Martin v. Department of Corrections

384 N.W.2d 392, 424 Mich. 553

• Court: Michigan Supreme Court
• Decided: March 28, 1986
• Docket: 75939, (Calendar No. 14)
• Status: Published

Opinions

Williams, C.J.

The issue in this case arises from the challenge of a prison inmate to the disciplinary directives of the Department of Corrections as not being properly promulgated as rules pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act, MCL 24.201 et seq.; MSA 3.560(101) et seq. The department defended its disciplinary provisions as being subject to an exception to the rulemaking requirements of the apa for

[a]n intergovernmental, interagency or intraagency memorandum, directive or communication which does not affect the rights of, or procedures and practices available to, the public. [MCL 24.207(g); MSA 3.560(107)(g).]

The narrow question we decide today is whether, in granting summary judgment, the trial court correctly held that inmates are not members of the "public” for purposes of the apa, and the department thus acted with proper authority; or whether the Court of Appeals was correct in holding that prison inmates are members of the "public” under the apa and the department therefore did not come under the quoted exception to the apa procedural requirements. We affirm the decision of the Court of Appeals.

I. Facts

Plaintiff, Morris Martin, an inmate of the State Prison of Southern Michigan in Jackson, brought an action in Ingham Circuit Court, seeking a declaratory judgment to determine the validity and applicability of an agency rule and to review an adverse and final decision by the Department of Corrections. MCL 24.264, 24.301; MSA 3.560(164), 3.560(201).¹ The trial court granted defendant’s motion for summary judgment, holding that prison misconduct regulations need not be promulgated as rules under the apa because prisoners are not members of the "general public” and hence within the quoted exception to apa requirements. The Court of Appeals reversed, finding that this Court’s decision in Green v Dep’t of Corrections, 386 Mich 459; 192 NW2d 491 (1971), led to a conclusion that prisoners are members of the public for purposes of the apa.²

II. Corrections Is an Agency Covered by Apa

Section 113 of the apa states that it applies to "all agencies and agency proceedings not expressly exempted.” MCL 24.313; MSA 3.560(213). The Department of Corrections is not expressly exempted from the apa. We therefore agree with the Court of Appeals holding in Human Rights Party v Corrections Comm, 76 Mich App 204, 208; 256 NW2d 439 (1977), lv den 402 Mich 906 (1978), that the corrections department is an "agency” for purposes of the apa. Furthermore, prison disciplinary proceedings have not been expressly exempted from the act’s rulemaking provisions.

III. Apa Rule Requirements and the "Nonpublic” Exception

The apa requires administrative agencies to follow certain specified procedures for promulgating rules, including the requirements of notice and hearing. MCL 24.241; MSA 3.560(141). The apa defines a rule as follows:

"Rule” means an agency regulation, statement, standard, policy, ruling or instruction of general applicability, which implements or applies law enforced or administered by the agency, or which prescribes the organization, procedure or practice of the agency, including the amendment, suspension or rescission thereof, but does not include the following:

* * *

(g) An intergovernmental, interagency or intraagency memorandum, directive or communication which does not affect the rights of, or procedures and practices available to, the public. [MCL 24.207(g); MSA 3.560(107)(g).]

Defendant Department of Corrections contends that rules which affect only inmates are subject to the above exception and thus exempt from the rulemaking requirements of the act because inmates are not members of the "public.”³_

IV. The Green Tort Decision

In Green v Dep’t of Corrections, supra, 464, this Court expressly adopted the language of the Court of Appeals which stated:

[P]laintiff is a member of the public community whether in or out of jail. The difference being that when incarcerated, he is prevented, by law, from exercising the rights and privileges he enjoyed as a free member of society. [30 Mich App 648, 654; 186 NW2d 792 (1971).]

The issue in Green was whether an inmate injured in the Detroit House of Corrections could recover damages pursuant to the "public building” exception to governmental immunity.⁴ The Court of Appeals was of the opinion that the above language compels a similar finding in this case. We do not agree. A finding that an inmate is a member of the public for purposes of tort liability does not necessarily lead to a conclusion that the word "public” as used in the apa includes prisoners.⁵ See Fletcher v Employment Security Comm, 355 Mich 278, 282; 94 NW2d 78 (1959). To make this determination, we must attempt to ascertain legislative intent. Aikens v Dep’t of Conservation, 387 Mich 495, 499; 198 NW2d 304 (1972).

