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Bill to designate CCC and ABTC agents as law enforcers advances
A Senate committee has recommended the adoption of House Bill 21-61, which would recognize the Department of Commerce’s Alcohol Beverage and Tobacco Control Division and the Commonwealth Casino Commission as law enforcement agencies.
The Senate Committee on Judiciary, Government, Law, and Federal Relations recommended the bill’s passage last Thursday, Jan. 30.
Introduced by Rep. Joseph Lee Pan T. Guerrero (R-Saipan), the bill would amend the definition of “law enforcement” in the Commonwealth Code to include law enforcement officers of the ABTC and the enforcement and investigation officers of CCC’s Division of Enforcement and Investigations.
The bill recognizes that “similar to our other respective law enforcement agencies, especially in situations of life-risking duress, these officers are usually the first line of defense in not only protecting themselves but the surrounding individuals that are present during such situations.”
The bill deems it important for these ABTC and CCC officers to have the rights like other law enforcers, such as having the authority to carry firearms.
“It is of utmost importance to include the enforcement officers of the ABTC Division and the Commonwealth Casino Commission to allow for them to avail of the similar rights as other law enforcement officers in order for them to efficiently and effectively carry out their duties and responsibilities,” the legislation notes.
Currently, there are 32 agencies whose agents are recognized as law enforcers: ports police of the Commonwealth Ports Authority, correctional officers, probation officers, the sergeants-at-arms of the House of Representatives and the Senate, police officers, Division of Fish and Wildlife conservation officers, and the CNMI Homeland Security and Emergency Management Office investigators.
