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SENATE AGENDA
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Posted on Dec 08 1999
Legislation establishing an employment referral program for college graduates is now awaiting signature of Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio after the Senate voted 7-0 in favor of the measure yesterday. Four other bills were also approved.
Sponsored by Rep. David M. Apatang, House Bill 11-472 seeks to help returning college graduates find jobs on the island by referring them to prospective private employers and thus provide opportunities for them to enter the local workforce.
The proposed program is also intended to help lessen reliance by the CNMI on foreign manpower as it will prioritize graduating and returning local students in positions held by alien workers.
Its immediate purpose, however, is to “ease the burden for returning CNMI graduates in finding the right job for them and for employers in obtaining the best qualified employee,” according to the bill passed by the House of Representatives last September.
Called the College Graduate Employment Referral Program Act of 1999, the legislation will task the Division of Employment Services within the Department of Labor and Immigration to oversee the functions of a job placement agency.
Covered under the program will be CNMI residents who are graduates of the Northern Marianas College as well as universities in the mainland and other countries, including technical, vocational courses, master’s and doctorate degrees.
Meanwhile, HB 11-492 banning cyanide fishing in CNMI waters to protect local marine resources also was passed unanimously by the Senate. It now heads to the governor’s office for signing into law.
Other measures and resolutions tackled at the two-hour session:
– a resolution was presented to retired NMC President Agnes M McPhetres recognizing her contributions to the college;
– Public Defender Masood Karimipour was confirmed after a month of delay;
– HB 11- 498, amending a recent law prohibiting sale of tobacco to minors (to the governor’s);
– HB 11-359, eliminating the 30 percent bonus for government retirees (to the governor’s); and
– SB 11-158, backing the construction of a new 80-megawatt power plant on Saipan. (BS)
