State v. Welkner

253 So. 2d 192, 259 La. 815

• Court: Supreme Court of Louisiana
• Decided: October 6, 1971
• Docket: 51715
• Status: Published

Opinions

TATE, Justice.

The state appeals from a trial court judgment which sustained a motion to quash. The defendants were prosecuted under La. R.S. 40 :971, as amended by Act 457 of 1970. The trial court held this 1970 statute unconstitutional insofar as it purported to apply to the control and use of barbiturate, amphetamine, and hallucinogenic drugs.

The trial court concluded the act was unconstitutional in this regard because its title was not sufficiently indicative, of its object — because the provisions regulating amphetamines, barbiturates, and halllucinogens exceeded the limitations of the title of this enactment. • • . '

The principal issue of this appeal is whether the trial court’s holding in this regard is correct.

In so holding, the court relied on Art. 3, Section 16, .Lpuisiana Constitution of 1921. This pertinently provides that “Every statute enacted by the Legislature shall embrace but one object and shall have a title indicative of its object." ¹

The purpose of this constitutional requirement is to give the legislature and the public fair notice of the scope of the legislation. The requirement is designed to defeat deceitful practices of misleading the legislature into the passage of provisions not indicated by the title of the bill.

See: A. & M. Pest Control Service, Inc. v. LaBurre, 247 La. 315, 170 So.2d 855 (1965) ; Airey v. Tugwell, 197 La. 982, 3 So.2d 99 (1941) ; Comments, 8 La.L.Rev. 113 (1947) and 6 La.L.Rev. 72 (1944) ; 1 Sutherland, Statutory Construction, Section 1702 (3d ed., 1943).

I.

The 1970 Act amended and re-enacted Sub-Part A of Part X (“Narcotics”) of Chapter 4 (“Food and Drugs”) of Title 40 (“Public Health and Safety”) of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950. Part X represents a consolidation of statutory law relating to the control of certain regulated drugs.

The holding of the trial court (that the body of the 1970 act exceeds the limitations of its title) can best be understood in the context of the drug control regulations provided by Part X before the 1970 revision.

Before 1970, Part X was composed of five sub-parts, as follows:

Sub-Part A, the “Uniform Narcotics Drug Law”, mainly regulated the “hard” drugs (opium, including morphine, codeine, and heroin; and cocaine, etc.) and marijuana;

Sub-Part B regulated the seizure and forfeiture of vessels, vehicles, and aircraft involved in the illegal use of drugs under Part X;

Sub-Part C regulated the use of benzedrine within penal facilities;

Sub-Part D regulated barbiturates, central nervous stimulants (amphetamines, etc.), and hallucinogens;

Sub-Part B created the Louisiana Narcotic and Rehabilitation Commission.

According to the title of Act 457 of 1970, the legislature amended Sub-Part A (only) of Part X. Prior to the 1970 amendment, Sub-Part A had regulated only hard drugs and marijuana.² The title of Act 457 sets forth that it was “To amend and re-enact Sub-Part A of Part X of Chapter 4 of Title 40 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, designated as the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law, providing definition of narcotic³ drugs * * * ”.⁴

The substance of the contention that the title of the Act limited its body is essentially this: The former Sub-Part A regulated hard drugs and marijuana only. Sub-Part A expressly did not apply to amphetamines, barbiturates, and hallucinogens; these were regulated only by Sub-Part D.

Therefore, the new statute — entitled as amending Sub-Part A only — exceeds the scope of its title, insofar as attempting to regulate amphetamines, barbiturates, and hallucinogens in addition to the hard drugs and marijuana covered by the prior Sub-Part A, the only section of Part X now amended and re-enacted.

This contention is well founded. As we recently stated in A. & M. Pest Control Service, Inc. v. LaBurre, 247 La. 315, 170 So.2d 855 (1965): “* * -* when an act seeks to amend certain sections of a general law by simple reference to the section to be amended, the amendment must be limited in its scope to the subject matter of the sections proposed to be amended.”

