This is to remind you that the Citizens for Change of Article XII will be
delivering a presentation on Article XII at the House Chamber *on Tuesday,
October 6 @ 10:00am in the House Chamber*. The presentation is open to the
public.
In other news, the NMI Musem is hosting a special reception and exhibition
of the photographs of historian and author Professor Dirk Spenneman.
Collectively titled “Tantalizing and Troubled Visions,” the photos were shot
in Saipan over the course of one week in 2009. The Opening Reception
is free to the public and will take place on *Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at
the NMI Musem across Sugar King Park, starting at 6pm.* Professor
Spennemann will be present at the opening reception to discuss his work.
The exhibit will continue through December 18, 2009. Admission to the
museum after October 7 is $1 for residents. For more information,
contact Musem Director Robert Hunter at 664-2160 or email
roberthunter@gmail.com .
Also, here are the highlights from the House sessions held on September 22
and 23. Please note, I missed these sessions as I was off-island
attending a workshop in Hawaii, and so my comments here will generally be
limited to summaries on the bills that were acted on, and voting records.
Three pre-filed bills that were formally introduced on the floor during the
House session on Sept 22nd are attached in this email for review; comments
are welcome. The first is House Bill 16-274, to amend the Litter Control Act
in order to improve enforcement of the Act, introduced by myself along
with Reps. Ed Salas, Justo Quitugua, and Joe Camacho, and drafted in
collaboration with the Division of Environmental Quality. The second is
House Bill 16-276, to regulate the operating hours of poker establishments,
introduced by Rep. Ed Salas and cosponsored by myself. The third is House
Bill 16-277, to amend Public Law 15-108, the Commonwealth Employment Act, to
preserve the due process rights of workers who may be affected by the Act,
introduced by Rep. Ed Salas and myself.
*BILLS INTRODUCED (NOT ON AGENDA SENT OUT EARLIER)*
- *HB 16-279* — to amend the Building Safety Code Rules and Regulations
by repealing 2 CMC Sections 7101 et seq., and reenacting the same as the
Building Safety Code Rules and Regulations of 2009 (Rep. Diego Benvante)
*BILLS PASSED*
**
*1) HB 16-275, HD2* — Introduced by Rep. Ray Yumul and five others,
proposing the budget for Fiscal Year 2010. Twelve members voted yes; Reps.
Edwin Aldan, Oscar Babauta, Ray Palacios, and Ralph Torres voted no. Reps.
Joseph Camacho, Heinz Hofschneider, Vic Hocog, and I were absent. The final
version of the bill as passed by the House is attached in this email. The
bill has been referred to the Senate for review; a Senate substitute bill is
expected to be sent back to the House. As of October 1, the CNMI government
has been operating on continuing resolution.
*2) HB 16-132, HD1* — Introduced by Rep. Joseph Reyes, proposing to
authorize the Marianas Visitors Authority to regulate tour operators and
tour guides by amending 4 CMC Section 2103. All sixteen members present
voted yes; Reps. Joseph Camacho, Victor Hocog, Heinz Hofschneider, and I
were absent.
*3) HB 16-146 — *Introduced by Rep. Justo Quitugua, this bill proposes to
establish a village and agricultural program in the Northern Islands, and
further includes amendments to the Homestead Waiver Act to expand the list
of persons eligible to receive legal title to public land if they have
continually used and occupied that land for at least 15 years and to
authorize the Dept of Public Lands to waive homestead requirements for such
persons. In addition to offering homestead lots to persons currently
residing in the Northern Islands and qualified persons interested in
residing there, the bill intends to make the Northern Islands
homesteaders eligible for housing loans, and to promote economic development
in the islands through long-term commercial land leases.
* *
Fourteen members voted yes to this bill; Reps. Ed Salas and Edwin Aldan
voted no. Reps. Joseph Camacho, Victor Hocog, Heinz Hofschneider, and I
were absent. I had previously voted against the adoption of the committee
report recommending the passage of this bill, and would have also voted
against the bill. I am especially concerned about the sensitivity of the
natural and cultural environment of the Northern Islands, the total lack of
infrastructure, the lack of a land use plan, and the appropriateness of
those islands for homestead and commercial development.
*4) HB 16-219, HD1* — Introduced by Rep. Joseph Deleon Guerrero,
proposing to designate Laulau Bay as a boat launching site to facilitate
quicker response times for emergencies located on the eastern coastline of
Saipan. Fifteen members voted yes to this bill; Reps. Joseph Camacho,
Victor Hocog, Heinz Hofschneider, Edwin Aldan, and I were absent.
*5) SB 16-23* — Introduced by Sen. Paul Manglona, proposing to reduce
unemployment among residents by encouraging them to work under contracts for
services to the CNMI government for capital improvement projects that pay
employees at least the previailing U.S. minimum wage. Fourteen members
voted yes to this bill; Rep. Oscar Babauta voted no. Reps. Joseph Camacho,
Victor Hocog, Heinz Hofschneider, and I were absent.
*6) HB 16-222* — Introduced by Rep. Diego Benavente, proposing to repeal
Public Law 15-42 in its entirety. Public Law 15-42 sought to establish
a comprehensive, interagency Infrastructure Master Planning Task Force. All
sixteen members voted yes to this bill. Reps. Joseph Camacho, Victor Hocog,
Heinz Hofschneider, and I were absent.
