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Homestead rules for servicemen to be relaxed
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Posted on Jul 26 2004
Relatives of CNMI reservists who left for training in Hawaii and possible deployment to the Middle East or Afghanistan need not worry that militarymen would lose their homestead permits due to abandonment.
A legislative measure that seeks to relax the homestead conditions for those serving the U.S. Armed Forces would ensure that they will not lose their lots while on active duty.
Senate Bill 14-47, also known as the Military Service Homestead Act of 2004, is now on the desk of Gov. Juan N. Babauta for his signature to become law.
Under existing laws, homesteaders who abandon homestead land or have failed to maintain them as required by homestead rules face permit revocation, with the land reverting back to the government.
The Legislature passed the bill to recognize the important role of the CNMI’s militarymen to national security. “Every effort should be made to assist these distinguished individuals in maintaining their homesteads while on active duty.”
The bill contains a provision that explicitly prohibits the revocation of permits by homesteaders serving the military while he or she is on active duty, in addition to the Marianas Public Lands Authority’s discretion to extend homesteaders’ compliance deadline in cases where apparent violations of homestead rules are unavoidable.
Some 80 CNMI reservists recently trooped to Hawaii for Army Reserve training and possible deployment to augment U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. The reservists include at least 30 personnel from the Department of Public Safety, including Deputy Commissioner Franklin Babauta.
Gov. Juan N. Babauta recently assured visiting U.S. Pacific Command commander Adm. Thomas Fargo of his administration’s support for the reservists.