This principle is in accord with the general American rule on statutory construction. As stated at Sutherland on Statutory Construction, Section 1908, pp. 347-48 (3d ed. 1943) : “If the title specifies the section or sections to be amended in an act or in a code or revision, no other section can be amended * * * Under any other rule the title might refer to an inconsequential section of the prior law, yet the amendment might alter the entire act without warning.” See also State v. American Sugar Refining Co., 106 La. 553, 31 So. 181 (1901).

Here, for instance, a purpose of Act 457 of 1970 was to reduce the penalties for the first conviction for the possession of marijuana from' those for a felony (which include imprisonment in the State penitentiary) 'to 'those for a misdemeanor (which involves imprisonment in the parish jail instead).⁵ A legislator, knowing that former Sub-Part A regulated marijuana, could be alerted that the new act might involve a change • in penalties for the possession of this drug.

However, the new act provides for felony imprisonment for possession of amphetamines and barbiturates, whereas Sub-Part D provides only for misdemeanor punishment upon the first conviction.⁶ A legislator, _ noting that the title of Act 457 referred only to amendment and reenactment of Sub-Part A (hard drugs and marijuana in the pre-1970 version), might not be alerted that the act also contemplated heavier penalties for amphetamines and barbiturates, drugs regulated pre-1970 not by Sub-Part A, but only by Sub-Part D.

We do not mean to state that the amending statute must be limited solely to changes of the specific provisions of the statutory section indicated as amended by the new act’s title. New matter may be enacted by the amendatory legislation, “provided the amendment is germane to the subject of .the original act, and is embraced within the title of such' amended act”.. Southern Hide Co. v. Best, 176 La.'347, 145' So/ 682, 683-684 (1933). •• .....

Here, for instance, the title of the act. indicated both that Sub-Part ■ ' A was. amended and reenacted and that a definition of “narcotic drugs” was to be provided,! as well as regulation of the manufacture,! use, etc, thereof. See Footnote 4 'abovéi However, the definition of “narcotic drugs”' in the- body of the act did not include amphetamines, barbiturates, and hallucino-' gens;. if, it had, the new matter might .y^ell be germane to the subject of the original act and also embraced within the title of the-new act, providing .for a new definition of the term. See Footnote 3 above. . . .. ...

By reason of the authorities previously cited, we thus conclude as did the-trial judge that the body of the statute — insofar as attempting to apply to amphetamines, barbiturates, and hallucinogens — is; beyond the scope of its title, which cohfetituted. an amendment and reenactment...of Sub-Part A only. Of course, as the' cited authorities note, where the title as.-here,Restricts the body of the act, only the 'd'e'viánt portion is invalid, but the portion- which conforms to the title is valid. ' "

Ill attempting to evade applicatkm.’of. this principle, the State relies upon State v. O’Dell, 253 La. 418, 218 So.2d 318 (1969). There, we upheld a statute, despite an error in the designation of the Revised Statutes Title sought to be amended. The act’s title indicated that sections of Title 14 (1931-38) of Louisiana Revised Statutes were being amended, when obviously Title 40 was intended.

O’Dell involved an incorrect designation in the nature of an easily ascertained and indisputable typographical error. Here, however, the title would have to be substantially expanded to permit the body of the a'ct to regulate amphetamines, barbiturates, and hallucinogens. We cannot, in the guise of interpretation, rewrite the title of the 1970 act so as to include objects within its scope additional to that unambiguously indicated by its title.

II.

The State alternatively argues that Act 457 of 1970 should be regarded as an enactment of “a system of laws of a general and public nature” or as “a codification of laws on the same general subject matter.” Under Article 3, Section 16, Louisiana Constitution, the title of an enactment of such a system or codification “need only refer to the general purpose and scope of the statute”. (The full text of Section 16 is quoted in Footnote 1 above.)

We are not persuaded by this argument. In the first place, the title of Act 457 of 1970 specifically indicates that it intends to amend Sub-Part A only.

Further, the State’s argument that it was intended to codify all the laws pertaining to the control of prohibited narcotics, including those regulated by Sub-Part D (amphetamines, barbiturates and hallucinogens) , is negated by the circumstances that, in addition to the attacked Act 457, the very same 1970 legislature passed two acts specifically amending and reenacting sections of Sub-Part D pertaining solely to the control of amphetamines, barbiturates, and hallucinogens.’⁷ .

