House panel sets hearing on Tinian

The House Committee on Judiciary and Governmental Operations will conduct a public hearing on Tinian on June 13 to obtain testimonies on six legislative initiatives to amend the NMI Constitution, a resolution calling for a constitutional convention, and two House bills.

The committee, chaired by Rep. Rosemond B. Santos, will conduct the public hearing from 8am to 2pm, at the Tinian Jr./Sr. High School cafeteria.

The legislations that will be discussed at the hearing are:

* H.J.R. 16-3: “To put the question of calling a Constitutional Convention before the voters of the CNMI”.

* H.L.I. 16-1: “To amend Article IV of the Commonwealth Constitution to establish a commission on the judiciary and to establish that written opinions and decisions of the CNMI Superior Court and Supreme Court be issued within one year of submission of the case for opinion or decision”.

* H.L.I. 16-10: “To amend Article IV, Section 5 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to authorize the election of the Chief Justice and Presiding Judge by a majority of the Justices and Judges, respectively”.

* H.L.I. 16-2: “To amend Article III, Section 11 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marian Islands to authorize the election of an Attorney General”.

* H.L.I. 16-6: “To amend Article Section III Section 9 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth Northern Mariana Islands to require the adoption of an annual budget”.

* H.L.I. 16-7: “To amend Article II, Sections 2, 3, 5, 10, 13, 16, and 17 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth Northern Mariana Islands to improve efficiency and accountability in the Legislative Branch of Government”.

* H.L.I. 16-11: “To amend Article III, Section 9(a), of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to prohibit the withdrawal of any funds from the General Fund except by appropriations made by law”.

* H.B. 16-38, CS1: “To streamline the Government Employment Process the Commonwealth by Repealing and Re-enacting the Civil Service Law, Converting certain Government Positions to the Civil Service, and Establishing an Administrative Office of the Courts; and for other purposes”.

* H.B. 16-86: “To amend the Commonwealth Entry and Deportation Act (3 CMC § 4301 ET SEQ.) to create the Immigration Category of “Resident Foreign National”; and for other purposes”.
Interested members of the public are asked to submit written testimony to the committee on or before June 30, 2008. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]