Scholarship fund distribution bill goes to governor
Gone were the debates and hostilities of the previous day’s budget deliberation when the House smoothly passed yesterday morning six measures, including a Senate bill that allows scholarship payments on a pro-rate basis instead of by batches.
By a vote of 18-0 with two absences, the House passed without amendment Senate President Paul Manglona’s (Ind-Rota) Senate Bill 17-69 on first and final reading.
The bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Ralph Torres (R-Saipan) and Senate floor leader Pete Reyes (R-Saipan), now goes to the governor for action.
“This bill will allow every student who qualifies for a scholarship to receive a check each time there is an allotment for scholarship payment, until such time that all scholarships are funded,” the bill says.
Manglona said he’s thankful for the House for passing a bill that will help CNMI students.
“This relief is long-overdue,” he added.
5 other bills passed
The five other bills also passed by an 18-0 vote each. Of the 20 House members, only Rep. Froilan Tenorio (Cov-Saipan) and Rep. Edmund Villagomez (Cov-Saipan) were absent.
The other bills passed were:
-HB 17-178 by Rep. Joseph Palacios (R-Saipan), renaming the Garapan/Chinatown Head Start Center the “Joaquina M. Rabauliman Head Start Center,” in recognition of Rabauliman’s contributions to Saipan.
-HB 17-193, House Draft 1 by Villagomez, strengthening provisions regarding sex crimes and domestic violence.
-HB 17-14, HD1, also by Villagomez, transfers the administrative functions of the Workers’ Compensation Law from the NMI Retirement Fund to the Department of Commerce.
-HB 17-185, D1, also by Villagomez, authorizing the Marianas Visitors Authority to regulate tour operators and tour guides.
-HB 17-209, Senate Substitute 1, changing the composition of the MVA’s board of directors. The bill now goes to the governor for action.
