A court rules that one clause within section 136 is unconstitutional. Under § 144, what is the effect of that ruling on the remaining provisions of sections 130, 131, 132, 133, 135, 136, 137, and 138, and on notaries public who were already appointed and still in office when the article became effective?
This matches both parts of § 144. The section expressly says that invalidity of any phrase, clause, part, paragraph, or section within §§ 130, 131, 132, 133, 135, 136, 137, and 138 does not affect the validity or effect of the remaining provisions. It also states that persons previously appointed and still holding office as notaries public continue in office after the article's effective date, with the same powers and duties, until expiration of the term for which they were appointed.
Existing notaries continue in office without reappointment under § 144 after the article's effective date.
Invalidity of one clause does not affect the enforceability of remaining sections or existing notaries' powers.
Section 144 preserves validity of provisions regardless of the invalid clause's location, and notaries serve until term expiration.
Explanation
Section 144 contains both a severability rule and a continuation rule. It states that if any phrase, clause, part, paragraph, or section of §§ 130, 131, 132, 133, 135, 136, 137, or 138 is judicially determined unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, that determination does not affect the validity or effect of the remaining provisions of those sections. It also provides that persons previously appointed and still holding office as notaries public continue in office after the article's effective date, with the same powers and duties provided in the article, until their appointed terms expire.
— § 144
Memory Aid
Think: "Invalid piece, valid rest; current notaries stay till term's rest."