**
*7) HB 16-157* — Introduced by Rep. Joseph Reyes, proposing to establish
an Incompetency Determination Act. All fourteen members present voted yes;
Reps. Joseph Camacho, Victor Hocog, Heinz Hofschneider, Edwin Aldan, Joseph
Reyes, and I were absent.
*8) HB 16-116 *– Introduced by Rep. Ray Yumul and several others,
proposing the Commonwealth Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment
Rights Act (USERRA), to establish standard guidelines for CNMI government
employees on military leave, pursuant to the federal USERRA. All fifteen
members present voted yes; Reps. Joseph Camacho, Victor Hocog, Heinz
Hofschneider, Edwin Aldan, and I were absent.
*9) HB 16-238* — Introduced by Rep. Ralph Torres and Rep. Ray Palacios,
this bill proposes to amend f CMC Section 50144(b) to increase fines to
deter retailers from selling tobacco products to minors. All fifteen
members present voted yes. Reps. Joseph Camacho, Victor Hocog, Heinz
Hofschneider, Edwin Aldan, and I were absent.
*10) HB 16-178* — Introduced by Rep. Joseph Camacho, proposing to
establish a comprehensive Juvenile Justice Act. All 14 members present
voted yes to this bill. Reps. Joseph Camacho, Victor Hocog, Heinz
Hofschneider, David Apatang, Edwin Aldan, and I were absent.
*11) HB 16-154 *– Introduced by Rep. Joseph Reyes, proposing to create a
Special Education Scholarship Program for post-graduate and
post-baccalaureate students pursuing degrees in special education. Fourteen
members present voted yes to this bill; Reps. Joseph Camacho, Victor Hocog,
Heinz Hofschneider, Edwin Aldan, Dave Apatang, and I were absent.
**
*12) HB 16-122 *– Introduced by Rep. Oscar Babauta, proposing to repeal
and reserve Division 4 of Title 1 of the Commonwealth Code, regarding the
Office of the Washington Representative, is now the federal Office of the
CNMI Delegate under U.S. Public Law 110-229. Fourteen members present voted
yes to this bill; Reps. Joseph Camacho, Victor Hocog, Heinz Hofschneider,
Edwin Aldan, Dave Apatang, and I were absent.
*13) HB 16-235 *– Introduced by Rep. Joseph Reyes, proposing to amend 2
CMC Section 7113(e)(3) regarding permitting requirements for the erection of
temporary structures used for public events. Fourteen members present voted
yes to this bill; Reps. Joseph Camacho, Victor Hocog, Heinz Hofschneider,
Edwin Aldan, Dave Apatang, and I were absent.
*14) House Legislative Initiative 16-18, HD2 *– Introduced by Rep. Joseph
Deleon Guerrero and others, proposing to amend Article XI, Section 5(g) of
the CNMI Constitution to authorize the Dept of Public Lands to reserve up to
twenty percent of its revenues to pay and satisfy land compensation
claims. Twelve members voted yes to this bill; Reps. Joseph Camacho, Victor
Hocog, Heinz Hofschneider, Edwin Aldan, Dave Apatang, Ralph Torres, Stanley
Torres, and I were absent.
*15) SB 16-9, CS1, HD1* — Introduced by Sen. Pete Reyes, proposing the
Commonwealth Money Judgments and Financial Obligations Act of 2008, to amend
1 CMC Section 2553(k) to provide for a 3% simple interest rate for
outstanding obligations of the CNMI; to amend 7 CMC Section 4101 governing
the award of prejudgment and post judgment interest generally; to codify a
policy concerning the payment of tax rebates without penalties and interest;
to amend 7 CMC Section 2205 regarding the sovereign immunity of the CNMI in
the payment of money judgments, and for other purposes. Earlier versions
of this bill had proposed to apply the Act to final judgments entered after
the effective date of the bill’s enactment as well as all judgments pending
in the courts where such judgments are subject to appeal, and all
outstanding obligations that exist on or arise after the effective date of
enactment. The House amended the bill so that it would only apply to cases
filed in Superior Court after the effective date of enactment.
Ten members present voted yes to this bill; Reps. Ed Salas, Ralph Torres,
Stanley Torres, and Ray Tebuteb abstained; Reps. Joseph Camacho, Victor
Hocog, David Apatang, Heinz Hofschneider, Edwin Aldan, and I were absent.
*16) SB 16-27, SS1, HS1 *– Introduced by Sen. Paul Manglona, proposing to
require all contractors to be licensed in the CNMI. All fifteen members
present voted yes to this bill; Reps. Joseph Camacho, Victor Hocog, Heinz
Hofschneider, Edwin Aldan, and I were absent.
*RESOLUTIONS PASSED*
- *HR 16-100* — introduced by Speaker Arnold Palacios and several
others, myself included, supporting the development and implementation of a
Beach Road Corridor Improvement Project in the CNMI, as proposed by the
Saipan Zoning Office.
***
For questions or comments, I can be reached at tinasablan@gmail.com or
285-3935.
Thanks very much,
Tina Sablan
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