Finally, Act 457’s title does not itself indicate any intent to codify or enact a system of laws. See: State v. Carter, 227 La. 820, 80 So.2d 420 (1955); Wall v. Close, 203 La. 345, 14 So.2d 19 (1943). The title of the act (see Footnote 4) indicates that’ Sub-Part A will be designated as the “Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law”. Thus, entitling Sub-Part A does not exempt it from the requirement of Article 3, Section 16 that the title must be indicative of the object of the act, for it simply indicates a new designation for Sub-Part A and it does not indicate any substantive change. If, additionally, the title had indicated that the new enactment would define a “controlled dangerous substance”, and if (as here) the definition included amphetamines, etc., a legislator might well be put on notice that a substantive change of regulation was contemplated so as to include amphetamines, etc., within the scope of the new statute — and thus, in such instance, the title might well embrace and be indicative of the object of the act. See Footnote 3 above. Cf., Act 59 of 1971.

In the instance of Act 457 of 1970, however, the title indicated Sub-Part A only (of Sub-Parts A through E) was to be amended, and the title did not embrace or indicate more than this. The statute must therefore be limited in its scope to its object of amending Sub-Part A only, and it must therefore be restricted insofar as the body of the enactment attempts to regulate objects within the scope of Sub-Parts B through E.³

By Act 59 of 1971 the legislature amended and re-enacted Act 457 of'1970 and attempted to cure the deficiences of the title here discussed. We should note that our views and holding in the present case are limited in application to alleged offenses occurring between the effective date of Act 457 of 1970 and its repeal by Act-59 of 1971.

Having held Act 457 of 1970 unconstitutional insofar as it attempts to regulate amphetamines and barbiturates, we conclude that the trial judge properly sustained the defendants’ motion to quash the information as amplified by the State’s answer to the motion for bill of particulars. By this answer, the State had asserted that this prosecution was brought under La.R.S. 40 :- 971, as amended by Act 457 of 1970.⁹

III.

In sustaining the motion to quash, the trial court ordered the defendants discharged from custody, in accordance with the relief requested by the motion. Not called to our trial brother’s attention at the time were the provisions of Articles 485 ¹⁰ and 538¹¹ of the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure. These in substance provide that, when a motion to quash is sustained on a ground that it may be cured by amendment or by a new information or indictment, such amendment may be allowed within a specified delay, with the defendant being held in custody (or his bail continued) pending the amendment or filing of the new information. See State v. Morales, 256 La. 940, 240 So.2d 714 (1970); cf., State v. Mann, 250 La. 1086, 202 So.2d 259 (1967).

Of course, a defendant must be discharged from custody when the offense is not punishable under a valid statute, La. Code Crim.P. Art. 438(1) (quoted in full in Footnote 11 above). Here, however, Sub-Part D (not repealed by Sub-Part A and in effect at the time of the offenses presently charged) provides criminal penalties for the possession of amphetamines and barbiturates, the offense with which the defendants are charged. See La.R.S. 40:1046.

We conclude, therefore, that the trial court judgment ordering the defendants discharged shoidd be modified to allow the State a reasonable time within which to amend the bill of particulars or to file a new information.

Decree

Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed in its holding that Act 457 of 1970 is unconstitutional insofar as it purports to regulate amphetamines, barbiturates, and hallucinogens. The judgment of the trial court ordering the defendants ■ discharged is modified, however, insofaf as it provides unconditionally for the discharge of the defendants. It is now ordered: that the defendants be held in custody (subject to present bail requirements, see La.Code Crim.P. Art. 538) for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days from, date of finality of this decree, to allow the State, if it desires, to file a new information or an amended bill of particulars showing that the defendants are being charged with the crime of possession of amphetamines and barbiturates under a valid statute; and that, in default •of such amendment or new information within the period prescribed, the defendants be discharged from custody.

Affirmed in part, reversed in part.

1 . The full text of Section 16 is:

“Every statute enacted by the Legislature shall embrace but one object, and shall have a title indicative of its object.

