Gone were the debates and hostilities of the previous day\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
By a vote of 18-0 with two absences, the House passed without amendment Senate President Paul Manglona\u2019s (Ind-Rota) Senate Bill 17-69 on first and final reading.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis 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,\u201d the bill says.<\/p>\n
Manglona said he\u2019s thankful for the House for passing a bill that will help CNMI students.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis relief is long-overdue,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
5 other bills passed<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The other bills passed were:<\/p>\n
-HB 17-178 by Rep. Joseph Palacios (R-Saipan), renaming the Garapan\/Chinatown Head Start Center the \u201cJoaquina M. Rabauliman Head Start Center,\u201d in recognition of Rabauliman\u2019s contributions to Saipan. <\/p>\n
-HB 17-193, House Draft 1 by Villagomez, strengthening provisions regarding sex crimes and domestic violence. <\/p>\n
-HB 17-14, HD1, also by Villagomez, transfers the administrative functions of the Workers\u2019 Compensation Law from the NMI Retirement Fund to the Department of Commerce.<\/p>\n
-HB 17-185, D1, also by Villagomez, authorizing the Marianas Visitors Authority to regulate tour operators and tour guides.<\/p>\n
-HB 17-209, Senate Substitute 1, changing the composition of the MVA\u2019s board of directors. The bill now goes to the governor for action. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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