Cooper v. Department of Institutions

388 P.2d 925, 63 Wash. 2d 722, 1964 Wash. LEXIS 535

• Court: Washington Supreme Court
• Decided: January 30, 1964
• Docket: 36795
• Status: Published

Opinion

Per Curiam.

Plaintiffs, as residents of the Washington Veterans’ Home at Retsil, brought this action for a declaratory judgment against the Department of Institutions and the Superintendent of the home, seeking to have a part of Laws of 1961, Ex. Ses., chapter 26, p. 2685, declared unconstitutional and void. From a judgment granting the relief sought, the Director and Superintendent appeal.

Plaintiffs had been admitted to and continued in residence at the home pursuant to RCW 72.36.040, which states that no person may be admitted as a resident of the home unless he is indigent and unable to support himself and his family. It authorizes the Director of Institutions to adopt rules and regulations governing admissions. Pursuant to this power, a regulation had been adopted providing that no one could be admitted whose income exceeded $140 per month.

The 37th Legislature, in adopting a general budget for the biennium and making appropriations for the support of state government, not only appropriated $2,000,000 for the operation of the home, but, in the same measure, adopted a proviso fixing $900 per year ($75 per month) as the maximum permissible income for one seeking admission to the home. The proviso reads:

“Provided, That no part of this appropriation shall be used for the care and maintenance of members in the home having a yearly pension income of over $900 or with assets of over $900 unless all income and assets in excess of these amounts are paid into the general fund: Provided further, That the director of the Department of Institutions may waive the foregoing proviso, for all, or such portion of income over $900, as may be necessary to provide such medical care as is not furnished by the Department for such member.” Laws of 1961, Ex. Ses., chapter 26, p. 2685, 2693.

The trial court concluded that the proviso purported to amend RCW 72.36.080 (Laws of 1959, chapter 28, p. 226) by changing the eligibility requirements for admission to the home. Accordingly, it held the proviso to be unconstitutional and void under Article 2, § 37, of the constitution of Washington, which declares:

“No act shall ever be revised or amended by mere reference to its title, but the act revised or the section amended shall be set forth at full length.”

The court likewise declared unconstitutional and void a regulation adopted which prescribed $75 per month as the maximum income for respondents.

The appropriation act containing the proviso expired by its express terms on June 30, 1963. Unless the provision has been carried forward by subsequent re-enactment, the proviso too has expired, and the question becomes moot. Re-enactment of the identical proviso was attempted in the 1963 budget and appropriation act, Laws of 1963, Ex. Ses., chapter 21, p. 1677, 1686 (pamphlet edi tion), but was vetoed by the Governor. Thus, the proviso has been nonexistent since June 30, 1963, and the questions raised by this appeal are now moot.

We have said many times that we will not consider on appeal questions which have become moot. Hansen v. West Coast Wholesale Drug Co., 47 Wn. (2d) 825, 289 P. (2d) 718; State v. International Typographical Union, 57 Wn. (2d) 151, 356 P. (2d) 6; State ex rel. Jones v. Byers, 24 Wn. (2d) 730, 167 P. (2d) 464.

Nor will we render advisory opinions. In addition to the many good reasons arrayed against them, we point to the current heavy volume of appellate business which makes advisory opinions inadvisable. The appeal is, therefore, dismissed.

It is so ordered.