Bill seeks to ease issuance of ID cards to Rota residents

Sen. Donald M. Manglona (Ind-Rota) has introduced a local bill that will authorize and facilitate the issuance of Rota identification cards to the island’s residents.

In response to Saipan Tribune’s request for comments, Manglona said yesterday there are special circumstances that are currently prohibiting individuals from obtaining a Rota resident card.

“By being able to provide all residents of Rota the opportunity to obtain an ID card regardless of immigration status, this serves as a way to collect demographic data that organizations and agencies can use to provide assistance to our people,” the senator said.

Manglona stated in his legislation, Senate Local Bill 23-04, that the Rota Legislative Delegation finds that the Commonwealth Code requires proof of lawful resident status to obtain a Rota resident identification card.

He said the RLD, however, finds that certain residents are without ID cards for specific reasons, including lack of proof of lawful status. The senator said the RLD further finds that it is important for a Rota resident to have at least one ID card.

The legislation proposes to amend the Commonwealth Code that refers to Rota resident identification card.

SLB 23-04 states that upon submission of the application and the payment of the fee, the Office of the Mayor shall issue to a person a resident identification card.

The application “shall be accompanied by either a copy of the applicant’s birth certificate or certificate of baptismal record, a passport, U.S. Social Security number or card, or any other document determined to be sufficient by the Office of the Mayor to process the identification card.”

At a minimum, the card shall have on it a distinguishable number assigned to the card, the full name, sex, date of birth, address, a picture, and either a facsimile signature of the cardholder or a space upon which the cardholder shall write his usual signature in ink immediately upon receipt of the identification card.

No identification card shall be valid unless it has been signed by the cardholder and the presiding mayor, or his/her designee, according to the bill.

Donald M. Manglona