§ 5-64.2-14 — § 5-64.2-14. Construction and severability.

§ 5-64.2-14. Construction and severability.

(a) This compact and the compact commission's rulemaking authority shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the purposes and the implementation and administration of the compact. Provisions of the compact expressly authorizing or requiring the promulgation of rules shall not be construed to limit the compact commission's rulemaking authority solely for those purposes.

(b) The provisions of this chapter shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence, or provision of this chapter is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be contrary to the constitution of any member state, a state seeking participation in the compact, or of the United States, or the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person, or circumstance is held to be unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the validity of the remainder of this chapter and the applicability thereof to any other government, agency, person, or circumstance shall not be affected thereby.

(c) Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section, the compact commission may deny a state's participation in the compact or, in accordance with the requirements of § 5-64.2-12, terminate a member state's participation in the compact, if it determines that a constitutional requirement of a member state is a material departure from the compact. Otherwise, if this compact shall be held to be contrary to the constitution of any member state, the compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining member states and in full force and effect as to the member state affected as to all severable matters.

Legislative History

P.L. 2025, ch. 202, § 1, effective June 26, 2025; P.L. 2025, ch. 203, § 1, effective June 26, 2025.