certifies that there were sufficient valid signatures. This is the present case, and whether the measure ever becomes effective will be determined under C and D.
'2. The Secretary of State certifies that there were not sufficient signatures.
Quaere: What happens and when does the measure become effective?
3. The Secretary of State certifies that he cannot tell whether there were sufficient signatures.
Quaere: What happens; does the measure become effective, and when?
C. The referendum, having gone to a vote and the votes cast on such measure equaling one-third of the total votes cast at such election,
1. A majority approves the measure; it becomes effective on and after 30 days after the election.
2. A majority disapproves the measure; it never goes into effect.
D. The referendum having gone to a vote and the votes cast on such measure not equaling one-third of the total votes cast at such election,
1. A majority approves the measure.
Quaere: Does it become effective?
The language of the constitution would indicate that it does not become effective. We have, in such a situation, an act passed by the legislature and approved by a majority of those who voted on it and, yet, the result is the same as though a majority had voted against it under the C-2 situation. We can but wonder whether the proviso should be applicable to referendums.
2. A majority disapproves the measure. (Actually, there is no difference in result between D-l and D-2.)
Attempting to speak for no one but myself, it would seem that under our present constitutional provisions a referen*67dum petition having been filed by the Secretary of State, the operation of the measure sought to be referred remains suspended until either A, supra (it is determined that the petitions lack adequate voter signatures), or C-l, supra, a majority of the voters approve the measure. (The votes cast on the measure equaling one-third of the total votes cast at the election.)

“The time for submitting initiative or referendum petitions to the secretary of state for filing is as follows:
“(1) A referendum petition ordering and directing that the whole or some part or parts of an act passed by the legislature be referred to the people for their approval or rejection at the next ensuing general election or a special election ordered by the legislature, must be submitted not more than ninety days after the final adjournment of the session of the legislature which passed the act;” RCW 29.79.140(1) (Const. Art. 2, § 1 (amendment 7(d)))

“. . . Any measure initiated by the people or referred to the people as herein provided shall take effect and become the law if it *65is approved by a majority of the votes cast thereon: Provided, That the vote cast upon such question or measure shall equal one-third of the total votes cast at such election and not otherwise. Such measure shall be in operation on and after the thirtieth day after the election at which it is approved. . . .” (Const. Art. 2, § 1 (amendment 7(d)))

“‘Upon filing the volumes of a referendum petition or an initiative petition for submission of a measure to the people, the secretary of state shall canvass the names of the petition within sixty days after filing and like proceedings shall and may be had thereon as provided in RCW 29.79.200 and 29.79.210.” RCW 29.79.220

“Any citizen dissatisfied with the determination of the secretary of state that an initiative or referendum petition contains or does not contain the requisite number of signatures of registered voters may, within five days after such determination, apply to the superior court of Thurston county for a citation requiring the secretary of state to submit the petition to said court for examination, and for a writ of mandate compelling the certification of the measure and petition, or for an injunction to prevent the certification thereof to the legislature, as the case may be. Such application and all proceedings had thereunder shall take precedence over other cases and shall be speedily heard and determined.
“The decision of the superior court granting or refusing to grant the writ of mandate or injunction may be reviewed by the supreme court on a writ of certiorari sued out within five days after the decision of the superior court, and if the supreme court decides that a writ of mandate or injunction, as the case may be, should issue, it shall issue the writ directed to the secretary of state; otherwise, it shall dismiss the proceedings. The clerk of the supreme court shall forthwith notify the secretary of state of the decision of the supreme court.” RCW 29.79.210