V. Legislation Requiring Corrections to Promulgate Apa Rules

The Legislature has enacted a number of statutes directing the Department of Corrections to promulgate rules pursuant to the apa, indicating an intent that the department generally at least is subject to apa requirements. Several of these statutes deal directly with inmate rights.

MCL 791.262(3); MSA 28.2322(3) directs the department to promulgate rules under the apa to promote the "proper, efficient and humane” administration of jails and lockups under the jurisdiction of the county sheriff.

MCL 791.265c(10); MSA 28.2325(3)(10) directs the department to promulgate rules under the apa to establish criteria to determine prisoner eligibility for participation in programs of paid employment in the community.

MCL 791.254(4); MSA 28.2320(54X4) directs the department to promulgate rules under the apa to implement the procedures in rehearings involving prisoner misconduct hearings.

MCL 791.206(l)(d); MSA 28.2276(l)(d) requires the director of the department to promulgate rules under the apa "[f]or the management and control of state penal institutions . . . .”

A number of these directives apply to rules which would affect only prisoners. Additionally, the directive of MCL 791.206(l)(d); MSA 28.2276(l)(d) to promulgate rules for the management and control of state penal institutions would appear to include, by definition, rules governing the discipline of inmates. We believe the import of these statutes mandating rulemaking is that the Legislature regards a regulation which affects only inmates as being within the definition of a "rule” as defined by the apa.

VI. Pertinent Legislative Action and Inaction Regarding Inmates

The Legislature’s intention to include inmates within the purview of the apa rules is suggested in two other ways. In one instance, the Legislature immediately enacted a specific apa exception when the Court of Appeals held that a prison disciplinary proceeding is a contested case under the apa. In another, when the Model State apa was revised to include a specific exemption from apa procedures for rules affecting prisoners, the Legislature did not similarly amend the Michigan apa.

In Lawrence v Dep’t of Corrections, 88 Mich App 167; 276 NW2d 554 (1979), the Court of Appeals held that a prison disciplinary proceeding is a "contested case” within the meaning of the apa. The same year, the Legislature enacted 1979 PA 139, which amended the apa and expressly exempted prison disciplinary hearings from the contested case provisions of the act. MCL 24.315; MSA 3.560(215).

In many respects, the Michigan Administrative Procedures Act closely parallels the Model State Administrative Procedures Act drafted by the National Conference of Commissioners of Uniform State Laws. 14 ULA 1-101 et seq. The Model Act was redrafted in 1981, however, and now contains a section specifically exempting certain types of rules from formal promulgation requirements. In addition to exempting

a rule concerning only the internal management of an agency which does not directly and substantially affect the procedural or substantive rights or duties of any segment of the public [§ 3-116(1),]

the Model Act exempts

a rule concerning only inmates of a correctional or detention facility, students enrolled in an educational institution, or patients admitted to a hospital, if adopted by that facility, institution, or hospital [§ 3-116(6).]

We need not decide whether a provision similar to the Model Act if it were incorporated in the Michigan act, would serve to exempt the rules at issue here from the promulgation provisions of the Michigan apa. We only note that the drafters of the Model Act found it necessary to enact a specific exemption for inmates in spite of the provision exempting rules which do not affect the "public.” Our Legislature has not chosen to adopt a similar provision.

In view of the apa’s requirement of an express exemption, the example of the Model State Administrative Procedures Act in expressly exempting inmates and the lawmakers’ timely action exempting the department from the apa’s contested-case requirements in prison misconduct cases, we are persuaded that, had the Legislature intended to exempt the department from the duty to promulgate rules pursuant to the apa covering prison discipline, it would have enacted a provision similar to the express exemption in the Model Act.