“The Legislature may, however, by means of a single statute, enact or revise a system of laws of a general or public nature, such as the general statutes, or a codification of laws on the same general subject matter, or both. Such a statute shall be deemed to embrace but one object and its title need only refer to the general purpose and scope of the statute.”

2 . The pre-1970 definition of “Narcotic drugs” included these drugs and excluded amphetamines, barbiturates and hallucinogens. La.R.S. 40 :961 (19), before its repeal by the 1970 statute.

3 . The new definition of “Narcotic drugs” provided by the 1970 act includes only opium, cocoa leaves and opiates, and their derivatives or substances similar to them. It does not include amphetamines, barbiturates, and hallucinogens. If (as here) the title indicated that “Narcotic drugs” was to be defined, and the body of the statute had defined this term to include amphetamines, barbiturates, and hallucinogens, cf. Act 59 of 1971, then an entirely different question would have been presented; a legislator, alerted that the term “Narcotic drugs” was to be re-defined, might have easily ascertained by reference to the new definition that amphetamines, barbiturates, and hallucinogens were to be covered by the new act.

4 .The full title of Act 457 of 1970 provides as follows:

“To amend and reenact Sub-Part A of Part X of Chapter 4 of Title 40 of the Lousiana Eevised Statutes of 1950, designated as the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law, providing definition of narcotic drugs; providing regulation of the manufacture, transportation, sale, possession or use thereof; providing penalties for violation; and providing ' generally with respect thereto including the administration thereof.”

5 . Comparo former La.R.S. 40:981(4) and (5), with La.R.S. 40:971(c) as enacted by Act 457 of 1970.

6 . Compare La.R.S. 40:971(e) as enacted' by Act 457 of 1970, with La.R.S: ÍO'H'04'Ó. ■'

7 . Act 421 amended and reenacted La.R.S. 40:1033(2) to prohibit the refilling of any barbiturate and amphetamine prescriptions more than six months after date of issue and not more than five times within ’ such six-month period. Act 488 amended La.R.S. 40 :1046 to provide for felony instead of misdemeanor penalties for persons convicted the first time fór possession' and control of hallucinogenic ■ drugs.

3 . Actually, Sub-Parts C (“Benzedrine”) and E (“Louisiana Narcotics and Rehabilitation Commission”) do not at all fall within the scope of the body of Act 457. However, provisions of Sub-Parts B (forfeiture of vessels, vehicles, and aircraft) and D (amphetamines, barbiturates, or hallucinogens) are in conflict with provisions of the body of Sub-Part A, as amended in 1970, relating to the same objects.

9 . La.Code Crim.P.Art. 532(5) provides: “A motion to quash may be based on one or more of the following grounds:

“(5) A bill of particulars has shown a ground for quashing the indictment under Article 4S5.” See Footnote 10 for the text of Article 485.

10 . La.Code Crim.P. Art 485 provides: “If it appears from the bill of particulars furnished under Article 4S4, together with any particulars appearing in the indictment, that the offense charged in the indictment was not committed, or that the defendant did not commit it, or that there is a ground for quashing the indictment, the court may on its own motion, and on motion of the defendant shall, order that the indictment be quashed unless the defect is cured. The defect will be cured if the district attorney furnishes, within a period fixed by the court and not to exceed three days from the order, another bill of particulars which either by itself or together with any particulars appearing in the indictment so states the particulars as to make it appear that the offense charged was committed by the defendant, or that there is no ground for quashing the indictment, as the case may be.”

11 . La.Code Crim.P. Art 53S provides:

“The court shall order the defendant discharged from custody or bail, as to that charge, when it sustains a motion to quash based upon the ground that:

“(1) The offense is not punishable under a valid statute;

“(2) Trial for the offense charged would constitute double jeopardy;

“ (3) The time limitation for the institution of prosecution or for the commencement of trial has expired ; or “(4) The court has no jurisdiction of the offense charged.

“In other cases, when a motion to quash is sustained, the court may order that the defendant he held in custody or that his hail he continued for a specified time, pending the filing of a new indictment.” [Emphasis supplied]

The present instance falls under the italicized last paragraph of the article.