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Bill that seeks to amend nonexistent law vetoed
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Posted on Oct 04 2008
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial has disapproved a bill that requires Senate approval for appointments to the defunct Medical Professional Licensing Board.
In his veto message to the Legislature, Fitial noted that the bill seeks to amend a law that does not exist. The statute that established the Medical Professional Licensing Board was repealed in 2007.
“This legislation is a nullity and must be disapproved,” he said.
The bill, authored by Rep. Victor Hocog, sought to require appointees to the medical board to obtain Senate confirmation. It also proposed to have Rota and Tinian representatives on the board.
However, the Medical Professional Licensing Board no longer exists. The Health Care Professions Licensing Board replaced it last year as the independent regulatory agency for medical professionals.
The new licensing board consists of five members appointed by the governor. No Senate confirmation is required. Under the law, the board must include one dentist, two physicians, and two members from other health care professions.
To be appointed, a health care professional needs to be practicing in the Commonwealth, a CNMI resident for two years, and engaged in the practice of his or her profession for at least five years before the appointment. The licensing board’s enabling statute does not specify how membership should be allotted to the municipalities.