VII. Public Interest and Input

The department contends that the purpose of a promulgation requirement is to provide for public input in the rulemaking process. Since the department argues that rules of prison discipline affect only that restricted population, it believes that comment by the general public would be of little benefit. This belief seems to overlook the obvious public concern of humanitarian and civil rights groups. Furthermore, it completely overlooks the concern of the Legislature. In Spruytte v Walters, 753 F2d 498 (CA 6, 1985), the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit held that a Michigan Department of Corrections policy directive which limited inmates to receiving only books sent by publishers was invalid because it conflicted with a rule promulgated pursuant to the apa which allowed inmates to receive any book which did not present a threat to the order or security of the institution.⁶ The court stated:

Agency compliance with the provisions of the apa is particularly important because all proposed rules are subject to the approval of the Michigan legislature. A proposed rule must be submitted to a legislative joint committee on administrative rules. See MCL 24.245(2) [MSA 3.560(145)(2)]. If the joint committee disapproves the proposed rule or is at an impasse after two months of consideration, the agency may not adopt the rule unless it is subsequently approved by a concurrent resolution of the legislature or by further action of the joint committee. See MCL 24.245(6) [MSA 3.560(145)(6)]. Thus, the question whether the Policy Directive may be adopted without compliance with the apa is more than a mere question of notice and hearing requirements; it is a question of the allocation of decisionmaking authority. [Id., 503.]

VIII. Rule Flexibility

Finally, the Department of Corrections argues that the management of prison discipline requires flexibility in response to changing circumstances and the inventiveness of inmates. Requiring every disciplinary rule change to go through a lengthy rulemaking process would, according to this view, endanger prison security. We are not unsympathetic to the necessity for flexibility, but we observe that the apa provides for emergency rules which may be made effective without prior notice and hearing procedures and may remain in effect for up to one year. MCL 24.248; MSA 3.560(148).

IX. Conclusion

For all of the above reasons, we are compelled to conclude that the Legislature, in enacting the apa, did not intend to include disciplinary provisions adopted by the Department of Corrections as "an intergovernmental, interagency or intra-agency directive or communication which does not affect the rights of, or procedures and practices available to, the public” and consequently excluded from apa requirements. Therefore, while we do not adopt the rationale of the Court of Appeals, we affirm their decision that the disciplinary directives of the Department of Corrections were not properly promulgated as rules pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act.

Levin, Brickley, and Riley, JJ., concurred with Williams, C.J.

1 Although plaintiff’s complaint did not refer to any specific misconduct, the Court of Appeals stated that Martin was apparently disciplined for "substance abuse.” Martin v Dep’t of Corrections, 140 Mich App 323, 325; 364 NW2d 322 (1985). Plaintiff’s counsel at oral argument stated that plaintiff was disciplined for possession of one marijuana "joint.”

2 In Kirkeby v Dep’t of Corrections, 141 Mich App 148; 366 NW2d 28 (1985), another panel of the Court of Appeals reached the opposite conclusion. Pursuant to Administrative Order No. 1984-2, the Kirkeby panel certified that its decision conflicted with the decision in Martin. This Court granted leave to appeal in both cases, 422 Mich 879, 880 (1985). Plaintiff in Kirkeby has not filed an appellate brief.

3 In spite of its present contention that the apa does not require the promulgation of rules governing inmate misconduct, the department has in fact promulgated, pursuant to the apa, a number of rules relating to resident misconduct. 1979 AC, R 791.5501 ei seq. In one of these rules, "major misconduct” is defined as follows:

"(a) Escape or attempt to escape.

"(b) Behavior that constitutes a felony under state or federal law. "(c) Serious insubordination as defined in resident guide book.

"(d) Assault or threat of violence.

"(e) Repeated rule violations as defined in resident guide book.

"(f) A violation of rules that clearly jeopardizes facility security or safety as defined in resident guide book.” 1979 AC, R 791.5501(2).

