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House passes prison funding bill
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Posted on Jun 13 2004
Following consultation with the Senate, the House of Representatives on Friday approved a bill appropriating $2.5 million for the adult prison project on Saipan and $1.4 million for Rota and Tinian hemodialysis centers and other projects.
The revised House Bill 14-131 removes a condition that requires the secretary of the Department of Public Works to consult with the Tinian legislative delegation on the use of funds.
DPW Secretary John Reyes earlier favored the House’ rejection of the bill due to the condition.
In Conference Committee Report 14-1, the Legislature agreed to appropriate $3.9 million of bond interest proceeds from capital improvement projects to fund the completion of the federally mandated prison facility ($2.5 million) on Saipan, construction of hemodialysis centers for Tinian and Rota ($500,000 each), and Tinian and Rota road construction ($200,000 each).
The bill’s passage came after a meeting between a three-member team from the lower chamber: Reps. Norman Palacios, Crispin Ogo, and Justo Quitugua, and a six-member team from the upper chamber: Sens. Paul A. Manglona, Diego M. Songao, Luis P. Crisostimo, Henry H. San Nicolas, Joseph Mendiola, and Pete P. Reyes.
All the team members, except Quitugua, Mendiola, and San Nicolas, signed the report.
H.B 14-131 was introduced by Rep. Ray Tebuteb in March this year to appropriate $2.5 million for the prison project. The House passed it and in April, it was transmitted to the Senate. The Senate amended the bill to include $1.4 million funding for Rota projects.
Last Tuesday, the House rejected the Senate version leading to the convening of a joint committee this week, which resulted in the passage of the bill Friday.