Although "substance abuse” is not specifically listed as major misconduct, the department’s Resident Guidebook (referred to in sections [c], [e] and [f]) defines "substance abuse” as a "major rule violation.” Plaintiff charges that the Resident Guidebook cannot be adopted by reference in the rules because of the following apa provision:

"An agency may adopt, by reference in its rules and without publishing the adopted matter in full, all or any part of a code, standard or regulation which has been adopted by an agency of the United States or by a nationally recognized organization or association. The reference shall fully identify the adopted matter by date and otherwise. The reference shall not cover any later amendments and editions of the adopted matter, but if the agency wishes to incorporate them in its rule it shall amend the rule or promulgate a new rule therefor. The agency shall have available copies of the adopted matter for inspection and distribution to the public at cost and the rules shall state where copies of the adopted matter are available from the agency and the agency of the United States or the national organization or association and the cost thereof as of the time the rule is adopted.” MCL 24.232(4); MSA 3.560(132)(4).

The department has also issued a policy directive, designated PD-DWA 60.01, which outlines disciplinary procedures and was promulgated as a guideline under the apa. The apa defines a guideline as:

"[A]n agency statement or declaration of policy which the agency intends to follow, which does not have the force or effect of law, and which binds the agency but does not bind any other person.” MCL 24.203(6); MSA 3.560(103)(6).

PD-DWA 60.01 lists "substance abuse” as a major rule violation. Plaintiff charges that PD-DWA 60.01 cannot be employed in disciplining inmates because it has not been promulgated as a rule. The apa prohibits the adoption of a guideline in lieu of a rule. MCL 24.226; MSA 3.560(126).

Rather than defending the validity of its rules, the department chose to argue that promulgation of rules was unnecessary since plaintiff was not a member of the public. At oral argument, defendant’s attorney stated that promulgation of PD-DWA 60.01 as a guideline under the apa was "gratuitous.”

4 MCL 691.1406; MSA 3.996(106).

5 In Prisoners’ Labor Union v Dep’t of Corrections, 61 Mich App 328; 232 NW2d 699 (1975), lv den 394 Mich 843 (1975), the Court of Appeals held that inmates are not "public employees” within the meaning of the public employment relations act, MCL 423.201 et seq.; MSA 17.455(1) et seq. The Court based its conclusion on a finding that the relationship between the inmates and the Department of Corrections is not primarily an employment relationship. The Court expressed no opinion regarding whether prisoners are members of the public.

6 The Spruytte court did not reach the precise question we consider here. Faced with a claim that inmates are not members of the public, and that the challenged directive therefore was exempt from the promulgation requirement, the court noted that the right of noninmates to mail materials into the prison was also affected, citing a similar holding in Schinzel v Dep’t of Corrections, 124 Mich App 217; 333 NW2d 519 (1983). The court further noted:

"A section 1983 claim adjudicated in federal court may be the only means of conclusively determining the correct interpretation of the Administrative Rule and the Policy Directive. The course of the litigation in the Marquette Circuit Court indicates that the Department of Corrections may be committed to a policy of preventing state appellate court adjudication of the controversy. The Department’s strategy apparently has been to enforce its Policy Directive despite court orders from the Marquette Circuit Court. Thus, a prisoner must litigate every time he wants to receive a book from a source other than a publisher.

"The Marquette Circuit Court’s contempt citations have been directed at the Department of Corrections rather than individual officers. The court has been reluctant to cite the individual officers because they are operating under the Department’s Policy Directive. Of course, the court cannot incarcerate the Department of Corrections and a fine is ineffective because the result would be mere transfer of funds from one state agency to another. Because the Marquette Circuit Court is without an effective remedy, the Department of Corrections has chosen to ignore the circuit court orders. To insulate its actions from review by the state’s appellate courts, the Department refuses to appeal the circuit court’s contempt citations, despite the pleas of the circuit judge: 'I strongly suggest to the Department that they either appeal this present order, in order that the relationship between the Policy Directive and the Administrative Rule can be clarified, or initiate procedures under the Administrative Procedure Act to have an amendment to the Administrative Code rule. ... If such an amendment is not that vital [to the order or security of the prison], the defendant Department should honor this and the prior orders of this court. . . .’ Mithrandir v Michigan Dep’t of Corrections, No. 11531, slip op at 3 (Marquette Cir Ct Feb 11, 1983).” Spruytte, supra, 502-503.